Like a certain yeast-based spread, golf is a game you either love or hate. Some people argue that you’d have to be mentally unstable to love golf, and they’re right. There is a strong 'mental' element to the game, and while all competitive sports require a level of thought, planning, and strategy, in golf, this is a large part of the game. Golf combines a level of physical activity with the ability to focus and think things through. Many golfers find the mental aspect of the game more exhausting than the physical. While brute strength is not necessarily a requirement, brainpower certainly is. Finding ways to focus your thoughts and play strategically are important aspects of getting ahead in golf. The mental aspect of golf is about learning to think consistently in order to consistently improve your score. It’s about choosing to think well before your round of golf begins. Think about what you want to achieve, about the ball going where you want it to, and about scoring well. There are numerous instruction books and articles on golf with chapters on the grip, posture, swing, and game mechanics, but given the importance of the mental side of the game, there is far less written on this subject. For a top-level amateur or professional golfer, as much as 90% of the game is mental versus 10% physical. The lack of literature on the subject is probably because it is too difficult, if not impossible, to know what a person is thinking. Many golfers who understand the relevance of mental focus in golf realize the importance of spending time working on a good mental approach as well as hitting balls on the practice tee. For many weekend golfers, the game is about time away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Being relaxed at the start of your game is important. Put the cares and worries of the day/week/month behind you. You are here to enjoy yourself and make the most of the precious hours on the course; being mentally and physically relaxed are crucial to maintaining your mental focus on the game. A zen-like state of calm is important before each shot; take your time, concentrate on the shot, focus on the speed, angle, and delivery of the stroke to create the perfect swing. While your neck, back, and arms need to be in the right position, your mind needs to back them up with careful appraisal of exactly what is needed for that perfect shot. If you are feeling genuinely relaxed and focused, your breathing should come naturally. But, if you are tense and nervous, you’ll find yourself catching your breath and holding it. This, in turn, creates further physical tension in your body, resulting in your swing being compromised. Take a moment, take a deep breath, and swing. Breathing evenly, keeping muscles relaxed, and your mind focused are easier said than done during some games. Having the right equipment also helps, and this should include a golf trolley—an electric golf trolley is ideal (for the professional golfer—a golf caddy). During a long round of golf, the weight of a golf bag and clubs slung over a shoulder is not only physically tiring but means that the perfect state of calm, unstressed, relaxed, and thoughtful mood ideal for making great shots is far harder to achieve. An electric golf trolley allows the golfer to effortlessly transport their clubs around even the most difficult courses, keeping the mind free to focus clearly on the task at hand.
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