The two most necessary psychological components of golf

Harvey Penick’s Little Purple Guide needs to be required studying for golfers trying to enhance their video games. Penick had a present for making the complicated appear easy, and his teachings ring true to this present day. With the PGA Tour heading again to Penick’s dwelling of Austin later this month for the Dell Match Play, there is no such thing as a higher time to revisit one of the best secrets and techniques from his Little Purple Guide. This text is all concerning the two most necessary psychological components in golf.

Half 1: The best way to decrease your handicap by 5 strokes
Half 2: What golfers get mistaken about their follow swings
Half 3: The easy fundamentals for hitting an ideal bunker shot

“Aggressive golf is performed primarily on a five-and-a-half-inch course, the area between your ears.” -Bobby Jones

Jones’ infamous quote concerning the psychological side of golf has been recited advert nauseam within the time since he famously uttered the phrase. But even with a historical past of overuse, the unique thought rings true.

Golf is an inherently psychological recreation. Whether or not you’re enjoying towards a buddy for drinks after the spherical or coming down the again 9 at a serious, controlling your feelings is vital to success.

Constructing your confidence begins on the tee field. Whenever you discover the golf green off your tee shot, you’re boosting your confidence (and scoring potential) for the remainder of the opening.

“Psychologically, the motive force is essential,” Penick wrote in his Little Purple Guide. “When you hit your tee ball nicely, it fills you with confidence. However, in case you smash a pair drives into the timber, your confidence will be shaken.”

As soon as your ball finds the brief grass from the tee field, you ought to be crammed with confidence, however your finest alternative to inflate that self perception comes whenever you attain the inexperienced. Holing brief putts is the one factor higher for confidence than hitting a strong drive.

“Sinking putts makes your confidence soar, and it devastates your opponent,” Penick mentioned. “A very good putter is a match for anybody. A foul putter is a match for nobody.”

If you can begin with a strong drive, and end by holing a brief putt, confidence will bookend each gap.

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com the place he spends his days running a blog, producing and enhancing. Previous to becoming a member of the crew at GOLF.com, he attended the College of Texas adopted by stops with Workforce USA, the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all issues instruction and covers newbie and ladies’s golf.