Overcome the Water Jinx
By Joan King, Peak Performance Strategist
A jinx is defined as an unseen force, a person, or something such as a curse that is thought to bring bad luck. You are the person who is creating the jinx. Anything you create, you can un-create.
From past experiences golfers constantly create fearful thoughts such as hitting into a water hazard. Although beginning golfers find this shot intimidating, advanced golfers can also put pressure on themselves in certain situations. The pros that I work with say that their most fearful shot is hitting a long iron over water to the green.
If you think you will hit the ball in the water…… you probably will.
Refocus your mind to swing with confidence:
1. Picture in your mind the water as being fairway grass. Your mind is very powerful. You can imagine anything you have seen before. Visualize the water as green grass and imagine playing the shot into a wide open fairway.
2. Pick a specific landing area over the water. This is important on all shots, but particularly important here to refocus your image of hitting into the water. Focus on the target landing area and not on the water.
3. Choose a club that will easily carry the water. Be sure you know the width of the hazard and distance the ball has to travel to land on the ground well beyond the water.
4. Visualize the shot soaring over the water to the landing area. With the club you have selected, visualize your easygoing swing, see the trajectory of the ball, and see it landing on the spot you have chosen.
5. Play short of the water. If you can’t carry the breadth of the water, hit to a spot closer to the edge where you can safely hit over it with your next shot. 6. Take deep, deep breaths to relax. Anxiety will cause your muscles to tighten and your swing to be fast and forceful. Relax your mind and body with deep breaths so you can swing with an easy, smooth, even tempo.
Joan King, Peak Performance Strategist, Board Certified Sports Hypnotist, is the founder of Positive Mental Imagery, a sports consulting firm specializing in the mental aspects of sports. She is dedicated to helping athletes realize their potential through balance of their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual powers.
If you would like to improve your mental game, call Joan for a complimentary 15-minute consultation. She can be reached by phone at 828-696-2547, by email at joan@pmi4.com, through the Positive Mental Imagery website or blog. Other tools to improve your golf game are available on the website, where you can sign up for a free mental golf newsletter and access self-hypnosis mental golf CDs.
