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.

Far too frequently many golfers become so caught up in the essence of making the perfect shot that they fail to consider the basic keys to making a good shot. There are three essentials to any good golf game. Without mastering each of these three key elements it is impossible to achieve any level of success with your game.

Unfortunately, many players labor under the assumption that once they have mastered the ability to swing the club correctly the game should just naturally fall into place for them. This is highly incorrect. It must be stressed that each of the three key elements must be mastered in order for swings to be produced accurately and successfully.

The basic ability to swing the club correctly is certainly important. No successful game of golf can exist without it. That said; however, the only true correct way to swing the club is with a sense of body control. The ability to swing the club with body control is impossible; however unless a player also has the proper footwork to go along with it. If a player has not obtained a proper sense of balance so that he or she has full, unrestricted use of his body it will be impossible to obtain a correct swing. It is from the body that the power which generates the swing flows. Therefore, much of the success of the golf shot and the distance you can achieve, depends on how you use your body.

Second, players must be able to keep their club in the correct position so that it will produce the effect for which the club was designed. If this is accomplished, it will allow the ball to fly straight toward the goal without deviating. If you have noticed that your balls are not flying straight and true straight down the middle; if they are deviating left or right or anywhere other than the goal, the problem is most likely due to an inability to maintain the club in the correct position. This is where the importance of the grip comes in.

Finally, there is the matter of footwork. A player may be able to master his grip and a sense of body control; however, a lack of footwork can also spell disaster for any golf game.