Essential to establish a good routine

It is especially interesting to note the emphasis which one of our leading players, Padraig Harrington, places on concentration. Instead of blaming erratic putting or wayward driving for a disappointing score, he is very often quoted as attributing it to poor concentration.

If quite a number of his professional colleagues were entirely honest, they would be making the same admissions. And if high levels of concentration are crucial to good scoring in professional golf, it follows that the average club golfer would also benefit greatly if they applied themselves to this crucial area.

Every golfer is different, a unique human being. So, part of being mentally fit for the game is learning and deciding what is right for you. At the same time, some golden rules must be applied if high levels of performance are to be achieved.

When the various mechanical elements of the game are practised to the extent that they become embedded in the subconscious and thereby habitual - without the need for thought or feeling - the player is rendered free to concentrate on the primary objective of the game, which is getting the ball into the hole.

A high level of concentration permits the individual to respond to many stimuli, without becoming overloaded with information. It is also possible, when necessary, to narrow one's focal attention without missing out on any crucial information.

On the other hand, golfers who lack the necessary concentration, will tend to become confused and overloaded by multiple stimuli i.e. giving yourself several instructions at the same time, like widen your stance, weaken your grip, raise the left shoulder etc, and will experience problems in blocking out noises and distracting movement. And when their focus is narrowed, it will be to the exclusion of important information.

Golfers find different ways of coping. Some, like Lee Trevino for instance, like to chat between shots while we are told that the great Ben Hogan remained extremely tight-lipped while on the golf course, keeping conversation to the absolute minimum. Essentially it is a question of routine: what suits the individual best.

A routine may be triggered the moment the golfer touches the golf bag prior to the round, possibly by using a cue word like "now". From there, focal attention is kept in the present, with the player assessing and analysing each situation as it arises while developing an overall strategy. And all the while, the two key externals remain the ball and the intended target.

In the latter context, it is important to be aware that the eye gives instructions to the subconscious mind. So the intended target should be identified, down to a specific area of the fairway or green. Then the ball is addressed and the shot executed without permitting one's concentration to be broken.

But if the eyes are allowed to wander, the subconscious will be playing a different game from the desired one, because it is being given a different set of instructions, however unwittingly.

Pre-round, pre-hole and preshot routines should become second nature to the player, while trusting the subconscious to enact the mechanics of each playing situation.

Two of the greatest enemies in establishing a good routine, are thinking of past mistakes and over-analysis of the current challenge. Many people have the physical skills to be successful but lack the confidence in their ability to perform these skills under pressure.

Self-doubt undermines performance by creating anxieties which in turn break concentration and lead ultimately to indecisiveness. We may try to humorously dismiss the problem with such remarks as: I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure. But it stands to reason what our confidence will be undermined if we allow ourselves to concentrate on our shortcomings instead of our strengths.

Finally, we must never underestimate the importance of concentration in everything we do, especially in a highly technical activity such as playing golf. Harrington is right: it can make the difference between a good and an indifferent round.