How Does Self-Intimidation Affect Your Golf Game?
How well do you golf when you are playing in a tournament with golfers who have won significantly more tournaments and shoot consistently lower scores than you?
Playing with golfers who have significantly more wins may be intimidating for you.
This form of intimidation is self-generated.
That is to say that another golfer is not getting in your face trying to elicit a negative reaction from you.
Self-intimidation can drastically interfere with your ability to shoot a low score. Self-intimation can create so much anxiety that your body loses the ability to swing the club freely.
Self-intimidation divides your focus.
So instead of dedicating 100 percent of your focus to your game, you constantly have one eye on your opponents and their scores.
For example, only 30 golfers qualify for the Tour Championship including No. 11 seed Pat Perez. Perez had played great his rookie year when he arrived on the Tour and finished 40th on the money list in 2002.
Though Perez has maintained his full PGA Tour card throughout his 16 year career, he has never reached the Tour Championship until this year.
Perez has a mathematical shot at the FedEx Cup title, but many have dismissed his chances.
Perez doesn’t give himself a great chance to win either.
PEREZ: “All the top guys would have to play bad, which they haven’t done all year. So for them to all do it at once, and me win, it’s about the same odds as the Powerball.”
So what is an effective approach to overcome self-intimidation when playing golfers with more success in the sport?
There are 4 strategies you can utilize to overcome self-intimidation:
- Have manageable goals – When your expectations become too high, you will be excessively anxious. Instead, set manageable goals to help you focus on execution instead of outcomes.
- Realize the past does not dictate the present – Just because your opponents have won tournaments does not mean they will be exempt from mistakes, bad shots and poor rounds.
- Focus on playing well instead of winning – Since you cannot predict the future nor can you control the results of the tournament, focus on playing your best golf in the NOW. When you focus on your game in the present, you are better able to swing the club freely, let go of bad shots and play consistent golf.
- Focus on your successes not your opponent’s resume – You have your own success resume. When you focus on your successes and your strengths, your confidence grows and confidence breeds more success.
Of course it may be challenging to play against top ranked golfers or those who shoot low scores but the mental challenge of overcoming self-intimidation is greater than the physical challenge on this course.
Once you learn to deal with self-intimidation, you can play your best golf no matter who you play against.
How to Overcome Self-Intimidation:
The first step in overcoming self-intimidation is recognizing the warning signs when you begin to focus on your opponents and psyching yourself out.
Identify 3 indicators that feed your mental intimidation, such as:
- Focusing on your opponent’s score.
- Comparing yourself to your opponents.
- Mentally reciting your opponent’s results.
- Feeling anxious about playing against certain golfers.
Be aware of these signs, stop thinking about others and focus on your talents and strengths.
Learn Proven Strategies to Perform with Confidence!
Do you suffer from fragile self-confidence after missed hits, playing with strict or high expectations that undermine confidence or the inability to play freely and relaxed on the course?
If you suffer from lack of focus, low self-confidence or other mental game obstacles on the course, you cant reach your true golf potential…
What are mental game customers saying?
“The mental side is everything in golf—the ability to see your shot or line and trust that you can hit that shot or putt. Dr. Cohn has helped me trust my game and putting stroke.”
~Frank Lickliter, PGA Tour, Nike Tour Winner
“To play well, you have to believe you can play well. Confidence goes a long way in golf. Patrick has developed a great system for helping me improve confidence and my overall mental approach to golf.”
~Brian Watts, 11-time Winner on the PGA Japan Tour
“My confidence level has never been higher! I can’t tell you how clearly I was able to think during all four rounds of tour-school. The simple game plan you gave me really focused me. My confidence level has never been higher during a tournament. No matter how much pressure was on, I was able to control my thoughts and execute. Thank you Dr. Cohn!”
~Patricia Baxter-Johnson, LPGA Tour
“The “Golfer’s Mental Edge is a winning mental game program! Dr. Cohn’s program keeps you POSITIVE with your thought process, FOCUSED on what you can control on and off the course, and DECISIVE with the shot you are about to hit! I use his methods in my own game and share them with my students. Thanks, Dr. Cohn!”
~Curtis Way, MGCP
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
If you’re a top performer during practice but find yourself under-performing in competition, the most likely culprit holding you back is your mental game.
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with one-on-one personal mental game coaching.
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
What are our mental game coaching students, parents and coaches saying?
“Dr. Cohn has helped me improve confidence and build a consistence pre-shot routine that helps me stay confident, and learn how to play one shot at a time during competition. He also taught me that I don’t have to hit every shot perfect to score well.”
~Brian Belden, Winner 2003 AJGA Steel City Junior Classic & Marsh Junior at Hawk Pointe
“I have spent hundreds to dollars on clubs, putters, etc. always looking for answers. But I knew this was not going to work because I have some internal issues I had to deal with on the golf course. Working with Dr. Cohn on mental game by far is the best investment I have made. I have some great tools to work on to see my mental game improve. I feel better now than I have ever have on the golf course and I thank you so much for helping me with the positive mental direction.”
~Sean McQueary, Amateur Golfer
“I want to tell you how much I appreciate all your help. You have made an enormous amount of difference in my game. I feel much better because of your help; I don’t feel the tension like I did before. You should feel very good about what you do for people—it is truly a gift!. I know my students and myself have benefited enormously from Dr. Patrick Cohn’s teaching.”
~Jim Dahline, PGA Professional
“I would like to thank you again for our last mental coaching session, which did offer me yesterday my personal best round ever! On a golf course where I had never scored better than 77, I scored a 73 in competition. I cannot believe the incredible inner work this simple session has produced on me and I would like to thank you again for that.”
~Emmanuel Grizaud, Amateur Golfer