A Review of Some EFT Basics To Start The New Year

EFT Golf Newsletter.com Issue 11

As we start off the year no doubt many of you are making new years resolutions in all areas of your life. For those looking to make positive changes in their mental approach to their golf game this year I'm going to review some EFT basics and offer some suggestions on how to incorporate these fundamentals into your early season practice sessions.

One of the core principles of EFT is to identify a fear or blocking belief that is preventing you from playing to your potential. Another core principle is to be specific. The biggest mistake people make is being to general in describing their fear or blocking belief.

For example one golfer might tap on their anxiety about stepping up to the first tee and flubbing their shot. While this is a legitimate fear my suggestion to that golfer would be to look a little deeper as to what is behind that fear by simply asking themselves why are they really afraid. Is it potential embarrassment in front of their foursome. Maybe it is embarrassment in front of the other groups that are typically there waiting to tee off. It might be a belief that if they miss the first shot the round is ruined, they will not be able to recover and they are destined to mess up the entire day.

First Tee Anxiety - Embarrassment

If it is potential embarrassment over looking silly in front of members of your foursome or others in the crowd looking on dig a little deeper as to what is behind that. Is there somebody in your foursome that always gets under your skin, perhaps a friend named Joe. Do they make a snide comment or tease you after you hit a bad shot. If so be specific about that individual.

For example:

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Set Up Phrase. While tapping on the karate chop point on either hand I would start with; Even though “Joe always gets a cheap laugh at my expense when I hit a bad shot on the first hole “I accept myself”

Shortcut phrases that focus on the problem. Tap on each of the following points while repeating the phrase next to it.

Above the Eyebrow “Joe just cant wait to tease me after I hit a bad shot”


Side of eye “I'm more focused on Joe than I am on the shot”

Under Eye “That sarcastic tone Joe uses on me drives me crazy”


Nose “I'd like to to tell him to just shut the hell up”


Chin “It really bugs me that Joe tries to get a cheap laugh from the crowd at my expense”

Collarbone “ Joe's not that great a golfer in the first place, who cares what he says”

Under arm “Joe's been doing this to me since we were in grade school together”

Top of head “Just thinking of Joe waiting to say something about my shot makes me tense up”

Being really specific and targeting in on Joe and how he makes you feel is much more effective than simply tapping on a general feeling of anxiety.

First Tee Anxiety – Getting the Round Off to a Bad Start

If your anxiety revolves around your belief that the first tee shot of the day sets the tone for the entire round I would suggest that places a tremendous amount of pressure on you and would cause anyone to tense up and make it difficult if not impossible to take an effortless tension free swing.

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I list the following phrases below as examples and they should not be used as a script. It is always better to use your own words about your own feelings. These are merely thought starters.

“I'm afraid the a missed tee shot on the first hole sets the tone for the entire round”

“If I can't hit the first shot what makes me think I'll hit the second or third”

“I have no confidence on the first tee shot of the day”

“the last two times I played I missed the first shot of the day”

“If I shoot a high score on the first hole the round is ruined”

You would place these phrase or phrases of your own choosing inside the tapping formula and then tap on the tapping points.

Set Up Phrase. While tapping on the karate chop point on either hand I would start with; Even though “I'm afraid a missed tee shot on the first hole sets the tone for the entire round”I accept myself”

Shortcut phrases that focus on the problem. Tap on each of the following points while repeating the phrase next to it.

Above the Eyebrow “I'm afraid a missed tee shot on the first hole sets the tone for the entire round”


Side of eye “If I can't hit the first shot what makes me think I'll hit the second or third”

Under Eye “The last two times I played I missed the first shot of the day”


Nose “I have no confidence on the first tee shot of the day”


Chin “A high score on the first hole ruins the entire round”

Collarbone ““If I can't hit the first shot what makes me think I'll hit the second or third”

Under arm “The last two times I played I missed the first tee shot”

Top of head “I'm afraid a missed tee shot on the first hole sets the tone for the entire round”

I hope you see the difference and importance of tapping on the specific reason of your fear rather than the generalized anxiety about teeing off on the first hole. By zeroing in on the reasons behind your belief or fear that a flubbed tee shot will ruin the entire round and tapping on that you will get better results.