Face it; everyone starts out as a bad golfer. The good thing about that is that there is nowhere to go but up. All too often, beginning golfers have unrealistically high expectations nurtured by their enthusiasm.
When their first few games don't go as they hope, frustration sets in and this compounds the problem.
Don't Expect Too Much Right Away
How many times has this happened? You step up to the tee at the beginning of the game mentally visualizing the accolades you are going to be receiving after the last hole. It doesn't turn out that way if you are both an optimist and a bad golfer.
What you need to do is step back and reassess the situation realistically. Your skills are not yet honed and you are not going to beat the veteran you're sharing the buggy with today.
Just tell yourself you are going to consider it a major victory if you walk away from today's game with a couple of bogeys. Because you can achieve that. And you will walk away with the confidence and self assurance that is essential to improve you game.
Keep the Tips Manageable
The game of golf is a lot like stock investing: everywhere you turn, someone has a tip for you. It's too easy to become overwhelmed by them. You can't use them all now.
What you need to do is find the diamonds in the rough. These are the ones that will "major-tune"; your game not "fine-tune" it. In time, you will find that what once were the "fine" tips have become your "majors."
This is how you gauge your progress. To your surprise, you will soon find you are not the bad golfer that you once were!
Physical Limitations Can Improve Your Game
Sound crazy? Probably, but think about it. Every golfer and especially the bad golfer, has them. You haven't worked on them yet so each physical limitation you overcome is going to improve your game. The more you start with the better you can become!
Begin with an evaluation from a professional -- someone who knows the demands of the game. He or she will give you what you need to work on. You might need strength training; then implement a weight lifting program for golf. Perhaps you can improve your range of motion with specific stretches. You might just need to start aerobic program to end all that wheezing you do climbing out of the sand pit.
The Mental Game is Key
You've heard it before: it's all in your head. In golf, it is one of the most basic truisms. Golf is a game that truly weds the mental with the physical and it doesn't matter if you are a superman; if your head isn't in the game, you'll never break out of the bad golfer mold. Visualize success!
You Control Your Destiny!
Only you can transform yourself from a bad golfer to the one everybody on the course yearns to be. Get you physical self in tune, get your mental game on, have realistic improvement goals and above all, have fun!
For more Improve Golf Swing information , read the Perform Better Golf Blog, published daily by Mike Pedersen.
About the Author: Mike Pedersen is one of the top golf training and conditioning experts in the country, author of the Ultimate Golf Fitness Manual, and founder of several online golf fitness and exercise websites.
Check out his golf exercise dvds, training programs, and workout products, and his new and proven Golf Fitness System, specifically designed to improve golf specific strength, flexibility, coordination, and overall golf swing mechanics!
