Staying Present: Preventing the Mid-Round Unraveling
By Dr. Barry Lotz, J.D., Ph.D., author of The Right Mind for Golf and The Right Mind
for Putting
Have you ever played beautifully through the front nine—only to suddenly lose focus,
tighten up, and watch your round slowly slip away?
You’re not alone. Every golfer, from weekend players to Tour professionals, has
experienced that mental unraveling. But as I emphasize in The Right Mind for Golf, the
cause is rarely mechanical—it’s almost always mental overload.
When the Mind Drifts, the Swing Follows
Here’s the common pattern. You start strong—four birdies on the front nine. Each shot
feels natural. You trust your swing, your tempo flows, and there’s no interference
between thought and motion.
Then, almost imperceptibly, your focus shifts. You begin thinking ahead: “If I just shoot
par on the back nine, I’ll post my career best.” That thought alone marks the turning point.
In that instant, your mind leaves the present and enters the future, where anxiety lives.
Muscles tighten, breathing shortens, and confidence evaporates. What was once
instinctive becomes forced. You start guiding the club instead of swinging it.
In The Right Mind for Putting, I describe this as the moment when the conscious mind
hijacks the subconscious athlete—when control replaces trust.
The Power of Returning to the Present
Golf is not played in the past or the future—it is played now.
The best players understand that staying present is not a luxury; it is a skill that must be
trained.
Take LPGA golfer Jessica Porvasnik, who finished fourth at the 2025 Lotte
Championship after opening with rounds of 67 and 65. Her comment afterward reflected
pure mental discipline:
“Just to stay patient. You can’t look too far ahead. One shot at a time and hopefully
everything works out.”
That mindset is exactly what keeps a good round from unraveling. It’s what I call “the
rhythm of trust”—where the body performs freely because the mind is anchored in the
moment.
3 Strategies to Stay Mentally Grounded
1. Reset – After every shot, take a deep breath and return to neutral. Use your pre-
shot routine to reset your mental slate. The breath slows your physiology; the
routine re-establishes confidence.
2. Refocus – When you catch yourself projecting forward or replaying mistakes,
use a verbal cue. A single word like “now” or a phrase like “this shot only”
reconnects thought and action.
3. Relax – Between shots, don’t stay trapped in performance mode. Enjoy the walk,
appreciate the surroundings, or share a light comment with your playing partner.
This keeps tension from accumulating and maintains emotional equilibrium.
The Takeaway
As I write in The Right Mind for Golf, great golf is a product of trust, patience, and
presence. When you stop chasing a score and instead play one shot at a time, your
rhythm returns, confidence rebuilds, and your performance aligns naturally with your
preparation.
Golf rewards those who stay rooted in the present moment—because the next shot is
always the only one that truly matters.
