Instruction

The Mental Game: Training vs. Trusting

Published

13 years ago

Sep 23, 2013

Do you stand over EVERY shot running down a mental checklist of the 24 basic swing components and their variations? I promise you that tour players don’t, which is why they are able to look and swing so confidently.

Regardless of your skill level, here is the key to lower scores. Know how to train your golf swing, and then know how to trust it.

The concept of training vs. trusting is not a new one. It’s the basis sports psychology and motor learning concepts (how your mind and body learns, develops and refines a complex motor pattern of movement). Sports psychologists have known for a long time that at the top levels of professional golf, it’s not as much a golfer’s physical abilities as his or her mental skills that separate the best of the best. Unfortunately, most golfers NEVER leave the stage of training on the golf course. That means that they will never free up their bodies to accomplish the swings that their bodies are truly capable of!

The Training Mentality

The Training Mentality is a hypersensitive level of awareness dedicated to a particular facet of your present stroke pattern that is incorrect or faulty. It could be caused by a lesson from a teaching professional, a fellow golfer’s comment about your swing or maybe even your own internal feelings of what is causing your swing to do weird things. Therefore, you will now enter into the training mode where you are very cognizant of what you feel and sense in your golf swing. Staying in the Training Mode means only one thing — every time you step up to the ball either on the range or on the course your thoughts are zoned in on your mechanics. You are paralyzed by over-analysis!

As things progress further you continue to focus more heavily on this aspect of your swing. You practice on the range longer, and stand over every shot consumed with 400 swing thoughts — not a very nice way to spend the day! Now, I am NOT telling you to overlook what you feel and hear, but you must know when to turn those thoughts off and on. When you are in a lesson or practicing a particular swing mechanic, you must be very focused and over-sensitive about the move you are trying to change. After all, it is the training mode.

After a lesson, my students are highly focused on changing their faulty move(s) when I show them how it will improve their game. But I prescribe a different approach than most teachers to help my students improve at the quickest pace thanks to my knowledge of the training vs. trusting mindset. I like to have them leave the Training Mode on the range and here’s how!

You MUST change visual perceptions into physical feelings through mirror work. Use a mirror to compare your old move to the new one. What do you feel? This is what you are looking for on the range. If you hit 10,000 balls right after your lesson without gaining this feeling of old versus new, how many repetitions are going to be correct? What mirror work does is establish a new “feeling” so on the range you can make a high number of CORRECT repetitions, not just a bunch of swings.
After you establish the correct feelings of how the new move is to affect you sensations, then start with SMALL swings and work your way up. Take it from me, you cannot fix swing flaws effectively with a driver in your hand right at first. Use your wedge and partial swings. When and ONLY when you can do it every time with a wedge should you move up to a less lofted club. Don’t beat your head into the ground. Start slow and do it right, because one more ball you hit incorrectly is just one more you will have to hit correctly to rid yourself of your old habit!
Now that you have worked yourself up to full swings, it is time to go to the course. For all those people who must think about something over the ball (we’ll get to that trusting mentality shortly) this will help you. Take two practice swings per shot on the course thinking about all the mechanical thoughts you need to on the first one. On the second one, think of only the feeling and visualization of where you want the ball to end up (not where you don’t want to go). On the third swing, stand over the ball prepared to hit it with a free mind and TRUST it and let it happen!

These are the stages that I tell all my students to go through from the best professionals on Tour to the beginner golfer. It never varies. How can you trust your swing when it causes you to hit shots all over the place, you might ask? Well, that is an interesting point, but let’s discuss it in our Trusting Mentality section.

The Trusting Mentality

After training and focusing extra hard on changing a swing flaw, there comes a time when you have to trust what you have done on the range and in front of the mirror! You must allow your body to react in the new manner naturally. That is why you practice and pay attention to the new feelings your swing gives you. You take these conscious feelings and manipulations of new swing motions and through lessons and proper practice (described above) you MUST move them into your subconscious. Then you can play the game as it was meant to be played (without 4,000 swing thoughts).

Unfortunately, most people never achieve this trusting mindset because of their over-analytical state. When people ask me to describe this sensation to them I usually cite two impacting examples:

If I put a 10-foot 2-by-6 flat on the floor and told you to walk across it, you would have no trouble at all. If I placed it 50 feet in the air, all of a sudden after years and years of walking you would suddenly forget how to put one foot in front of the other! Why does this happen? People lose the Trusting Mentality necessary to walk across that plank. By thinking about how to walk, people interfere with their bodies’ natural homeostatic mechanisms that they use for balance. Guess what happens next? Another one bites the dust. It is the same on the golf course — after working on a new motion in the Training Mode, allow yourself to slip back to the Trusting Mode when you are on the course. You do this in stages by using small partial swings with a high percentage of successful repetitions, building your way slowly up to full swings. My theory is that if you cannot hit small shots the proper way, then it will be impossible to move hit larger shots the proper way. Start small until you are successful in implementing the new move! If the ball goes sideways, it only tells you that you need more practice on the range and in your mirror. You cannot expect to have any shot consistency if your mental checklist includes several hundred things!
My final example of trusting comes from everyone’s experience of hitting balls or putting while talking with one of your friends. It’s then that something weird can happen. Every shot is effortless and pure. Why does this happen? For a brief time, you are allowing your body to do what is natural for it to do, propelling the ball at your target without allowing your mind to tell you how to do it! Your body knows how to swing if you will let it work thought-free. It’s just your mind intercepting the muscles’ natural motions on the big shots (you know, trying to kill the ball for no reasons whatsoever), the stigma of trying to hit long irons in the air off a tight lie, trying not to chunk the ball into the pond on No. 8, and so on. This trust must be gained slowly and in stages; if not you will never reach the level of shot purity that you can. That is a promise from me!

You don’t have to “be the ball,” but freeing your mind of swing thoughts after working on a new swing motion can result in the same level of golf nirvana.

If you don’t believe in this idea, I will give you one test. Hit 50 balls with your 5-iron and consciously think during the swings about your mechanics and how to make your swing correct during that full shot. I bet you hit 80 percent of those balls horribly unsolid and offline.

Now, wear your iPod and playing soothing slow music and hit the same number of balls allowing your mind to only do one thing be free of any thoughts. I’ll bet you hit a far greater percentage of those shots better and tension free! Any teaching professional will tell you that they do not want you to focus on too many things on the course. That is what the range is for. The practice facility is a conscious place for thought and swing mechanic experiments. The course is for getting the ball into the hole however it takes regardless if it’s pretty or not!

I teach my students to identify their problems and solve them objectively though mirror work, follow-up lessons and proper efficient practice. My goal is not tie my students’ minds up in knots on the golf course, because if you do, it is you own fault. I firmly advocate keeping the mind free and thinking simple on the golf course. Leave mechanics on the practice facility and for your mirror!

Instruction

How to play your best golf when the temperature drops

Published

4 months ago

Feb 3, 2026

Brendon Elliott

The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.

“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.

If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.

Understand What Cold Does to Your Game

Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.

Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.

Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.

Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing

Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.

Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.

Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.

Take More Club Than You Think You Need

This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.

The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.

Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.

Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens

Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.

Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.

Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.

Embrace the Mental Challenge

Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”

That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.

Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.

Warm Up Longer and Smarter

This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.

Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.

The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.

Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!

Instruction

3 lessons from Brooks Koepka that’ll actually lower your score

Published

4 months ago

Feb 2, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.

So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.

Stop Overthinking Every Shot

Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.

This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.

How to actually do this:

On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.

Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.

If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.

This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.

Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)

Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.

Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:

Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.

Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.

Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.

Save Your Best for When It Counts

Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.

How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.

Here’s what actually works:

Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.

Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.

Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.

The Bottom Line

Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.

You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.

Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.

Instruction

What we can learn from Blades Brown’s impressive American Express performance

Published

4 months ago

Jan 29, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.

Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.

Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee

Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.

Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.

Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.

The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.

Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens

This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.

How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.

Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.

Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.

When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.

Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient

Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.

He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.

Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.

Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.

Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.