Positive vs. Negative Swing Thoughts

It's a 'mind' thing...

If you golf, you know that "the space between your ears" is as important as your swing itself. For years, athletes, executives, leaders and every day people struggle with maintaining a positive mindset. There are thousands upon thousands of coaching techniques out there and the business of helping groom a positive mindset is booming!

Recently, I found myself caught in a spiral of negative thinking because I was embarrassed about the way that my game was going. Instead of being able to correct the problem, I was so focused on "not" doing the same poor swings and really could not get out of my own way. I know I am not a good enough golfer to get mad, but suffice it to say, my frustration level was near the boiling point!

After quite a bit of feeling doubt and defeat, I decided to "reset" and take some time away from the game to accomplish this change in perspective. After doing this, I was able to be excited about returning to the game I love with enthusiasm instead of dread. Sometimes, it is just the simple act of giving yourself permission to unplug and restart that helps give you back a better focus.

So many times we initially focus on what we 'don't' want to do, instead of what we 'do' want to do. For example, "Don't hit it in the water!" instead of "Controlled swing, aim to the right side of the fairway" - staying away from trouble is still the objective, but the approach becomes a more positive way to execute.

The following list is designed to give you some better ways to approach the most common swing thoughts:

🏌️ Positive vs. Negative Golf Swing Thoughts

Positive Swing Thoughts (Helpful)	Negative Swing Thoughts (Harmful)
“Smooth tempo — nice and easy.”	“Don’t swing too fast, or you’ll top it.”
“Focus on the target — see the shot.”	“Don’t hit it in the water/sand/OB.”
“Relax, breathe, and trust my swing.”	“Don’t mess this up — everyone’s watching.”
“Swing through to a balanced finish.”	“Don’t decelerate — you’ll chunk it.”
“Commit to this shot.”	“I better not miss left/right.”
“One swing thought: turn and release.”	“Keep your head down, elbows in, knees bent, weight shift…” (too many thoughts = paralysis).
“Fairways and greens — keep it simple.”	“I have to birdie this hole or I’m toast.”
“Enjoy the challenge, have fun.”	“I always blow it on this hole.”
“Pick a small target and trust it.”	“The fairway is so tight — I can’t hit it.”
“My practice is paying off — trust it.”	“I don’t have the game for this shot.”

👉 Key takeaway:

• Positive thoughts = simple, actionable, confident, and focused on what you want.

• Negative thoughts = fear-based, mechanical overload, or focused on what you don’t want.

The mind doesn’t process “don’t” very well — when you tell yourself “don’t go in the water,” your brain visualizes the water. That’s why pros and coaches encourage positive phrasing, target focus, and simple cues.