Golf Mind Focus
Golf Mind Focus is about totally focusing on your target
Golf mind focus is a combination of where you focus your mind, eyes, body, breathing and intention. Rather than working against yourself have all of you moving in one direction, working together for one outcome.
Your eyes may be playing tricks on your golf mind focus
Your eyes can play tricks on you on any golf course. And therefore play tricks on your mind and what to focus on.
In fact your beliefs about your ability, your fears and the optical illusions deliberately designed into any golf course will distort what you think you see and more importantly what you focus on.
Play to your target not to the ball
One of the greatest illusions of golf is that most golfers think it is all about hitting the ball. They put all their effort into learning to improve their swing and to hit the ball.
The reality is this.
It’s not about hitting or how hard you hit the ball it’s about where you are hitting the ball to that is the most important thing in golf. Golf mind focus is about the target.
Where do you want the golf ball to go? How will the ball behave when it lands? Will it stop where you want it to go?
Use your golf mind, focus on the target.
Golf mind focus covers what you are doing with your eyes, where are you looking, what you are focused on, your decision of what to focus on and what you are thinking about.
Be clear about what you want
What you think about is critical. Have you noticed when you think about what you don’t want, when you focus on it, you get it?
It could be simple as you saying to yourself in your mind “don’t hit it in the water, again!” or “don’t slice this one.”
This is a funny quirk of our golf mind. It doesn’t hear don’t.
It’s like parents yelling to their kids “don’t run”. What do they do? Better to yell what you want, in the positive.
“Walk”.So focus on where you want the ball to go.
Be decisive
A key to your golf mind. Focus, make a decision. He or she who hesitates, loses.
When you hesitate you are being indecisive and more than likely scattering your thinking. Usually onto thoughts that are not what you want.
An interesting thing happens when you are decisive. Your mind and body becomes quiet. This is golf mind focus.
What a great way to play any golf shot.
The most powerful strategy for any golfer
The way you breathe, can determine whether you are relaxed, have rhythm, flexibility, and movement. As you execute the shot, breathing moves you out of your head into your body to simply execute your decision, here and now where it counts, in the present.
Now you are in the present playing your shot with full commitment to the outcome. Breathing supports your focus. As you move through your shot your body moving to where you want to go.
Golf mind focus is a mind, body and emotions focus.
Listen to yourself
Notice if your internal chatter. Notice whether it is supportive or not. It’s a signal to either go for it, to stop, or do something else.
Bottom-line, listen to yourself.
If it’s not what you want, it doesn’t feel right, it’s not supporting your outcome, notice it in the moment, stop, have the discipline and patience to back away and start again.
Your mind, body and emotions are giving you clues of what’s working, what’s not, of what to do and not to do all the time.
Focus on the positive, not the negative
An example is if the ball is on a line or lie that doesn’t look good, right, doesn’t feel good. Focus, on what you want, not what you don’t want or on your fear? Make a choice.
Just like you can focus on what is not working which is what most people do and punish themselves. Usually a golfer who does this throws the round away.
Instead, reward yourself for your wins. Build from the strong foundation of the 90-95% of things you do right.
What we believe is what you’ll focus on, and you will justify it, you’ll find evidence to support it. Therefore it will be true, your reality today. I stress YOUR reality. If it’s not what you want, then shift your focus to what you want. Believe that which supports what you want.
Use a positive golf mind focus.
The Golf Designers are playing with your mind too
Now’s add another piece to the equation of focus, or what you see on a golf course. Or more importantly, what you think you see and how it affects your thinking, emotions and decisions.
Remember a golf course is designed to create optical illusions. Designers put your focus on the hazards, on the boundaries. Check it out. Walk the course you are playing backwards, walk ahead a bit, look over the rise. Realize there is always more room to play with than your first impression.
Focus on what you want. Go for it!
As you execute a shot keep your eyes on the ball. Notice the target in your peripheral vision. As you hit through the ball to your target also see the ball to the target. Use your breathing to literally exhale through the ball to your target.
Set yourself up for success with all of you moving in one direction, to one decision, to your desired target. Use your golf mind focus.
Golf Courses
Golf courses have been designed to trick you
Golf courses have been designed all over the world is an optical illusion. They have been designed to trick your eyes and your mind. Here is a couple of examples.
Have you ever noticed that when you par-3 hole on the golf course that it always seemed like it is very narrow and you are forced to play very accurately. There is little room to move and plenty of risk. A bit more about this at the moment.
Or have you ever noticed that when you are on a par-5 hole on the golf course they seem to have all the room in the world. So you tend to aim in a general direction. There is a lot more room for error.
Then there is distance… how far away is the green really? Picking enough club is always a challenge. Judging the distance and knowing you’re going well enough is really important.
Golf courses deceive your eyes!
Whether it’s a sunny day, early in the morning when it is a bit foggy, in the rain, the heat of a summer’s day, or nearly dusk in winter any golf course will test your vision and therefore your judgement.
A good remedy for this is to walk the course backwards. by walking the course backwards from the 18th green to the first tee your start to see from a different perspective the distances that you are playing to.
Most importantly I would suggest you use this as an opportunity to also map out your game plan. Look at distances and map out according to how you play your game.
Golf Coaching
Golf coaching for those who really want to improve their golf
The best golf coaching programs need to take place where it counts. On the golf course.
If you are really serious about improving your golf and lowering your score then you need a coaching program.
Your program needs to cover:
- The golf mind game
- Golf physiology
- Golfing skill including swing fundamentals
- Getting the right golf equipment
- A quality golf practice program
- Course management and strategy
- Knowing your game
- Knowing how to score
Chuck Hogan puts it nicely when he says – “it isn’t golf that is such a difficult game, it’s how it is taught that makes it quite impossible”.
Golf coaching should take place where it counts – on-course, with a focus on playing to a target and lowering your score.
This involves a lot more than a narrow focus on the swing and hitting the ball.
Here’s some of the things quality program can do for you:
- Create awareness of what working and what’s not
- Gives you valuable feedback
- Slows things down – we learn better in slow motion
- Gives you direction
- Lays a foundation for a strong pre shot routine
- Trains your mind and body
Coaching is team effort
Our focus is on helping you achieve personal golfing excellence.
As a Golf Mind Coach Rod Fraser has worked with PGA golf professionals in Sydney Australia at several leading golf courses. At Golfing Excellence we only work with golf professionals we believe know how to coach and are professional golf coaches.
We also work with physiology specialists too, on and off course. Most golfers will need a golf fitness and stretching program as well as having your body, physiology and movement assessed. This will often involve a remedial program with most golfers.
We encourage you to get your golf clubs, golf ball selection and equipment custom fitted to your skill level and physiology.
Find golf coaches who take a team approach
If your golf coach:
- Is focused on teaching you swing technique and to hit the ball.
- Only works with you on a practice area or driving range.
- Doesn’t custom fit your golf clubs.
- Hasn’t custom fitted the golf ball and tees you use.
- Doesn’t get you to keep your golf stats.
- Doesn’t work with you on-course.
- Doesn’t actively work with you on course management and strategy.
- Doesn’t work with a golf mind coach or physiology specialists.
Look elsewhere! You deserve better!
Golfing Goals
You need golfing goals if you want to improve your golf
To achieve your golfing goals you need to know where your game is up to now, what’s working, what’s not and most of all, know what you want.
Setting your goals is the start of your golf improvement program. They give you direction and most importantly, if they are right for you they will motivate and inspire you.
Your golf improvement journey starts with awareness
That requires an awareness of your golf game, not just an impression. Which part of your game do you want to work on? Which area is going to give you your greatest improvement?
An excellent way to do this is to have a golf improvement journal where you track your golf statistics.
Your beliefs will determine your success or failure
Your beliefs are at the heart of everything you do. They will help you or stop you. It’s ultimately a matter of choice.
Some questions to ask your self about your golfing goals:
- Is your goal desirable and worth it?
- Is it possible to achieve it?
- What do you have to do in order that your goal is appropriate and right for you?
- Do you have or can you get the capabilities to achieve it?
- Do you deserve it and will you take full responsibility to make it happen?
A success formula for achieving your golfing goals
- Know what you want, specifically. Break it down into smaller goals if that helps.
- Take action, no matter how big or small the steps as long as they are consistent.
- Know what you are getting at any point in time. What’s working and what is not? Where are you in relation to your golfing goal?
- Tinker, if your strategy isn’t working, keep going till you find one that does.
Four more keys to help you get what you want
- Know what you want, have clarity and direction.
- Be congruent, believe it and do it every day.
- Know how, if you don’t know how, find out, get help.
- It takes time, everything takes time. The process to follow is Be, Do, Have.
Golf is a game of attitude
Enduring champions have an abundance of great attitude. Talent alone won’t do it, in fact someone with talent and poor attitude will not get far in life or golf.
Someone with average talent, great attitude, discipline and belief can become a great golfer.
Obviously the ideal would be to have great talent and great attitude.
Make your golfing goals SMART
- Make your golfing goals Specific.
- Your results need to be Measurable so you know how you are going.
- Make your goals Achievable.
- Be Realistic with your goals and your time frames.
- Set deadlines, work to a plan and make your goals Time related.
- Above all make your golfing goals inspirational for you and others, then live it.
Think through your golfing goals and make a decision
- What do you want?
- What do you want from your golf?
- What do you want that’s different from what you have right now?
- Are you getting it?
- If not, what’s stopping you?
- What has to change?
Everything has a price
Work out what price it will take to get your goal. What are you prepared to pay or not pay? If you really want your golfing goals and you are prepared to pay the price, then pay it.
Golf Vision
Your golf vision, how you see things can save shots
Golf vision includes everything from eye dominance, peripheral vision, where you focus your eyes and what you do with your eyes through a shot.
Golf is an optical illusion that can play havoc with your targeting, judgment of distance and score.
Golf designers are playing tricks with you.
Golf courses have been designed to draw your attention, your visual focus and thoughts to the traps and hazards.
Have you ever noticed how you can be so aware of that bunker or the water that you go in it?
Also the course is designed to play with your perception of depth and distances. The pin looks really close to the edge of that bunker. Yet when you get there you had plenty of green to work with.
Knowing how much room you have to work with can improve your confidence and save you valuable shots.
Get to know your course. Walk any course you are going to play, backwards. You’ll be amazed what you learn. Create a game plan as you go.
Golf vision is what we see with our eyes and what we see in our minds
Zero in on your target with your eyes and mind. We think using the 5 senses. We see, hear, feel ,taste and smell things in our mind.
Some people can visualize easily and others struggle with it. The point is to focus on your target – where you want to go, with your mind however you do that and your eyes.
How you see is important
Ben Hogan was known as ‘The Hawk’ because he used to gaze with incredible focus and concentration on his target.
Then he would simply notice the ball as he played his shot to where his focus was – to the target.
Really narrow your focus on your target so it is the only thing you see. Make a decision and commit to it.
When you are over the ball see if you can see your target through the corner of your eye whilst looking at the ball. Keep your attention on the target. That’s where you are going.
This is your peripheral vision. When you use it you will simply notice the ball in what is called soft vision.
Make your golf vision work for you – know where you are going
Stand behind the ball when targetting rather than picking your target and line when you are over the ball. You will be able to pick a more accurate line. Align the club face to that line and target.
Pick a line, zero in on a small target. Play with precision to that line and target.
Look at the impact point and follow the ball
I often here golf professionals telling people not to move their heads. The reality is you head will naturally move a bit through the rotation of the swing. A better way to look at it is to keep your eye on the ball.
Throughout your shot notice the impact point of where you are going to hit through, play through the ball and literally see the ball to your target.
Your own mind can play tricks with your golf vision
Ever played a par 3 and your perception is you don’t have much room to move. It is really narrow with little room for error. And you make errors easily.
Yet on a par 5 you have lots of room to move and you can your shot precisely to a line and land the ball on a dime.
Your mind can distort your thinking and what you see. To overcome this, focus on what you want, narrow your focus and play to it.
Be aware of your golf vision, use your eyes and save shots.
Golf Practice
Quality golf practice will help you lower your score
A good quality golf practice program will focus on mind, physiology and skill. Most of all it will build strong routines. If you don’t have a program, get one.
A quality golf practice program is more than swinging a golf club and trying to hit the golf ball a 100 or 1000 times a day or week.
Once you have your golf swing fundamentals and set up sorted there are more important things to focus on.
Such as:
- Building a strong pre shot routine.
- Focus on playing to a target.
- Learning to relax.
- Get your balance and alignment right.
- Focus your eyes and thinking on the target.
- Play for accuracy instead of distance.
- Tap into your natural swing and rhythm.
- Learning your distances.
Quality golf practice will help you lower your score
A good quality golf practice program will focus on mind, physiology and skill. Most of all it will build strong routines. If you don’t have a program, get one.
A quality golf practice program is more than swinging a golf club and trying to hit the golf ball a 100 or 1000 times a day or week.
Once you have your golf swing fundamentals and set up sorted there are more important things to focus on.
Such as:
- Building a strong pre shot routine.
- Focus on playing to a target.
- Learning to relax.
- Get your balance and alignment right.
- Focus your eyes and thinking on the target.
- Play for accuracy instead of distance.
- Tap into your natural swing and rhythm.
- Learning your distances.
Golf Tips
The best golf tips are strategies for golfing excellence
Golf tips are strategies for excellence that cover all aspects of your game for mind, physiology, skill, equipment and quality practice.
Here are seven tips for you to consider:
Learn to breathe so you can relax. Relaxation is the key to high performance. And learning to breathe correctly is the key to find a natural rhythm.
Focus on a target, the smaller the target the better rather than focusing on the ball. Play to the target endeavor what you want, play to we want the ball to land rather than focusing on hitting the ball.
Stay in play. This might sound really simple and be common sense, yet how many golfers do not do it. This means for example not over hitting the ball off the tee. Try going to accuracy over distance. It is much easier to play from the fairway than out of the rough, the trees or some other hazard. Even worse been two or three fairways from the one you’re playing.
Slow down!!! A player in a hurry gets agitated, frustrated, rushes their shots and makes mistakes.
Develop a strong, consistent golf shot routine. This becomes your anchor to your entire game so then you can play one-shot at a time.
Play to score. Play strategically. If your ball is out of play, take a shot to get back into play. Risk management is strategically smart.
If a shot does not look or feel right, back away and start your routine again. Even if you are half way through your downswing. Tiger does it. So can you.
Golf Mind Game Assessment
Rethink your golf with a golf mind game assessment
Improvement comes through awareness, a golf mind game assessment is a good way to start looking at your golf mind game.
We know the mind game is 80% or more of golf, yet is often misunderstood and neglected. Without even realizing it we work against ourselves and our score.
A golf mind game assessment will allow to become aware of what it is you are really doing and not doing. To know what’s working and what’s not.
One your greatest challenges in golf is self sabotage
Without knowing it we get in our own way.
We have the challenge of our own limitations of thinking, perception, knowledge, physiology, skill and choice of equipment to contend with.
To make the game even more of a personal challenge, golf course designers build golf courses as an optical illusion to trick you. They add to the golf mind game by playing with your perception.
The reality is that golf is a game of mistakes and therefore it requires good thinking, risk management, strategy and decisions.
Your Golf Mind Game Assessment
Take your time to go through the questions in the golf mind game assessment and answer them honestly. Write your answers down. Something seems to happen when you write things down and you can see what you have written.
Let’s assess your game. Here’s some questions for you to consider.
- What’s happening with your game?
- What’s your handicap now? Is it up or down?
- What do you want? To achieve? To change?
- What’s working well?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Where do you waste shots or energy?
- How do you play under pressure or in competition?
- Do you speed up under pressure?
- What happens when you hit a shot that doesn’t work?
- What are you like with your risk management and recovery shots?
- Do you overplay or underplay any shots?
- Do you have a pre-shot routine you use on every shot? This is your anchor for consistency.
Play with the possibility. What if?
- What’s your score now?
- What if you were able to play consistently?
- What if you improved your strategy?
- What if you saved wasted shots?
- What if you improved your short game and putting?
- What would your New score be?
How would you rate yourself:
- Desire
- Determination
- Discipline
- Persistence
- Patience
- Practice
- Confidence
- Concentration
- Composure
What needs working on here?
What do you want to change?
What have you noticed, have you set yourself up for success or are you working against yourself? Are you playing the shot you want or are you thinking when you shouldn’t be and playing to what you don’t want?
If you want to change, then do something about. If you need help, get it.
A great place to start
This golf mind game assessment let’s you know where you need to focus your efforts.
Work on your golf mind game by learning to let go the result of the previous shot. Learn to relax, focus on the shot at hand. Make a good strategic decision. Play to the comfort of your game and build a good solid pre shot routine.
Also, get and keep the ball in play and really work on your short game and putting. This is a sure fire way to lower your score.
Golf Coaches
Learn to play your best golf with good golf coaches
The best golf coaches look at all aspects of your game – your mind, physiology, skill, equipment and quality practice.
Golfing Excellence focuses on delivering the best in golf coaching. Owner Mind Coach Rod Fraser has deliberately put a strong emphasis on the mind game.
Most golfers have overloaded on golfing technique, swing and golf skill. It’s time to put golfing skill into perspective as part of the integrated whole.
By learning the golf mind game and the role of physiology in your game and introducing golfing skill in this context, your golf game will totally transform.
Most golf professionals who coach are mediocre
Most coaches are PGA golf professionals and they seem to focus on what they think golfers want. Helping you to fix your swing and teach you to hit the ball.
Usually this is in the guise of half hour quick fixes.
If you want more, it’s up to you to ask. Assuming you know what to ask for. And it’s up to you to drive the golf professional to help you improve your game.
The other startling revelation you may discover is a golf professional knows how to hit a ball…most have no idea of how to coach.
Good golf coaches have a different focus
Good coaches on the other hand take a total approach to your game, of mind, body, and skill, with the right equipment and a quality practice program to learn the game and improve.
This usually requires a team approach of a golf mind coach, a PGA golf professional and a physiology specialist.
Their focus is on proactively teaching you the fundamentals of all aspects of the game. Setting you up for success to play good, consistent golf and teaching you how to lower your score.
Once you have the swing fundamentals, they focus on teaching you to score, to play to your target and how to play consistently. For example having your golf clubs fitted to your physiology and skill level and building a strong pre shot routine.
Essentially customizing your game to you.
Get coached where it counts…on-course!
Most golfers don’t get an adequate grounding in the game of golf. Then they waste their time hitting hundreds of golf balls at a driving range hoping to improve.
If you really want to learn or greatly improve your golf game. Then get on-course coaching. I’m not talking about one lesson or half a hour lesson either.
Get a golf coaching program where each session is 2-3 hours on-course. Not just with a golf professional. Find a good golf mind coach too.
Most golfers who really want to improve will participate in a golf coaching intensive of up to three days, two or three times a year or get a coaching program year round with a golf mind coach, pga golf professional as well as have a fitness and flexibility program.
It’s up to you to
It’s your responsibility to demand and seek out the best golf coaching and education available no matter what level of golf you play.
It’s really amazing the impact this approach with golfers of all levels and handicaps has.
Work with someone who will help you play your best, most enjoyable golf for years to come. No matter what handicap, age or skill level you are, good coaching will make a difference if you take the time to apply it.
Golf Etiquette
Golf etiquette can help you play smarter and avoid slow play
You need to stay focused on your game and you can use golf etiquette to help you.
Here’s what I mean. The biggest issue on any golf course or in any golf competition is slow play.
To the point that most people will hurry their shots because they don’t want to be labeled a slow player or simply out of good manners and respect for others.
Slow is fast
A paradox if you like. It is crucial that when you approach your golf ball that you start your golf routine as usual. Take the same amount of time.
Tiger Woods has a pre shot and shot routine that is identical in sequence, nature and time frame every time. So should you.
When I say slow, I mean your golf shot routine should allow you to relax and focus. Plus the best way to find your rhythm is through a slow swing.
Most golfers swing too fast and rush their shots
You know the result of a rushed shot. A mishit, topped, duffed, a terrible slice or hook from hitting the ball instead of playing to a target.
Now you are getting frustrated. Your ball is lost, on another fairway or out of bounds and you need to go again.
Do yourself a favor.
When it comes to your shot. Slow down!!!
You will save strokes and time
Golf etiquette at it’s best is you keeping your ball in play. Going through your routine, playing to a target and hitting a good strategic shot.
Here’s how you can speed up play. Walk briskly between shots. If your ball is not in the line of play of someone behind you in your group.
Move to your ball. Get ready, start preparing, making your decisions, be ready to start your shot routine with club in hand.
Start your routine again if you have too, you will still save time
If your routine is interrupted for any reason. A distraction, your mind wandered, you started thinking about what you didn’t want. Or you lost your commitment to your shot through doubt, fear or lost concentration.
STOP
Start again from the very beginning. If Tiger Woods does it he might be a good person to model. In fact he has such discipline he will stop a shot in the down swing.
Your pre shot and shot routine is the best form of golf etiquette
Stick to your routine. It will allow you to relax, make good strategic decisions, to focus on your target and play to it with ease instead of forcing the ball.
Good rhythm, timing, commitment to a shot and letting the club do the work for you will always produce a better shot.
Golf etiquette is about good golf practices.
Business Golf
Business Golf a path to business excellence through golf
Golf is the sport of excellence and more. Business Golf is a phenomena where golf is a powerful conduit and metaphor for excellence in business.
In exploring the relationship between golf and business, we can take a closer look at two themes of experience.
The first is your personal experience and how golf is a pathway to personal and business excellence. Secondly, the experience with others to create relationship often referred to as Business Golf.
Golf a trance of frustration or a powerful meditation
Many people experience golf as a blend of a few moments of elation and generally a whole lot of frustration without ever knowing why.
A few have discovered that golf is another expression of any ancient art. That golf is a magnificent meditation in the art of intentionality, blending the use of mind, physiology and use of energy to create a clear intention and outcome.
Business golf is an approach to take this way of being into business and golf, through golf.
Golf is a mind, physiology and skill game
The doorway to high performance is through relaxation, awareness, a decision, commitment and focus. To achieve this there is some learning required at the level of principle, in mind, physiology, language, emotion and skill, a cybernetic loop where each one impacts the other, an integrated whole.
We are creators of our reality every second of every day. Golf is no different to life or business in this. Business, golf, it applies no matter the context.
Without the right learning, Golf is a mystery where without knowing it you are working against yourself, right down to your choice of golf clubs and golf ball, let alone poor thinking that defeats you over the ball.
Saying to yourself “don’t hit it in the water, again” is like yelling to children “don’t run”. You set yourself up. Having a head full of swing thoughts will kill any shot.
Tiger Woods says “It is a thinking man or woman’s game. The psychology of golf entails mental toughness, self confidence, intimidation, gamesmanship, conquering inner demons, instant recall of past successes and being able to purge failures. It is the game within the game”.
Learn the mind game and you will transform your golf and much more. I have found golf is a powerful metaphor with direct transfer into how you think and do your role in business.
Lessons from a Chairman
For instance, working with a Chairman from a reasonable sized accounting firm in Sydney Australia recently, he got some valuable lessons through 9 holes of on-course coaching.
Firstly, to be at your best you need to relax. The simplest way to do this is to breathe. Secondly, he got that the target is more important than the ball. Which is more important? Where the ball is or where you want it to land or finish up?
It’s a rhetorical question.
Yet where do most golfers focus?
From the ball your trajectory is infinite. The target is finite.
The third lesson was this – it’s one thing to make a decision, you also need to commit to it. Without commitment you only have doubt and play to doubt or even worse still, fear. That’s a 100% chance of success to get what you don’t want. Some great business golf lessons.
Golf coaching may have mislead you
As golf stands today Chuck Hogan puts it beautifully, “it isn’t golf that is such a difficult game, it’s how it is taught that makes it quite impossible”.
Golf coaching in the last thirty years or so got caught up in focusing on swing, technique and technology. Problem is, golf professionals didn’t mention in their pursuit of excellence that they still work on golf as a mind, physiology game.
The average golfer saw only part of the territory and thought it was the map.
Business golf becomes a powerful a way to experience a more complete view of the territory.
A path to excellence
Learning the mind/body game is long overdue if you are serious in your pursuit of high performance and excellence in golf or business.
It’s your choice, you can relax and find your natural golf game or you can exhaust yourself through frustration and working against yourself at every level. Golf is a great leveler and reveals who people are.
Mind game mastery is certainly something that can transform you. It can help you lower your score, enjoy your golf, change your level of being in business, and build relationships.
This approach to business golf coaching allows you to transform in both areas of your life.
Business Golf – building relationships beyond you
Another side to golf is that it is a great tool for meeting people, discovering who they are and creating intimacy. You can discover how people think, how they make decisions, their strategy, and get to know them under pressure.
There is no better way to get to know someone than out in nature surrounded by negative ions recharging the mind and body.
Meeting Key Influencers
Playing golf with another person or in a group is a great way to network, to create relationships beyond business.
You might go to a networking event that is designed for key influencers to meet and get to know each other. It could be a one day golf coaching intensive or a five day networking event under the banner of Business Golf.
Building value in key relationships
There is an important lesson in business beyond knowing who your market is, who your key clients are and how much they are worth to you. It’s to get close to your key clients and stay close to them.
Business Golf has now become a serious means of creating client intimacy beyond crude database driven CRM. This is hands-on client relationship management and building.
The best part is, it’s personal.
Conclusion
If you truly want to be at your best in business, relax more and get some balance. You need to be at your best in mind, body and emotions to make good decisions, to contribute and to fulfill your role with integrity.
It’s not about working ridiculous hours, exhausting yourself and running on empty.Business is about being your best, to do your best and building strong, long lasting relationships. Golf is a great conduit for business excellence. This is the essence of business golf.
Golf Mind Coach
A Golf Mind Coach will transform your whole approach to your golf
A golf mind coach can teach you strategies of excellence to dramatically improve your golf game and that’s only the start.
Golfing Excellence is a golf coaching company, firstly focused on golf mind coaching, and secondly, in facilitating a total coaching approach working with Golf Professionals and Physiology Specialists.
A focus on the swing has made golf harder than it needs to be
At Golfing Excellence we realized that the emphasis in learning and coaching in golf has been on the golf swing and skill with little or no improvement for the majority of golfers.
The mind game and physiology was sidelined and has been neglected since the 1970’s.
Golf coaching and marketing took a left turn in pursuit of excellence. Unfortunately to the detriment of the majority of golfers.
It was fine for elite golfers because they knew it was important to work on their mind game and physiology, and continued to do so. But unlike the amateur, they had the full picture of what was needed.
Follow Tiger Woods as a model of excellence
For instance, Tiger Woods’ father taught him Tai Chi, fitness training, the mind game and mental toughness as much as he did skill from the very beginning of his golfing life.
Earl Woods was Tiger’s golf mind coach.
At the general golf coaching level and for the average golfer, skill, technique and technology became the primary focus.
The foundation for behavioral excellence of any sort including golfing excellence has always been the mind and physiology, and how you use them. It just got lost in the translation so to speak.
Time to Rethink your golf
Golfers got caught up in one of the major illusions of the game. “Golf is about hitting the ball”.
In reality, golf has been about playing to a target and playing through the ball to a target. Your focus needs to be on your target, not the ball. Looking at the ball and your focus are not the same thing.
Your golf coach may have lost the plot too!
Unfortunately, in response to the requests of the market, most golf professionals who coach responded by teaching people the swing, technique, how to hit the ball and to buy the latest and best driver and clubs.
In focusing on hitting the ball most golfers over hit off the tee and then get tentative the closer they get to the hole through fear.
Now it’s time to shift the focus back to golf improvement
To improve your game we need to learn the golf mind game. Without this you will be severely handicap your ability to be consistent and at your best.
For instance: your ability to relax is your doorway to high performance, staying focused, tapping into your natural rhythm, saving strokes, good decision making and strategy, and having the ability to score.
How do you do this? Through your mind and physiology.
There is so much to learn and apply you can’t do it on your own. You literally need to “change your mind”, to totally rethink your game and thinking about how you play golf.
You need the help of a golf mind coach to transform your mind and your golf game.
Golf Mind Coach – Rod Fraser
Rod Fraser is founder and owner of Golfing Excellence.
He is a Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Ericksonian Hypnosis and Timeline Therapy. He also has an extensive background as a High Performance Consultant.
NLP is about modeling behavioral excellence. As such, Rod is unique in his approach working with the whole person in golf.
He works with you at the level of your mind, values, beliefs, thinking, physiology, emotions, language, focus, memories, confidence, fears, doubts, decisions, strategies and much more that leads to your behavior, skill, capabilities and results.
This includes working with a golfer at various levels of awareness in the conscious and unconscious mind.
What a Golf Mind Coach is not
Rod has been a golfer for 30 years since early teenager years. He is not a golf professional so he will not teach you the golf swing. His coaching is based on being a great mind coach not on being a player.
Good players are not necessarily good coaches. Coaching is an art form and requires its own unique set of talents.
Rod’s own game as ever is an inspired work in progress in pursuit of Golfing Excellence.
Golf Routine
Golf routines are your anchor to consistent golf
This includes golf routines before, during and after a shot as well as before and after a game.
Of all the golf routines to master and perfect the most important is the pre shot routine. It is your key to consistency.
Most golfers play inconsistent golf because they have inconsistent routines. They sort of know there is a thing called a pre shot routine. Yet when they play, they approach all their shots inconsistently. Their thinking is all over the place and they are riding a roller coaster of emotions.
Every golf pro should teach golf routines first and foremost
You need an anchor. Golf is a process, and it can be an emotional game.
You really need something that can relax you, ground you and get you focused on the task at hand. Not to mention following a pattern of setting up a shot that gives you the greatest possibility of executing a successful shot.
Whether you are on-course, on the practice area or on a driving range you must practice your routines as though you are playing for real. Then, in competition it becomes second nature. Your golf routines also help you with your golf etiquette and avoid slow play.
Golf is not a game of perfect, it is a game of excellence
The only perfect game of golf would be 18 hole-in-ones. Very little chance of that happening anytime soon.
Golf is a game of challenge, risk and mistakes. As a golfer your challenge is to minimize the risk, inconsistency and mistakes.
Besides getting the right golf equipment, having your golf clubs and golf ball selection custom fitted to you, you need to have a way of making each shot your best possible effort. To make each shot count. You need golf routines.
Golf is a very personal game. We all have our limitations and challenges. So why not eliminate any self sabotage and give yourself the best chance at personal golfing excellence.
Build golf routines
Routines for you to develop are:
- Pre game
- Post game
- Pre shot
- Shot
- Post shot
Your pre game routine
This is individual but here are a few thoughts.
- Get a good nights sleep.
- Have a good breakfast.
- Do stretching and breathing exercises.
- Meditate on the game you intend playing – go through each hole.
- Get to the course with plenty of time to practice.
- Do everything you need to do to be relaxed and ready.
Your pre shot routine
This is the most important of all the golf routines.
Your pre shot routine starts the moment you walk up to your ball. Not when you address the ball.
You are in the thinking zone as you walk up to your ball from wherever you hit it from. Usually the moment you stand behind the ball you are in decisions.
This is your thinking zone. This is where you make all your decisions on distance, conditions, picking your target and line. The type of shot you intend playing and the club you are going to use.
Once you have chosen the club, settle yourself down. Take three deep breaths as you focus in on your target looking at the target from directly behind the ball with your club in your hands.
Stay in the present
The only shot that counts right now is this one.
Zero in on your target, connect with it and relax. The more you relax, the better you play and the more fun you will have.
Playing better golf isn’t as much about making better swings as much as it is about better choices, decisions and golf routines.
Here is a mind twister. Slow is fast…by building strong routines you build in a way to avoid slow play, yet you are slow in your routine. How? You might say. Well, by having a strong, meticulous routine you will only hit the ball once and stay in play. Saving time and showing great golf etiquette
Thinking zone
Standing behind the ball, decide where you are going.
Once the decisions are made, be decisive and go for what you want.
Also, golf is a strategic game. Play to the comfort of your game on the day. Don’t force shots. This creates the possibility of errors and playing with your thinking, emotions and rhythm.
Use your intuition. Go with your first impressions of which club to use and where to play.
Above all play for accuracy over distance, play to score.
Focus on your target, play confidently. Play with your eyes, body and breath all moving to face your target through the shot.
It’s amazing when you have clear intention and play your intention.
Hitting zone – moving into your shot routine
Play a practice shot – rehearse playing the shot you want to where you want it. Some people like to get the feel for the shot.
Then line up the club face behind the ball, then your feet starting with your front foot. Feel evenly balanced. You may want to slowly move the club back to feel the groove of the shot before you execute.
Breathe, relax and focus on the target mentally and with your peripheral vision. Be aware of the target and have a clear intention and commitment of playing to it.
I’m going through this in slow motion if you like. Once you pull it all together it obviously happens quite quickly.
Here is a few other things I have picked up working with good golfers to consider:
- No swing thoughts.
- No doubts.
- No distractions.
- Notice the ball.
- Play through the ball.
- Play to your target.
Your body, movement, eyes and breathing are all in alignment playing to the target. Above all else you need to trust your swing.
Discipline is the key to golf routines
Ever noticed what Tiger Woods does if a camera goes off half through his downswing. He stops, backs away and starts again.
Imagine the discipline, the awareness and the commitment to play to your target and to give it your best.
Only play the shot when you feel right. If anything does not feel right – break and start again. From the beginning of your pre shot routine.
The clear zone
The only shot that counts is this one. What has happened is over. Let it go. What is coming up will be taken care of in good time.
Put your time between shots to good use. Relax, stretch, think good thoughts, laugh, breathe, let it go.
Deep breathing is a great way to manage emotions and to let it go when a shot did not work.
Your post game routine
Once a round is over. Sit and go through the round in your mind. Where shots didn’t work, imagine playing the shot you wanted, rewrite your round in your mind.
Golf routines allow you to lock in success patterns that give you the best chance of playing your best shots.
Golf Equipment
The right golf equipment can make your golfing much easier
Your golf equipment, clubs, golf balls, tees, gloves, shoes, socks and clothing can be matched to your skill and physiology.
This is one area where most golfers happily spend money. The issue is how and why they are spending that money.
The main thing with all your golf equipment, particularly golf clubs and golf balls, is you want to eliminate variables that could create unnecessary errors in your game.
You can’t buy a better swing by simply buying the latest and greatest golf club or golf ball. You may be unknowingly ruining your golf game and wasting your money.
Get professional help with choosing your golf clubs
Most people spend a lot of money on golf clubs. Because golf equipment can be expensive there has been an explosion of discount golf retailers and online sellers of golf clubs.
The issue is this. Unless that golf club has been custom fitted to you personally it could be creating your slices, hooks and mishits.
It really is worth paying for a golf professional to custom fit your golf clubs.
They will make sure the length of the club, the type of shaft, the grip and the lie angle and type of club head is best suited to your skill level, physiology and swing.
Find a golf professional who is an accredited golf equipment fitter. You may find by spending money you will save it.
All golf balls are not the same
Choosing the right golf ball is crucial to your game.
This is one area where most amateurs get it really wrong. Most golf balls lose compression and shape after 2 to 3 rounds. This changes their flight pattern.
Conversely some golf balls are designed for low handicappers and professionals. And there is some real junk golf balls on the market too.
Get professional advice when choosing a golf ball. One that is suited to your skill level and style of game.
Only use new golf balls and pick one brand and stick to it. Only change as your game improves.
This will help you to get to know your game, distances, the feel of shots and you will be able to compare rounds.
Shoes, socks and clothing
Another important area of your golf equipment to pay attention to.
The first rule is obey the rules of dress and etiquette of the golf club you are playing at.
Secondly, go for comfort.
Golf Skill
There’s more to golfing skill than your swing and hitting the ball
Golfing skill includes course management, strategy, knowing your game, a good pre shot routine and knowing how to score.
Here are some of the things to consider when we look at golfing skill:
- Play to your target, play through the ball.
- It’s all in your pre shot routine.
- Alignment is critical.
- Play for accuracy not distance.
- Keep the ball in play.
- Play to the comfort of your game.
- Know how to score.
- Discover your natural golf swing
- Be a tortoise not a hare, slow down.
Don’t hit the ball
It’s interesting when we consider that in the last twenty years golfing skill has placed so much emphasis on the technique of the golf swing and focusing on hitting the ball.
Sure you need to a build a golf swing you can replicate. You won’t do it by getting bogged down in technique.
PGA golf professionals mostly teach you to hit the ball. Yet when they play the basis for their golfing skill is focused on playing to a target not on hitting the ball.
They play through the ball to the target.
Which is more important, hitting the ball or where the ball lands?
It’s all in your pre shot routine
This is the heart and soul of golfing skill and good, consistent golf.
If you want to play consistent golf then you need to think and do things consistently.
Your pre shot routine starts from the moment you start looking at your target and making your decisions. Once your decisions are made then you need to relax and go through your physical routine of aligning to your target and set yourself up to play to that target.
Zero in on a small target
Golfing skill is about precision, if you really want to score. Align yourself to a precise line and target.
Your golfing skill rests on aligning everything to your target. Mind, body, skill and equipment.
This includes:
- Your thinking – positive, on the target.
- Your eyes and your peripheral vision – notice the target even over the ball.
- Notice the ball, play to the target.
- The club face, your feet and body.
- Your breathing – breathe out through the ball to your target.
Learn to play accuracy first
Golf is a strategic game. You need to weigh up your skill level but even then you cannot get away from a simple fact. It’s all about accuracy and your ability to score.
So you can go for distance. The danger is you open yourself up for a much greater margin of error. You might hit a driver 300 plus metres. But if your percentage of getting the ball in play is low, you need to rethink your game.
I strongly suggest anyone with a handicap of 18 or more should put that driver away. Play smart, use your golfing skill on a par 4 and hit a 3 or 4 iron comfortably down the middle of the fairway and a 5 iron to the green.
This is preferable to playing for distance and hoping to hit your driver an extra 100 metres and a wedge to the green.
The difficulty is if you only manage this 3 out of 9 holes you are costing yourself valuable strokes.
Those 12 holes you are not in play could be costing you 12 or more strokes a round.
Golf is not a game of strength
Most people play golf like it is a game of strength. Golfing skill is about rhythm and timing, not strength.
Golfers who come from strength overplay off the tee because they get out the big driver and try to whack the cover off the ball.
It’s the macho thing of being able to hit the ball a long way off the tee. Problem is the ball more often than not goes off in all sorts of directions. Rather than great rhythm and timing it forces the ball.
It generally creates slices, hooks and mishits. Not to mention injury.
Then as players get closer to the green and the hole they get fearful and start to underplay. They get tentative. They either duff the shot, play short or get the yips through indecision.
Golfing skill is about playing smart.
It’s quite simple really, keep the ball in play
If you were asked to hit the ball to a target 10, 20 or 50 metres away you could easily do it. Get the ball in play and keep it there.
What would happen to your score if you simply kept the ball in play on every hole?
It really is quite simple. Keep the ball in play and you will lower your score.
Play to the comfort of your game
This includes getting to know your clubs and distances. It really means getting to know your game.
An important lesson here is you need to also know your comfort levels for a particular shot on the day. Play shots you feel good about.
Build flexibility into your shots
Seve Ballesteros says every new golfer should be given a putter and 5 iron for the first two years. They need to master those two clubs for every shot on the golf course.
Then add a 7 iron, 9 iron and wedges one at a time in that order. Once you have mastered those only then move up the clubs.
Seve knew what he was talking about. He knew what golfing skill was about.
This strategy will help you keep the ball in play and to focus on the most important part of your scoring game.
Putting and the short game.
Know how to score
You don’t score off the tee. The reality of golf is you score with your putting and short game. Putting is half your allowed par score.
This is where accuracy, precision and routine is what it is all about. This is your golfing skill really counts.
Once you pick a target and line, play it with precise thinking and confidence. Choose your target with precision.
Think about where you want the ball to land and what it will do where it lands. How will it roll and behave?
Treat a wedge shot, a bunker shot as if it was a putt. Go for the hole.
Anyone with a handicap of 12 or less should be going for the hole from 100 metres out.
Tap into your natural swing and rhythm
Relaxation, balance and rhythm. The foundation for a natural swing.
Most people work against themselves without ever realizing it. Totally focused on their swing technique or simply getting the shot over and done with. Not to mention those who might take their frustration out on the ball.
With the right rhythm and timing the club head moving through the ball will do the work for you. It will feel almost effortless. And, it will mostly go where you want it to go.
To tap into your natural swing, first learn to relax. You can do this through your breathing. Take three deep breaths as you focus on your target.
Get a good balance over the ball.
Your breathing is the secret to your natural swing. Most people hold their breath when they hit the ball.
This makes you tense, it weakens you and it freezes your rib cage and movement. You also lose flexibility and rotation.
So, relax. Free up your body, slow down and use your breathing to let your natural swing happen.
Inhale on the back swing and exhale on the downswing through the ball to the target. You’ll be amazed at the results.
Who would have thought breathing would be so important to your golfing skill?
Slow down
Take your time. Go through your routine. Check out the line. Make sure you have the line and distance.
Most golfers feel pressured to speed up on a golf course.
The more you speed up, the more shots you waste. This actually slows down play.
Have you noticed most golfers swing too fast. And, the more frustrated they get the faster they swing. Their golf goes downhill. They have no routine, rhythm or timing.
A great way to slow down is to take three deep breaths before a shot. To slow down to your swing, breathe through the shot.
Be a tortoise, you win your race. Like the tortoise, golfing skill is knowing what you want, having a rhythm, patience, discipline and going for your target with precision and accuracy.
Golf Physiology
Your golf physiology and body could be limiting your game
Your golf physiology, fitness, flexibility and conditioning has a huge impact on your golf game.
Golf physiology includes everything to do with your body and movement.
This includes:
- Your vision, what you do with your eyes and your focus.
- Your breathing, this impacts your movement and ability to relax.
- Your emotions…how you feel affects your decisions, strategy, focus and execution.
- Your intuition which is your compass to know what to do and not do.
Your body may be working against you
If it’s not bad enough that your thinking could be working against you. Your golf physiology, your body and movement may be doing it too.
For example if:
- You have lost flexibility in your back, hips, or shoulders.
- You lack strength.
- You are not as fit as you would like to be.
- Your hamstrings are be really tight.
- You are carrying a bit more weight than you like.
Your body affects your swing.
Your body swings the club. If there is any limitation or restriction to your golf physiology this will affect your swing.
For instance as we age, particularly beyond 40 years of age. Playing 18 holes gets harder. As you tire, so does your backswing. This is the cause of shorter drives, mishits and possible injury.
This is compounded when you play inconsistently, thrashing your way around the course wasting shots.
Stretch for flexibility and rotation
Whatever your age you need to work on your flexibility and conditioning. For some they turn to tai chi to improve their golf physiology or yoga. They stretch regularly.
Particularly stretch those hamstrings.
If you lack flexibility and rotation it will affect how you swing through the ball and how the club face strikes the ball.
Your golf physiology could be creating your slice or hook.
No amount of swing coaching or hitting golf balls at the driving range will change that.
Work on your golf fitness.
Golf fitness and flexibility will do wonders for your golf. You will relax more easily, and have good balance and combined with your breathing will help you tap into your natural rhythm.
Do yourself a favor and find a golf physiology specialist who truly understands Golf Fitness and can set up a golf fitness program of exercises designed specifically for you.
Focus on strengthening your core which is basically working your lower back, hamstrings and abdominals. It’s the key to your best, unrestricted golf swing.
Your eyes determine your focus
Your vision is not just what you see, it’s all about how you see it and what you physically do with your eyes throughout making a shot that can make all difference.
This includes:
- Whether your focus on the target or the ball.
- How you use eye dominance in targeting
- Using your peripheral vision to focus on the target through the shot
- Being precise in picking a line and playing to it.
- Narrowing your vision to the target.
This is such an important topic I have gone into more depth in the section golf vision.
Another important thing to remember when it comes to your vision is that golf courses have been designed to trick you. They are designed to create an optical illusion.
Breathing is your secret weapon to great golf
Three deep breaths as you view your target will help you to relax. Breathing well can free up your rib cage and relax your body moving into a shot.
This is important because relaxation is the gateway to high performance. Your body is freer in it’s movement. There is less effort, you save energy.
In fact breathing is so powerful through the shot routine if done a certain way you will find your golf shots effortless because you will discover your natural rhythm and timing.
The other great benefit of deep breathing is you can use it to manage your emotions and let go of shots that don’t work.
Your emotions can make or break your game
Emotions are intimately entwined in your mind, thinking, body and golf physiology. They affect your motivation and decision-making.
Most people let their emotions get the better of them and ride them like a roller coaster.
The reality is your emotions are electrical signals and hormones that race through your system. If you accept they are signals, then start listening to them. Notice what they are telling you.
There is usually one of two things they are saying to you. Do more of something because it feels good or stop doing something because it doesn’t.
The more you fight against yourself, the harder it gets. You hit a shot that doesn’t work and get angry or upset with yourself. You carry that emotion with you. You get to the next shot still feeling angry. Now you are really going to take it out on the ball. You swing harder and faster.
What happens? You hit another bad shot. It compounds. You lose, in fact you wasted 3 strokes on that hole. Over 18 holes that’s a handicap of 54 strokes.
More shots requires more energy. Learn to save shots and energy.
Intuition
Intuition is your inbuilt guidance system. Some people refer to it as a gut feeling or a flashing thought.
It’s fast and generally very accurate.
How many times have you stood over the ball and it didn’t look or feel right and you still played the shot? What happened? You should have listened and backed away, right?
Golf is a game where you need every advantage you can get. Use your intuition. Listen to it.
Golf Mind
Master the golf mind game and transform your golf game
The golf mind game is 80% of golf and it drives the rest of your game – your physiology, emotions, skill and how you score.
Learn the mind game and you will discover that golf is the best meditation in the world. Focus on your swing and hitting off the tee and you could well be doomed to a golfing life of frustration and torment.
Most golfers talk about golf being a mind game without really knowing or acknowledging the significance of it.
Look at the evidence. How many golfers do you know who really struggle with the game? What about you? Mentally, emotionally, through inconsistency, a lack of focus and concentration.
There’s more to golf than hitting the ball
You might hear people say things like…surely it can’t be that hard! It’s just being able to hit that little white ball, right?
I’ll figure it out, or…
Maybe a few lessons on my swing will solve things…I’ll go to the golf driving range to try and work it out…better golf clubs must be the answer?
Then you go out with a head full of swing thoughts and a driver that invites you to really hit that ball, usually over hitting.
Rhythm, timing and accuracy go out the door.
It’s all in your thinking – You need to rethink your golf
If you want to change any part of your game or you want to improve you need to know what you want. To know what you want, sometimes you need to know what is possible and learn the underlying principles of behavioral excellence and high performance.
Start with what you do know. Try our Golf Mind Game Assessment to help you to hone in on what you want to work on or change.
Decide what you want specifically want that is different or better to what you have now in your golf game.
Set your golfing goals . This will give you something to aim for and be the start of developing a plan.
Take the time to think about your goals, write them down. Make a decision, commit to it and take action. Today.
Most golfers have handicapped themselves without ever knowing it.
I’m going to be bold enough to say that most people know much less about how to play well and score than they realize.
Have you noticed players where every game is a battle, where their skill is hampered, where every shot and every hole, their mind, their thinking, their focus, concentration, their speed, rhythm is working against them.
They can’t find a rhythm or a pattern for success with the game. The game conquers them every time they play and they can’t figure out why.
Golf is so much simpler than most people think.
Most people make golf much more complicated than it is. They can’t get out of their own way. They are fighting themselves and working against themselves on every shot and every hole.
Then the next time they play they go out and think, feel and act the exact same way again and wonder why it doesn’t change. At best, most people tinker with their swing, buy a new driver, or as an absolute last resort – get a half hour quick fix lesson with the golf pro.
Want it to change? Then do something different.
Why keep tinkering with 20% of your game when you need to learn and apply the other 80% as well. The golf mind game.
You can transform your golf game.
If you truly want to play your best or simply want to enjoy your golf. Do yourself a genuine favor. Take a total approach to your game, of mind, body, and skill, with the right equipment and learn how to have quality practice to improve. With your primary focus being on the golf mind game.
Learn about the golf mind game, read about it.
Master the golf mind game and you will transform your golf game.
Golf mind strategies
Here are some golf mind strategies that impact your game.
- Golf Mind Focus
- Decisions & Strategy
- Confidence
- Awareness
- Relaxation
- Managing your emotions
- Beliefs
- Targeting
- Accuracy
