When golfers are “in the zone” and playing to the best of their abilities, they are not thinking about how to swing, but are allowing their learned skills and intuition to take over. Essentially they are enjoying playing the game in a higher state of consciousness.
When Tiger was setting winning records in the 2000’s, he was performing in this state of mind, brimming with confidence. He trusted his swing and his game. Since then he has been tinkering with his swing in an attempt to achieve a more perfect one. When he won four majors in a row, he gave up on his winning swing and developed a new one.
Tiger’s game now resembles one of an amateur who has lost all confidence. At this point, his expectation level is too high. He is trying to resurrect the swing he had when he was younger and his 39-year-old bruised body can’t accommodate his belief. Tiger has lost his game, his health, and his nerve. His recent tournament records indicate:
- January 2014 he missed the cut after shooting 82 at the Phoenix Open.
- February 2014 he withdrew after 11 holes with a back injury at the Farmers Insurance Open.
- He has the yips around the greens.
- He has no confidence in his driver.
- He has lost his bravado, his confidence.
- His injuries have compromised his swing.
- He makes excuses for mechanical deficiencies. (His glutes failed him by not firing and caused tightness in his back.)
- His golf swing is now causing more injuries.
Pain, fear, rejection, and inadequacy are discomforting emotions that tell us what we are doing is not working. And that it is time to move away from mainstream beliefs and go within to search out our own truths. Each of us has to do our own self inquiry followed by a persistent effort to change. A mental sports coach can help to discover the athlete’s core beliefs causing anxiety, negative thoughts, indecision, burnout, lack of control and confidence that show up in competition.
Golf does not build character but reveals it
The old belief of fairway-green-putt-putt as the best way to score was the credo of pro golfers for decades. The new belief is a power game. Drive the ball as far as you can and rely on your short game if you miss the fairway.
Tiger’s game was always his strength. He would drive the ball prodigious distances off-line without fear because he knew he could get on the green from wherever the ball landed. This is not his game now. To get ready for the season, he practiced hitting thousands of short shots and then couldn’t replicate them in the tournaments.
The short game protects you from errant tee shots. If you don’t have a good short game, you will not able to recover from missed shots, and doubt increases. The emotions of embarrassment and humiliation then erode your self confidence.
When you deal with perfection you are never satisfied. Golf is a game where you can never be perfect. When you cross the line of trying to be perfect, self-defeating emotions will surface and destroy your confidence. There is a point in your life where you have to trust that you know enough to play the game at your peak performance levels. Tiger has been there. He trusted his swing and his game. He had father figures that reinforced his belief in himself. Now he needs to understand his inner core beliefs so he can deprogram his brain from the unrealistic expectations that are motivating his behaviors.
Play “in the zone” with Joan
Entrain Your Heart & Mind for Peak Performances
Learn how to play on automatic pilot “in the zone” for your peak performances. Contact Joan at 828.696.2547 for a free 15-minute consultation. Learn what is missing in your golf game so you can achieve the success you desire.
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