Dr. Carly Hunt suggests psychological tactics to reduce golf stroke errors

Sports psychologist Dr. Carly Hunt identifies the belief that nerves and doubt must be eliminated to play well as a primary cause of increased tension and higher scores during golf rounds. Drawing on acceptance and commitment therapy, Hunt advises players to embrace feelings of discomfort as a natural component of competition rather than attempting to force a state of calm. This approach emphasizes maintaining focus on executing shots despite internal distractions. Strategies include reframing nervousness as physical preparation for the game and prioritizing competence over total confidence. By accepting negative thoughts rather than suppressing them, players can prevent these feelings from compounding throughout a round. Hunt argues that fixating on the need to feel calm serves as a distraction that ultimately hinders performance on the course.

• 1:42 PMYahoo Sports — This one type of thought is costing you strokes every round