Try These Three #Golf Swing Thoughts

Golfers are going to be out in droves this Memorial Day Weekend; some have only pulled out their sticks a few times this season while others have been playing for months. There will be those golfers out purely for the enjoyment of the weather and there will be competitive players seeking the win. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned golfer, consider taking away these swing thoughts for use during your round.

1. Try not to fill your head with swing thoughts! Pick only one or two during the round and stick with them. My latest swing thought is to keep my elbows connected losing that dreaded "flying elbow" that has recently crept its way into my swing. Adam Scott agrees stating, "Whatever I'm working on, I like to keep one swing thought in my head when I'm on the course. Keeping it simple helped me at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston last year."

2. Are you trying to regain composure after a blow-up hole? What's next, you think...another bad shot? Thoughts like this will have you spiraling downward, spewing curse words and throwing your golf clubs into a retention pond! Instead, think about the "C" word...Confidence.  Remember that one or two shots will not ruin your round, that you have hit good shots in the past and focus on the next shot instead of dwelling on something that is already past.

Read these Golf Tips to Improve Your Game from Tee to Green.

Look at the Positives of a Golf Hole: In his GolfTV.com video, Dave Marsh says that most players look down a par-five and immediately notice the trouble; the patch of grass or the bunker that they have to fly over...don't be that guy! Instead, when you step onto the tee box, look down the fairway and "pick three things you really like about the hole," and where you are going to place that golf ball.

A negative approach will almost always lead to some type of golf course meltdown so take each shot and hole as its own adventure, remain positive and look for a way out of trouble. Follow the words of Bob Rotella'sbook cover which says, "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect."

Which swing thoughts have helped improve your golf game and outlook on the course? Let us know below in our golf blog comments section and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!

How Boosting Your Confidence Will Improve Your Golf Performance

Is the mental game of golf more important than the physical nature of the sport? Dr. Bob Rotella stated, "having control of your mind and using it properly can separate you from the competition, whether it's at your club or on the PGA Tour."

Enjoy this guest golf blog written by US Grass and Greens which explains How Visualization and Boosting your Confidence will Improve your Golf Performance.


"Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course - the distance between your ears." - Bobby Jones

Picture the perfect shot you want to hit in your mind. Imagine the ball slowly rolling towards its intended target and then finally hitting that sweet spot where everything feels perfect and the world makes sense. Perhaps you hear the all-too-familiar "thunk" sound as the ball sinks into the place it was, in your opinion, always destined to be. Visualizing the arc of your swing BEFORE you actually hit the ball engages your state of mind, relaxes your body, and gives you a sense of purpose.

Imagining a positive outcome to your game is one of the many visualization methods that golfers - both amateur and professional - use when they need to calm their nerves, and to help banish any anxious and/or worried feelings they have about their own shortcomings. Sure, it can sound a little too pompously highfalutin', but it's a psychological technique that players swear by. Never think of the result of messing up your shot, because this can eventually contaminate your confidence and lead to a disastrous swing in real life!

The two principal traits that you need to boost your inner-confidence are focus and concentration.

Utilizing both of these characteristics is key to your success on the green, because aggressive, obnoxious and negative energy will never yields anything but bad results.

You may have read famous quotes, such as Gardner Dickinson's "They say golf is like life, but don't believe them. Golf is more complicated than that", or Bob Hope's legendary "If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf" line. Essentially, both of these words of wisdom draw attention to a highly emotional state where a simple game of golf becomes EVERYTHING to you. All-encompassing, all-pervading, omnipresent: To win is to live and to lose is to fail, to fail at life itself. Yes, a game can become that grandiose at times in some people's minds.

But that shouldn't be the case. Golf, after all, is a GAME. We all know that it's played professionally all over the world with millions of dollars at stake but, first and foremost, it's a game to enjoy. Games are played for fun, no matter how competitive they get. It's important to remember how to maintain a pleasant, optimistic, lighthearted disposition and, ultimately, you need to enjoy yourself.

"Golf is a day spent in a round of strenuous idleness." - William Wordsworth

Additionally, a little modesty is always nice in any competitive game, and know-it-all "I win everything!" types of players are unbearable to play either against or alongside. Because golf is a Gentlemen's Game built on the fundamental notions of both etiquette and mutual respect, a quiet kind of confidence is the mainstay of a strong mindset that positively encourages and supports a great game. Some people may have the tendency of focusing on what is going right or wrong with their game. However, lending frequent attention to your wrongdoings can end up becoming a distraction that actually interferes with the confidence you require.

To reiterate: Concentrate on what you're doing correctly, and don't dwell on what's going wrong. Examine what you're doing right, so that you can build upon your strengths and hone your particular skill set. The road of self-improvement is a long, bumpy and arduous one, but not without its inherent rewards.

Many see practice as not enough, but it's obviously a good start. Phil Mickelson once commented: "Last year my confidence just slowly, slowly dwindled. After the time off I took and the work I accomplished on my conditioning and my game, I couldn't wait to get out and start playing. I was just itching." When stuck in an extended rut of poor game playing, nothing seems to go well. But golfing confidence is about feeling good about your skills and retaining positive thoughts every time you play.

"They say 'practice makes perfect.' Of course, it doesn't. For the vast majority of golfers it merely consolidates imperfection." - Henry Longhurst

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photo credit: YourVoiceofEncouragement.com

How I Got My Kids to Love Golf

Is it really that difficult to get your kids to try...and love...golf? In a Golf Digest article, Johnny Miller  said that the most important thing you can do to get your kids involved, and remaining in the sport, is "unadulterated praise. When your 7-year-old hits a good shot, say "Great shot!" When he hits a bad shot, exclaim, "Great swing!"

Bob Rotella mentioned that you shouldn't necessarily teach the child but instead, let the kid teach you! Most importantly, Mr. Rotella explained that, "the best thing you can do is show your kids what a great time you're having. If they see you having a wonderful time, then chances are they'll have a good time, too."

Make golf fun for kids and in turn, they will want to see what all of the excitement is all about!

David Bryce, a contributing writer to Golf for Beginners, has decided upon five points he believes necessary to engage and encourage children in the sport so that they find it a positive experience.

Enjoy!

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David Bryce is an online publisher for Thousand Hills Golf Resort in Branson, MO. He blogs on the topics of golf, travel, and vacations.

It wasn’t as hard to do as one might think.  In fact, it wasn’t difficult at all.  I’ll tell you the secret right now.  It was all about the environment.  In short, it was positive and fun.  I let the kids like it on their own terms and not mine.  While each experience with undoubtedly by different and unique, there are things that can be done to help foster a love of the game.

Start young.  I hear this regularly from many other parents and pros.  Starting young will help them develop skills as a young mind is a sponge ready to soak up information.  Granted, introducing a young child to golf takes patience, it can prove to be well worth it.  With a young child, say three, four, or five years old, the best thing you can do is give them a golf club (preferably one more their size) and a ball to hit around the backyard. 

Avoid the TV.  At first, anyway.  I mean this twofold.  This is a point a few of my friends like to argue with me on.  While I’m sure there are a few kids really enjoy to watch golf, it’s generally after they have a grasp of what’s going on.  The best way to get that grasp and understand of the game is to play it firsthand.    My second point is video gaming.  There are a few golf games out there and even fewer that are genuinely good.  You can’t learn to play with a controller, even if it is motion sensitive.  In my experience, due to the simplicity of the gameplay, the games can give a false impression of the game both in terms of physical environment and personal ability, especially when you’re trying to learn the game in the real world.  These games lack weight, gravity, and in many cases, a sense of reality.

Once a child has a grasp of the game, then yes, it’s a good idea to watch professional matches on TV (and in person, if possible).  They can see how these players interact with the course, how they hit the ball and how they concentrate, plus they’ll probably land on a player who they’ll idolize and want to emulate, and emulation is an excellent learning tool.

Get out and play.  Go to a practice green or a driving range, or both.  When you’re there, focus on showing and not telling.  Let them observe you and others, then let them have at it, in fact, the soon they’re swinging the golf club, the better, since watching someone else enjoy something is exceptionally boring.  They’re not going to be perfect on the first, second, or twenty-fifth swing, but they’ll gradually improve.  Your goal is to let them discover the love of the game for themselves, so take a step back (which, when they’re swinging, you and everyone else should be a few steps back).  Nothing is more satisfying than the feeling of the head of the club comes into contact with the ball and that ball is sent soaring.  Kids learn that one fast.

Work on form.  Once kids have a feel for absolute basics, you’ll likely have to intervene a bit to work on their form.  Yes, you can get a golf pro or register them for classes, but it’s good to start off with a familiar.  However, this is where observing pros play can be beneficial.  Emulation is great for working on form.  Kids will likely need assistance getting into various forms, but don’t let yourself become a rusty pair of training wheels.  Again, focus on fun. 

Hit the golf course.  Take them to a municipal or similar course where their talents won’t be judged and the patrons are more likely to have more patience.  Let them play golf on their own terms, but encourage them to use the skills they have picked along the way.  They’ll quickly discover the more they use those skills and the better their form is, the better their performance will be.  Have a fun time, cheer them on and shower them with praise when hit a good shot. 

Want to read more by David Bryce? Read: Should Golfers Have to Pass an Etiquette Test?

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photo credit: GolfDigest.com, Clearly Sports