Being able to control your attention is one of the most important high-performance skills , and it needs to be worked on and trained .

Many golfers possess the physical skills , but not the mental skills , to be successful — and it takes them too long to realize the importance of these skills or figure out how to train them .”

— David McKenzie

“ Golf is a hard game ,” he said . “ Competitive and recreational golfers alike face internal pressures ( from themselves ) and external pressure ( from others ), which can affect how you think and where you focus , and how much tension there is in your body . There can often be a big difference in performance between practice and play , and that is the gap that mental coaches can help players narrow .”

Becoming your best at anything requires developing performance habits every day , such as focus , discipline , mental

toughness , confidence , and preparation — skills McKenzie says can be developed , but require practice .

“ Many golfers possess the physical skills , but not the mental skills , to be

successful — and it takes them too long to realize the importance of these skills or figure out how to train them ,” he said .

As the new season kicks into full swing , McKenzie touts mindfulness and meditation techniques as valuable tools for golfers to help them relax and stay focused throughout a round . Although both are very useful in practice and play , they are quite different .

“ Mindfulness describes having mindful awareness of where your mind is at any moment ,” he said . “ With the right intentions and being mindful , you can guide your attention towards the things that will help you perform ( your process ).”

“ On the other hand , meditation allows you to train your awareness , or ability , to be more mindful . Being able to control your attention is one of the most important high-performance skills , and it needs to be worked on and trained .”

BIGSTOCK

36 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M AY / J UNE 2023

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