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Handling
Tension
A college golf coach
told me that he could always tell when a golfer was tense during
his short game. His many years as a coach and a PGA rules official
has made him very aware from countless observations that when golfers
get tense they shorten their normal back swing or putting stroke,
which causes them to miss their target. He smiled while shaking
his head and said it happens every time.
When faced with a difficult
chip or putt, do you tense up and shorten your back swing or putting
stroke? If you do, you are throwing away shots. How do you handle
tension when facing a difficult shot?
You can greatly reduce
tension and eventually eliminate it with an inside-outside approach.
First, you have to realize that tension results from concern about
the outcome. If you don't think about the outcome, tension will
not exist. By merely shifting your thoughts to the process of executing
your normal back swing or putting stroke for the chip or putt your
are trying to make, you will automatically change your focus from
the outcome and reduce your tension.
Just like it's hard to
teach old dogs new tricks, it will take time and repetition to train
your mind or tape to think this way. It is your choice. You can
continue tensing up and shorten your back swing or putting stroke,
which will cause you to miss. Or, you can start focusing on the
process of making your normal back swing or putting stroke and increase
your chances for success.
When you are tense or nervous, use the process of deep breathing to calm and relax
yourself before you chip or putt. This will cause a physiological
change in your nervous system and reduce your tension. Also, while
you are chipping or putting, inhale during your back swing or putting
stroke and exhale through the ball.
Using this inside-outside
approach will greatly improve your short game, as well as the rest
of your game, and increase your chances of shooting lower scores.
Try it. It works!
If
you have not read "The Mental Keys To Improve Your Golf", you will
benefit greatly from my book by seeing the whole picture instead
of just pieces contained in my mental tips.
I guarantee it! So
order now and lower your score.
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