Information on how to take your golf game to a higher level abound all over the place and you have no doubt seen the adverts. You might have even taken the next step and bought those golf balls that promise you 30 yards more distance or the latest driver that powers drives straight down the fairway. So, are you in fact getting those extra yards and accuracy?

You have to stop believing in the myths that the big advertisers force down your throat. A great golf game is not only about having a perfect golf swing or using the most technologically advanced golf equipment.

It is true that the beginner can learn a lot from some of the golf swing guides or fix a persistent golf swing fault with a certain golf training aid. In fact, I have reviewed and recommended several good guide books and training aids that can improve areas of your swing on my blog. Did you know that there is one missing piece of the golf puzzle that you should know about? It is the mental game of golf.

First, to dispel the myths that a great golf game can be bought, let's take a look at some facts:

25% of golfers back in the 1970's managed to break 90 and a smaller number could post scores in the 70's. 30 years have passed and we can now use over-sized drivers with larger and more forgiving sweet spots, wide sole and cavity back irons, and golf balls with 4 piece construction. So, how many golfers can today break 90? Well, from 25%, we have gone all the way up to 28%!

Having spent well over 90 billion dollars on development and advertising, the golf equipment industry should be pleased to know that there has been an enormous increase of 3% of golfers that can now break 90! You also have to add to those billions the vast investment made by golf training aids manufacturers and by the golf instruction industry.

It is time to tell you of the missing ingredient that will promote the quickest and the most permanent change to any golfer's game. It is the mental game of golf, sometimes known as the inner game of golf that is the vital key to advancement. Amusingly, it is the one area of golf development which doesn't cost a cent to implement, yet hardly any golfer uses it.

The golf mental game - using your mind in a deliberate, orderly, and focused way is the surest manner for lowering your score card. There are several areas of the mental game of golf that you can explore, like:

-Using your imagination to win

-Using your imagination to win

-Controlling your attention

-Finding your game and playing within it

-Curing golf nerves and anxiety

-How to develop clear focus and mental toughness

-Eliminating anger from your game

By now, if you haven't thought too much about the mental game of golf, you should now understand the importance of using it. Understanding and using the inner game of golf is what separates the top 5% of golfers from the rest of us. The top players know about advanced visualization techniques that improve every area of their game, how to enter the "Zone," using mental imagery processes, and powerful goal setting processes.

There is no doubt that golf is a complex game. There are many areas that you need to perfect and work on; first use the right (not the most expensive) golf equipment for your game. Practice and improve your golf swing technique, and maybe even work on golf fitness training. But if you want to take your golf game to the next level and shoot lower scores, you need to master the mental game of golf.