Golf Psychology Newsletter - 06/04/05

Welcome again to the Golf Brain newsletter.

Exciting Times

There can be few disciplines in the world that can claim to have advanced more in the last 10 years than in all of the previous hundreds of years put together but neuroscience is one of them. With the emergence of CAT scans, PET and MRI scans we are now able to understand far more about the actual workings of the human brain. For me one of the most exciting discoveries of the last ten years is that of ‘Brain Plasticity’.

A decade ago if you asked a hundred neuroscientists if they believed in brain plasticity (the ability for the brain to CHANGE) you would have the best part of a hundred saying a categorical NO!.

Ask the same neuroscience community now and the answers would be completely different.

To quote Dr Richard Restak author of the amazing book ‘TheNew Brain’ and one of the worlds leading authorities on the human brain:

“As recently as only a few years ago, most neuroscientists believed that brain plasticity largely ceased by adolescence or by early adulthood at the latest. At this point the brain became fixed in its structure and function.
This assumption has turned out to be WRONG!!
We now recognise that our brain isn’t limited by considerations that are applicable to machines. THOUGHTS, FEELING and ACTIONS rather than mechanical laws, determine the health of our brain”

Restak’s words have PROFOUND implications for us ALL.
What he is saying is that with a change in thinking and a change in our actions we are able to literally RE-WIRE our brains.
What have you not done yet? What have you not experienced? What is holding you back?

Are you going to keep repeating the same old patterns or are you going to ‘Train your Brain’?

Many of the tools and techniques in the ‘Train your Golf Brain’ series are applicable to ALL sports and so many of the people who have used the system report changes in other areas of life such as business and relationships.

Power

Power is one of the most emotionally charged issues in the game of golf; we love to see the likes of John Daly or Laura Davies launching the ball miles into the distance. A multi million dollar industry thrives on the promise of a piece of equipment that could get that ball out there another twenty or thirty yards further than you have ever hit it before.

Indeed the very feeling of the ball soaring into the distance is a truly satisfying golfing experience. Push the pedal down on a Ferrari or smash a Big Bertha miles down the fairway and the parts of the brain that seeks pleasure and thrills lights up like a Christmas tree.

However what I would like you to do is to get more distance but with a frame of mind that is held in check by a buzz phrase of the moment “Reasonable Force”

Most golfers fall into the trap of sacrificing power and distance for score, they hit the ball a mile but into the woods.

The following is a 5 point plan that will increase your distance but not at the expense of the numbers on your card.

1. Tense muscles are weak muscles. Consciously tighten all of your muscles by gripping your driver as tightly as possible, squeeze until your knuckles go white then LET GO and feel your muscles from head to toe soften and notice how you can feel the club in your hands.

2. Breathe! Most golfers going for the big one stop breathing (not a good idea). Take a deep diaphragmatic breath from your belly, breathe in from the nose, hold and then again LET GO.

3. Rather then hit at the golf ball (as most do) and create ineffective motion create the image in your mind that the ball is connected to the club and as you swing back the ball is on the face of the club and all that you are going to do is to FLING the ball of the club as you PASS through impact.

4. Focus on your balance, any boxer will tell you that good balance is CRITICAL to delivering a powerful blow. Pay attention to your finish. Hold that balance.
5. Imagine that your swing is like the speedometer on a car 50mph is dawdling, 100mph is out of control. Find out through practice what is your optimum speed. Chances are you will be able to deliver your optimal distance at a speed that is significantly less than 100mph.

News

Visit this month s Today’s Golfer (May edition) for a report on N.L.P. and the effect that it has had on the career of Graeme McDowell.
Some interesting comments and opinions!