Hi,

consciously I am not afraid to hit - let's say a water hazard. Most of the times I am very surprised when my ball flies somewhere I did not mean it. I register the places where not to go and aim to the "middle" - and I am very sure I'll manage - but seems like my unconscious me is doing other things.

This is why I think it's more important for me just to be aware of my thoughts - and also after a shot, evaluate what happened. I have noticed that often a bad swing is due to not swinging through - kind of being to save ( or like Ian wrote - not letting go. This does not mean that I would be thinking of swing technique. I might just be staring at the ball, very sure of making a perfect shot.)

It's good to think of positive things, but it should be based on something real. (It's very difficult to be positive when your score is more than 30 shots over your best round.) BUT this does not mean that I was angry or in a bad mood, when playing. I was disappointed AFTER the round. I don't keep score during the round.

I do not think of my self as a negative person. ( I might be expecting too much from my self.) In golf you can make a good shot as long as you are playing. I know that I am one of Finland's fastest learners in golf. (Last year I dropped my hcp from 47 to 13.) I know I am good - but this does not mean that I don't want to be better.
(BUT I do have a habit of think of "not" and "do nots" - as looks like Charles does too. My assumption from the way Charles interpered my writing. It's just a Western way of looking at the world. This is OK - and works fine. Positive thinking is also OK. It make ones life easier:-)


I tried a system of positive play for 2 months. I just "collected" positive emotions from my rounds. I did not keep score - and I had fun playing. This is not bad - but my score stayed in the same level. (I think this was an important step - as I was trying too much earlier - and that's also something to watch out for.)

BUT I think it's time for me to be critical again. - Or if not critical then more aware of my doing. I need to listen more to my body and learn from my golf so that my game will improve.

I think it's bad, if you start telling your self that you can't think this or that. That might lead in to serious problems - at least for me. I can not master my thoughts. They come and go. I just would like to be aware of my fears before a swing - not after a bad shot. Kind of "OK, I must have been careful not to hit there, as my ball seems to fly there."