Wrist surgery in 2008 left Luke Donald unable to play for months, leaving him only his golf psychology and his short game to develop. With a lot of resolve, less than two years later he now leads the US Tour stats for scrambling and is having his most successful year yet. If you’re serious about scoring well, then rather than waiting to be forced to like Luke, here’s an opportunity to use golf psychology to transform your short game and your scores.

Whatever your skill level, my top 5 mental golf tips for the short game will help you improve your scrambling stats and SCORES, guaranteed.

1. Always choose the SHOT FIRST, then the club. I see so many players automatically reach for their 60 degree or sand wedge without deciding
   1. Whether they have the skill to use it consistently, or
   2. Whether it’s the percentage shot (ie the shot that they can see working best)
   So walk up the to the hole first to get an accurate read of the green. Then from your ball, see the shot, THEN pick the tool for the job. Experiment using every club in your bag during chipping practice, from driver to putter, to learn your tools.

2. Within 30 yards of the hole, NEVER aim to get the ball close, ALWAYS aim to get the ball into the hole. As with the long game, precise instructions for your body lead to clearer pictures, stronger feelings of connection with the hole and more precise shots.

3. Rehearse the shot standing behind the ball. Notice how the shot looks and, with a practice swing, feels to play the shot that will get the ball into the hole. This leads your body to create a memory to live into, so that when you play your shot your focus will then NOT be what will it feel like, rather how did it feel when you played the shot in your mind.

4. ONLY step up to the ball when you’re 100% ready. If you are 99% ready you may as well be 0%. When you give yourself enough time behind the ball to see and feel the shot go into the hole, you can simply be present to the shot with no further thought.

5. ONLY play the shot you planned. Once over the ball, it’s not time to question or change your plan. So again, if you’re not 100% committed, step back from the ball and start again. Your only task is to complete what you planned not to think. Use the Playing State to remain calm and to keep the hole in your awareness throughout the shot. See it, feel it and play the ball into the hole.

I am currently giving away mental golf tips through a series of six free audio tipcasts, including one on short game mastery, re-programming your golf psychology for the toughest parts of the game. Sign up for my newsletter now if you would like to receive these.

I love hearing your feedback, so please let me know how you get on with these mental golf tips as I’m committed to helping you develop your golf psychology and lower your scores.

Love every shot!

Adam Sprackling

Mental Golf Coach