What else is there to think about?

Replacement routines can also be effective in this instance.
I recommend a four stage routine. Typically when something goes wrong on the course and you feel frustrated, annoyed or angry the first thing I recommend is that you acknowledge your anger - but not dwell on it! Then we must go into the second fix phase. When we are angry we tend to speed up and make knee jerk reactions. I’ll get the golfer to take a nice even breath to help gain control and slow the situation down again. Sometimes I’ll get them to use a physical cue such as snapping a wrist band, pinching their nose or tweaking their cap. This becomes symbolic of slowing down and taking control of the situation. The third phase is the forget phase. I’ll get the golfer to challenge their rationality and logic. They must acknowledge that the shot is finished and they cannot play it again.

There is no benefit in dwelling on a bad shot. The final phase is to choose a constructive focus. Now you have a fresh shot and a fresh opportunity to play the kind of shot you want to play. So you replace your bad anger habit with a new and more helpful habit.

Ultimately what we want to achieve is consistent golf, and this new routine will help you to achieve that. To begin with you’ll forget to do the routine, but that goes back to learning and practicing these techniques. Your bad habits have been ingrained for years, and you have to spend time undoing and changing them. Eventually through constantly challenging yourself the new habits will come, and you will gain the composure you are looking for.

I will also work on a pre-shot routine. For me that is the anchor to any good golfer. Most people think they have a routine, but usually they haven’t got the psychology side of it. The whole point of the pre-shot routine is to get you physically and mentally ready to take a shot. Physically you might be ready but if you are still dwelling on the last bad shot you are not mentally ready. I help my golfers to develop a signal as they approach a shot that cues them into concentrating on the task at hand. This will help them to focus their attention on the fresh challenge ahead of them, rather than what has gone on in the past.

Another thing I get people to do is to go through what if? scenarios. What if I play three bad shots in a row? What if I stuff up the first two shots? What is going to be my strategy is this happens? I get them to think through these types of scenarios, create an appropriate action plan and then visualise themselves completing this strategy. If you allow yourself to see yourself dealing with the situation effectively then you are more likely to manage
should it happen.

Sounds useful to any golfer...

Sports psychology can help a golfer play consistently, overcome the yips, increase confidence, cope with pressure effectively. The list goes on and on. Sports psychology techniques and strategies are also useful for life in general. In day to day life, you can get hacked off in the supermarket or with your boss, you can be nervous about an interview, lose concentration in a meeting. I think sports psychology techniques and strategies can work for life, not just golf.

To identify your problems on the golf course and work out effective strategies to improve your game or attitude contact:

Allison Dyer, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) Accredited Sports Psychologist and British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Psychologist works as the consultant sports psychologist at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy (La Cala), El Paraiso Golf Club (Estepona) and Positive Golf at Greenlife (Elviria).

Allison will be making a regular contribution to the magazine, starting next issue with advice on how to create a sound pre-shot routine .