Bogey Breeze October | Page 10

GOLF ACADEMY

By Denny Walters , Jr .

MENTAL GAME

DURING COMPETITION : Why Some Fall Apart

We often think to ourselves after a competitive round , “ Why did I not play as well ?” “ What happened ?” “ The swing felt the same , but I did not get the same results .” ‘ Yes , I was nervous , but it kept getting worse .” These issues are far too common in golf . We struggle to find answers . Competitive rounds of golf are difficult for golfers of all levels ; some perform better under pressure while others tend to collapse . Why does this happen ? It boils down to two main aspects . One is trust and the other is outcome .
TRUST Many golfers simply do not trust their swing when in competition . They start doubting their ability and swing . When we start to fall apart , it becomes a slippery slope and it ’ s hard to regain momentum . However , it ’ s not the end of the world . For some golfers , it ’ s a new version of golf they are not used to playing in . As golfers become more comfortable in the competition , their swing becomes more trustworthy and confidence tends to escalate . Trusting your ability on any scale , whether you are a 20 + handicapper or a 0 handicapper , is an integral part of playing better in competition . The minute self-doubt starts to creep into your mind , take a breath and relax . Remember it ’ s only golf and you CAN play