It's a confession heard on every golf course, every day. Amateurs are quick to admit that they knew while standing over the ball that they were going to make a particular mistake. And the worst time to have a negative thought is the instant before swinging. When negative thoughts creep into your mind, step back and regroup. Break the chain of thinking by recalling good shots you've hit in similar situations, maybe on that very hole.
Smooth tempo is a good thought, too, as negative thinking leads to tension.
If nothing else, positive thoughts fill your mind, leaving no room for negativity. Dr. Richard Coop, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina and a GOLF Magazine contributing editor, teaches players to step away from a shot if they have negative thoughts and use a physical stimulus, like re-adjusting their glove or tapping the club on the ground a few times, to reset their concentration. When the setting for a shot is intimidating, like the slicer seeing trees on the right side, Dr. Coop suggests aiming at a spot directly in front of the ball and not looking up. Such regretful sentiments come from the golfer who knew before the shot that something wasn't right. Instead of backing off and starting over, he tried to fight through it.