It is normal for any non-pro golfer to feel like they don’t have enough time to improve. It is a common challenge and it is something I want to discuss a bit more.
There was a study written in 2008 by Malcolm Gladwell titled “The Outliers of Success.” One of his major points in that study concluded that a true level of expertise is achieved after 10 years of experience or 10,000 hours engaged in the activity.
That is a TON of time! The guys on Tour playing for a living can do it, but what if you can’t spend every precious minute mastering the fine details of the game? I have a few suggestions.
The less time you have the more important it is to control your focus.
Your time is spent more efficiently when you are in control of your focus. Here are a few suggestions for keeping your mental game sharp and a few more for maintaining your swing.
Mental Fitness With Limited Time
1) Control your self talk
Your thoughts ARE NOT your mind, they occupy your mind. It is quick and simple to commit to controlling your self talk. Make it a priority to direct your thoughts in the most beneficial way you know.
2) Create a mental strategy.
No round is going to go perfectly. You should have a detailed “script” of how you will handle difficult situations on the golf course. It doesn’t take a ton of time to create but it can save you strokes by keeping your round on track.
3) Have an iron clad pre-shot routine.
No matter how long its been since the last time you played, a pre-shot routine can help you “get it back” quicker. A pre-shot routine creates and maintains a rhythm for your game. All you have to do is do it!
There is no better replacement to time and practice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get better. With the use of a few simple commitments you can quiet your mind and get into a groove regardless of when the last time you played was.
Do you ever find you play better than normal when you hit the course after a longer-than-normal break?
Let me know in the comments, and feel free to share this on Facebook, or Twitter if you found it helpful.
