Golfweek

By DAN MIROCHA
Assistant Editor

More and more junior golfers are working with sports psychologists to gain a mental edge. Dr. Bob Winters has worked with several juniors, as well as professional golfers, and offers his analysis of ways to be mentally tough on the course.

Common mental problems

1. Juniors are distracted by comparison.

Winters says that junior golfers are too often preoccupied with comparing themselves to their competitors. A typical thought might be, “This person has a great reputation. This person is so much better than me. How can I compete with them?” or “I wonder what everyone will think of me. Do they think I belong?” Intimidation and reputation also become factors. These thoughts lead to questioning and self-doubt, Winters says.

His solution: “The only control group we have, the only comparison we have is of ourselves and our own performance. I would rather have somebody that had 25 percent talent who believes in that talent 100 percent, than someone who has 100 percent talent but only believes in themselves about 25 percent of the time.”

2. Juniors are obsessed with score.

The most common question a player gets asked first after his or her round is, “What did you shoot?” Winters says that juniors are too worried about the scorecard and that their self-image and self-esteem is lost in what they shoot. In fact, he says, no one really cares what you shot, they only care how their score compares to yours. “I’m trying to get my (students) away from talking about pars, birdies, bogeys – to quit labeling it,” Winters says. “Get rid of the scorecard. Let’s get into playing a shot.”

Winters cites Tiger Woods as an example: “When Tiger Woods talks to the media, he’ll say things like, ‘I need to shoot a good score tomorrow – a 64 or 65 – to put me in contention.’ But I guarantee he’s not saying to (caddie) Stevie (Williams) on the first tee, ‘OK, here’s the first shot of a 65.’ He’s not going to the 15th hole and saying, ‘Here’s shot No. 52 off the tee.’ The most important thing he thinks is, ‘Just one shot.’ ”

His solution: Instead of thinking about the score, think about this: “Did you stay emotionally composed all day? Did you stay committed to your target? The most valuable number is one. That’s all you can control. One shot, one moment. The now.”

3. Juniors are obsessed with distance.

Everyone wants to hit the ball a mile, but not everyone can. Those that can’t hit it far often get intimidated by long-ball hitters. Don’t mimic anyone else. Focus on your own game.

His solution: Winters teaches his students to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and then use that to their advantage. Junior golfers mature and grow at different times, and Winters says that developing an all-around game is vital. Distance will come eventually.

Important keys to a strong mental approach:

• Juniors tend to be impatient. Staying emotionally balanced is the key. “Patience is confidence waiting to happen,” Winters says. Be patient enough not to force anything to happen too quickly.

• Juniors often talk about “getting it back” after making a bogey. Winters says there is no “back.” Forget the scorecard and focus on what you’re able to control now.

• It’s not about quick fixes. It’s about building a solid philosophy and sticking with it.

• “This stuff is not easy to learn,” Winters says. “It takes as much commitment and dedication to change an attitude as it does to change a swing path. Almost more so.”

One minute lesson

Winters says to ask yourself, “What is it you want to do with this shot?” Then put your eyes, mind, faith, trust into where you want the ball to go and then think to yourself, “I absolutely know the ball is going to go there.” Then, step up and swing to the target. “Have the emotional freedom to swing without the fear of screwing up,” Winters says.  

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Dan Mirocha is a Golfweek assistant editor. To reach him e-mail dmirocha@golfweek.com.
Posted: 5/2/2008

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