Question of the week [Oct. 5-11]: What mental exercises do you perform before or during a round of golf?
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Steve Scattaregia | Wake Forest, NC
Recall prior success.
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Thomas A. Franko | Chatham, NJ
I concentrate on the next shot only, resisting the urge to peek at an upcoming green or dwell on the weaknesses of the previous swing.
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Gary Stauffenberg | Phoenix, AZ
Regarding Jack Nicklaus' famous assertion that golf is 90% mental: both yes and no. Yes, but only if you consider the pre-swing setup as part of that mental exercise. The game is hugely dependent on proper setup: stance, grip, and posture.
Beyond that, I assign 10% to course strategy (identifying the smart target) and the remaining 10% to the single swing thought that initiates the action (a forward press, a shoulder turn, or whatever gets you moving).
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Barry Duckworth | Knoxville, TN
As an 18-handicapper, I’ve recently learned that after a bad drive or recovery shot, I have to stop and ask myself: "What do I need to do right now to make bogey?" Then I force myself to execute that smart shot.
I recently competed in a four-day full-handicap tournament, which meant doing a lot of self-talk over 72 holes. I learned firsthand how much bad drives shift your mental approach when you’re playing for something that matters.
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Lori Collins | Jacksonville, FL
Focus on form and tempo.
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Dwight Hendrickson | Oro Valley, AZ
Take a good deep breath, relax the arms, and focus on a single target point.
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Front: Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club, Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Photo: Golffile