If you are too tense you will lose the freedom of an easy, rhythmic swing which produces the consistent power that you desire. The unwanted tension instead will cause tight muscles to produce a rushed, jerky swing. Telling yourself to swing slowly or smoothly will not change the habit of tensing up when you are standing over the ball. You have to train your body to stay relaxed throughout the entire swing.
Effortless Power
In most sports power comes from effort. But golf is different. Less is more. Club head speed produces distance, and club head speed is the result of relaxed muscles. Using less effort will produce more club head speed and more distance.
Tension and tightness will decrease your club head speed, change your downswing and the solidness of the club striking the ball. Pay attention to what you feel instead of what you think or see. Practice swinging your club with your eyes closed to feel the tempo of a free flowing powerful swing.
Deep breathing is the key to relaxation
To be confident and to play at your best, you have to be relaxed. You can relax by learning the natural way to breathe by expanding your abdominal area when you inhale and by contracting it as you exhale. When you are tense, the tendency is to breathe high in your chest. This creates tightness in your shoulders, restricting your backswing.
Many good players incorporate a deep breath into their pre-shot golf routine to automatically relax themselves. Watch Jason Day visibly exhale to slow down his mind and body for easier focus when creating each shot. If you are anxious or tense, you might want to take more than one deep breath and say to yourself as you exhale, “Let Go and Relax”.
Play relaxing music in your headphone
On the golf course, some players use music to quiet their minds and relax their bodies. Pro golfers Fuzzy Zoeller, Brad Fabel, and Mark McCumber were often heard whistling. To relax your body between shots, hum or whistle a tune that you find pleasant and soothing. As you approach your ball, listen to your favorite song inside your head, in your “mind’s ear”.
Imagine being in a peaceful place
If you have an active mind and are prone to performance anxiety, use your imagination to relax your mind between shots with pleasant images of things you like to do. You are limited only by your own interests and imagination. Make it enjoyable using details of seeing, hearing and feeling the activity. Fred Couples has relaxed using images of himself lying on his sofa with a remote control in his hand.
Play “in the zone” with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances
To train your brain and body to score low around the greens, listen to the PMI self-hypnosis CDs: “Master Your Short Game for Lower Scores” and “Confident Putting for Low Scores” in the privacy of your own home. You can order today at http://www.pmi4.com/cart
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