Week 21: Mind Games

text size

Don't let others shots affect your own game on the course.

Tips to stay focused on the course

It may start out as just a passing comment from a playing partner. "Hey, nice shot! Your practice is paying off!" And suddenly, your performance starts to head downhill. You start to think about what you are doing well. You begin to analyze things you were doing well to understand why. Once you start thinking too much, you lose your focus. And before you know it, you have lost the round. Do not let your thoughts get the best of you on the course. Here are a few suggestions on how to keep your mind from being your biggest opponent during a round of golf.

Related

Video: Inside the trailers
More: Product introduction
More: Health, fitness archive

Play confidently, regardless of bad shots. Just because your last sand wedge shot flew over the green, it does not mean the next one will do so. Past performance has no impact on what is about to happen next. Your club is not jinxed. Nor are you unable to use that club. Treat the last shot for what it was, a bad swing that can easily be corrected. If something doesn't go your way on the course -- a bad bounce off the fairway, a wind-shortened drive, a terrible lie in the rough -- don't take it personally. It is only one small setback in a long game. The more positive you are when you approach your troublesome situation, the more likely you will be to find a solution.

Do not let others affect your decision. We all have egos that enjoy being stroked. If that green looks too far to reach, chances are that it is. It does not matter if another player can reach it. It also doesn't matter if he genuinely believes you can as well. If it doesn't feel right to you, trust your instincts and you will most likely make the right decision.

Stay close to your routine. As athletes, we crave creativity. Everyone wants to make the magical shot that has never been made before. That is why you have to make it feel like any other shot. In the same way that practice helps you to build muscle memory toward a good swing, a routine helps you build a kind of mental muscle memory that will carry you through difficult shots.

Avoid one-upsmanship. If a fellow golfer hits a drive 300 yards, be happy for him. It does not mean you have to hit the ball 301 yards to win the hole. You might watch another player's putt to see which way the green in breaking. But for the most part, what other players are doing should have no affect on your game. Have a strategy for each hole and stick with it. Reacting to what other players are doing will only take you out of your game. The prepared player who has a plan always has a huge advantage.

Despite mastering the mental game, you will need to be at your best physically to win on the golf course. If knee pain is preventing you from performing at your peak, you might be suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. Various treatments for OA do exist, such as ORTHOVISC®, which provides up to six months of knee pain relief. Made from ultra-pure natural hyaluronan, which is found in healthy joints, ORTHOVISC® is injected into the knee joint where it acts to replace your natural joint fluid, to help cushion, protect, and lubricate your knee.

ORTHOVISC® is a proud sponsor of PGATOUR.com. Talk to your doctor to see if ORTHOVISC® is right for you. Or visit our Web site at www.orthovisc.com for more information on how to maintain your knee health to help you keep playing the game you love.

Follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information on maintaining joint health and the prevention/treatment of knee pain due to sports-related injuries or the early symptoms of osteoarthritis.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ORTHOVISC® is for patients who do not get adequate pain relief from simple pain relievers like acetaminophen or from exercise and physical therapy. ORTHOVISC® is not for use in people with known allergy to hyaluronate preparations, to gram bacterial proteins, with infections or skin diseases in the area of the injection site or joint. Common side effects include joint pain, back pain, headaches and pain or redness at the injection site.

This is a paid placement by DePuy Mitek, Inc. The opinions expressed above are those of DePuy Mitek, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the PGA TOUR.