Are You Making Preround Mental Game Mistakes?
Summary: Preparation is a cornerstone of confidence in golf, but injuries can disrupt physical training and practice. Fortunately, golfers can still build confidence through mental preparation, which often has the biggest impact on performance. Strategies like visualization, relaxation, pre-shot routines, and learning from professional role models help maintain readiness even when sidelined.
One critical contributor to confidence is preparation…
The more prepared you feel, the more confidence you carry into golf tournaments.
What if your preparation is disrupted due to injury? What if you cannot train or practice for a lengthy period of time? Is it possible to maintain some degree of confidence when preparation is limited due to injury?
There are Three Levels of Preparation that Contribute to your Readiness to Compete:
- Technical Preparation – Refining technique or practicing shots on a daily basis help develop trust in your swing. Practicing rounds helps you feel comfortable and confident when it comes time to compete.
- Physical Preparation – Preparing your body, whether its strength training or rehab exercises, is another method that increases your confidence to perform.
- Mental Preparation – Mental preparation is the most overlooked but, also the most important component of preparation. Improving mental skill, such as: focus, emotional control, confidence, attitude, and composure can take your golf game to the next level.
Another added benefit to mental training is that mental preparation can make up for time lost due to injury.
A layoff due to injury, then, doesn’t mean you cannot prepare at all.
There is always something you can do to prepare and mental preparation is the ultimate difference-maker.
If your back is injured, you can perform visualization. If you injured your knee, you can watch tournaments to see how the pros handle bad shots. If you have shoulder tendonitis, you can refine your pre-shot routine.
There are Many Ways to Improve your Mental Game during Injury:
- Learn relaxations strategies
- Start a collection of inspirational quotes
- Talk to a mental game coach
- Create a goal plan to improve an area of your game that is weak
- Find effective strategies to build confidence, etc.
There is always something you can do!
Jessica Korda entered the 2018 season with little preparation due to jaw surgery during the off-season.
Instead of winding down from the season or starting preparations for the upcoming season, Korda was dealing with a procedure that required her surgeons to break her nose and jaw and reset all the bones. Korda was out of commission until mid-January.
Korda won the 2018 LPGA Thailand, with limited physical preparation with rounds of 66-62-68-67 including 25 birdies and three eagles to win by four strokes.
KORDA: “I didn’t know how I was going to do. I was just coming in here just happy to be able to play and be able to be back out. I’ve missed it. It was hard sitting home watching everyone on TV… All the hard work I was putting in during the off-season, when I could, has paid off rather quickly.”
No matter what interferes with your physical training, see it as an opportunity to take your mental game to the next level.
How to Improve your Mental Preparation:
Review past rounds where your didn’t feel mentally ready to compete.
What mindsets contributed to your poor play?
- Did you have high expectations?
- Did you leave confidence to chance?
- Were stuck in a practice mindset?
- Did you focus too much on the competition?
- Were you worried about outcomes?
What mental game mistakes did you make with your preround approach?
Before the next round, work to improve one aspect of your mental approach to the game.
Don’t go it alone… Enlist the help of professionals (coaches, golf pros, mental game coaches) to help be the best golfer you can be!
4 Tips to Maintain Golf Confidence During Injury Layoffs
1. Focus on Mental Preparation
When physical training is limited, mental training becomes the ultimate difference-maker. Visualization, relaxation strategies, and pre-shot routines can keep your confidence sharp.
2. Learn from the Pros
Watch professional golfers and study how they handle bad shots, recover after mistakes, and stay composed under pressure. This helps you internalize winning mindsets.
3. Set Small, Achievable Goals
Injury doesn’t mean progress stops. Create goals such as improving visualization, refining mental routines, or building confidence step by step.
4. Use Adversity to Strengthen Your Mental Game
Instead of seeing injury as a setback, view it as an opportunity to elevate focus, composure, and resilience—the areas that often separate good golfers from great ones.
There is ALWAYS something you can do to improve your game. Start today with The Golfer’s Mental Edge.
Related Sports Psychology Articles:
- How to Overcome Excuses to Improve Performance in Sports
- Mental Preparation to Improve Focus in Big Games
- Using Adversity to Improve Mental Toughness
Boost Your Self-Confidence With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
Expert mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues in sports with personal coaching. We do mental training with athletes of all levels and ages–about 12 years and up. And mental training is not just for elite or professional athletes.
You can work with us in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone from anywhere in the world. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer
If you are interested in mental coaching, try our free 15-minute introductory session. Contact Peak Performance Sports today with your name, sport, and what mental game challenges you are having.
You can learn more about our mental coaching programs for athletes here.
FAQ: Golf Confidence and Injury Recovery
Q: Can I still prepare for golf tournaments if I’m injured?
A: Yes! While technical and physical training may be limited, mental preparation—like visualization, goal-setting, and relaxation techniques—keeps your confidence strong.
Q: Why is mental preparation important in golf?
A: Golf is as much mental as it is physical. Skills like focus, composure, and confidence directly impact performance and can even make up for time lost due to injury.
Q: What mental strategies can I use while recovering?
A: Try visualization exercises, positive self-talk, relaxation routines, and refining your pre-shot approach. These strengthen your mindset and keep you competition-ready.
Q: How did Jessica Korda stay confident despite limited preparation?
A: After jaw surgery, Korda leaned on mental strength and came back to win the 2018 LPGA Thailand, proving that confidence and mindset are powerful performance tools.
Q: Should I work with a mental game coach?
A: Absolutely. A mental game coach can help identify weaknesses in your approach, build confidence strategies, and ensure you return to competition with resilience and focus.
Dr. Patrick Cohn is an expert mental performance coach who has helped athletes for over 30 years enhance their performance. Dr. Cohn earned a master’s degree in sports psychology from CSUF and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, specializing in Applied Sports Psychology.