GOLF PSYCHOLOGY; CONTROLLING NERVOUS ANXIETY

An important aspect golf psychology can teach us is how to control nervous tension. We have all experienced the nervous feeling you get before teeing off in a big tournament or match. Even tour players feel this before their tournaments. In fact this can even happen in the middle of a round if you happen to get in contention for the lead. The process to control nervous anxiety is quite simple, but it will take some practice.

First we need to understand what causes nervous tension. It all begins with having fear. As a result of fear the adrenal gland becomes stimulated releasing adrenaline in the body. Adrenaline causes most things in the body to speed up, heart rate, resperation, walking, and decision making. When this happens a player don't think as clearly, and tends to react to things much quicker than normal. This is ok in some sports but in a control game like golf, this can have disastrous effects. Overcoming fear is probably the most difficult. Fear comes from the unknown, which happens in the consious mind. If your mind can stay off the unknown there won't be any fear.

(Read my page on Golf Psychology used by Tiger, find out how to keep the consious mind out of the golf swing.)

Ok, you still have the nervous tension and you're getting closer to your tee time, what can you do? First you need to slow down your breathing, begin by taking deep slow breaths. Nervous tension tends to produce quick shallow breating. Players must learn to breathe deeply and slowly, this creates a calming rhythm, helping to offset nervous tension.

The other thing nervious tension does is cause a player to do everthing faster, walking, swinging, and decision making. You can help overcome this by slowing everthing down. upon arriving at the course, purposely walk slower, practice slower, and think calmly. This will have a calming effect for nervous tension. be sureto give yourself plenty of time before your tee time. The last thing a player needs is to be rushing for a tee time. Add that with nervous tension and you have almost no chance to play well.

Practice these things before tournament day, even if there isn't any tension, practice as if there were. Watch how much easier those first shots become.

Another good source for help with golf psychology and golf is a book called Zen Golf by Dr Joseph Parent.