Welcome

Welcome to issue number 52 of The 3 Minute Golfer. This FREE publication is here to help every golfer improve their mental game and their personal wellbeing. 

This issue celebrates our one-year anniversary edition of the newsletter. 

PLEASE NOTE: We have covered many golf psychology related topics throughout the year, but from this point we are switching to monthly newsletters as we focus on transforming content from our first 52 issues into new media formats.

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In this issue:

• Good Technique is Good Psychology

• Wellness Tip – The Wellness Wild West

• Mental Demons Q+A

• In Person Events - Book The 3 Minute Golfer

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Good Technique is Good Psychology

Golf is a game of precision, concentration, and just enough frustration to make you question your life choices somewhere around the 14th hole. In previous issues, we’ve explored the psychological and neurological factors that shape a golfer’s performance. But if we’re honest, the number one factor influencing a golfer’s confidence isn’t mystical brain wiring…it’s how much trust they have in their own technique.

Technique, performance and mindset go hand in hand. Golfers who understand and trust their fundamentals tend to swing more freely, recover better from mistakes, and avoid the dreaded spiral of doom that begins with, “What am I doing with my right elbow?” When your swing feels reliable you experience mastery…and mastery builds confidence. Decades of research shows that confidence is strongly linked to the mastery of performance (Bandura, 1997; Moritz et al., 2000).

But confidence doesn’t magically appear in your bag next to the spare glove. It’s built through repetition and sound fundamentals. Research on skill acquisition shows that consistent, structured practice strengthens neural pathways and improves automaticity (Ericsson et al., 1993). In plain English…practice it correctly enough times and your body stops needing a committee meeting before every backswing. Technique becomes second nature. Under pressure, that reliability becomes your psychological safety net.

Below are several reasons why Good Technique is Good Psychology, with some science to back it up.

Routines Help…Golf is a game of rituals. The waggle. The glance. The deep breath. Pre-performance routines have been shown to enhance focus and reduce anxiety (Cotterill, 2010). They quiet mental noise and provide a sense of control. Without a routine, you’re basically swinging and hoping the golf gods are in a generous mood. 

Thinking Hurts…Here’s the paradox of golf. The more you consciously try to control a well-learned movement, the worse it gets. Research on reinvestment theory shows that overthinking mechanics under pressure disrupts automatic motor skills (Masters & Maxwell, 2008). This is why your swing collapses the moment you start narrating it internally. A well-practiced technique runs automatically. Like riding a bike, once learned, it works best when you don’t micromanage it.

Emotion…If you’re waiting for perfection, you’re playing the wrong sport. Golf is essentially a long walk interrupted by imperfection. Research on emotional regulation in sport suggests that athletes who accept mistakes and regulate emotions effectively perform better under pressure (Lane et al., 2012). Strong technique helps because it gives you something stable to return to when chaos strikes. Instead of panicking, you recalibrate.

Yippy…Most golfers encounter the yips at some stage in their careers, and although this phenomenon is often attributed to pure psychological factors, research indicates it is mostly linked to disruptions in motor control (Smith et al., 2003), with anxiety exacerbating the condition. When technique is thoroughly developed, established motor patterns mitigate cognitive interference…meaning well-trained muscle memory can make you resistant to the yips.

Making Movies…When you make a perfect shot, store it as a movie in your brain and play it repeatedly. Mental rehearsal of perfect technique strengthens the link between your brain and muscles, boosting performance. Many golfers play their poor shots on loop and mentally fear the next one. Repeatedly rehearsing your best technique and best shots, restricts your brain from playing bad movies. Studies show that replaying successful performances activates your neural pathways to improve your shot execution (Guillot & Collet, 2008).

Speaking Positively…Self-talk matters. Research demonstrates that positive, instructional self-talk improves performance and confidence (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2011). The beauty of practicing good technique is that it builds positive self-talk, and positive self-talk is a key pillar of confidence.

Don’t Panic…Golf guarantees bad shots. What separates resilient players is how quickly they recover. Studies on resilience and performance show that athletes who interpret mistakes as controllable and temporary bounce back more effectively (Sarkar & Fletcher, 2014). Solid technique allows fast correction. Panic thrives in uncertainty. Confidence thrives in clarity.

Meditate…If you think about it, golf is one of the most meditative sports out there. Good technique supports this mental peace. When you don’t have to wonder if your hands are in the right position or your knees are locked at the perfect angle, you can focus on the most important part of golf…staying calm and in the moment.

Process Over Score…Golfers obsess over scorecards. But research consistently shows that focusing on the process rather than outcomes enhances performance and reduces anxiety (Kingston & Hardy, 1997). Technique-based goals are controllable. Birdies are not. Process stabilises performance, while outcome creates tension.

Mastering Technique…Mastering technique is the ultimate club in your psychological bag. It builds perceived control, which research shows reduces anxiety and enhances performance (Skinner, 1996). It automates movement, quiets overthinking, strengthens resilience, and supports emotional regulation.When you trust your swing, you trust yourself. And when you trust yourself, golf becomes less of a mental battlefield and more of a strategic challenge.

See the References Here.