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Golf Tips for Dealing With Momentum:
Butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms, increased heart rate, and faster breathing can all result from pre-match nerves. Many inexperienced amateur players interpret these reactions as being negative and harmful to their golf performance, whereas seasoned pros view these feelings of anticipation as helpful. Most pros worry when pre-game butterflies are absent. The added strength that comes from adrenaline changes how a pro plays golf. Seasoned pros know when to throttle back if the adrenaline bug bits. David Duval for example, needed eagle on the last hole of the 1999 Bob Hope to shoot 59. Pumped up by the possibility of shooting a 59, he took one less club than he thought was needed for the shot. The rational side of his brain said to hit four-iron, but his experience told him to hit a five-iron. He nailed a great five-iron pin-high eight feet left of the hole, and the rest is history. Amateurs experience the same physiology when psyched-up. After you hole two long putts on the back nine to get back to seven over par coming to No. 18, the excitement you feel about breaking 80 for the first time becomes both an asset and a liability. The added excitement and adrenaline helps you focus better, but you must account for the influence of adrenaline or you will fly the green. For some amateur players, momentum can swell into over-confidence, which turns a potential breakthrough round into an average round. A sudden rush of momentum can make a golfer feel like Superman or Superwoman. This is similar to the "gladiator effect" for football players. The player develops a feeling of invincibility because he's crawled out of the pile unscathed so many times before. A golfer's tendency when over-confident is to step outside of his or her abilities, abandon smart golf, and play foolishly. Instead of laying up on par-fives that you can't reach, your ego says go for it. Rather than chipping out of the woods, you try a fantasy shot over and around the trees because you are "on a roll and nothing is going to stop you." Instead of prudently using a 3-wood or iron to hit fairways on tight holes, you start to smash driver on every hole because you're invincible. Overconfidence can turn a smart, conservative player into a dumb, attack-without-reason player. The next time you have momentum on your side, be aware that it can lead to aggressive play and you may have to throttle back sometimes to play your best coming down the stretch. Note: This article is based on Dr. Patrick Cohn's new book Going Low: How to Break Your Individual Scoring Barrier by Thinking Like a Pro.
Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with golfers of all levels including PGA and LPGA Tour players. Visit Peaksports.com to gain access to over 400 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs, and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your golf potential: or call 888-742-7225.
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