"It does look like very good exercise. But what is the little white ball for?" -- Ulysses S. Grant --

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The Mind Game

No, this isn’t a quiz or some philosophical mind bender. This article looks at the power of your own mind and how it relates to your golf game, and for that matter your everyday life. If you think about the fact that your mind tells your body what to do, it only makes sense that by training the mind we also train the body.

Scientists and psychologists are learning that the mind is more powerful than ever imagined. It has the power to defeat or assist depending on our current programming. The word programming may sound more mechanical than human, but the word describes what has happened to our minds, over a lifetime, and how we can change the way it affects our performance. Sound a little far fetched? It really isn’t.

Have you ever watched a golf tournament where the first day leader shoots 64 and on the next day falls to 26th place with a 74? When asked why this happened the usual response is “I just didn’t have my head in the game”. They have let defeating thoughts into their play or thought more about what they did on the day before, rather than what they are doing now.

Michael Anthony has a very good book that addresses how the mind affects our performance titled “The Mental Keys to Improve Your Golf”. In his book Mr. Anthony teaches you how to improve your game by changing the way you think. He has a detailed plan for creating your own “Success Model” and also explanations of how your mind decides whether you succeed or fail.

A Little Mind Game

This is an exercise that I really enjoy. It does take some practice. You will need to have a quiet and comfortable place that you can relax and concentrate. Close your eyes and listen to your breathing for a minute and then in your mind picture yourself taking practice swings. Attention to detail is key to the success of this exercise. As you get used to using your imagination your vision will become clearer. Don’t be discouraged if your vision isn’t clear or other thoughts interrupt you. With practice, concentration will become easier. Just continue with the practice swings until you are convinced that you are actually swinging your golf clubs. After you are comfortable with practice swings, add a golf ball. Imagine your local driving range and you are there hitting golf balls. The best part is, you can hit as many buckets of balls as you like, and they’re all free. This will not happen instantly, it will take many practice sessions. The best part is you can hit as many buckets of balls as you like, and they’re all free.

Here’s where it gets fun.

Pick a golf course that you are very familiar with. Preferably a course where you know the rough and hazards as well as you know the fairways and greens. Now play this course using your imagination. Be very aware and honest with yourself, of every movement and make adjustments to your swing if needed. This exercise will not do you any good if you are hitting 500 yard drives or sending the ball around trees, 2 skips off the pond, then into the hole from 230 yards. See yourself choosing your club, stepping onto the first tee, teeing your ball and so on. For every shot, go through your pre-shot routine. Play as many holes in a session as you like, then next time pick up where you left off.

The advise to “..see the shot..”, is not just the flight of the ball, it’s also how you use your body to make the shot. Remember that you are training your mind to tell your body what to do. If you are totally honest with yourself you will have bad shots. These errant attempts will show you the negative thoughts your mind is using. Keep practicing and these thoughts (shots) will become less and less. If you become proficient at this exercise you will be amazed how it will improve your game.

Play often, Play fair and above all, HAVE FUN!.

I love this game!

Duffy

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