The Three Most Important Things In Golf You Must Get Right In Your Head Before You Tee It Up

You'll have heard the old adage: "Golf is 90% Mental and 10% technique" - or perhaps you prefer the alternative spin on the same adage "Golf's 90% Mental and the rest is all in your head"

Either way, you and I both know how much of a part our minds play in how well we perform out on the course. It may be in playing each hole beforehand in your mind and planning our next round, it may be visualizing adversity in order that you are prepared when it does occur and your aren't knocked off your stride.

It is easier said than done, and so few players I talk to have any strategies in place to turn the mental game to their advantage.

I want you to be ready next time you are going out to play so here are three tried, tested and proven strategies you can use to make sure you have the advantage when you tee it up, in fact, if you work on these and make sure you have each in place you see great progress and enjoyment across your game as a whole, not only as you play but as you practice too.

1. Mental Preparation

If I'm asked to sum up what constitutes a strong mental game then I will say Self Belief. All the players I know who play consistently well and can win have self belief. On the other hand I know far more players lacking self belief - they have at least one reason why they can't do well, why they won't be able to manage at least one happening that will occur, and this doubt will always be proven right.

What do you believe about yourself?

What do you believe about your game?

Do you have doubts?

What are you doing to overcome them?

… And you must overcome them; you have no choice. So if some part of you game is bothering you then take whatever action is needed to remove the doubt. The doubt is stopping you having any chance to play to your potential.

2. Emotional Preparation

Life now is busier than ever before, and if you are like me you might wonder how you'll ever get to fit any golf into your schedule. Family, work and other interests and commitments all bid for your time.

Be sure you are balancing everything as well as you can otherwise any imbalance will not only affect your golf but just about everything will suffer.

Plan your time; be fair to those who rely on you - turn up for your golf clear of conscience fitting it into its right place in your life.

3. Pride

You can find so many things to be proud about in your golf regardless of your final score, ask yourself this:

Can I be proud about how I….

How I prepared. Preparation will always show through

How I conducted myself in victory

How I conducted myself in defeat

How I handle adversity

How I honour the game and those I play with.

All these should be sources of pride for you. Think about the alternative, take another look at the list above and know ask yourself this question and see how it makes you feel.

Do I want to be ashamed of "How I…"

Hopefully not!

So get proud. Pride is powerful fuel, the most powerful fuel and the best news is it's free. All you have to do is decide it's what fuels you.

So there you have it, 3 important things you must have sorted if you are serious about have fun in golf. You know from your experiences as a player how just about every competition in golf is won by a single shot, and in club golf settled by back nine count back - so don't underestimate just how important all these aspects are. The margins are small the winner will have put in place the mental and emotional preparation needed and will be fuelled by pride.

I really hope this will help you on your way to a better game - better scoring, better consistency and above better enjoyment every time you play golf.