Mind
Games
(sports psychology)
Teeing it Up in Tournament Play
by Dr. Rick Jensen
For many, golf is a social activity - an opportunity to be with
others, have some fun, and get away from their day-to-day work
routines. However, others view golf as a chance to test their skill
against talented players and consequently pursue tournament play when
time permits. Tournament play is one of those unique experiences that
separates the competitive golfer from the social golfer, because it
requires an entirely different set of mental toughness skills.
Professional golfers obviously have mastered the skills necessary
for competing during tournament play. Furthermore, touring pros have
learned that the days prior to a tournament can make or break their
performance once the tournament begins. If you tee it up in
tournament play, you will benefit greatly by practicing the
tournament preparation strategies used by the pros. Here are a few:
The week before the tournament
1. Take care of all loose ends in your personal, vocational,
and/or social lives prior to departing for the tournament. Bring
closure to any items that you may tend to think about while away at
the tournament. If you can't bring closure to things, then be willing
to put off any decisions and thoughts regarding unfinished tasks
until you return home. Prepare to place all of your mental energy on
one thing - playing good golf.
2. During practice periods, place particular emphasis on
practicing your short game (chipping, putting, sand play). Building
confidence in your short game will not only help you "score low," but
it takes some pressure off of your full swing by eliminating the fear
of additional strokes every time you miss a green.
3. Play more competitive rounds (e.g., qualifying rounds, bets
with friends) while decreasing your time on the practice range. The
goal is to get into a "performance" mindset rather than a "learning"
or "tinkering" mindset.
4. Obtain the home course advantage. Utilize practice rounds and
discussions with others who have played the course to familiarize
yourself with every aspect of the course: fairways, trouble spots,
greens, and approach shot areas that give you the best opportunity
for birdie. Chart the course and take notes in your yardage book;
make your yardage book so clear that you can open it at any point on
the course and have no doubts where things are located (hazards,
carry points on green, fairway landing areas) and how far you are
from them. Know yardages to the front, back, and "ideal landing
point" on green for possible pin positions.
5. If you know that certain conditions (fast greens, thick rough,
narrow fairways) exist at a particular tournament site, begin
practicing under these conditions prior to departure.
The day before and day of the
tournament
1. Leave your practice and learning strategies at the practice
range. Acknowledge that you have done everything possible to develop
your skills to their present level and approach the tournament with a
"playing" mentality. Tournaments are opportunities to demonstrate
your skills, not evaluate each shot and make revisions.
2. Stick with your daily and nightly routines. Eat, sleep, and
relax in ways common to your day-to-day life.
3. Warm up before each round - remember the goal of your time on
the range before playing is to "warm up," not practice. Spend your
warm up time loosening up your muscles and getting your mind into a
"performance-target focused" mode. Accept whatever ball flight
pattern you are producing during warm-up and play with it on the
course that day. Do not attempt to "fix" things on the range if it
isn't happening naturally, this is not the time to try and correct
it.
4. Stay well-nourished and rested throughout the tournament. Bring
energy foods (e.g., bananas, apples) and consume plenty of water
throughout the round. Remember, if you begin to feel thirsty, you've
already started to dehydrate - drink water regularly, so that thirst
is never an issue.
Tournament preparation separates successful tournament players
from the "wanna-be's." Prior to your next tournament, review the
above strategies and make them habits of your own. Whenever possible,
don't wait for the practice round to gain an edge on your
competition&endash;quality preparation is worth several strokes on
the field.
Dr. Rick Jensen is President of the Performance Enhancement
Center of Boca Raton and the Director of Sport Psychology at the
Academy of Golf, PGA National Resort and Spa. He works extensively
with touring pros on the PGA, LPGA, Nike and Golden Bear Tours, and
is a frequent lecturer at golf clubs nationwide. He can be reached at
561-852-3603.
