Yin and yang are two very different forces of nature that coexist in the confines of the same space without conflicting with one another. So you may think that you are reading the wrong article and not one about possessing a good golf swing. Whats this article have to do with golf anyway? Well in a word everything. How so? If everybody, golfers included, could understand the concept behind being harmonious, not only will they live more productive lives, but everything that they do will become more meaningful, more worthy, less work, and more prosperous in many ways. They will succeed and be better than they ever was because of the added confidence that they will have in themselves.

Being the best in golf or any other sport, endeavor, requires being in touch with nature in a way that few people will ever understand. A good golf swing is just a tool to help cultivate and find “the golf swing”. It demands you to become more! A great golfer “FEELS” his or her way around a golf course. You can’t see how to play golf. No fancy million dollar clubs or the best techniques and strategies will make you a great golfer unless you first get in touch with “the game”. In order to master the game of golf you must become the game of golf right down from your very soul. Becoming one with nature is easy if you are receptive to it’s offerings. It is easily missed when one doesn’t know what to look for, many live and never know who they really are. you can only attain this finding through being harmonious (Existing together in harmony). Positive and negative energy, it’s how we walk, talk, chew, live and play golf too, but to do it with precision and grace is to coexist without conflict.

This has everything to do with golfing and beyond? It is who and what we are to the very core. Our very being is a part of the very world in which we live in and to connect harmoniously is to be able to “feel” the way not see it with open eyes. In other words a good golf swing becomes “the golf swing”. it’s like a key to a lock, theoretically, there is but one key for one lock that will gracefully unlock any door. When you find touch you will see things that few people will ever see because you can’t see it with your eyes you can only see it through your soul. It’s not a physical connection but a spiritual, if you will, one that you have to guide you as you block all that is distracting around you when you are concentrating on your tee off. How will you know when you have touch? You’ll know because you’ll feel nothing but it, nature, the golf course. It’s all about feeling not about seeing, at least not in the sense most see. Learn for the first time about self through becoming one with golf and a good golf swing will become the golf swing. The only swing for you that will define your game and make it original, not like anyone elses game but your own.

Each person (golfer) has their own game and the challenge is not to play the game of golf but to find ones self through playing the game of golf. Not only will you have a unique game from anyone elses but your game will be much, much, more productive. It will be your own. Most peoples problems lie in the fact that they try to mimic or (Imitate a person or manner) instead of finding their own originality, something that all of us possess but so few find. Thats also why a person who finds themselves stand out so vividly (stand out uniquely) almost like someone extraordinary, which is as it should be for all. To find ones own originality is to find ones self and unfortunately one cannot and will not accomplish a feat such as this with merely a good golf swing. At least one of everyones life’s goal should be to find themselves, everything else will be of their own originality and not mimic someone elses.

Touch! In the game of golf it is just as it implies. Being harmonious with nature, and drawing from it that that you can’t see, or measure, but you can only feel or sense. Becoming one with nature and all else isn’t relevant. Just the golf course and you.

No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are anyone can play a round of golf anytime! That’s what makes golf such a fun game! No one, who is just playing just to play is too concerned about golf handicaps, good or bad. Just having the skill to be able to hit the ball is enough for some people. However for others it’s their life’s choice to perfect and dominate the game which makes a golf handicap a very serious issue. A lower handicap is to improve your golf game. Although a serious golfer’s aim is to finish a golf game with as few golf strokes as humanly possible, most still possess enough passion to find a deep enjoyable fulfillment in playing.

Where Did Golf Come From?

Clubs sticks and pebbles were among the first pieces of golf equipment ever used? It was said that golf originated in Scotland around the 15th century. Thin leather bags with feathers is what the worlds second golf ball looked like. Then around the mid 1800′s the third version of the golf ball was invented by a Reverend Adam Paterson and it was made from the sap of a Gutta tree. These type of balls could be hit to a maximum distance of 225 yards. An even better golf ball developed by Coburn Haskell surfaced 50 years later. This golf ball was the first one-piece rubber cored ball and it was capable of distances of around 430 yards. Later old scared balls would prove to out perform the newer balls and so the more familiar dimpled golf ball was discovered. Golfers purposely started to dimple their balls for added performance, longer distances, and basically was able to improve their golf game as an overall result.

Qualifications To Play Golf

Today golf is a world wide sport that many flock to because of it’s ease of introduction. It takes no experience to play golf, if you can hold a club you can play golf. Eventhough it can be lots of fun for serious buffs (follower and admirer) the real challenge is to go through an entire game using as less strokes as possible with the use of anything from the latest golf balls, clubs, and other accessories to greatly refined techniques and strategies that are highly geared to help you improve your golf game. Mastering your pitch shot is a proven technique that can quickly enhance your golf handicap! Proper placing of the golf ball after a well executed pitch shot can dramatically lower your golf handicap without doing anything else, and do it quickly and easily.

How Can A Pitch Shot Improve Golf Game

Properly executed pitch shots are done when the ball is hit and it lands as close as possible near the pin, requiring less strokes to place the ball in the pin on the putt. Consistency in making perfect pitch shots that slash your handicap is not only possible but key to lowering golf handicaps and improved overall golf game results. Learn how to hit shots that land closer to the pin and you’ll have the game in the bag, as the old saying goes.

The Real Secret Behind “Perfect Pitch Shots”

In a word “TOUCH! Not too many GOLFERS know what touch is. Who do you know, that you have seen play, that you would say possess touch? How about Tiger Woods? Absolutely! His pitch shots are remarkable, they very frequently land fairly close to the pin. Pay close attention how he does it. He has acquired a real feel for the greens or moreso developed touch. The short game is where 90% of all high handicap golfers have their problems, including but not limited to the pitch shot. It’s easy enough to fix, if one would just put forth the time to learn how? Simply put most people just don’t spend much time learning HOW to hit them. It’s a good thing to be able to hit a ball 400 yards but bad if you have to use 4 strokes getting it back up near the pin.

In case you want to stay ahead in the race between the golfers, it is suggested that you go for training at the precision fitness, to strengthen your muscles and give you a upper hand with the game. This will increase the flexibility in the game, then secures you form the injuries faced by other weak golfers. This sure is a good course to be taken up by all golfers.
The basic rules of contact of ball with the golf club will be taught here in the precision fitness training. The first thing that is taught here is to bring the golf club and the ball in the right contact. Even a small turn in the club will change the angle, and combined with the speed of the club, the ball might steer its way through very odd angles. The grip on the club will be increased when you take training in the precision fitness center. Next advantage is the swing that you get from the ball; it plays a major role in deciding where the ball goes. The arms play a very huge role in deciding the swing too. Third factor is how the ball is being hit, it is also something that is very important, and goes a long way in helping the ball travel longer. If the ball is below, an effect called ‘lob’ might occur. This effect will steer your ball across huge bunkers. A fit golfer is more likely to give the ball more thrust and sends it swinging in the air with all the might, emerging a winner.
One thing that must be kept in mind is that the precision fitness is that golf is also a game. The golfers are athletes. The golfers will need an athletic edge to bring the game under par. This is one reason why the precision fitness training is very important to a golfer. This training will ensure that the golfer will remain fit in all given conditions and will not be able to flex his muscles and generate power on the club. This game consists of 18 holes, so, the stamina and the concentration must be more. You will be able to establish a good focus and stamina once you start taking up the precision fitness training. This will also bring into discussion the body tune. Your body needs to be tuned in order to get a proper hold of the game. The timing, the posture, the flexibility, strength and balance are all that matters. This training gives you the best so that you can give your best, on the field.

The mental game of golf can help to reduce your handicap pretty quickly. Putting is perhaps the biggest part of the game where how you think can make a big difference. Many people develop the putting yips not because they have bad putting mechanics but because they tend to think too much before hitting the ball.
Tip 1: Look and react instead of thinking too much
Sports like soccer and basketball are reaction based and most of the time the players do not have time to think about their mechanics or to even doubt their ability to hit the shot, they simply have to kick the ball or shoot it otherwise it will get stolen. A similar way of thinking in golf might help many amateurs.
You do not need to rush your game before you step over the shot. Instead take your time to pick a proper club or read the green but then once you have made up your mind and stepped up to the ball you need to simply look and react to the target and trust that you will hit a great shot.
Tip 2: Stay in the present
It is easy in the midst of a great round to start totaling up your score and imagining how great it would be if you could keep it going. You need to instead focus on the present and how to best execute the next shot. Try to minimize thoughts of the future and the past. It is difficult to completely block out all future or past thoughts but do your best to focus on hitting the next shot as well as you can.
Tip 3: Do not dwell on missed shots
We all hit bad shots every now and then however the great players are able to learn whatever they can from their poor shots and then simply forget about them and focus completely on the next shot. You need to forgive yourself instead of constantly beating yourself up. It is okay to get a little upset if you hit a bad shot but do not let it last the rest of the round, remember that golf is supposed to be fun.
Tip 4: Manage the course appropriately
One important tip to keep in mind regarding course management is to develop a conservative strategy but an aggressive swing. Most amateurs try to hit shots they have never hit before in the middle of a round. Do not try to be a hero on the course, the pros hit those kinds of shots because they have spent lots of time practicing them and are comfortable with pulling them off with a high percentage rate of success.
Hit shots that you know you can pull off more often than not. If you want to get better then you need to spend more time on the range and practice greens fine tuning your swing and short game, do not try to get a better swing or try new shots you have never successfully hit on the course. Consider some of these golf mental strategies to help you learn how to shoot lower scores fast.

Shooting low golf scores is a great challenge and few people ever learn how to break 80 never mind breaking 70. The mental game can play a big role in helping you to shoot really low scores especially if you already have good swing mechanics and a solid short game. Too many golfers do not have a plan mentally to approach the game and this costs them an unnecessary number of strokes each round. Here are some tips on the mental game that can help you play better golf:
Tip 1: Execute Proper Course Management
Most amateurs are very poor at managing a golf course and try to play the heroic shots that the commentators on television talk about and some of the professionals on tour like to hit from difficult situations. The best approach as far as course management is to have a conservative strategy but an aggressive swing. You need to know what you are capable of doing and play within yourself and only hit the high percentage shots. Do not let what other people in your group are doing influence your decision off the tee. Remember that your main competitor is the golf course itself and your goal is to post the lowest score you are capable of on that day.
Tip 2: Develop a Solid Pre Shot Routine
Having a good pre shot routine will help you to be a more consistent player since it will help to get you physically and mentally prepared for every shot. There are 2 aspects to the routine and they include the mental and physical routine. The mental routine is more important however a consistent physical routine can aid and support the mental routine also. Try to be flexible in your physical routine and allow yourself to take extra practice swings if necessary at times. The key aspect of the mental routine is how you think before you strike the ball.
It is important to clear your mind and focus only on the target when you swing the club. You need to trust that you have trained your swing enough on the range to be able to hit the ball well on the course. If you constantly think about swing mechanics then this will affect your ability to play well especially under pressure. Do not worry if you find your heart racing and even your hand shaking a little during a competition as this is normal and you should even try to enjoy it as it is simply a surge of adrenalin going through your system. Just look and react to your targets and this will allow you to hit the best shots in those situations.
Tip 3: Think Positive
You know you need to do this but most people have a bad habit of dwelling on their bad shots. This can really suck the enjoyment out the game so relax and even laugh a little when you find yourself hitting some bad shots. Remember that golf is a game of mistakes and then recovering from those mistakes as fast as possible. Try some of these golf mental game strategies to help you reduce your handicap faster.

Golfers are bombarded with advertisements for the latest fabulous, amazing high-tech golf equipment, clubs with the magic power of wizard’s wands and golf balls that soar far out into the heavens, or behave as they are being operated by remote control.
Every golfer dreams of improving their golf game, so most of us are conditioned to believe we need the latest and greatest equipment to achieve our goals.
Shop Online for Discount Golf Equipment
There’s no doubt that having good equipment should be part of a golfer’s strategy to improving their game. And fortunately, because of tremendous discounts on equipment offered at shopping sites all over the Internet, the best clubs are not out of reach for even the most budget conscious golfer.
Shopping for equipment online may take getting used to, but the savings are well worth it. Step one in your game improvement strategy is to give yourself the competitive advantage of having the best equipment available.
Practice will improve your golf game.
There are two other often overlooked ways of improving your enjoyment of the game of golf: playing more and practicing more. Only a small fraction of golfers ever take lessons, and that’s a shame, because a trained golf teacher can quickly spot flaws in your swing that you are totally unaware of. Why not take some of the savings on equipment you earned from shopping online, and putting those dollars toward a series of lessons? (Most professional teachers offer discounts if you sign up for a block or series of lessons, rather than booking them one-at-a-time).
Play more and improve your golf game.
And then, get out there and play more. Increasing your frequency of play is the best way to truly get a feel for the game of golf, so the club always feels comfortable in your hand, rather than like some foreign object you have just become acquainted with. But you say, greens fees are too expensive these days, and your golf budget is maxed out? There are solutions for this problem as well on the Internet. You can get coupons for discounts on greens fees of up to 50%, purchase passes for discounted play, or even get free rounds of golf. Besides saving tons of money, you might find great courses to check out that you have never heard of before.
Try these three strategies together: Get the best equipment at discounted prices, spend more time practicing and learning the game, and get out there and play more frequently. You’ll be surprised how many strokes you can shave off your average score.

How can you improve your game, eliminate those regular poor shots without thinking?

I want to ask you a question? ….which word best describes the way you learn a new task?

For me and I think for most people, that word is ‘IMITATION’! If you look at infants in their early years, the way they learn and pickup your habits for better or for worse are by imitating you! That’s the beauty of this skill which is genetically ingrained into us from birth. It transcends any language barrier!

That’s why I love the use of  golf training aids. Because that’s the way we have learnt new skills ever since our first steps in life. We as human beings learn best by imitation. We watch, imitate and repeat.

This is how we can improve on our game without being overwhelmed by countless swing thoughts.

For those of you who are not quite familiar with the term golf training aid, it is a device (and there are many to choose from) which will help you to swing the right way.

A golf training aid can get you swinging the right way by utilising Muscle Memory-in other words Imitating, without the mental overload of advice and tips coming in from all directions.

How many of you folks out there have a habit…whether good or bad? I know I have but ill never quit Hershey’s bars-never!

Now you know that a habit is the product of repetition continuously until it becomes automatic without thinking.

This is how a golf training aid works, it gets us swinging or putting the correct way until it becomes a habit with no need for overwhelming swing thoughts. And swinging well folks is a great habit to keep don’t you think?

Also, the beauty of golf training aids is that there are many types to choose from which target all the aspects of your game you may need to focus on, therefore satisfying your own personal requirements.

For example you may be having problems with and so need to correct your swing plane, your address to the ball, weight transfer, shoulder turn, wrist break, head movement, balance, putting and the list goes on.

So if your want to get your game back on track, by utilizing the skill nature has given us all – Imitation, then a golf training aid is the perfect partner for a better swing.

I wish you the greatest success on and off the course….Jock Mcdoogle

Did you know that hanging on to bad shots, bad golf moments, and general negativity is one of the most prevalent mental practices that weighs golfers down, holds them back, and leads to less-than-positive golf experiences? It permeates the entire mental golf psyche and distracts from focus, visualization, and awareness. In fact, all of those “could haves,” “should haves,” and “if onlys” take away from mental energy that could otherwise be put to good use on constructive thoughts that will help your game.

So what exactly is “hanging on?” It is a mental habit of actively keeping thoughts and memories of past negative actions and experiences in mind by dwelling on them, frequently recalling or “replaying” them, and allowing them to linger and fester and take the place of otherwise helpful thoughts and memories.

And what is it that golfers hang on to in their minds? The specifics vary from person to person, of course, but the common factors include:

Memories and thoughts of —
- bad shots
- bad rounds
- bad tendencies
- mistakes and “flaws”
- “ruts” you have been or are stuck in

Plus negative mental habits and tendencies such as —
- Fear
- Anger
- Frustration
- Worry
- Self-Doubt
- Self-Comparison
- Blame
- Dread
- Resentment/Envy
- Misconception that you need to try harder

“Hanging on” is a negative mental habit I have grappled with in the past, and it definitely affected my game. I would get so preoccupied with hanging on to the memory of a missed putt or errant drive that I would lose focus on my current shots and strategy, and then my game would suffer. I have known others who have hung on to bad shots for an entire round and even afterward, and they would keep talking about it. Thinking of your own game, you can probably recall some examples of “hanging on.” What is it that you tend to hang on to? Maybe it’s the memories of missed putts and poor shots like I did. You’ll be doing yourself a favor by taking notice of this tendency, then doing something to curb it or cut it short.

A helpful tip that helped me to reduce my tendency for “hanging on” and is something I continue to practice is:

Consciously focus you attention on remembering the positive and letting go of the negative. Practice filling your “memory bank” with memories of good shots and positive outcomes and not “storing” thoughts of mistakes, problems, and poor shots. Think of it like putting thoughts of the negative moments in the trash. Leave your past in the past!

We’ll have more practical tips on curbing this negative mental tendency for “hanging on” in our soon-to-be-released Positive Golf Handbook. Leave a comment on this blog about what you tend to hang on to on the course, and I’ll email you some more of these tips.

Here’s to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Credits: Positive Golf

I often hear from people who have a golf outing or event coming up and they are feeling anxious because they haven’t played in a while. They want a quick mental golf tip or two that they can start using right away to help their game. If you are in a similar situation, or are just interested in starting to beef up your mental game in general, I have put together a list of some mental golf fundamentals that you can start doing right now, wherever you are. A key idea behind all of these tips is one of changing mental habits that clutter your mind and distract your attention away from really focusing on your strategy and the shot at hand. These are things that I continually remind myself to do, especially if I am feeling “scattered” and off-track in my mindset and my game is reflecting that same thing. By starting these new mental practices right now and persisting with them, you will be headed in the right direction for building a stronger mindset and setting the stage for more Positive Golf experiences. Keep in mind, these things can (and should) be done both on and off the course, whenever you are playing or thinking about the game. These skills get more natural and effective with practice.

1. Let go of those bad shots. I know. I know. Easier said than done. But believe me, it makes a difference. Dwelling on missed putts and errant drives demands a lot of mental energy that distracts you from productive thoughts and better focus.

2. Don’t dwell on fear. Here again, easier said than done. And here again, an enormous “consumer” of mental energy. Start by picking one thing you are really fearful about (i.e. missing short putts and looking bad in front of others) and consciously make an effort to “switch gears” to more productive thoughts (i.e. swing thoughts and your strategy) when this pops into your mind.

3. Let go of that blame. Like fear and holding on to bad shots, frequent blaming also consumes a lot of mental energy and distracts you. While blaming might help you justify things and help you feel better for a moment, it takes your thoughts away from the shot at hand and also from getting to the real cause of swing problems or other challenges. (Your clubs and the weather are not always at fault!) Make a concerted effort to tune in to your blaming tendencies and steer your thoughts in a more positive and productive direction.

4. Take the pressure off. It’s a common practice to continually put pressure on yourself to hit farther, make more putts, and score better. Self-motivation is one thing, but persistent pressure can distract your focus and be counter-productive. Seriously, give yourself a break. When you notice those pressure-filled thoughts filling your mind, switch gears to swing thoughts and some self-encouragement.

5. Stop dwelling on “hitting.” It’s a very common tendency these days to think about hitting at the ball harder with more effort in order to achieve more distance. A lot of people spend a lot of mental energy dwelling on trying to figure out how to “hit harder,” when the real solution is less effort and more allowing. Switch those hitting thoughts to more productive thoughts of feeling and allowing the smooth, natural swing. (For more insight and tips on this topic, check out my Goodbye Hit, Hello Swing e-book.)

Now, you’re on your way to a mental golf mindset that is stronger and more aligned with the flow of productive thoughts and a smooth, effortless swing.

Here’s to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Credits: Positive Golf

Like so many people, I have enjoyed watching the Olympic Games for the past 17 days. I have enjoyed viewing them for many reasons, with a primary one being that it helps my golf game. Even though golf is not part of the Olympics at this time, there are still a lot of beneficial things to be learned from a mental and athletic standpoint that can be applied to golf. The ideas and inspiration from athletes in a variety of sports can successfully be applied to golf, and many other aspects of life for that matter. Here are the top five ideas that stood out for me in the past couple of weeks and served as valuable reminders and motivators for my mental golf mindset and golf improvement activities:

1. Look forward, not backward. Let go of misses and mistakes and look forward to positive possibilities and outcomes. Don’t dwell on what went wrong because that will hold you back. The past is the past, period.

2. Take responsibility – don’t blame. It comes down to you on the course, the court, the track, the pool, or wherever. Blaming mistakes or poor performance on other people or conditions (i.e. heat) does not help anything, because while you are blaming and complaining other competitors are not – they are focusing on things that help their performance instead, and it shows.

3. Don’t get affected by limiting ideas about “age.” Don’t buy into common ideas and beliefs that you can’t do certain things once you reach a “certain age.” There were several shining examples of athletes past what is traditionally considered “prime competitive age” who blew people out of the water (no pun intended) with their attitudes and performances. These athletes weren’t “superhuman,” but they each had a super attitude that did not focus on what are “supposed” to be the “limitations” of age (i.e. You’re old and stiff and “over-the-hill” past 40.) They really get the idea that “You’re as old as you think.”

4. Believe that you can do it. Time and again, the athletes who surprised with their performances, did the seemingly “impossible,” or just stuck with it and went on to win expressed this can-do attitude in follow-up interviews. They showed us the supreme value of believing in yourself and knowing that, yes, you can do what you put your mind to when you absolutely believe in yourself. This applies just as much to achieving a goal in golf as it does to achieving an Olympics medal.

5. Always strive to improve. Here again, those shining stars on the court, the track, and in the pool make frequent reference to their continual efforts to improve, whether it be their form, their time, or their strength. Their years of preparation, out of the public eye of the Olympics, are filled with days and days of dedication to improvement. And they fully embrace the idea of improvement – watching videos, seeking feedback, building their bodies and their minds. They strive for practice that is positive and productive, not merely repetition. And yes, this approach is just as beneficial for golf improvement for the recreational golfer as it is for the Olympic athlete! Take the open, receptive, and persistent approach to improvement and stick with it!

These are the “Olympic ideas” that have re-charged me and my game. I would like to learn about the ideas that helped others. Feel free to add a comment to the blog…

Here’s to great golf!

Rick Semple
Positive Golfer
Co-Founder, TheHeartofGolf.com
http://www.TheHeartofGolf.com

Credits: Positive Golf