I took a golf lesson yesterday, and was surprised when the instructor spent the first 10 minutes talking about the importance of the mental approach to the game. Specifically, he talked about focusing on every shot, and forgetting about any bad shots before you hit your next shot.

He said that many golfers follow up a bad shot with several others, as they dwell on the bad shot rather than focusing on the next shot. A part of focusing is visualizing or seeing the result you'd like to have before you hit a shot. Not letting one bad shot affect future shots is easier said than done, but I realized he was right to stress this before he watched me hit any balls.

I also realized that this advice applies to all sports. While it's important to practice your skills, take some time to work on the mental approach to the game as well. Chances are that the more focused you are, the better the result will be and the more you'll enjoy the sports you play.