You Can Love Golf Again
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Frustration is one of the top reasons that individuals quit golf. Widely considered one of the most mentally challenging sports, the amount of pressure situations, constant decision making, and high level of focus required throughout test even the most talented athletes. Overthinking and a loud self-critic are common challenges. Whether you have the yips, see little improvement no matter how much you practice, feel your blood pressure rise or get anxious just thinking about the tee box, there is no need to throw in the towel. You can love golf again.
How many times have you heard that golf is 90% mental? This comment leads many to think if they are just mentally tough enough then a breakthrough will be right around the corner. While your thoughts are important, sometimes the more you try to think your way through a problem, the worse it gets. If this is happening to you, it is time to learn how to speak the language of your nervous system.
Swirling thoughts, doubts, a racing heartbeat, nausea, a freeze response, or other body responses which feel out of your control are your body’s way of communicating that something is wrong or there is a potential safety threat. The alarm in your nervous system does not see a difference between a bear coming towards you or the danger associated with hitting a golf ball with others watching.
When your nervous system has collected the evidence that you are being exposed to a potential safety threat and it does not feel you are listening to its concerns, then it is not open to being told everything is going to be fine. Often positive self talk is met with a heightened nervous system response in these situations.
Learning how to speak the language of your nervous system and establishing a foundation of safety are essential components. Treatments, such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, can help you reduce the heightened symptoms in your body, discover the root causes of the alarm response, shift to a more adaptive mindset, and increase confidence (EMDRIA, 2025; EMDRIA, 2019). Research studies on the use of EMDR therapy for yips, blocks, and anxiety report significant increases in golf performance (Bennett et al., 2017; van Wensen et al., 2024).
When you reach a performance plateau or experience a slump, it is common to question why you do it, start avoiding playing, and even dread going to the course. While the mechanics of the golf swing are an are important aspect, remember nervous system regulation is essential to your success and your enjoyment of the sport.
Book a free consultation to learn more about learning regulate your nervous system to reach your performance goals and love golf again (or for the first time) at https://toniaandersonpsychology.janeapp.com or email tonia@toniaandersonpsycholocolgy.ca to get started.
Tonia Anderson is an EMDR-trained Registered Psychologist (RPsych), former elite athlete and executive leadership coach, specializing in health and performance psychology. With over 25 years in peak performance, she has worked with junior, amateur, and professional athletes competing at local, provincial, national, and international levels including World Championships, Olympic Trials, Pan-Am Games, and more. In addition, Tonia works with business executives, emerging leaders, youth, first responders and individuals wanting to achieve their career, sport, and life goals.
References
Bennett, J., Bickley, J., Vernon, T., Olusoga, P., and Maynard, I. (2017). Preliminary Evidence for the Treatment of Performance Blocks in Sport: The Efficacy of EMDR With Graded Exposure Journal of EMDR Practice and Research. https://spj.science.org/doi/full/10.1891/1933-3196.11.2.96
EMDRIA (2019). Introduction to EMDR therapy. https://www.emdria.org/blog/new-what-is-emdr-therapy-video/
EMDRIA (2025). About EMDR therapy. https://www.emdria.org/about-emdr-therapy/
van Wensen, E., Nijenhuis, B., Zwerver, J., & Bogaard, P-J. (2024). An EMDR-based intervention for the 'Golfers' Yips': A case series. Sports Psychiatry, Online. https://doi.org/10.1024/2674-0052/a000083