Over the last thirty years a real golf revolution has taken place in America and Europe. Technique, balls, equipment, training methods, video swing analysis – everything is new! And what are the effects of this boom? Not all we hoped for, as the average handicap has not improved. The golf revolution is like the squaring of the circle: Research has proven that there is no technically perfect golf swing. However, amateur golfers spend most of their time trying to achieve one! After twenty years of experience working with a wide spectrum of golfers we know that every golfer in the world can be classified as one of these four golfing types:
| Golfer 4 technically untrained | + | mentally untrained |
| Golfer 3 technically untrained | + | mentally trained |
| Golfer 2 technically trained | + | mentally untrained |
| Golfer 1 technically trained | + | mentally trained |
Who do you think will win if type 2 and type 3 – both with the same handicap – play against each other over ten tournament rounds? I am sure that type 3 will leave the course as the winner; technically not very good but mentally well-prepared. This is because even the best technical training is no protection against bad shots. Wayward shots are part and parcel of the game of golf – and while I am writing this, the world’s best golfer, Tiger Woods, is out there hitting only 58 percent of fairways. The difference between amateurs and tours pros is less in the swing than in the ability to not let themselves be affected by “unwanted experiences”. What does Bobby Jones say? “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course the space between your ears”.
Consider the following points to see how decisive the “game in your head” can be. How is a round of golf structured? A swing lasts all of two seconds. Therefore, in a round lasting four hours, three to six minutes of that is devoted to swinging the golf club. What is going on in the remaining 234 to 237 minutes? Is the golfer merely enjoying nature? Is he or she worrying the whole time about their technique? Or is the golfer wondering why, if they are “the best training champ on the range” how come their performance on the course is not up to scratch? “Golf is a good walk spoiled” says Mark Twain. Using mental training – using your mind, not the club – you will never spoil your walk again.
Mental training is more than crisis management; it is an essential ingredient for better scores! And this is why tour players practice mental techniques on a daily basis. As well as bettering their swing, they acquire goal-oriented behavior and mindset. They use mental training strategies and mental game analysis programs; they practice relaxation techniques, the visualization of movement sequences and school themselves in mindfulness – the entry ticket for a state of flow.
In this book you will find food for thought and exercises tested in the field for golfers of all levels. A mental mixture of cognitive psychology, sport psychology, relaxation techniques, neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and perceptual psychology. Very soon you will be able to alter the cause-effect mechanism in all four of the important performance quadrants. As surprising as this may sound, almost every process, almost every action, can be divided into these four quadrants:
Before the Game • The Game • The In-between Time • After the Game
"Golf meets Mind" will help you to train your mind and to increasingly improve your game, even when under pressure.
Justin Walsh
•••••
How often does a mere mortal golfer have the opportunity to stand next to Tiger Woods and hit golf balls? I have had that honor several times. I could hardly breathe I was so excited, and my shots were played with more luck than skill. And when a shot was particularly poor, I wished the ground would open up and swallow me.
In the meantime I have become slightly accustomed to our dual performances. Apart from our different statures I have noticed a certain similarity between our setup positions. I was able to adjust my backswing by two inches to that of Tiger Woods after only one week of practice. Only 17 inches to go, so theoretically nine more weeks training in winter camp should do it, don’t you think?
Due to his incredible mental power, Tiger Woods is not bothered by my amateurish golf game. I wonder if he has noticed that my swing has changed over the last few years? I would like to know, but one doesn’t speak to a pro unless spoken to first. I learned that as a caddy a long time ago. So I can only offer my heartfelt thanks to Tiger Woods that he is always at my side each year in winter training camp – via video analysis!
•••••
Mind meets Golfer
• Setting Goals, Achieving Goals: The Sat-Nav for Success
• The Game of Thought: The Spirits You Evoke
• Expectations: The Score Killer
• The Anchoring Technique: Emotional States at the Push of a Button
• Practice Makes Perfect
• Visualizing: Playing Golf in Your Head
What do you bring with you to the first tee? No, I don’t mean what’s in your golf bag or your snack box. Instead I am asking about your “mental set of clubs”, the expectations, goals, motivation, constitution, beliefs and self-confidence that influence your game before you have even set foot on the golf course. How many of these “mental clubs” support you, and how many are only so much ballast, obstacles, or drains on energy differs from bag to bag. The first step: Inspection and decluttering so that order rules in your bag! An in-depth, actual-state analysis helps achieve this. You will be amazed what has accumulated in your “mental set of clubs” over the years. There are certainly some “clubs” you should preferably get rid of. On the other hand, some important “mental clubs” might be missing. Techniques which will support you with the necessary calmness in difficult situations or which will help you to give of your best when under pressure. And there are certainly some clubs that need adjusting or exchanging. Maybe your training habits on the driving range, or your visual performance when putting?
In the following chapter you will receive instructions and hints on how to compile your “mental set of clubs” before the game and to practice with them in order to be best equipped for the challenges on the course.
•••••
You will have noticed by now, the motto is: Ask questions, collect and analyze information, make decisions and act accordingly. However, a new equipment or one coaching session with a pro is not going to cure swing errors or finally crack the magical 200-yard mark. You will only achieve this by practicing, practicing and again practicing and by constant analysis and correction. The same goes for mental training: Just reading the chapters and trying something out is not going to motivate your mind to change old behavioral patterns and to react in a new way. Practice is necessary here too. However, the good news is that many mental exercises are easily integrated into daily life without any extra effort. Whether you are stuck in a traffic jam or waiting for someone, use the time and exercise your mind each day for a few minutes. Subsequently, out on the course, you can then gradually begin to use the respective “mental clubs”. And Rome wasn’t built in a day! Concentrate on only one subject at a time otherwise your bag will soon become cluttered again.
•••••
The most important “mental club” in your bag is a small notebook or ring binder – your personal log book. On the high seas this is still – despite the Internet – in use in order to record daily events. Document your golf journey with as much detail as you can. You can enter all golf-relevant information here: formulation of goals, training plan, your trainer’s instructions, tournament results, events and occurrences on the round and so on. Use the various scorecards, whether for the actual-state-analysis of your present level of performance; mental analysis of the round; or to discover the score boosters in your game. You can find the scorecards under: ⇒ www.move-your-game.com/download
You will see, from round to round, the image you have of your game will become increasingly precise and more detailed. You will discover weak points and notice positive developments. It will be easier for you to recognize structures and regularities when mental problems arise. The view of your game will become more holistic and incorruptible. And best of all – you will not be as easily discouraged when you have played a bad round.
Write your own golf log book. Christopher Columbus’s log book earned historical fame – yours will attain a similar value for your own game.
•••••
A new golf season, new resolutions and new goals for your golf game. At the forefront is – of course! – to improve your handicap. The only snag: This is formulated in too general a way and more a declaration of intent than the setting of a goal. Raise your chances of achieving this year’s goal by investing a little time in establishing clear, precise and measurable goals – your own personal sat-nav for success which will map out your route to a better handicap. Pay attention to all three areas relevant to golf: Body, mind and technique. Define your short-term goals, including a timeframe, and draw up your own personal training plan for the next few months. Preferably before the season starts! That way you will stay on course, know what you would like or need to work on, will rejoice in partial successes and will be motivated time after time. The best medicine for downers!
It is not actually wrong, after a tournament or after a round of golf, to practice the swing that didn’t really work, but one week it will be the putter, the next the long game, then the short game, not to mention that long-term issue – the slice. It can drive you mad! As Jack Niklaus says, “The only thing constant about golf is its inconstancy!” And when he’s right, then he’s right. But with clearly defined goals you will not get lost, even if you find yourself in difficult terrain.
•••••
Golf has so many facets that it is not easy to recognize one’s training needs straight off. With the help of the mental check and the “actual state analysis” scorecard, it will be easy for you to gain a comprehensive overview of your physical and mental fitness, as well as of the strengths and weaknesses of your technique. Who knows? Maybe you will break 90 on your next round by working on your breathing and relaxation techniques.
Take a little time and, using the following checklist, analyze your mental skills “before the game”, during “the game”, in the “in-between time”, the time between individual shots, and “after the game”. There might be questions that you have never asked yourself and other items might remind you all too vividly of experiences from your last rounds. So give it a go and see what you discover when you “meet your mind”! You can find the mental check under: www.move-your-game.com/download
Before the Game
• I play golf because I take pleasure in it and I love the challenge.
• I define my goals very specifically and concisely.
• I walk onto the course / enter the tournament without great expectations.
• I’m not afraid of making a fool of myself.
• I have a plan for every round / tournament.
• I feel confident and self-assured and am satisfied with my performance.
• I can play a tournament without being burdened with negative thoughts or anxiety.
• On the driving range my golf is much better than on the course.
• I never compare myself with other golfers and am not afraid of the competition.
• I have emergency plans for difficult situations on the course.
• I am good at assessing my strengths.
• I train in a goal-oriented way.
• I know how to keep myself motivated.
The Game
• My performance in a tournament is identical to that on a private round.
• I can concentrate well.
• I can accept failures and learn from them quickly.
• I retain my equilibrium in spite of technical problems.
• I always play my best golf and love the challenge.
• My pot-shot routine is always the same, whether the shots are good or bad.
• I motivate myself with positive inner dialogs.
• I thrive on adversity.
• My self-confidence remains on even keel.
• Outside influences don’t bother me.
• I always seem to have plenty of energy.
The In-Between Time
• I relax between shots.
• My body language is always the same whether I am playing good or bad.
• I react calmly and neutrally after a bad shot.
• I enjoy my day of golf whatever the results.
• I can maintain my performance and stamina over 18 holes.
• I can ignore distracting thoughts and refocus myself.
• I hold positive inner dialogs.
• I believe in myself as a golfer.
• I can turn crises into opportunities.
After the Game
• My self-esteem is not influenced by the score.
• I can accept failures and they do not influence me.
• I learn from my mistakes and develop new strategies.
• I register and internalize the best shots I played.
• Speaking about the round afterwards I talk about what was positive.
• I analyze the reasons for success and ask myself what I can do better next time.
•••••
Now, using the scorecard, assess your momentary level of performance in the three categories fitness, mental and technique using a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 is optimal and 10 is very bad. Write the date on your card and your present handicap. Be critical with yourself. Practice has shown that many golfers have an erroneous assessment of their game. And not just with regard to the length of their shots but also with regard to their inner attitude and inner dialogs during the round. Also cast an eye on your training habits. It is worth it! Repeatedly evaluate your game after a lengthy training session using the “actual state analysis” scorecard. This is the best method to keep your sat-nav for success on course.
“The golf swing is like a suitcase into which we are trying to pack one too many things.” John Updike
•••••
If you program yourself like a tour pro with your sat-nav for success, then you will be able to avoid unnecessary detours, traffic jams and dead-ends this season! Select one result of the actual state analysis for each area – body, mind, technique. It could be a poor result or a strength that you want to improve even more. Formulate your goal, the interim goals and the date you want to achieve it by. Next draw up a training plan. Look upon it as if you were placing an order and plan the best use of your resources. Here are several practical tips for formulating goals.
General
• Your goal should be concrete, clear and precise, leaving no room for interpretation.
• A goal that you have no influence over is not a goal, it is a wish.
• Your goal should not be dependent on other persons or external circumstances. The responsibility is yours alone.
• Ask yourself what the motivation is underlying your goal.
Language
• Formulate your goal in the present tense, as if it had already been achieved.
• Only state what you want, not what you don’t want.
• Use positive expressions. Your unconscious mind does not understand denials (no, never, not etc.).
• Use pithy formulations. “Would like”, “want”, “could” are not succinct enough. Try to avoid “must” formulations.
Measurability
• Make your goal measurable by defining as many details and concrete parameters as possible.
• Differentiate between external indicators such as the number of putts or the score and internal ones such as satisfaction, equilibrium and joy in the game.
Timeframe
• Set yourself realistic timeframes with a definite date for your goal and interim goals.
• Plan your times generously in order to leave space for unforeseen contingencies.
•••••
Now, after all that theory, a very practical example of how the programming of your sat-nav for success should look. This might sound a bit strict, but writing it down is the guarantee that you will stay on the ball.