GOLF TIP by Lynn Bernadett
LPGA Teaching Professional
Tucson, Arizona

 "Acceptance"

Did you know that you use 17 facial muscles to smile and 43 facial muscles to frown? Facial expression is simply a reflection of your emotions. Your ability to control your emotions will give you the ability to control an efficient golf swing. Your golf swing is then a reflection of your attitude and acceptance will play a major part in the success of your game of golf.

To obtain a consistent swing, golf demands emotional discipline. Just by staying in control of your emotions, you can gain control of your golf swing. Most swing flaws are derivative of a persons negative emotions: intimidation, anger, frustration, embarrassment, etc. You are allowed to feel and express these emotions but, to avoid an inconsistent golf swing, you will need to keep these emotions "in check". The positive must overtake the negative. The act of acceptance is, making the choice of a more positive attitude, lending towards a more fluid and consistent golf swing.

Acceptance: (1) the act of taking or receiving something offered. (2) favorable reception; approval; favor. (3) the act of assenting or believing. 

A person who chronically complains, self-intimidates, or plays with a bad attitude, will have to realize that their negativity will become detrimental to the flow of their golf swing. Muscles will contract and become immobile from such self-induced tension. "Beating your self up" over a bad shot (or negative "self-talk"), will only produce more bad shots. Here are some examples of negative self-talk:

I'm so stupid.
I can't hit anything today.
I bet I'm going to hit it right in the water (sand trap, bush, etc).

Worse yet, there are some people who choose to express their anger by throwing things … like golf clubs!Knowing how to control a bad attitude on the golf course will take the practice of acceptance. Acceptance is not easy. Here are a few suggestions of how to become a more positive player of golf:

*  Approach your shot by focusing on your routine set-up to the ball.

* If you hit your shot off-line (not where you intended it to go and has remained in-bounds), you must immediately think of one positive thought about your last shot - say something out loud such as, "Nice shot", in order to trick your subconscious. You have to jolt your negative "self-talk" with a positive audio-confirmation.

* Even if the ball is in an unfavorable lie, you have to accept its position without frustration. Accept it as a positive challenge.

* Repeat your confident routine set-up and be in the "here and now" of your present golf swing. The past is done and the future hasn't happened yet.

* Assess your total number of strokes taken on each hole, after you have finished each hole. Do not continually calculate the total of each hole (and your continual total sum) until the completion of 9 holes.

Acceptance takes practice. You can start developing these skills right at home. If you practice your acceptance skills in everyday life situations, you will have an easier time adapting them into your game of golf.

Golf is not a game of perfect shots. A successful game of golf could be considered a game of "good misses". Tour Professional's admit to hitting 1-5 anticipated good shots throughout their entire round of 18 holes, the rest are just "good misses". At every level of play, everyone will scramble at one time or another. Learn how to control your emotions, be positive, believe in yourself, and let acceptance become part of your game.

* * TRAIN YOUR MIND TO TRAIN YOUR BODY * *

Lynn Bernadett is an LPGA Golf Professional at The Pines Golf Club at Marana and a Saddlebrooke resident. For lesson information, call 520-991-4952, in Tucson, AZ.

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Check out some of Lynn's other instructional articles:
Body Awareness Golf
Balance Your Senses
Associate the Motion
Counter Balance
Dynamic Weight Transfer
Senior Golf: Flexibility
GolfabiliTEE: Accessible Golf