Learning to think effectively on a golf course and manage your game is very important if you want to shoot the best scores possible. The strategy you use on a course should depend on what you need to accomplish. For instance, if you are in a tournament and need to make a birdie fast then you may want to use a driver on a short par 4 to leave yourself the shortest possible approach so you have the best chance of a birdie. On the other hand if you are playing well and shooting a low score and also have a good lead in a tournament then take a 3 wood or even an iron on a short par 4 so you can guarantee that at least you will make par and at worst bogey.
Play high percentage shots:
It is important to know your strengths and also your weaknesses. Do not try to pull off heroic shots that you have never hit even in practice when you are on the course. Learn to play within yourself and to hit shots you know you can successfully hit most of the time. When you are about to hit your shots it is important to keep the mind as quiet as possible and sharply focused on the target. The time to think about swing mechanics is when you are behind the ball taking practice swings and such.
Also try not to spend too much time over the ball before pulling the trigger as this can lead to distracting thoughts that can result in bad shots. It is important to spend enough time training your swing and then when you are on the course you must trust it. Another key mental tip is to learn to forget your bad shots quickly and to not dwell on them. Every player of all skill levels will hit several bad shot in each round they play so it is important to learn to forget them and believe that the next shot will be a great one. Developing a selective memory is one of the keys that all great players have in common. Apply the above golf mental tips to help you save strokes on the course and enjoy the game more.
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