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A Delicate Balance in Golf: Technicality vs. Mentality

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

In his post victory press conference last week at the Wells Fargo Championship, Rory McIlroy shared this… “It’s OK telling yourself mentally to be strong and mentally play with freedom, but, if you can't make a swing to hit a fairway, it's very difficult, so you need to get the technical part right. Then you can dial in the mental. That's sort of the process that I've been on. I've spent some time with Bob Rotella over the last couple of months. But Pete (Cowen) would always say, if I don't do my job right, Bob can’t do his right.”
As a coach, it's easy for me to say to a student to keep your head in the game or trust the process, or any other similar notion that helps them from a mental standpoint. The reality is that this is a tough task for any golfer, no matter what their ability level, to do…even the best in the world like Rory Mcllroy.
The things that separate the best in the world from the average golfer are many but the things the average golfer can learn from the best in the world are many as well. What Rory said in this quote is telling on many levels and that was what I wanted to share today.
Being Mentally Strong…
Having a strong and positive mental outlook and attitude will always serve a golfer well. There is no denying that. However, as Rory said, if you are not swinging a swing that can hit a fairway, you can’t mentally get yourself out of that. Being strong mentally in golf does require you to also be realistic about where your game is currently at. Having realistic expectations of what you are capable of on the golf course or while developing an aspect of your game is a must. Knowing that certain steps and incremental accomplishments need to happen as you evolve as a golfer is especially important in reaching any goal you may have. Accepting failure as part of the process is all part of becoming mentally strong and will also help as you fine tune a mechanical aspect of your game.
Technical and Mental go Hand-in-Hand…
As Rory said, you can’t have one aspect firing on all cylinders if the other isn’t. Working on your mechanics and your mental in unison is the recipe for advancing your game forward. The mechanical requires repetition and practice over time and the mental requires you to go through failures, sometimes many, to make you strong enough to get through bumps in the road throughout the course of a round.
Regardless of if you are working with a Swing Coach as Rory does with Pete Cowen, or a Mental Guru like Bob Rotella, or not, you will be well served to find a good balance of working on both aspects, mechanical and mental, in unison within your own game.
Looking for more great coaching content? Visit www.pga.com/pga-coaching-live during the PGA Championship to tune into PGA Coaching Live presented by Cadillac. 
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

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