Hypnosis & Golf: Train your Mind for Better Golf

The mind has more power than most of us could ever begin to imagine. 

Whether you’re playing golf or going through the rollercoaster of life, your mind can make things so much better (or worse). 

As David Cuschieri said, “The mind is a powerful force. It can enslave us or empower us. It can plunge us into the depths of misery or take us to the heights of ecstasy. Learn to use the power wisely.”

The problem is, most of us aren’t taught how to harness the power of our minds to help us in life… especially in sports. A lot of great athletes actually become “head cases” and can’t seem to get out of their own ways. Maybe you’ve even been there yourself on the golf course.

So many of us let fear, doubt, worry, anger, and other negative emotions suck the fun out of golf. But what if there was a better way?

What if there was a way to train your mind to think more effectively… to think about:

• Visualizing the perfect shot. 
• Walking up to the first tee with confidence.
• Going through your round as casual and nonchalant as Dustin Johnson. 
• Scoring well, even if you aren’t hitting the golf ball the way you want that specific day.

Sounds too good to be true? 

It’s not… I promise.

The answer lies in training your mind at an unconscious level with the power of golf hypnosis. Before you laugh and judge, keep reading to learn how it actually works, and why people like Tiger Woods have used it for massive success.

Golf Hypnosis 101 – How to Greatly Improve Your Golf Game

If you’re still reading, clearly you’re open to new ideas and want to learn more about this technique. But if you’re like most of the population, you don’t fully understand hypnosis or how it actually works. 

In fact, I didn’t either until I started working with a coach who swore by hypnosis a few years ago. Once he explained to me how it worked, I found tons of success in my own life changing certain habits. Then, I applied it to golf and found amazing results too. 

Just like you, I had some serious doubts and wasn’t even sure it was real, so hang with me. Let’s break it down in an easy-to-understand way and show how it can help you on the golf course. 

What is Hypnosis?

Let me start by saying there are a ton of misconceptions about what it is and isn’t. 

So what is hypnosis? 

Here is a perfect definition from Very Well Mind, 

“Hypnosis is a trance-like mental state in which people experience increased attention, concentration, and suggestibility. While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like state, it is better expressed as a state of focused attention, heightened suggestibility, and vivid fantasies. People in a hypnotic state often seem sleepy and zoned out, but in reality, they are in a state of hyper-awareness.”

For example, you can go into an appointment with a hypnotherapist to achieve some sort of change. Common examples might include

• Sleeping better.
• Stopping the habit of worrying constantly.
• Playing a sport with more confidence, focus or less anxiety. 
• Stopping a bad habit like smoking cigarettes or biting your nails. 

Many people describe it as a sleep-like state. Personally, I like to refer to it as a power nap with a purpose. In this peaceful state, you’re actually reprogramming your mind for success.

So why does hypnotherapy work? 

While your body is in a restful state, you can implant new ideas and beliefs into your subconscious. 

Because it trains (or retrains) the subconscious mind, not your conscious mind… let me explain. 

Understanding the Two Minds

The mind is divided into two parts; the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. 

I like to think of them as an iceberg. On top of the water, you only see part of the iceberg (your conscious mind) and beneath the water is the large part of the ice, which is your subconscious.  

Conscious

Let’s start with the top part that you see above the water – conscious. 

As Simply Psychology said, “Freud (1915) described the conscious mind, which consists of all the mental processes of which we are aware, and this is seen as the tip of the iceberg.” 

The conscious mind contains all the memories, thoughts, feelings, and wishes at any given moment. It’s also commonly referred to as your “left brain” and responsible for critical thinking. 

This part of your brain is how you’re reading this post right now. 

Subconscious

Meanwhile, the subconscious (also known as the unconscious mind) is very different. It’s known as the “right brain” and actually runs the show.

Studies have shown that the first 7-8 years of your life that your subconscious mind is in charge. During this stage, it’s learning how to keep you alive, developing your belief system, and everything else. 

As Psychology Today explains, “The unconscious is the vast sum of operations of the mind that take place below the level of conscious awareness. The conscious mind contains all the thoughts, feelings, cognitions, and memories we acknowledge, while the unconscious consists of deeper mental processes not readily available to the conscious mind.” 

The reason we have an unconscious mind is that the brain is very busy. From running the body, taking in new information through your senses, and everything else, it has a lot to do to keep you alive. 

Essentially, the subconscious mind makes life easy by doing things that you don’t need to actively think about. Once the brain learns how to do something repetitively (like driving a car or riding a bike), it can do it automatically. 

Research has shown that roughly 90-95% of everything we do everyday comes from our subconscious! 

To learn more about the Subconscious Mind and its connection with golf, read our full article here.

This is where hypnosis comes in – with enough repetition, it can reprogram the part of your mind that is responsible for 90%+ of all decisions and thoughts. If you can retrain your subconscious, you can make lasting change instead of using willpower and grit. 

As best-selling author Earl Nightingale said, “Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotions will one day become a reality.” 

Uses of Hypnosis on the Golf Course

The main benefit of course is that you can make lasting changes at a deeper level. When something goes from conscious to unconscious, it becomes automatic… some refer to it as “getting in the zone” in sports.  

There are a lot of applications for hypnosis, but here are some of the best benefits for a golfer:  

• Focus better.
• Eliminate negative thoughts.
• Create a strong mental attitude.
• Overcome performance anxiety.
• Management of certain symptoms of ADHD.
• Learn how to quiet your mind and eliminate distractions (aka swing thoughts). 
• Improve your mindset and outlook to achieve instant and lasting confidence.
• Treatment of chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Remember, hypnosis works because it retrains the part of your brain that runs your life. Instead of letting the past programs run it, add new beliefs with hypnotherapy.

Author Joseph Murray said, “The great secret possessed by the great men of all ages was their ability to contact and release the powers of their subconscious mind. You can do the same.” 

Types of Hypnosis to Play Golf Better

There are three main types of hypnosis that you can use to create lasting change.

1.  Hypnotherapy 

This type of hypnosis is where you visit a clinical hypnotherapist to help you get into a trance state and make lasting change.

After learning about the power of hypnosis in 2018, this is how I got started and recommend the same for beginners. When you visit a professional, it’s much easier to get into a trance state that might be difficult to do on your own at home.

Simply search Google for “Golf hypnotist” or “Hypnotherapist near me” to book your first hypnosis session. On their website, make sure they are NAT Board approved and see if they specialize in sports performance as well. 

Some might even be featured in golf magazines or have their own book too. While it does cost more money to see someone in person for a hypnosis session, I think it’s 100% worth it!

Then, if you want to use the other forms of hypnosis below, it’s much easier to create a similar feeling at home. During your time together, you’ll share a problem you’re facing before putting you into a trance state. 

2. Guided Hypnotherapy 

The second type of hypnosis is guided hypnotherapy. This is where you use an app, YouTube videos, or other resource to help you get into a trance state. 

Each video or audio is made to help you change a specific habit. And the library continues to grow as more and more people are learning about this powerful technique. 

Some of the best guided hypnotherapy resources are  

• Primed Mind App
• Grace Space Hypnosis App
• Golf Hypnosis + Guided Visualization
• Play Better Golf (Get in the Zone) – YouTube

3. Self-Hypnosis

The final way is self-hypnosis, which is common among athletes who need to “get in the zone” before or during competition. This is a great tool to help you manage stress and pressure that you might feel on the golf course. 

If you want to learn self-hypnosis (for golf or other parts of life), Hypnosis Downloads is my favorite resource. They also have tons of other tracks in their library to help you change just about any area of your life. 

FAQs About Hypnosis in Your Golf Swing and Mental Game

Unless you’re a psych major in college, I’m sure you have more questions about this technique. Hopefully we’ll answer them below so that you can get started reaping the benefits of hypnosis.

How does Tiger Woods use hypnosis?

Tiger likely doesn’t visit a hypnotherapist (don’t quote me on that) because he learned self-hypnosis at a young age. Tiger worked with his dad’s good friend, Dr. Jay Brunza who served in the military with Earl.

Dr. Brunza is a retired Navy officer and clinical psychologist who taught Tiger to play better golf with these principles. He also caddied for Tiger in 39 amateur events, winning 33 of them. In the book, Think Like Tiger, the author shares how Dr. Brunza used to hypnotize him before events. 

But eventually, he got to the point where he had been in a trance state enough that he could do it himself with self-hypnosis. Personally, I think it’s why Tiger dominated so many players mentally because he understands the power of his mind in golf. He uses it for better visualization, staying calm under pressure, and outperforming the field. 

Can it help create the perfect golf swing?

While we talk about how it can help professional and amateur golfers with the mindset side of things, it can help with your swing too. If you’re having an issue and know what you want to do but can’t quite do it, speak with your therapist about it.

They can help you create your idea of the perfect golf swing and affirm what you’re working on. Don’t get me wrong, it can help, but you still need to put in the work on the range too. 

The perfect golf swing doesn’t come easily!

Does hypnosis work for golf?

One word: yes.

I can say from personal experience, it’s been a literal game changer when it comes to playing better golf. From the first session, it helped me play with more confidence, stay calm under pressure, and actually enjoy the game more than ever before. Hypnosis can make a difference in breaking out of a golf slump too.

The good news is that you can use this powerful tool in your own life too. Even if you’ve never had any formal training or still are a little skeptical about this entire thing. 

But I will say it only works if you want it to work! It’s beneficial and helpful only if you want it to work and aren’t afraid to try what most golfers won’t do.

What’s the difference between meditation and hypnosis?

This is a great question! 

Meditation is a way to stay calm, manage your nerves, slow down your breathing, and monitor your thoughts. It’s more about observing what’s going on in your head, more than creating change.

Meanwhile, hypnosis is a way to create real change by reprogramming your subconscious to become a better golfer. 

Both can help your golf game as it’s such a mental sport by allowing you to control your emotions and play better golf.

How do I get started?

If you’re ready to improve your golf game without more golf lessons or hours on the driving range, start with a session. I think it’s great to learn this from a pro at first who can answer other questions, explain the process, and make you feel comfortable.

Then, as you become more familiar with the process, take it to the next level by doing a guided practice at home. Just like your golf swing, the more you practice, the better golfer you will become. Training the subconscious takes repetition!

Are there any risks?

Yes and no. Some people think they’ll get brainwashed or controlled during sessions, but that’s not the case.

As Very Well Mind says, “A hypnotist cannot make you perform actions that are against your wishes. Despite stories about people being hypnotized without their consent, hypnosis does require voluntary participation on the part of the patient. People do vary in terms of how hypnotizable and suggestible they are while under hypnosis, however.”

Healthline did say there are some cons. “Hypnotherapy does have some risks. The most dangerous is the potential to create false memories (called confabulations). Some other potential side effects are headache, dizziness, and anxiety. However, these usually fade shortly after the hypnotherapy session.”

As always, make sure to check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Final Thoughts 

Golf hypnosis can help your golf game in more ways than one.

This tool can help you

• Stay calm.
• Get in the zone.
• Improve visualization.
• Lead to overall mental improvement.
• Swing the club with more confidence.

Overall, it’s just helpful to reduce stress and improve other parts of your life too. Just like other accessories and gadgets, it can help you shoot lower scores and elevate your golf game like never before.

Even if your friends give you some grief, just remind them Tiger and other great golfers use it too.

Is hypnosis a cure for everything?

Absolutely not! You still need to develop a consistent swing on the driving range, have a pre-shot routine, and have solid fundamentals.

When you have all that paired with hypnosis, some great things can happen.