There is a brand new mental game technique out there that most of the top players would rather keep a secret. It's called 'tapping'. Currently golfers all over the world are using this technique to eliminate tension and anxiety, fear and self doubt and enjoy the game again. Tapping can help with everything from first tee jitters to the yips to anger management issues. In this short article you will discover and experience this simple technique that delivers results almost immediatelyresults that you will feel in your body and see on your scorecard.

What is Tapping?

WarningIt is a little weird'but give it two minutes and experience the results. Do yourself a favor and suspend disbelief for a short time, and test out the demonstration detailed below. The chances are good that you won't care that it's 'unconventional'.

Tapping is simply a do-it-yourself form of acupuncture, except you don't use needles. Instead you simply 'tap' on a few 'clearing points' while focusing on the negative feeling or emotion. Let's get right to it!

Step One: Visualize a Stressful Golf Scenario and Rate the Intensity of Your Feelings

Sit down comfortably and close your eyes. In a moment I will instruct you to imagine yourself out on the golf course. Not some generic course, but rather one you know very well. You will imagine yourself on the toughest hole, or possibly the most challenging shot you have ever had to execute.

Is it a tee shot over water, a deep greenside bunker, or a tricky chip onto a sloped green? Whatever it is, I will encourage you to fully immerse yourself into that scenario and to vividly imagine yourself standing over the shot.

While you are performing this mental exercise, make a note of what particular negative emotions (nerves, anxiety, fear) or physical symptoms (butterflies in stomach, sweaty palms) arise, and give them an 'intensity rating'. We will use a simple scale of 010
(0 = no intensity, 10 = very high intensity).

For example, fear at level seven.

Please go ahead and do that now. Take a couple of minutes if necessary.

Write down your 'intensity number' on a sheet of paper. We will use it for a subjective test in a few minutes.

Step Two: Tap the Clearing Points (Negative Focus)

Next, you will tap three points approximately ten (10) times each while focusing on the negative emotion or physical symptom you identified above. It is important that you focus on the negative while tapping

Point OneCollarbone

You will use an open hand to tap this area. Technically speaking, it is not the collarbone, but rather the two boney notches at the base of your neck (the location of the knot of a necktie). Tap it lightly ten times while focusing on the negative emotion.

Point TwoUnder Eye

Use the tips of your index and middle finger to tap on the bone about one inch directly below the eye. Tap it lightly ten times while focusing on the negative emotion.

Point Three - Double Wrists

Simply tap the insides of both of your wrists together (about the area that you would wear a watch). Tap them together ten times while focusing on the negative emotion.

Interesting (sort of) side note: this wrist point is the one that can reduce sea sickness. If you have ever been on a cruise ship, you may have used one of those wrist bands for your queasy stomach. The truth is, those bands are designed to stimulate these exact wrist points. The manufacturers often times don't tell you that because it seems too weird!

Step Three: Tap the CB Point (Positive Focus)

Now tap the CB Point once again with an open hand approximately 10 times while repeating (aloud or silently to yourself) the phrase 'Let it be easy'.

Step FourTake a DEEP BREATH.

Step FiveImagine the Exact Same Scenario Again and Check Your Intensity Rating

The chances are very good that the intensity of your emotion or physical symptom will have decreased substantially or disappeared completely.

If you experienced a decrease but there is still some intensity remaining, or if a different emotion or symptom surfaces, simply perform another round or two of this method until you feel calm, confident and as if you could take on Tiger himself!

Question: Will this calm feeling actually carry over to the course in the same situation?

Answer: Usually. The subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between what you imagine and what is 'real'. However, if you experience any negative emotions/symptoms while 'live' on the course, simply apply this technique on the spot and eliminate them in short order.

The above demonstration is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the enormous potential inherent in these techniques to lower your handicap and increase your enjoyment out on the links.