Master Your Mental Game

By Dr. Joe Parent
Illustrations By Anthony Ravielli August 2009

There are days on the golf course when nothing seems to be going right. What to do about it? You've tried all your swing keys, setup techniques and mind-calming mantras. At a certain point you have to say "Uncle!" -- give in and acknowledge that this is one of those days that isn't going your way. Just giving up the struggle can be enough to free you up to make a couple of good swings, and maybe even salve your wounds by playing a couple of holes well.

Have some fun trying hero shots -- you'll have plenty of opportunities because you're already hitting into places that require heroic recoveries.

Finally, have a sense of humor about your predicament instead of beating yourself up.

Breaking 100: Imagine You're Standing On Your Favorite Tee Box: Sometimes you come across a tee shot that doesn't suit your eye. It's not easy to commit to a target. That lack of commitment makes it hard to swing freely, and your results are inconsistent.; READ MORE >>

Breaking 90: Plan With Your Head, But Play From Your Heart: Ever hit a shot when it felt as if you weren't really directing your swing, not trying to make it come out a particular way? The results usually are surprisingly good.; READ MORE >>

Breaking 80: Remove The Interference That Comes With Fear: The greatest interference to swinging freely is the fear of an unwanted result. Being willing to accept whatever result a shot might produce, and feeling you can handle whatever the future holds, removes the interference that comes with fear.; READ MORE >>

: Adapted from Golf: The Art of the Mental Game 224 pages, $25. Text by Dr. Joseph Parent copyright © 2008, illustrations by Anthony Ravielli copyright © 2008 by Christopher Obetz, reprinted with permission of Universe Publishing, an Imprint of Rizzoli. Parent, author of Zen Golf, teaches at the Ojai (calif.) Valley Inn.