Mental Errors might be holding your golf swing back

By Blair MacGregor

Believe it or not, there are many golfers out there who are capable of executing every golf swing movement correctly and have a swing that's flawless; but are still lacking something in their game that they can't quite seem to put a finger on. This "little something" is often a mental block as opposed to something in their physical game.

First, there is the teeing up error. Certain golfers may not give themselves as much room as they need. If you're trying to play a slice, you should tee the ball on the right side so that you can swing it left without the fear of clipping branches.

This isn't the only common teeing problem: sometimes the teeing ground will be uneven due to erosion. Try to locate a level spot as you are approaching the tee. Sometimes, its difficult to tell if the surface is even once you are standing over the ball. Consider re-teeing your ball if you are unsure.

Some golfers also have a problem with rushing through their motion and delivery. They don't slow down and focus on their game; instead they keep swinging and moving. But what's the rush? When you are hitting fast, you will lose your focus and more than likely 
screw up your shot.

Rushing through a shot does not make you a better player. Now nobody's saying you shouldn't move quickly between shots, but if you maintain your normal pre-shot routine, you'll do a great deal better than you would rushing through a shot.
Don't worry about any kind of connection in golf between skill and speed because there is none. It's not a race.

Everyone will make mistakes sometime in their game, but if you can remove as many mistakes as possible from your mind and carry on like nothing has happened, then you will stand a great chance of improving your next shot. This is another important part of the mental game--fighting that urge to give up or get irritated. Don't let your last shot negatively affect your next one.

Additionally, there are a number of other mental errors you will run into in the world of golf. These are just a few of of the highlights (or lowlights) that tend to happen more
frequently. If you learn to overcome these, you will greatly improve your game and your chances of winning. Remember: concentration & patience are they keys to a successful golf game.

Blair MacGregor is the webmaster and publisher of GolfReviewSource.com