The battle on the golf course is not just about swing technique and the right equipment. At least as important is mental golf technique, the mental game – the ability to focus, handle pressure, and shut out the mental clutter. A surprising observation from a performance coaching client provides a unique insight into how to achieve the necessary mental calm before a shot.

The client recently visited a home for people with behavioral and mental health issues. Here he encountered a remarkable sight: a woman calmly walking around with a piece of bubble wrap in her hands. With each step, she would stop, concentrate on a single bubble, press – and a small, satisfying pop would follow. It was her form of mental golf technique.

At first glance, the action seemed random, but the explanation was deeper. The woman struggled with a constant bombardment of thoughts in her head. She had a hard time finding calm and controlling her own mental clutter. But in the short moment when her full attention was directed at the little plastic bubble waiting to pop, something happened. All the other thoughts disappeared. In that moment, there was only a focus on the tactile sensation of the plastic, the pressure from her finger, and the anticipated pop. A mental golf technique that worked for her.

This simple action gave her a brief but valuable break from the noise in her mind. And here lies the key to how this observation can help you as a golfer.

Now, imagine you are standing over your ball on the golf course. Thoughts can easily start to race: “Left hip needs to rotate away,” “right heel needs to come up,” “I need to hit through,” “What if I hook it into the rough?”, “Remember to keep your arms straight!”. This mental clutter creates tension and prevents you from focusing on the one crucial goal: to execute your swing cleanly and hit the ball well. This is where you need a mental golf technique.

The trick is to create your own “bubble wrap effect.” Just before you are about to hit, you should consciously focus on a small, concrete sensory detail. This could be:

• Gently pressing on your golf ball: Feel the surface, the small dimples. Concentrate solely on that tactile sensation.
• Finding a small stone under your foot: Feel how it feels under your shoe. Maybe roll your foot back and forth a little and feel the movement.
• Observing a blade of grass close to the ball: Notice the color, the shape, how it bends in the wind.

In that moment, when your full concentration is directed towards this one small thing, the same thing happens as with the woman and the bubble wrap. The many distracting thoughts fade into the background. Your attention is now focused on the present moment, on the physical sensation. This gives you the mental calm and concentration you need to execute your golf shot with greater precision and control.

Once you have practiced this simple technique enough times on the golf course and on the driving range, it will gradually become a habit. Just as the woman instinctively sought the bubble wrap to find calm, you will automatically be able to shift your focus to a sensory detail before your shot.

So next time you stand on the tee box or the fairway and feel your thoughts starting to run wild, remember the woman with the bubble wrap. Find your own “bubble” – a small thing you can focus on – and give yourself the mental break that can be the difference between a good and a bad shot. Try it – it may surprisingly be the key to lowering your handicap.

Questions and suggestions for new topics can be sent to stig.brammer@gmail.com