The few inches between the ears

Sunday was a great day of sport. Watching football and the Carling cup final and also watching the World Matchplay golf. Fortunately I did go for a run this morning just to make sure I didn’t spend all day on the sofa!

When I went running it always amazes how mental strength plays such a big part. Sure you have to have a level of fitness but also you have to have the will and desire to get out there and also a mental toughness to complete the run, keep going, go faster or beat a personal best.

Golf is certainly no different in that there is a physical element to the game in swinging the club and creating golf shots but we all know that the few inches between the ears play a massive part in golf.

I think golf is a really demanding sport mentally. We have to deal with swing thoughts, doubt, fear, tension and we also have time between shots to think about all of those things as well.

My point to all of this is that as golfers we all know how much the mental game plays a part in good and bad golf but what do we do to practice and improve it?

I found it interesting today watching the penalty shoot-out in the Carling Cup. The mental game was fully exposed and just practicing penalties on the training ground will never be enough on it’s own to prepare you for that situation. That point is proven when you see Charlie Adam miss the goal by some way!!

It occurred to me as I was running that I had to be mentally tough today when I got to a point where going straight on would be a 4 mile run or turning right would be 6. I turned right.

There are things that I do when I run which helps me mentally and I can use those same ideas and techniques when I play golf. There are plenty of things that we do in our everyday life that require good mental skills yet a lot of the time we don’t take these things to the golf course.

Is there a secret to the mental game? I think there is. I also think that it is different for all of us and we need to understand ourselves first so that we can work on the important things that will help on the golf course. Personality plays a big part so what works for Tiger may not work for Rory and what works for Rory may not work for me and you.

One of the great things about playing golf is that you get to discover and learn all the time but be warned; when you think you’ve cracked it there will be another chapter that reveals itself!