The 2 Traits You Need for a Better Golf Game

A better golf game doesn't come about just because you purchased the hottest golf clubs on the market or because you have enlisted the aid of a qualified teaching professional - it also helps if you make a decision and commitment that you want to achieve a better game and lower score.

For the average 15 plus handicapper, consistency is rarely a strong suit - fat and thin shots, lack of proper course management, rarely add up to a low score.

Two traits to consider for a better overall golf game, in this author's opinion, are...

Consistency and Motivation.

What does it mean to have a consistent golf game?

Dictionary.com says consistent means, "constantly adhering to the same principles, course, and form"...that being said, does it mean to have a repeatable swing? Is it important to have a reliable putting stroke?

Yes and yes to the above questions and, in addition, it is important to keep your mind free from those distractions that would change the course of your consistency, such as golfers offering help or reading too many golf tips from different sources, for example.

On the flip side, according to instructor Kiel Alderink in a golfcity.com article, "it is the inconsistency that makes the game exciting," but, in my opinion, not necessarily for beginners. He goes on to say,...

"If you played golf every day and shot the same exact score, would that be any fun or challenging?  If you hit the ball the same height, distance, and shape every time you would get very bored.  It is the unknown that makes the game exciting.  The chance to put up your best score every time you tee it up is exciting.  If you knew you were going to shoot the exact same score as always, well that would be a walk in the park, literally."

I prefer less excitement and lower scores!!

Related Reading -  Golf Psychology: Tips to Avoid Choking

As for motivation, Merriam Webster dictionary says about this particular drive, it is, "the act or process of giving someone a reason for doing something."

I throw this question out at you ... what makes/keeps you motivated to play golf?

Is it a beautiful day for a walk in the park or, perhaps, have you been determined to lower your handicap, have been working on your short game and want to see if your efforts are bearing fruit?

For this author, and since I started writing the Golf for Beginners blog, I want to continue to have fun. I look forward with enthusiasm during the game to see if I will play better than the prior week (that and I get to play a round with my husband).

Dr. Deborah Graham, in a Golfpsych.com article summed up best the reasons to stay motivated:

"To reach full potential, it is important that competitive golfers retain as primary motivation for playing golf, a great love of the sport and an appreciation of the tremendous personal and competitive challenges it provides."

Follow Golf4Beginners on Twitter and let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog!

What to do When Things Aren't Going Your Way #golf

Whether your golf ball consistently finds the water or you are playing military golf (left, right, left, right), there are some days that you wished you never played the sport. When things aren't going your way on the golf course and you can't get into the zone, don't chuck your clubs in the pond! Here is what you need to do.

Even the tour pros have bad days and suffer from nerves or tension... which leads to a tight grip, pulled or pushed swing, the yips, and/or condescending mental attitude. One bad swing can lead to two and a round can blow up for the best of players.

Trying to hit "perfect shots" and negative self-talk can wreak havoc on your round!

Chez Reavie, a PGA Tour pro, won a tournament in his rookie season and began pushing for results instead of hitting shots one at a time. When his game began to collapse, he analyzed his thoughts - he may have been judging himself too harshly - and backed off a bit.

"I needed to realize that just because I hit this shot poorly or that it didn't go perfect, it has zero bearing on the next shot that I hit," Reavie said.

 "The next shot that I hit could be the best shot that I ever hit…It didn't matter. I started thinking about that and was like, 'Wow. I've never really looked at it that way.' I was always like, 'Oh, s---, I pulled my last 7-iron so let's try and hold this one off a bit. Well, then I'd probably hit the next one to the right. I was just chasing my tail, whereas this way, every shot was a fresh start."

If you are not playing in a tournament, this is a great time to change your mindset during the round work on your game. Turn a bad round into an opportunity to work out the kinks in your game. If you are playing in an event, take a tip from Reavie and start playing the game one shot at a time.

For the beginner, average (or better than average golfer), Golf for Beginners offers up these bullet points to remember when you see your game starting to collapse.

1. Remember that golf is a mental game - you may not be physically swinging the golf club well today but the way you talk to yourself is important - use your mind to turn your game around. Think about the good shots and keep your chin up. (Re-read Chez Reavie's quote above...every shot is a fresh start).

2. Whether or not you are in a tournament, if things aren't going your way, stop looking at your score and put the scorecard in your pocket. Instead, play each shot one at a time, stay in the present moment and don't worry about the final outcome.

3. DON'T QUIT or think of quitting - it is easy to just stop playing golf. and sulk. Always finish your round. Stop being a perfectionist and understand that golf is a game of working past bad shots.

As I read in Psychology Today, author and coach Fred Shoemaker stated, "ultimately golf is just a motion of the body, a club, a ball, an intention, and a target." Keep your highs and lows in check and you will improve your score and mental attitude during any round.

What do you do when things aren't going your way on the golf course? Share in the comments section of this golf blog and tag us on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Is Your Brain Always on Sports? #Golf and the Fan

If you're the one who friends and family consider to be "the sports nut", the guy or gal who lives, eats and breathes golf, football, baseball, tennis or hockey, then your loved ones might benefit from the book "This Is Your Brain On Sports", so they can try to understand what makes you tick.

The Science of Underdogs, the fan mentality and more is evaluated in the book "This Is Your Brain on Sports" by John Wertheim and Sam Sommers.

Sports psychology is the basic understanding of why we do what we do on and off the field, the golf course, how we react as fans, how thoughts translate into real life and how we can use what we learn to understand and improve our lives.

No doubt you have heard the phrase "Golf is ninety percent mental", and, even though we only think about that phrase in relation to playing the game, the psychology and attitudes of fans and pros play heavily into our psyche.

Here are several points which I took away from "This Is Your Brain on Sports - The Science of Underdogs, The Value of Rivalry and What We Can Learn from the T-Shirt Cannon."

Think about these ideas the next time you are in these situations as a player, as a fan or as someone who lives with this type of "fan"-atic.

1. Let's start with the sub-title of the book - T-Shirt Cannon and what we can learn from it.
Why does shooting a T-Shirt out of a cannon (or pitching a golf ball to the crowd for the sake of our blog) keep fans coming back to a stadium, arena or course, even if the team (or golf pro) is losing?

The book claims that it is because the T-Shirts are free "...and free is catnip to humans, an enticement so strong it sometimes causes us to behave ridiculously...". I cannot personally relate to this theory as I do not go to a golf course to catch tossed golf balls from Jordan Spieth although one of my favorite memories is carrying the Sunday standard for Annika Sorenstam and her pitching me her golf ball after making a birdie.

2. Effort Justification is defined by Psychology Dictionary as, "The phenomenon where people evaluate a task more favorably when it involves something difficult or unpleasant."

The book tells us, "When we pay for access to a gym, for example, we often come to value a group more than when the access comes for free."

3. We're All "Comeback Kids" - After a tragedy or a physical ailment which may keep someone from playing a sport, isn't it amazing how we read about how the athlete made an unprecedented return? We, as humans, are quite resilient.

4. Rooting for the Underdog or remaining loyal to consistently losing teams - oh, how many times I have cheered on Phil Mickelson in spite of knowing that he was nowhere near a win but, when he finally DID win, the experience was further overwhemed by joy and exuberance, almost like I had won!

5. Praise is important but it's the right kind of praise that truly makes the athlete. Praise for effort, not necessarily for the win. ParentingScience.com further emphasizes to, "Encourage kids to focus on mastering skills—not on comparing themselves to others." One of the things I enjoy most about watching golf is at the very end of their round, golfers almost always praise their playing partners.

This book is not for everyone - but it is an important work if you want to delve deeper into the psyche of human nature and enjoy reading about a broad sports culture through a fan's point-of-view. The press release best related what "This Is Your Brain on Sports" is trying to convey  - it "celebrates the quirkiness of sport while revealing something deeper about who we are, what we care about and the forces that shape our behavior.

Have You Read -This Is Your Brain On Sports-? Share your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and in the comments section of this Golf for Beginners blog.