Question 1

A: To take your game to the course is a learning process. When your body prepares itself for action it goes into a state we call stress. Stress is essential to perform in any sport. If we don't know how to control it we "choke." So your question gets down to, how do we control stress so we perform sports motions correctly.

Top athletes control stress with concentration and with self-confidence. Their total focus is the task at hand, and they appear oblivious to everything else. When we watch them perform it's obvious that that they expect to succeed. Think back to Jack Nicklaus in his prime as an example of this, or a top NBA player on the line with a critical free throw.

The first thing we have to do is have the right equipment and practice enough to have the self-confidence that we can strike the ball consistently so it does go where we want it to go. From your question I surmise you may able to strike the ball consistently while practicing but not while playing.

What you have to do now is learn how to concentrate on the task at hand. Do this by building a routine. Back to my example of the NBA player on the free throw line - they all have routines they follow every time. The same is true of top golfers. Here are some techniques:

Always practice as you would play. Before a round you want to loosen up and swing freely with an absence of torque. Note the ball pattern, but don't try to change it. In a sense the correct motion is without feel, in other words effortless.

On the practice range have a specific goal. What are you working on and why? Train yourself to concentrate on every shot on the practice range as you would during a round.

Rituals and lucky stuff. This may sound like silly advice, but you can think of many examples of top athletes in every sport going through a ritual. An example of lucky stuff is some golfers always keep their coins in the same pocket. Pretend you're someone else. Choose your favorite golfer. Take a deep breath, and while holding your breath say to yourself I can will the ball into the hole like Jack Nicklaus. I have become the golfer I wish to be.

Above all you must absolutely trust what you've taken to the golf course. Trust is probably the toughest thing to do, but when you trust yourself you can become totally task oriented which leads to mind and body union.

Play to your strongest clubs. If you are hitting your eight iron better than your wedge set yourself up to use your eight iron. Focus on a target and make it as small as possible. For example, don't try to hit the fairway, instead try to hit a mow line, or if you see a tree in the distance try to hit it. Be very target specific.

You must be where you are. It is difficult to play good, consistent golf if your mind is not with you. All too often we aren't in the moment of the shot. To be fully content with the moment is more powerful than any anxiety that may attempt to disrupt or distract you. There is no next shot, only the here and now. To take it a step further, your job doesn't exist, you have no relationship problems, nor money problems. You only have the shot at hand. So prepare yourself with a set, pressurized pre-shot routine, and visualize the correct motion and desired ball flight. Then get out of your own way. Put away all but only one thought on the swing, and if you can put away all thoughts, more power to you.

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