Golf is a sport that requires intense concentration. Golfers must pay attention to landscaping issues, wind speeds, inclines and course obstacles. When you're competing against others, the pressure can get to you. While you practice, develop techniques to deal with anxiety and stress so that you are ready to perform your best on game day.
Breathing Exercises
Slowing down your breathing relaxes your body. When you feel the onset of stress, close your eyes and concentrate on slowly taking deep breaths. Hold the breath for a few seconds and then exhale slowly. At first, it might not seem to make a difference. But after a few minutes, your heart rate will slow and you will feel relaxed.
Imagine Success
Positive thinking helps you control stress and anxiety. Before the game, shut out negative thoughts, such as your fear of failure or memories of past mistakes. Instead, focus on your strengths. If you had a good game recently, try to summon the feelings you had at that time. Picture yourself performing well: driving the ball far distances, putting the ball accurately across the green and taking the lead to win the game. With the right level of concentration, your stress will dissipate.
Practice Effectively
If you practice the fundamentals of golf often enough, your skills will improve. Your physical movements will become automatic and good playing strategies will become second nature. Knowing that you have practiced enough will relax you on game day and give you the confidence to block out negative thoughts and stress. During each practice, pretend that an audience is watching you. Also, practice your relaxation techniques so that you have a set of tools ready to use during actual competitions.
Don't Beat Yourself Up
Mistakes are an inevitable part of any sport. If you make an error during a golf game, don't beat yourself up about it. If you do, you risk stressing yourself to the point that you make further mistakes. For example, if you hit the ball into a sand trap, concentrate on minimizing the mistake by hitting the ball accurately back onto the fairway. After you make a mistake, breathe deeply and try to put it in perspective. Chances are the mistake will not cost you the game. Even if it does, there is no point in trying to turn back the clock. Focus on the task at hand and commit yourself to practicing more in the future.
