COACH'S 5th - 09/03/07 - Ask yourself two questions to get rid of the baggage

 

One simple tip to improve your thinking on the course is to ask yourself two specific questions.  These questions could change your whole approach.  They are:

 

 

            What do I want to happen here?

 

                        and

 

            What am I going to do to make it happen?

 

These may seem too simple to be an effective tip but if you use these and commit to them they could change your mental game forever.  If you don’t believe me, I’ll explain why.

 

One problem many golfers have is paying attention to and focusing on many things that are not relevant (or even damaging to) hitting a good golf shot.  Every golf shot we hit is simply about getting the ball from a stationary position to a target.  This is true for a shot on the practice range and for a shot to win The Open.  What happens, however, is that we attach many more thoughts, worries and consequences to more important shots.  I call this baggage.  Let’s take the first tee scenario as an example.  When you walk on to the first tee in a competition have you ever had anything similar to the following thoughts?

 

            “Oh dear, there are a lot of people watching today”

            “C’mon you need a good start, don’t knock in the trees like last time”

            “Oh no, I’m really shaky today, don’t mess this up”

            “UUrrrgghh I hate playing in strong wind”

            ‘Right c’mon you need a 75 to qualify”

            ‘This tee shot doesn’t suit my fade”

            “Don’t score rubbish again or it’s another wasted morning”

 

These are just some of the potential thoughts that you may have experienced in your career.  Having one of these thoughts per se is not a problem.  The problem is if we get stuck on that thought it becomes our main focus and we do not move on to think appropriately.  When you look at the list above consider whether any of them have any relevance to hitting the ball off the tee to your target.  In the cold light of day it is plainly obvious that none them will help you complete your task.  However, in the heat of competition it is not as easy to be so objective.  Especially if you have thought these thoughts for your whole golfing life.  This is where the two questions come in!

 

Let’s consider the scenario again.  When you walk onto the first tee this is what I want you to do if any of these thoughts appear:

 

              “Oh dear, there are a lot of people watching today”

 

              “Hey, wait a minute.  Let’s think right”

 

            “OK……….What do I want to happen here?”

A. “I want to hit a nice strike at that tree in the distance on the left with a fade to land in line with that bush.”

           

            “What am I going to do to make it happen?”

A.     “Relax, take a breath and stick to my routine.  Focus on the exact shot and make a good swing, with good temp committing to the shot.”

 

Now you are in a far better mental place to hit a good golf shot at the chosen target.  As mentioned earlier, this is a very simple technique but the effects can be profound.  You have moved from focusing on irrelevant, anxiety provoking thoughts to telling yourself and your body exactly what you want to happen.  As golfers we mostly know how we should be thinking.  The challenge is putting this thinking into operation at the correct time.  Ask yourself the correct questions and you will provide the correct answers. 

 

These two questions automatically get rid of the baggage and bring any golf shot back to being just that: a golf shot.  No more…….no less, just hitting the ball from point A to point B.  If you commit to these questions golf will be much simpler and much more fun. 

 

 

COACH'S 4th - 03/01/07 - FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION

 

Focus is keeping the mind in the here and now and dealing with those things we are in control of. When we speculate about the future we begin to play a dangerous game. There are many things about the future that are uncertain and out of our control. On the other hand, the outcome of past events is known, but we cannot change what has happened. In golf, it is ideal to learn how to narrow focus for shotmaking and widen focus for between shot time. This is important so that you can learn to concentrate in golf; not for the entire 5 hour round, but for 40 seconds, 64 (Chris’s lowest of 2006) to 100+ times depending on your skill level and still sustain mental energy for the entire round. Our individual personality will dictate width of focus between shots and it is important to stay true to our own style. Some of us are better with a more internal focus between shots (self-talk, daydreaming, small talk with another player) and some of us are better with a broader focus (outgoing, joking, lots of talking).

 

In order to improve focus and concentration there a number of things a golfer can do.  Perhaps the most obvious is the pre-shot routine.  Refer to the earlier tip to understand the importance of developing a solid pre-shot routine.

 

Another tip we can take from the top-pros is that of the on/off trigger.  It is well documented what some of the top players use to signal when it is time to either narrow focus (in the immediate run-up to the shot) and widen focus (in between shots).  Examples of these include putting the Velcro of the glove down and saying “switch on” to narrow focus and after the shot undoing the Velcro saying “Switch off and relax”.  Many different cues can be used to indicate “on” or “off”.  Tiger is reputed to use an imaginary 10 yard line.  When he gets within 10 yards on approach to the ball he “switches on” and when he passes over 10 yards away from where he just played the shot he “switches off” and thinks about other non golf related things (perhaps his child that is due this year). 

The final tip from me on this topic is one mentioned previously.  It is learning to only focus on things that you have complete control over (see tip 3).  This allows you to provide your body with only relevant information on the shot you are about to play and not information that is either irrelevant or counter productive. 

 

Finally here is guide to what you should and should not be focusing on when going between shots in golf:

 

Allowed Thoughts

• self compliments

• visual replay of good shots

• small talk

• study wildlife, landscapes, clouds and birds

• daydreams of favourite places

• humming a favourite tune

• walking with composure and confidence

• deep breathing

 

Not Allowed Thoughts

• mechanics

• looking ahead or looking behind

• score, cut, position, birdies, bogies

• what others think of you

• what others expect of you

• negative self talk

• what ifs

• how other players are doing

• replaying bad shots and experiences

 

 

COACH'S 3rd - 11/08/06 - Being a Champion in golf, or any sport, is not something that comes easy or is gifted to you.  To become a Champion takes years of practice and preparation.  Therefore, thinking correctly on the golf course will not make you an instant Champion.  Inappropriate and misguided thinking, however, could prevent you from ever being a Champion.  Golfer’s of every level of skill and ability have it within their control to think like a Champion.  They often just don’t realise it due to years of approaching the game in a certain fashion.  Below are some findings from research into how Champions think.  Read them, reflect on them and then use them.

 

Champions:

 

· Learn from adversity…They have the courage to risk failure, and are prepared to learn the most from their most difficult times.

 

· Separate their identity from their golf…Resist the trap of letting personal worth be determined by their play.

 

· Enjoy the journey…Find ways to genuinely enjoy the experience of trying to play their best golf.

 

· Channel their energy into things they can truly control…Trust that good results will come when they channel their energies into the      process, or things they can control (like a good pre-shot routine or good game plan), rather than the outcome, or things they cannot control (like a crowd watching them or a specific score).

 

· Are self aware…Stay aware of their own mental and physical tendencies under pressure (such as rushing their routine, becoming indecisive, or loosing their tempo) and train to strengthen them, getting help when needed.

 

· Play golf first for intrinsic reasons (such as love for the game)…And second for extrinsic reasons (such as money, notoriety, or approval of others).

 

· Patiently accept the ups and downs of the game…while striving to prolong the “ups” and minimise the “downs” with consistent, physical and mental training.

 

 · Balance their lives…Define golf as something they do--not who they are--along with other important things they do—such as be a spouse, a parent, a sibling, a friend, role model, etc.

 

· Set measurable, challenging goals…Enjoy the continual process of setting and working toward defined, challenging goals.

 

· Strive to be their best in every competitive round they play.

(adapted from Cohn: Champion Thinking)

 

All of these should sound familiar to anyone who knows Chris.  Chris has been as successful as he has up until now (and will go further) due to an excellent mental approach and admirable work ethic.  Learn from the pros and add these tips to your outlook on golf.