Whether you play golf competitively, for business reasons, or just for fun, you probably want to play better. If you’re like most golfers who are trying to improve, you’ll work on the mechanics of your swing. Or you’ll look for new equipment that will give you a few extra yards or a truer putt. Although you may see some improvement if you use this approach, you’re neglecting the most important part of your game!

Ask any pro what you really need to master to be a winner and they’ll probably tell you "the mental game." Some pros on the Senior Tour who learned the game without the benefit of a lot of lessons on the mechanics of the swing will tell you the game is 90% mental!! That’s because they know that even if you’ve mastered the mechanics, course conditions vary and your physical game will fluctuate. So the pros who are consistently in the money have learned to focus on their mental game.

Mastering the mental game is especially important for business golfers who need to play a respectable game and at the same time stay focused on their business objectives. Both their golf game and business will suffer if they haven’t developed such mental game skills as concentration, focus, and thought control.

Although books have been written on the mental game, most of the information has been very generic and based on principles developed through research on other sports. Dr. Deborah Graham is the first psychologist to study the champions on the LPGA, PGA, and Senior PGA Tours. She wanted to learn what mental traits set them apart from the pros who are only occasional winners. She found that there are eight specific personality traits that make up a Champion profile. This means that your personality influences who you are on the golf course. Your mental game is as individual as your swing! No wonder the generic mental techniques have been so difficult for most golfers to apply.

The eight Champion traits that form the basis of the GolfPsych® system can help improve your game. Knowing how they rated on these traits and then learning mental game techniques allow the champion pros to master these 5 components of the mental game.

1. Concentration and focus. This is the ability to focus on what’s necessary to successfully execute the shot. Contrary to what many golfers believe, this focus cannot be on your swing mechanics. This only gets you into the mode of "playing swing" rather than playing golf. When you can’t concentrate, your focus widens and you can become distracted by other players, adverse course conditions, and even your own thoughts.

2. Thought control. Regulating your thoughts between shots and before the round is a critical skill to master. Thinking the wrong thoughts can stimulate your emotions, which makes it even more difficult to concentrate and focus. This explains what happens to the golfer who plays well on the front nine but totally loses it after the turn.

3. Managing Tension. Your mental game will suffer unless you can stay relaxed throughout the round. And it isn’t just the negative emotions! Even getting excited about a great shot can make it difficult to concentrate and can cause you to lose focus. Deep breathing is one of the best things you can do to regulate your tension level.

4. Confidence. A strong mental game require both personal and performance confidence. You have to feel comfortable with your physical skills in practice before you ever take your game out on the course. Keeping records will help you recognize areas that need improvement. Then you can work on increasing your performance confidence through goal oriented practice.

5. Mental preparation, imagery, and attitude. Many golfers will prepare for a round by warming up and practicing the mechanics. Very few will prepare mentally for the round. Make sure to take a short mental break before you start the round. This allows you to let go of any tensions and concerns you brought to the course with you. Without this mental break, it will be difficult to concentrate and stay focused as you begin the round.

Your level of skill in these 5 areas of the mental game is based on how close your personality is to the 8 champion personality traits and how well you’ve learned to think like a champion. None of the pros tested were in the champion range on all 8 traits! Golf is a tough game and nobody’s perfect! But the pros have learned how to adapt their behavior to make them consistent winners. Begin thinking like the pros, and you’ll see a big improvement in your game -- whether you play for business or just for fun!