Golf the Mental Game within the Game

Nick Faldo suggested that LIV golfers lack a fear of failure, which he believes results in them being weaker players. However, is this truly the case?

We have long been taught that overcoming the fear of failure can unlock a world of opportunities and possibilities.

Do LIV golfers indeed have less to fear, and does this make them better or worse players?

While difficult to quantify, golf is undoubtedly a game that demands mental strength and resilience.

Faldo said the following:

"Sport is bloody tough. The fear of failure is just as powerful as the quest to win," Faldo said.

"And I think when you're on a fail-free tour, you can't fail. It makes you go soft. I think some of those players have gone soft."

Golf demands precision, skill, and importantly, mental resilience. While maintaining a consistent swing on the course is crucial, it is your mindset that determines whether you succeed in making that putt or not.

Experts suggest that excelling in the mental aspect of the game is essential for achieving your goals.

GETS Golf examines four elements frequently highlighted by some of the greatest players in the history of the sport. These shared insights are undeniably significant.

1 - Set personal measurable process based goals

Setting a score in your mind before you tee off is setting you up for failure. Conditions may simply not allow for it, something out of your control. A windy Pebble Beach is a much tougher course than a calm and windfree day. Rather focus on the work done on the range to lower ball flight or keeping an smooth tempo regardless of conditions.

Putting practice into play - Keep it simple and stick to one goal when out on the course based on what you have been practicing and stick to it.

2 - A consistent pre-shot routine

A consistent pre-shot routine allows you to focus on one shot at a time and not get too far in front of yourself. We have all hit a great drive and immediately thought birdie time.

A pre-shot routine assists in taking what you do on the range and implementing it when it matters the most, allowing complete focus on the shot in question. It helps relieve anxiety of what's next. A pre-shot routine creates repetition and process and prevents overthinking or self-doubt.

Putting practice into play - Set a timer while practicing on the range and adhere to that timing on the course. This helps prevent taking too long over a shot, which can lead to doubt, or rushing because of nerves.

3 - Visualise each shot

This takes practice and more practice.

Jack Nicklaus said, “I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp, in-focus picture of it in my head.”

Visualization, when done correctly, sets you up for success by mentally rehearsing the desired outcome of the shot, be it a three-foot putt or a three-hundred-yard drive.

Psychology tests prove that we use the same neural pathways when picturing a shot or any active movement as the actual body movements required to perform it.

Putting practice into play - Forms part of the pre-shot routine. Don't blindly hit on the range and then expect to visualise a shot on the course, practice truly does make perfect in this case.

4 - Fear of failure

One bad shot can immediately set us back, and we try so hard to make up for it or allow it to remain stuck in our brain on a loop. "What if?" or "If I didn't do that" are often heard among players after a round.

Bob Rotella sums it up best: “The great players don’t dwell on mistakes. They learn from them and move on.” We can't take the bad one back; we can only play the next one to the best of our ability.

Putting practice into play One bad shot doesn't determine the round just as one good shot doesn't mean we make a birdie. One shot at a time mindset is crucial, just as crucial as leaving the past ones in the past.

Developing a strong mental game requires practice and time. It's important not to let the fear of the next shot or performance anxiety hinder us on the course. While we often struggle to carry a great shot forward, we tend to bring a bad one with us. Golf is challenging, so use these insights to build resilience and stay focused. Maybe LIV golfers are free of failure and maybe they are better for it. Golf the Mental Game within the Game.