How Much of Golf is Mental?

I used to think I knew precisely the approximate division of mental and physical skill as they apply to playing great golf; 65% mental and 35% physical. I arrived there because I estimated I had about 35% of the physical talent of Fred Couples, so I would need to make up the remaining 65% with my mind. So far, after about 20 years, that hasn’t worked out. By looking at what some of the best minds in the game have to say, from a sports psychology standpoint, I think I’ve arrived at a better solution.



In all sincerity, it’s a tough call. I don’t believe the division of mental and physical golf can be broken down into such simple terms, but that doesn’t mean it’s more complex. Quite the contrary according to some great sports psychologists.



Although not yet widely known in the United States, Dr. Karl Morris, mental golf coach for Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Alison Nicholas, Darren Clarke and other great European players, believes that the golf swing is virtually non-mental, once you’re well-prepared. Notice, he believes the golf “swing” should be free from thought. I believe he’s right.



Let’s say, for instance, you’re planning to hit a draw onto the green. If during your swing you have to think about what needs to be done to execute the shot properly, you become acutely aware of everything, which hinders the ability to execute. Whereas, if you have prepared beforehand, learned and practiced the shot, you simply need to step in and execute. In that scenario, you can focus mentally on the outcome of the shot.



So, according to Morris, the execution of the golf swing should be done totally in the subconscious and through physical muscle memory, without activating conscious thought.



That doesn’t mean that golf is devoid of thought. Dr. Morris Pickens and Dr. Robert K. Winters might say that mental preparation and on-course thinking are strong predictors of great scores.



In his new book Learn to Win, One Shot at a Time, Dr. Morris Pickens describes Zach Johnson’s preparation for winning the 2007 Masters Tournament. Dr. Pickens is a proponent, as are most, of staying in the moment. And yes, taking it one shot at a time. His coaching of Johnson didn’t divulge from that concept. Taking it a bit further, Dr. Pickens believes that very little of the time a golfer spends on the course should be spent thinking about golf. After executing a shot, and a few moments of patting yourself on the back or groaning over a poor shot, a golfer should forget about that shot. Talk to playing partners or a caddy about last night’s football game, or how the leaves are changing color, or whatever, anything but golf. As you approach the next shot, then get back in the zone. Start thinking of all the variables that will make the shot successful, such as where is the best place to put the shot, which direction the wind is blowing, your lie and so on.



So, is the game of golf mostly mental, or mostly physical? Answer: It depends. If you’re talking about the swing, it makes sense that we should not focus on the physical act, thus, there is no thinking at all. Just execute what you’ve already learned through preparation. Of course, we must still think about what we are going to do while practicing, and before executing on the course. Sound confusing? Maybe golf is primarily a mental game.