Golf tips - Control your mind: The 3 boxes

The unpredictability of golf is great. One minute your on cloud 9 and feel you can't miss a thing, the next you are in despair and feel you couldn't hit a barn door. No two rounds of golf are ever the same and we need to learn to control our behaviour throughout everything that is thrown at us during any game.

The golf course leads to a wide range of emotions being experienced. At times you will feel nervous or under pressure. At other times you may feel frustrated, angry or alternatively happy and ecstatic. The wide range of emotions and thought processes must be controlled. Failure to control these will lead to poor decision making and execution of golf shots. 

One way of controlling your mind, maintaining concentration and controlling emotions is to use the 3 box rule. The three boxes break each shot you play into three distinct phases. This allows you to make wise and thoughtful decisions, play your shots with a clear objective and also allow you to move onto the next shot in the best possible frame of mind.

So here is how it works..........


Pre shot box.........

The pre shot box, or preparation box, is where all your analysis of the shot and decisions are made. It is the box where you set the scene for what you want to achieve. Taking into affect factors such as yardages, wind, undulations, hazards, club selection, shot shape, trajectory. When I say set the scene it is where you will use your thoughts and decisions to use imagery or visualisation to create a clear picture in your head of what you want to achieve for that given shot.

This is also the position where practice swings should be carried out. Visualising and executing the swing that will create the ball flight and outcome you require prior to playing the actual shot is vital in order for good execution of the shot to be successful.

Action box........

The action box is only entered once you have a clear understanding and vision of what you want to achieve from the current situation. This box is just for action and shot execution. If you have any doubts or feel uncomfortable over the ball then this box should be exited. Get out of the action box and get back into the pre shot box.

Never play a shot with doubts in your mind. You must approach every shot with 100% commitment with 100% trust that what you have set out to do with the shot is clear and achievable.

Post shot........


This is maybe the most important box of the three. This box allows you to continue around the course without tension and anger running through your veins and also will help to keep you grounded when things happen that make you too excited.

Lets focus on the negative first. Now everyone hits bad golf shots. Martin Kaymer is on fire at the moment yet he will miss fairways, greens and putts.The same was the case for Tiger Woods when he was on form and also when he returns to form. What we need to do is make sure that one bad shot does not lead to a succession of poor shots. Damage limitation is needed. We will use this box to make sure we do not allow our anger, frustration or tension to reach an uncontrollable level that will effect our performance.

The same is true for overly positive experiences. Being set for your best round on the 18th tee, hitting over a big pond or other hazard and maybe even a hole in one. These are all factors that will excite you during a round. Again this needs an element of control. You need to remain in a controlled zone in order to carry on performing to the level that got you to these positions in the first place.

The post shot box allows you a 10 metre window to try and get yourself back in the present. For example after hitting a shot heavy into a greenside bunker, you have 10 metres to let out anger. No shouting or screaming please! Just time to have a chat to yourself and get rid of the frustrations. After that 10 metres you must refocus on the next shot. The same applies following overly positive results. Adrenaline is a hard thing to control.

So there it is....

A little tip to assist you with on course management. Every shot you play on the golf course deserves this attention whether it be a putt from 4 feet or a driver tee shot on a long Par 5. Control your thought processes and set yourself up to approach every shot with the clearest frame of mind and 100% commitment and confidence.

Give it a try over a few rounds. It is hard at first to try and remember every shot you play, however this will become habit and your normal behaviour which is definitely a good thing.

Good luck, and enjoy your golf.

Daniel Gale PGA Professional

Dan is a fully qualified member of the PGA & a certified TPI Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com