Confidence Building For Junior Golfers

One of the challenges about being a young person is dealing with what feels like is a constant comparison to other people. This is true at school, in one's social circles, at home, and in the golf arena.

What many young people inevitably do during this time of analysis is begin to feel somewhat insecure about certain aspects of who they are. "I'm shorter than everyone." "I'm taller than everyone." "I'm skinnier than everyone". "I'm heavier than everyone."

This type of thinking leaks into golf, creating insecurities about the game. "I can't hit it as far as most kids." "I don't putt as well as he does." "We don't have as much money so I don't get the instruction that she does."

When this is going on inside one's head, it is very difficult to "play your own game". Instead, junior players often try to be someone they are not, try to keep up with what others are doing, or try to do things that are not in their capacity.

Not only does this emphasis on what others are doing frequently hurt a player's confidence, it also regularly impacts course management decisions. Among the common mistakes:

?Unconsciously pulling the driver out of their bag in order to hit it as far off the tee as possible.

?Automatically pulling 3-wood for the second shot into a Par 5.

?Consistently "under clubbing" by falsely believing certain clubs are hit further than actual results indicate.

?Making high risk/low reward shot selection decisions.

?Swinging the club harder to try to hit it further.

The solution to this is to be honest and objective about what strengths and capabilities you bring to the course as a player. This is what is referred to as "playing within yourself". Once you recognize and acknowledge what works for you, you will begin to play the game in the way that is best for you, rather than playing the game in order to try to do what others are doing or the way you think it should be done.

The truth is, whether judging against others in life or in golf, we will always find someone who is better at something than we are. It is hard to get our ego out of the way and lay up when our competitor can get there in two. It is difficult emotionally to hit 5-iron to a Par-3 hole when our competitor hits a 9-iron. It is a challenge to continue doing what you're doing if you see a competitor who is successful doing something different.

In life, those that are constantly following others lose a sense of who they really are. In golf, those that are distracted by others often get lost in constantly changing their game. Be like the best players in the world. The most successful golfers of any age figure out what they're good at, understand what works for them, and then make a commitment to stick to it.

Be the best player with what you have, rather than trying to be something that you're not.

Jeff served as Director of Mental Training for David Leadbetters Golf Academies, where he was instrumental in assisting in the development of the training programs and methodology that continues to produce golf champions around the world. Jeff works with several touring professionals and amateur players - assisting them in the creation of optimal training plans and developmental strategies. For more inforamtion on mental and physical training for golf, go to http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:35 GMT OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children - Wall Street Journal ChattahBox OTC Cold Medicines to Be Relabeled for Young Children Wall Street Journal - 33 minutes ago By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN WASHINGTON -- Companies making over-the-counter cold and cough medicines have agreed to stop marketing the products to children younger than 4 as part of an effort to reduce accidental overdoses, an industry trade group said ... Video: Cold Meds Under Fire, Again CBS ALERT: Drug Companies Warning to Parents WXYZ SYS-CON Media - Washington Post - WebMD - Bloomberg all 850 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:15:50 GMT IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion - Wall Street Journal BBC News IMF Urges Coordinated Action, Sees US Losses at $1.4 Trillion Wall Street Journal - 1 hour ago By TOM BARKLEY WASHINGTON -- With losses on bad US assets alone expected to top $1.4 trillion, the International Monetary Fund urged global policy makers Tuesday to coordinate a response to an unprecedented financial crisis that continues to spread. IMF warns of deeper slowdown amid crisis Reuters IMF in 'severe downturn' warning BBC News ABS CBN News - AFP - International Monetary Fund - Times Online all 383 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:21:55 GMT Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters - Forbes WNCT Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters Forbes - 1 hour ago AP 10.07.08, 9:30 AM ET Police were still trying to determine Tuesday why a Louisville woman apparently stabbed her two school-age daughters to death and then shot herself. Police say Kentucky woman kills self, daughters The Daily Advance Police say Louisville woman kills self, daughters KVOA.com The Associated Press - AHN - Louisville Courier-Journal - WLKY all 282 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:38:46 GMT Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama - New York Times Malaysia Star Kenya Detains US Author Critical of Obama New York Times - 1 hour ago By JEFFREY GETTLEMAN NAIROBI, Kenya - The American author of a best-selling book highly critical of Senator Barack Obama was detained by Kenyan immigration agents on Tuesday as he prepared to give a press conference in Nairobi. Kenya Detains Author of Anti-Obama Book Voice of America US anti-Obama book author faces Kenya deportation: officials AFP The Associated Press - CNN International - CollegeOTR - Right Pundits all 351 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:27 GMT Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS - San Jose Mercury News ChattahBox Study: Using fan on sleeping baby reduces risk of SIDS San Jose Mercury News - 2 hours ago By Linda Goldston Ayde Gonzales's mother was surprised when she insisted that her newborn son must sleep on his back, not on his side. Fans May Reduce Babies' Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Bloomberg Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death New York Times Wall Street Journal - Chicago Sun-Times - eFluxMedia - U.S. News & World Report all 573 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:46:19 GMT Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk - New York Times New York Times Senator Warned a Friend That Jail Was a Risk New York Times - 2 hours ago By NEIL A. LEWIS WASHINGTON - The day after the FBI confronted Bill Allen, an Alaska oil services millionaire, with evidence that he had tried to bribe state lawmakers, he reached out to Senator Ted Stevens by telephone to discuss how their ... Stevens unplugged: a defiant, salty health nut The Associated Press “I Love You, You Know,” and More Revelations from the Stevens Trial Wall Street Journal Blogs Anchorage Daily News (subscription) - Los Angeles Times - Bradenton Herald - CNN all 485 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:35:08 GMT McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads - Baltimore Sun BBC News McCain, Obama question each other's character in latest campaign ads Baltimore Sun - 3 hours ago By Paul West | paul.west@baltsun.com Washington - The presidential contest turned increasingly nasty yesterday as Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain launched new personal attacks ahead of the second presidential debate. Video: AP Campaign Minute AssociatedPress The Note: McCain Brings Attack to Second Debate ABC News Los Angeles Times - New York Times - BBC News - Reuters all 4,527 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:47:50 GMT Make Money With Affiliate Data Feeds Amazon Content

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Sit Up Straight! It Will Help Your Game

What does it take to reproduce the perfect golf swing?... Read More

This Aint Golf! Its Cricket!

Go on, admit it, you have never read an article... Read More

Mental Concentration, Golf, and You

All players, when they are concentrating on a stroke, are... Read More

How to Unleash Your True Golf Potential - Part 2

In (Part 1) of this article I discussed how muscle... Read More

What A Good Golf Workout Program Should Have

Golf workout program?with the exploding number of so-called golf experts... Read More

Fitness For Golf Is The Key To Rejuvenating Your Golf Game

Fitness for golf is prevalent at every level. You hear... Read More

5 Ways To Make Your Golf Fitness Program More Functional

Many of the top touring professionals know that winning on... Read More

Unique Mental Challenges for Women Golfers

The game of golf provides trials for every player, independent... Read More

Big Trouble

I have chosen four of what I feel are the... Read More

Improve Your Golf Game Right Now

Improve your golf game right now you say? I say,... Read More

How to Eliminate Your Golf Slice Quickly and Easily

Here's a really good tip that may help you to... Read More

Today?s Golf Schools Bring In The Elements Of Instruction And Fitness

What comes to mind when you think of golf lessons... Read More

Fix Your Slice: The Cause & Simple Cures For The Beginner Golfer

Are you slicing all or some of your tee shots?... Read More

Myrtle Beach Golf Vacations and Hurricanes ? How to Weather the Storm

Hurricane season in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina runs from June... Read More

Golf Swing Training The Right Way

Golf swing training is a critical area in the improvement... Read More

Controlled Body Movement The Key Essential For Your Golf Game

Basic body movement is essential in any sport. Of course... Read More

4 Essential Elements of Golf Fitness

Are you ready to take your golf game to a... Read More

The Biomechanics Of A Golf Swing Can Teach You Plenty

The biomechanics of the golf swing can be very revealing... Read More

Perform Better Golf In 30 Days

So you have decided to improve your golf game? You... Read More

Who Invented The Game Of Golf?

Well, who actually did invent the game of Golf? The... Read More

What Night Golf Ball should I use for my Glow Ball event?

Believe it or not, there are three different types of... Read More

The Principle Golf Power Swing Tip Has Nothing To Do With Trying To Hit It With All Your Strength

Genuine golf power swing tips will have little or nothing... Read More

Finish Your Round of Golf with Birdies

All the major tournaments, especially the U.S. Open and the... Read More

How To Unleash The Power Of Your Core

The golf swing relies upon core strength, endurance and proper... Read More

What A Golf Conditioning Tip Must Have

There are certain aspects that any good golf conditioning tip... Read More