This second part of the 2 part article covers not just questions to ask yourself now, but the two most useful questions to take with you to the course. Find your own answers, change your game for ever.

6. When you’re not playing your best, what are you forgetting?

   If you have ever played a great shot, your body knows how to play great golf. So if you find yourself not playing great shots, you must have temporarily forgotten how! You may be forgetting to take enough time behind the ball planning the shot until it’s crystal clear. Or forgetting that it is your tempo that generates clubhead speed, not your strength. Or forgetting to connect the ball to the target before, during and after each shot, rather than focusing on your swing. So what do you forget?

7. What stops you from loving every shot?

   Loving the experience of every moment of the shot is what brings out the best type of focused concentration. As soon as golf becomes about merely getting it perfect, the joy of the game and the ability to experience perfection is lost! So what stops you from enjoying every moment? It might be your expectations that you bring with you. Or focusing too much on getting your swing “correct”. Or worrying about the outcome of shots. Or you might get frustrated with poor shots and don’t move on quickly from them. What stops you from loving every shot?

8. When you are playing your best, what’s it like – what are you focusing on and feeling?

   Only you know what it’s like when you’re playing your best. It may only last a few holes or shots, but each of us has had, and will have again, that unique experience. So what’s it like? You might notice it being very quiet inside your head. You may just see targets so clearly that you know you will hit the ball there. Your body may just feel 100% congruent. So what’s it like to know you will hit the ball exactly where you want?

   And finally the two questions to take to the golf course and ask yourself for EVERY SHOT

9. What’s your target?

   I wrote an entire article about this one question a few weeks ago. Under pressure, it is the only question that’s important. The more energy you invest in clearly seeing and connecting to your target for each shot, the clearer the instructions you are giving to your body. With clear instructions, your body then has permission to focus single mindedly on that target, creating the perfect swing to play the ball there. Connecting the ball to the target before, during after each shot is the key to simplifying your game, making golf a game of “join the dots”

10. How could you play that shot even better next time?

    No matter how well you understand and integrate your answers to the first 9 questions, you will still play shots that are less than perfect. In those instances you are faced with a choice. You could ask yourself “How did I manage to do that?” and unpick what’s wrong with your game whilst you play – not the best idea for building confidence for your next shot! Or you could ask yourself the “Learn Box” question “How could I play that shot even better next time?” They may seem similar questions, but create very different results. This question forces you to visualise and feel yourself playing it how you want to play it, leaving you feeling good and focusing on what you DO want, rather than focusing on what you don’t. This makes your game bullet proof with an in-built learning process, meaning that no matter how your last shot was, your next one can be your best ever.

Now armed with your own answers to these 10 questions, I wish you great learning and great golf. For some extra help along the way, I’m giving away audio mental golf tips through a series of six free tipcasts to help you through the toughest parts of the game. Sign up for my newsletter now if you would like to receive these.

Love every shot!

Adam Sprackling

Mental Golf Coach