How to Work Through a Slumping Golf Season
Have you struggled through a tough season?
When you are struggling, it is difficult to focus on anything but the struggles.
Focusing on the struggles will keep you stuck struggling.
This becomes a cycle that is hard to break…
Difficulty staying focused, low self-confidence, negative thinking and unproductive negative emotions worsen matters, making it feel as if you will be trapped forever in mediocrity.
There are two important questions to be answered:
- How can you play through struggles without hurting your confidence?
- What is the best way to work your way through those struggles?
To answer these questions, let’s look at a current player on the PGA Tour who has been struggling this season…
Jordan Spieth has had a tough year…
- Spieth earned the lowest amount of prize money of his six-year career.
- Spieth failed to claim a PGA Tour title for the first time since 2014.
- Spieth had no runner-up finishes this season.
- Spieth missed five cuts.
- Spieth fell out of the top-10 rankings.
Spieth tries to keep a positive perspective, find the positives in his game and refuses to dwell on the struggles of his season.
Spieth understands there are ups and downs and, by accepting this truth, he is able to keep his focus on the challenges and opportunities in front of him.
This is how Spieth maintained his confidence despite his struggles during the 2018 season.
SPIETH: “Everyone goes through peaks and valleys of results in any part of your game.”
As he attempted to earn a spot in the Tour Championship, Spieth was focused on his next round and not the struggles of his 2018 season.
SPIETH: “My mind is not set on any kind of projections, I promise you that. It’s not do or die for me. I’ll embrace the challenge and try to go out and work my way into the top 10… That would be the goal because outside the top 10, it’s difficult to win the FedEx Cup.”
Spieth is not focused on future outcomes (wins, ranking, tournaments) nor is he focused on things that happened in the past (which is every tournament up to the present date).
Spieth focuses on the challenge in front of him.
In addition, Spieth embraces the challenge of finding ways to continually improve his game which keeps him grounded in the present.
It can be frustrating to not play the way you know you are capable of playing, but if you want to find your way out of your struggles, you need to focus on solutions and not the struggles themselves.
Working Through a Slumping Season:
Stop trying to figure out what has been going wrong or what has happened to cause all these struggles. This mindset will keep you stuck in the past.
Instead, adopt Spieth’s mental approach. Embrace the challenge.
Rather than trying to solve all your problems at once, set small manageable goals each week.
Setting small goals helps keep you focused in the present while helping you build confidence through the process.
Work on your game and be patient.
For more strategies to improve your mental game in golf, check out our audio and workbook program, “Golfer’s Mental Edge”:
Learn Proven Strategies to Perform with Confidence!
Do you suffer from fragile self-confidence after missed hits, playing with strict or high expectations that undermine confidence or the inability to play freely and relaxed on the course?
If you suffer from lack of focus, low self-confidence or other mental game obstacles on the course, you cant reach your true golf potential…
What are mental game customers saying?
“Dr. Cohn has helped me improve confidence and build a consistence pre-shot routine that helps me stay confident, and learn how to play one shot at a time during competition. He also taught me that I don’t have to hit every shot perfect to score well.”
~Brian Belden, Winner 2003 AJGA Steel City Junior Classic & Marsh Junior at Hawk Pointe
“I want to tell you how much I appreciate all your help. You have made an enormous amount of difference in my game. I feel much better because of your help; I don’t feel the tension like I did before. You should feel very good about what you do for people—it is truly a gift!. I know my students and myself have benefited enormously from Dr. Patrick Cohn’s teaching.”
~Jim Dahline, PGA Professional
“I would like to thank you again for our last mental coaching session, which did offer me yesterday my personal best round ever! On a golf course where I had never scored better than 77, I scored a 73 in competition. I cannot believe the incredible inner work this simple session has produced on me and I would like to thank you again for that.”
~Emmanuel Grizaud, Amateur Golfer
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
What are our mental coaching students saying?
“I am so grateful for your insights and experience. My focus is sharp and I feel relaxed but ready to meet whatever challenge comes up. If I make a mistake, I am able to let it go and move on immediately. You have really helped me allot to get back on track and get things going again.”
~Suzanne Strudwick, LPGA Tour
“After working with you at the end of 2001, I went from 51st to 18th on the Buy.com money list. Mentally, I am a much better player now. Your golf psychology lessons on setting goals, playing without expectations, and reacting well to mistakes has made a big difference. Thanks for all your help and I look forward to continuing to improve my mental game.”
~Tjaart Van Der Walt, Buy.com Tour Winner
“Thank you for the past 4 months working with me under your golf psychology coaching program. My golf game has improved dramatically since we worked together last year. My greatest accomplishment to date was shooting under par for 4 straight rounds of golf. Never in my forty years of playing this great game did I ever accomplish that. Thanks again for all your knowledge and input.”
~Steven Fink, scratch golfer
“Just wanted to say thank you Patrick for the many years of golf psychology training you have given me to help all the players the Good Lord sends my way and all the knowledge you have assisted me with over the years at the various seminars, tapes, and reading material. It is not often enough that we thank those who have played a significant part in our growing as instructors in this great game of ours. You have helped me in many ways and many of my players are that much better because of your influence in me.”
~Joe Thiel, PGA Master Golf Professional