I'm going to cover some fundamental principles of how the mind works here, that are already very popular in golf psychology, and give you some really simple tips for how to optimise your performance. The opportunists amongst you may realise how this can be applied on a much grander scale than to shoot lower scores. I'm going to tell you how to program your mind for success, the way Tiger Woods and every other top performer does.

There is an idea that what you focus on you will get. Think about wealth, and you will receive wealth; think about debt and you will attract debt. It is called the law of attraction and at first it seems absurd- how can thinking about something make it happen?

Let me 'splain.

When you visualise something in your mind, your brain immediately begins generating ways to make it a reality. It works something like an internet search engine: you type in the keywords and out come results. Whatever you type in, there WILL be results. The mind is more resourceful than most people realise IF you know how to use it, but it can also work against us if we give it the wrong programming.

An example of good programming: if you were to stand on the tee of a hole and ask yourself the question "what is the best strategy for playing this hole?" your brain will come up with answers and most importantly you will visualise doing it as part of the process. This visualisation also lets your physical body know what you want to achieve, and the nerves in your muscles will begin firing, anticipating making the required movements and unconsciously calculating how to do it. If you were to ask yourself "what do I want the ball flight on this shot to be like," again, your body will interpret and EXPRESS the answers.

Conversely, if you were to say to yourself "I hope I don't screw up this hole" you will imagine all the possible ways that you could screw up! And when the picture forms in your mind a vital part of the command is left out. The "don't" part is left out. It is impossible to actively imagine NOT doing something. All you have told your brain is to focus on how to play the hole badly. Again, you will visualise the process and your body will begin calculating how to produce the undesired result! And it will do it. Perfectly. Another example would be to think "I don't want to hit my ball into the bunker". I wouldn't like to guess the number of times that I have thought something like that and then gone and done exactly what I said I didn't want. I feel sure I'm not the only one.

So how can you improve your golf starting right now? Firstly, become aware of your thought processes. Notice what you are thinking and the effect it has. You can only correct it through awareness. Work on disciplining your mind to only visualise what you want. Asking questions like "what is the best way for me to achieve X goal?" will help force the good visualisations. Make it a part of your routine to control your thoughts. Stand behind the ball and ask yourself "what do I want to achieve?" You will notice that the nerves disappear and you are able to focus on just playing the shot. The tour pro's stand behind the ball as part of their routines and visualise the shot they want, every single time. More on the importance of routines elsewhere...

You could take this principle and apply it to your practice as well. Ask yourself, "where would my time be best spent to iron out creases in my game?" "How can I find out the areas of my game that are weak?" "What do I require to take my game to another level?"

The more poignant the questions, the better your answers will be and the better your results will be. All you have to do is lead your mind down the right avenues.

This is so effective that I apply it in all areas of my life- "what would I have to do to earn £25,000 extra each year?", "what is the best way to do this," "What makes me most happy and how can I make that more abundant in my life." Ask these questions enough times and you will receive more answers than you can handle.

Enjoy.