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Zen and the Art of Golf
By Richard C Myers

Most golfers will admit that golf is 90% mental, yet most spend all their time and efforts on the mechanical aspect of the game. The golfing industry has not helped the trend by breaking down the swing and analyzing each of its components. Although, the average handicap for club players is still the same as it was 20 years ago. Even with all the new technology in equipment and video analysis.

Everyone seems to be teaching or learning the perfect swing, but little do people realize that almost no one has a perfect swing, not even the pros, even if we are taught the correct way in the beginning. Each of us has a certain way of swinging the club. Negative feelings has a lot to do with our swing. If you have a good swing, and negative thoughts, you still will not play good golf.

Most players are distracted and not totally concentrating on their shot at one time or another. Each time this happens, you can lose a stroke or two. If this happens only 4-5 times a round, it could add a lot of strokes to your score.

The main principles behind good golf are simple. You must be able to focus on the task at hand and stay in the present, then pick a small target and empty all unwanted thoughts from your mind. After you have perfected your swing, you must accept the results. Most of us know these principles, but few of us apply them. Most of these principles is just common sense, and we have to learn to use them on a consistent basis.

The mental aspect of executing a shot is crucial to our success. Think about all the good shots you hit when you are practicing, when not on the course. Why do you play bad one day and not the next, why do you play well on the front nine but terrible on the back nine? Your physical ability is the same. The fact is your mind and body are connected and work in symbiosis, so how you think will affect how you perform.

Evidently, the mind is a critical determinant in shot making. Now think about it… what can we do to improve our mental game? The answer can be simple - Yoga. Yoga techniques are often used to improve thinking and concentration. Get yourself a good golf yoga video or golf yoga book, work on the breathing and mental exercises and see your game improve. As a further benefit, yoga improves your suppleness and your muscle control, further improving your game. Your golf will not improve overnight, yoga takes a little time to work. Just keep at it and the improvements will come.

Disclaimer: If you have some type of health problem, make sure you consult a doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Richard Myers is a keen golfer and his web site http://www.thinkandreachpar.com and http://www.golfforleftys.com contains many free tips and great golfing advice plus golf physical and mental (yoga) training videos and DVDs to help you to improve your concentration, your swing and lower your score using some very simple exercises.

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