The importance of psychological preparation in golf

Sports performance depends on several variables: some are genetic, such as physical build, while others are factors that athletes can influence more directly through their own efforts, such as mental control, motivation, etc.

What is the purpose of psychological preparation?

We can say that learning and perfecting a motor skill requires both mental and physical effort. Traditionally, greater emphasis has been placed on the physical and technical aspects, but as we approach an “excellent” level of performance, mental control probably becomes increasingly important.

“Most athletes and coaches agree that at least 40 to 90 percent of success in sports is due to mental factors…. For example, after winning seven gold medals at the Montreal Olympic Games, Mark Spitz said: At this level of physical performance, the difference between winning and losing is 99 percent psychological” (Jean M. Williams, 1991).

In golf, as we will see below, mental control is fundamental. Jack Nicklaus also expressed this idea in “Golf My Way,” where he considered golf to be 90% “mental.”

The benefits of sports psychology in golf

What can psychology contribute to this sport? Or, in other words, why is psychological preparation so important in golf? Drawing on Garcés de los Fayos’ book “Psicologia Del Golf (Psicología del Deporte),” among other sources, we can identify several reasons:

• It is an individual sport and, as such, has certain particular characteristics compared with team sports. For example, according to Márquez (1994, p. 13), “participants in individual sports show physiological and emotional responses to a greater extent than participants in team sports.” There is also some consensus regarding the greater use of “self-talk” in individual sports.
• Golf can be played competitively well into later life. This requires medium- and long-term goal planning, as well as improvements at the strategic, technical, and psychological levels to compensate for the loss of power, etc.
• During a round, you spend more time not hitting the ball than actually hitting it. This amount of “idle” time can lead to greater psychological fatigue and loss of concentration. Mental routines are therefore useful for regaining focus when it is time to hit the ball, while relaxation techniques can help restore an optimal level of activation.
• Etc.

Throughout this blog, we will explore more of the “psychological characteristics” of golf. To conclude, here is a passage from Dr. Bob Rotella’s excellent book “Golf Is a Game of Confidence”:

As a starting point, I believe that golf is a game of confidence and skill. I would never say that a player who lacks physical ability can become a champion overnight simply by changing the way they think. Even if they have confidence in a poor swing, they will still hit poor shots. (However, they will hit fewer of them than they would without confidence.) A certain level of physical skill is necessary to play well. That said, I believe it is impossible to overestimate the importance of the mind in golf.