Almost every golfer has a nightmare hole or a shot that they just do not like, but it is the fear of these things that is holding you back. In order to overcome them, you must first stop fearing them and instead see them as a challenge that you need to succeed at.
I want to take the two main examples of shots that can drive fear into so many; greenside bunker shots and an approach over water.
Both of these have their merits as shots that have created many problems for many golfers over the decades, but are they really that scary? I don´t believe so, if we look at each of the shots individually and more importantly logically. Neither of the shots are in theory any more dangerous than any other shot faced on the golf course, when we look at them as just another shot. The reason you fear them is that each shot has created a negative and destructive mental anchor in your mind.
The shot over water, especially a short pitch, that is not a full swing is perhaps the most feared by mid to high handicapped golfers. They look at the upcoming shot and focus on the water and the impending fact that they are going to hit the ball into the water, unless by some fluke they don´t.
And there within lies the problem; we are expecting to hit a bad shot, based not on skill level rather on history repeating itself. And it is this mentality and inability to play in the present which is creating all the problems and the nightmares that accompany it.
A pitch onto a green from 50 metres is not that hard, most golfers have had success on numerous occasions, but introduce water into the shot and everybody cowers in fear. This is illogical.
Moving onto the dreaded greenside bunker shot; before you even arrive at the bunker you are beginning to think of your inability to escape. Negativity is breeding a nasty voice in your head “you are rubbish out of a bunker” or “look at the height of the lip, you can never get it over that”.
Bunker shots, escaping at least, should be relatively easy, I mean it is the only shot in golf that you want to hit the ground (or in this instance the sand) rather than the ball. Fear is again the cause of the bad shot, as you worry about hitting it too far or into the lip. Be positive and this will be reflected in your attempt at getting out. Swing through the shot and be committed. Fear will engulf you and make a committed swing almost impossible to achieve.
Stop fearing and instead enjoy the challenge that each of these shots provides you and the delight you will have when you succeed in playing them the way you want to.
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