| Betsy Shoenfelt, Ph.D. |
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Mental Skills for Golf: Take Aim ©
By Dr. Betsy Shoenfelt
Goal setting is an important part of course management. Goals direct attention, effort, and performance. A previous column discussed the characteristics of successful goals (specific, challenging, measurable, timely) for the round, the hole, and each shot. Goal setting is an important part of the pre-shot routine. In this column, I address what may be called “target golf.” A critical component of setting up for every golf shot is defining the target. The purpose of the swing is not only to hit the ball, but to hit the ball to the target. Selecting the target, visualizing the flight path of the ball to the target, and committing to a swing design to hit a precise target is key to a successful golf shot.
Successful golfers select a specific target for every shot. When you face a wide-open fairway, it is tempting to focus on distance and general direction. However, visualizing a tight fairway with a precise target makes the difference in a shot that lands a few feet from your objective rather than yards away. Smaller precise targets will lead to smaller misses from your intended target.
The target for your approach shot needs to be even tighter than your target off the tee. The target usually is not the flag, but is determined by your strategy for getting to the hole. Think about where you want to hit your next shot and identify that spot as your target for the approach shot.
Again with the chip shot, strategy determines your target. Typically, the target is not the hole itself, but the spot you want the ball to land to role to the hole. Visualize the ball hitting the green and rolling into the cup. The landing spot is your target for the chip shot. When putting the ultimate target obviously is the hole. Again, visualization is important. You should visualize the line of the ball rolling into the hole to determine your target for your putt.
Aiming for a precise target will help you play every hole smarter and improve your course management and your score.
Dr. Betsy Shoenfelt, a Professor of Psychology at Western Kentucky University, is a Certified Sport Psychology Consultant, a Member of the United States Olympic Registry of Sport Psychologists, and a member of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association. She works with intercollegiate and competitive amateur golfers. Her previous Golfer’s Tee Times columns may be found on her web page in the WKU website: www.wku.edu Previous columns that explain skills mentioned in this column include: The Pre-Shot Routine, Imagery/Visualization, and Goal Setting.
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