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Golf The Mental Game

Golf The Mental Game

Often you hear golfers say, “I’ve got the game; it’s something psychological that’s holding me back. I don’t know what it is, it’s just psychological.”

Well, that “something psychological” involves either thinking (concentration, visualization, thoughts about the swing, etc.), feeling (confidence, pressure, emotional control), or action (strategies, routines, practice techniques, etc.). Thinking, feeling, and action. When something goes wrong (or right) on the golf course, the cause is going to be found in one of these three areas. In Golf: The Mental Game, Tom Dorsel looks at more than sixty-five issues that can impact a golfer’s success and happiness.

The book is divided into five sections. Section one presents the basics: getting started right, using the clubs correctly, and scoring. Section two is about thinking clearly: concentrating, what to think about, eliminating negative thoughts, keys to developing a great swing, and visualizing doing it right. Section three is about controlling emotions: building confidence, sharpening mental toughness, making your personality work for you (not against you), relieving stress through talking to yourself, handling pressure, and preventing choking. Section four is about effective action: practicing your skills, warming up, playing the game, and improving your game through setting goals. Section five is about the mental mysteries of golf: slumps, the effect of your good moments and bad, the mental gymnastics of putting, and collapses.

Golf: The Mental Game is the culmination of more than twenty-five years of writing about the psychological side of golf for national golf magazines such as Golf Illustrated, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Applies to everything
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer for Reader Views (5/08)

Even though the reader is not an avid golfer, she does like to watch golf. What really impressed me about Dorsel’s book is that it has techniques that one can apply to any sport, job or setting goals.

The main point from this book is that one should pay attention to their thinking, emotions and actions. Usually if something goes wrong it is related to one of the above. In the first chapter, “the nine R’s of golf” are discussed, some of them being: realism; responsibility; relaxation and reinforcement. Regardless of what your goal is, to be a better golfer or better on your job, the nine R’s can help you.

The book is written in a fashion that it is easy to read and understand. You can take points from each chapter and apply them immediately. In addition, each chapter gives specific examples of the principles discussed.

I would recommend “Golf: The Mental Game” to beginning golfers, as well as other individuals who want to make positive changes.

5 Stars Great Golf Book !
“What do psychology and golf have in common? Action, emotions and thinking according to Dorsel, and not just for the spouse left behind!”

5 Stars The Gold Standard of the Mental Game
I spent numerous months in a slump/Yips/Shanks after achieving a respectable level of play. After this time period of self searching, I decided what was missing was the mental aspect/strategy of playing (versus the mechanics).

Many of the ‘mental strategies’ cover the ‘visual imagery’ of the perfect shot or emphasizing positive thinking. Those aspects covered by half a dozen books only scratch the surface of this underemphasized aspect of the game. I have listened to numerous ‘motivational speakers’ and advisors to the professionals.

This is one of the most comprehensive books on strategy, formulating a plan, and maintaining that high level of play. This book is the road map to success in this challenging game.

Dr. Tom Dorsel covers every aspect of the game regarding choosing equipment, preparing mentally and physically before a round, how and what to practice, course management, golf strategy, golf myths, and creating a plan to achieving one’s goals. Whether you’re a beginner, double digit/single digit/scratch/professional, this book (if you can assimilate all of the information) will elevate your game. He covers how to achieve your goals with a summary of objectives and illustrative vignettes in a clear and entertaining style.

This sensible approach to the thinking approach to the game helps make you ‘minimize the imperfections’ in your game.

This is the Modern Day Approach to the Mental Game of Golf. I highly recommend it.

5 Stars Golf The Mental Game Thinking Your Way around the Course
I just read this book Golf The Mental Game on the thinking side of your golf game. Tom Dorsel has written an helpful guide to improving your golf game from every angle. Using your brain to think your way around the course, not to make crazy impossible shots. Every age golfers will be able to find something that will help them in their golf game.

I have been playing golf for over 50 years and am always looking for more ways to stay active and my golf game enjoyable. Tom Dorsel is a psycologist and a golfer so he know the importance of using your mental ability to improve your game. He quotes many Pro golfers in how they stay mentally sound during their games like Tiger Woods and several other pro golfers.

If you are a golfer you will find many helpful hints to improve your game and make it more enjoyable.

5 Stars A fun, great book on the mental game of golf
Cannot help but think this is a book Tiger Woods would agree with, since he seems (from all I have read) to know much of what the author has written. Like being eductated on which clubs etc fit you. Diet, rest, being focused. Visualizing the course, and how you will play it. Simple a great book with so much useful information.

Buy/More Info

The Essential P G Wodehouse Collection

The Essential P G Wodehouse Collection

Some of the best P.G. Wodehouse novels in one collection (With an active table of contents):

The Clicking of Cuthbert,
Head of Kay

Stunning Canon 5D2 Time-Lapse Video

Having great equipment helps, but both of these examples show that equipment is only part of the equation.img src=http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/trarticles/~4/59ETKGhmshk height=1 width=1/