[fiettariaps]

I would like to take this a bit further. Most of us agree that positive thinking helps but, my question is, how do you maintain positive thinking when you are having a really bad day on the course? Or how do you discount a bad day (at work, etc) and not let it bother you on the course?

Course management 101. Every hole is a new beginining. Heck, every shot is a new beginning. I like the idea of using my club to tap the last bad shot into the ground, so the next one is a new start.

Before I took up golf, I played tournament bridge and was pretty good at it. It's the same idea--you have a blowup, but you go on to the next board (or hole). One blowup won't kill you; you just have get past it. If you let it affect you going forward, you're sunk.

[unatkot]

I frankly don't. One, I find it doesn't work (same with saying, "I'm going to sell something today"...what, does your effort into your work change this day over last? It's great to be positive and all, since it makes you cheerful, but I always put in 100%, so saying it doesn't help).

Second, though, I find it makes me cocky. There are many putts I know I'm not going to sink, but if I try then I'll hit it too hard and overshoot if I think it's going into the hole, rather than a strategic lag. I don't aim every shot for the hole, I aim it with the big picture in mind.

I don't think positive thinking means "I'm going to sell something today", I think it is, "I am going to make as professional a presentation as I can today." Positive thinking is more about controlling how you approach what you are doing rather than focusing on the outcome. I try to positively believe and imagine my ball clearing the bunker and landing near the hole. The outcome may be that I hit the lip of the bunker and drop back in the bunker. Still, I made my best effort and did not defeat myself with my mind before I even made the swing.

[CedssypeEdids]

Only on 12 foot par putts.

[Uzezqelj]

While positive thinking is obviously about focusing on success and all that, I think a big part of it is beginning with realistic goals.

If, for example, you know that on your best day you can hit a driver maybe 240 yards in the air, no matter how positive your thoughts may be, you're simply not going to clear the long side of a water hazard that requires a 265 yard carry. That's not to say that you can never develop the swing needed to do that, but for now, the whole concept is out of the question.

Course management plays a big role in successful outcomes as does an honest assessment of your true abilities. Anger management is necessary to a point but since anger is a natural reaction to poor shots or poor execution, it's best to let it happen and get it over with and then focus on the next thing you need to do.

So considering all of this, when faced with a situation out on the course, taking a realistic view of what needs to be done is first, followed by a realistic assessment of what you're capable of doing and then making a realistic choice of how to proceed. Thinking in such terms almost always produces a positive result, which builds confidence and promotes a more positive outlook overall.

As many positive results build up, your confidence grows along with it as does a better self-image, not just as a golfer but also as a person capable of success. As these successes mount, you may be more inclined to try to enhance your present skills, whether by practicing more or perhaps taking some lessons and as your skills improve, so too do your options when you're out on the course so that one day, that 265 yd. carry over the water won't be a risk or an egotistical pipe dream, but rather a viable and very realistic option.

So basically, realistic thinking breeds successful outcomes, successful outcomes breed positive thinking, positive thinking leads to improvement, improvement leads to more choices and more choices leads to lower scores. The trick is to begin by thinking about what you CAN do rather than trying to force yourself to attempt shots that you simply don't have in your bag.


-JP

[TravelMan]

Duey - I think it's more about your attitude than your hat.

[Antelpebabe]

Duey - I think it's more about your attitude than your hat.

Lol, how did this end up over here? I think your right Diane. But, I think positive thinking is only half of the deal. To me, I have to execute positively. When I have a lot of faith in my abilities on a given day, (just know I'm going to do well), I stay down better, swing a lot more fluidly and simply execute better. Positive thinking makes it easier to concentrate because your able to get rid of a lot of the negative thoughts allowing yourself to execute.

I don't know that positive thinking set's it all up either. I really think the ability to concentrate gives you the positive thinking and execution, or some day's you simply have all three together at the same time. I have plenty of day's were my ability to zero in is simply not there, nor is my game.

[Uzezqelj]

It definitely helps as long as you genuinely believe it. If you just say it, but your inner voice is saying something like "ha, you don't have a snowball's chance from here", it won't work.

That's the single most important aspect of such thinking.

You can SAY whatever you like but if you don't honestly believe what you're saying, then the whole exercise is pointless. Positive thinking is fine, but it needs to be buttressed by a true sense of confidence and a firm belief in yourself and your abilities.


-JP

[igs00r]

I would like to take this a bit further. Most of us agree that positive thinking helps but, my question is, how do you maintain positive thinking when you are having a really bad day on the course? Or how do you discount a bad day (at work, etc) and not let it bother you on the course?

It's all in how you look at it. Some days i might be missing gir's or putts but if it's a good ball strike, focus on that. There's bad breaks in golf, that's part of the game. I think there's always something positive that happens on the golf course, and quite simply, just being there is positive enough.

[pBiRXp8u]

What about the folks who step on a tee box and say " ****, there is water here"
They are finished.
Or Hope I don't hit it into the water or that trap. You will never improve with those thoughts

I must have missed this comment when this thread was active the first time. Gotta say something about it though.

In golf, the power of negative thinking trumps the power of positive thinking every time. You will almost never see any player be successful if he approaches a difficult shot saying "I can never hit this one right.", or "Water always messes with my head." We have all seen it. Until you learn to get those thoughts out of your mind and think only of the positive target, you will continue to dunk the ball in the water every time you face it.

I have a friend who can be hitting the ball perfectly (for him... he is a fairly high handicapper, but it's his short game that really kills his score). We come to the 7th hole where the 2nd shot is a carry over a 80 yard wide pond. The shot is usually a short to mid iron depending on how well you hit the tee shot. There is plenty of room for error as there is still 40 yards of fairway between the far edge of the pond and the front of the green, yet he puts a ball in the water here about 80% of the time. He suddenly has lost that swing that he's made for the first 6 holes, because in his mind, that pond has taken on the dimensions of the Pacific Ocean. He is scared spitless of that hole, yet at 340 yards, it's the shortest par 4 on the course... a hybrid or long iron off the tee, then a short iron to the green. He considers it a success if he makes a double there. And afterwards, he's usually a mess for several more holes. All compliments of the power of negative karma.

That is why you should approach the golf with a strong positive outlook every time. Once the bad thoughts creep in, it's difficult to exorcise them.

[soprofaxelbis]

I believe that's a relatively well known issue with the subconscious mind. If you think to yourself "don't hit it in the water", the subconscious mind misses the "don't" and just hears "hit it in the water". You're far better off thinking along the lines of "hit it on the green" or "hit it to the left side of the fairway". Because then you and your subconscious are working on the same thing.