We live in a world of hype that plays up tantalizing dramas that get our adrenaline rushing. Whether is it golf, sports. news, advertisements, or politics, we are bombarded with sensationalism daily to get our attention. To play golf at your highest potential requires a different paradigm. The golf swing has many moving parts that need to be n the proper sequence to produce solid, accurate shots. A mental key for peak performance is the relaxation of your mind and body parts so they are entrained.
Entraining your mind and body means being in sync or in balance of both parts. Synchronization means that things are happening or working at the same time in harmony. Your EKG (heart waves) and EEG (brain waves) frequencies are entrained when you are “in the zone”. To move into the zone state, you need to free your mind and body by relaxing, and allow the perfect timing to happen.
As a tennis professional I taught college students how to play tennis. One of the teaching methods I used was to videotape each student’s ground strokes and serve. Invariably when I played the videotape, the students’ initial reactions were that what they saw wasn’t their swing. The image in their minds didn’t match their strokes.
Watching golfers take a practice swing and then swing at the ball, I am reminded of this difference. The practice swing is usually the product of relaxation done without any pressure. The swing on course is usually the product of trying to control the ball by “hitting” it with force. If the result is playable, the golfer will usually rationalize that the swing was a good one and continue with the same process. If the result is not a good one, the golfer will experiment and try to change his/her swing thoughts for a better result.
Balance is a mental key to a smooth, solid swing
Since our minds rationalize that we are doing what we desire, here are some suggestions to “see” and “feel” what you are actually doing:
- Is your grip relaxed enough to allow the club to make the necessary motions? The shorter the club, the more relaxed your grip needs to be.
- Have someone use your phone to video your practice swing and then video the actual swing hitting the ball. Are the two swings different?
- Notice the difference between the follow-through on your practice swing and your actual swing hitting the golf ball. Were you in balance on the follow-through, or did you fall forward or backward?
- Swing with your eyes closed to “feel” your swing. Then tee up a ball. With your eyes closed, hit the ball with a 7-iron. Did you allow your subconscious mind to hit the ball, or did you tense up by trying not to miss it?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you can improve your rhythm and timing by taking deep abdominal breaths before every golf shot. For more information on deep breathing to relax, log on to www.pmi4.com and click on Archived Newsletter, November 2005. Also available on the website are self-hypnosis CDs.
Be sure to check the PMI website and Blog for previous mental golf tips.
Play “In the Zone” With Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Brain for Peak Performances
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