What-if I lose, what if my friends think I’m a bad golfer, what if I don’t make the cut. Thinking about what-if scenarios won’t help you golf any better. These fears can cripple even the most talented golfer. Many golfers suppress these fears instead of addressing them head-on which can hurt performance when they creep back up during competition. These kinds of things can cause stress and anxieties when playing and keep you from competing freely, with a clear mind.
The best way to handle your fears is to address them head-on and plan for the worst-case-scenario. Ask yourself “What’s the worst thing that could happen?” Not winning the competition, missing the cut or playing a bad round could be your fears on the surface level, but dig deeper. Continue to ask yourself what is causing these fears. What is actually blocking you from competing more freely and taking calculated risks? Are you afraid of letting someone down, is there someone who looks up to you that you don’t want to disappoint, are you afraid all your hard work will go to waste if you don’t reach your goal, are you afraid you might come up just short?
Reflect on it. Write it down. Bring it to the light, then crush it! Once you figure out your biggest fear in golf and the worst-case-scenario, you can plan for it happening. Write down what you will think, say, feel and do if the worst-case does happen. Train for and expect the best but plan for the worst. Coming up with a plan for the worst-case-scenario will give you an element of being bulletproof. Now, if the worst does actually happen, you’re totally prepared to handle it. It shouldn’t be hanging over your head anymore. By doing this exercise, you’ll probably realize that you’d been making a mountain out of a molehill anyway. The worst that can happen isn’t as bad as you thought!
Face your fears on the golf course and crush them to compete more freely and at your very best!