Golf can provide endless hours of entertainment, plenty of fun and memorable moments, and something to look forward to after a long week at the office.
But anyone that has played golf for any amount of time will know that sometimes that stress can easily be transferred to the course, and it doesn’t take long for it to poison the game and ruin a golfer’s fun.
Stress is a response to a specific situation, and it can quickly flair for the golfer that finds that they are having a tough time on the course.
It’s something of a self-fulfilling cycle, as the more stress that a golfer experience, the harder it will be for them to find an equilibrium on the course and start enjoying themselves. Here we will explore some techniques for reducing the amount of stress experienced while playing golf.
Breathing Exercises
It’s easy to dismiss breathing exercises as a means of actually reducing stress, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that they are extremely effective in helping a person calm down. For example, many soldiers are taught breathing exercises when they are in the midst of a battle to help them slow down their heart rate and better focus on what’s going on around them.
The same principles apply to golf; as we become more stressed, it becomes harder to maintain focus and our heart rate tends to skyrocket. Breathing slowly can help balance out stress levels, and it can be done by taking in a deep breath, counting to four, and letting out that breath, and counting before, and then repeating as many times as is necessary.
Proper Hydration
It might not seem apparent at first, but dehydration can easily cause stress levels to rise as our bodies are panicking from not having adequate fluids. It’s also easy to believe that there are other factors at play here, such as being worried about an upcoming meeting or bill, but sometimes the stress is nothing more than a physical response to the body crying out for proper hydration.
This is why every golfer should always ensure that they take enough water with them out on to the course. At least 1.5 litres of clean and preferably cold water should be taken out on to the course before the start of a round.
Listening To Music
Music has been proven by science to have a powerful effect on stress levels, and it’s so many people use music to soothe themselves are a stressful day. Having a pair of earphones and listening to music between rounds is an excellent method of bringing down overall stress levels and staying calm, even when things are not going so well.
It can also help immensely to take small breaks here and there when possible, and listen to music while having a small snack, drink water, and check out the latest horse racing tips New Zealand offers to help keep the levels of stress at a minimum.
