A couple of days ago, I mentioned an episode of Playing Lessons from the Pros on The Golf Channel. In general, I think this program is of great value for most golfers. These thoughts are kind of feeding from my previous post about discipline.

I’ve watched this show for a long time, and it has always impressed me. For those who have never seen it, the basic premise is simple: we get to spend half an hour on the course with a player from the PGA, Champions, LPGA, or Nationwide tours. Some current players, some former players. Many of the all time greats have been featured.

Over the course of the program, they play a round of golf surrounded by cameramen. They talk about all kinds of things like preparation, course management, recovery, shot techniques. Basically anything and everything about the game of golf.

The reason I’m so high on this show is that we get to do something that most people never get to experience. We get inside the mind of a professional golfer of the highest caliber.

While I always enjoy the little swing tips, I think the most value comes from seeing how a pro manages the course and how he/she mentally prepares for and plays a round of golf. We get a look at their confidence, positive attitude, and mental focus. We get a look at how the course is played. How shots are planned out and executed. How mistakes happen and how they recover. How they plan shots to minimize negative outcomes while giving the best chance for a positive outcome.

Getting inside the head of a pro can really show the rest of us where we lack. Even if we don’t have textbook swings, we are most certainly giving up some strokes to our (lack of) mental game. Regardless of skill level, the mental game is something that can be worked on.

Check out the show and you’ll see what I mean.

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