Golf Mental Coach

PLUNK! “He really was focused on that putt.”

You hear golf commentators say this all the time, but did you ever wonder how you can improve your own focus and concentration? Since it can really help your golf game, here are some ways to improve those skills — off the course.

Next time you’re having a conversation in a crowded restaurant or a noisy bar, concentrate only on the other person’s voice. To do this, you have to screen out dozens of other sounds. You’ll find that your attention will probably drift to those distractions and then back to the person you’re with. However, the more you want to listen to your companion (remember your first date?), the more intensely focused you’ll be and the longer you’ll be able to sustain that concentration.

As a drill, shift your attention to hear a different conversation from across the room. We all can do it. If someone over there mentions our name, our attention can snap into that conversation in a nanosecond. This focusing ability is so powerful, it’s been studied and is called “The Cocktail Party Effect.”

Now snap your focus and concentration back to the person next to you.

For a visual drill, try this: in your next one-on-one conversation, see if you can determine whether the other person’s left or right eye is dominant. (It’s the one they’re really focusing on you.) Now look only at that eye. Now shift your attention to their whole face. Now back to that dominant eye. You’re shifting and sharpening your focus.

If you practice this, when you get to the golf course, it will become easier and easier to focus on one grain of sand in the sand trap or one dimple on your golf ball.

Before you know it, you’ll be on autofocus.

But what are you doing about the vital Mental Part? And what are you doing that stays consistent on each and every shot?

You see, a Pre-Shot Routine is not just about aim. It’s about intention, focus, concentration and total dedication to being in the moment — and nowhere else. The good news is that a simple addition to what you already do can get you there.

Your Subconscious Mind and body can be trained to respond as you desire, but only through repetitive practice. For those of you who have my CD and are familiar with the following technique, it may be surprising to learn that it can also be used very effectively in your pre-shot routine.

Here it is: take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds until you need to breathe again, and think the words: “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax” as you slowly exhale. This may sound very simple, but it’s also very powerful.

Because when you purposely take a deep breath — and hold it — you’re interfering with your natural breathing rhythm. This gets your brain’s attention – to the exclusion of everything else. So now you have no mind chatter and no extraneous thoughts. And — to paraphrase Bobby Jones — the less thinking interference, the more likely your ball will go towards its target.

Practice this exercise ten times a day, off the course, saying the words: “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax.” It’s a mantra that becomes an automatic relaxing command to your Subconscious. Now you’re ready to take it to the golf course. Do it before every drive, every iron shot and every putt.

You’re stepping into your own Pre-Shot Bubble. And beginning to score as well as you possibly can.

You see, your Subconscious accepts these affirmations when what you say or think produces no mental conflict.

For example, let’s say that you want to improve your game – to lower your handicap and play winning golf consistently. You want this. Really bad. But deep inside you have a gnawing doubt this could ever happen. Because “you’re not good enough.”

It happened to Paul Goydos in his first PGA Tournament. In his book, “A Good Walk Spoiled,” John Feinstein recounts how Goydos felt watching Payne Stewart hitting balls on the range. He thought, “Who is that guy? I’ve never seen him in my life [Payne wasn't wearing his trademark knickers] and I can’t come close to hitting the ball like that. If everyone out here is that good, I’ve got no chance. Absolutely no chance.”

He didn’t. He missed the cut “by a million.”

The point to keep in mind is that an Infinite Intelligence working within you 24/7 will find a way to accomplish your desires if you talk to yourself in the right way, with phrases that get accepted. (It’s how Hypnotherapists help their clients every day.) And these phrases are more likely to be accepted when you’re sleepy, because your critical resistance is lowered.

Also keep in mind that when your desires and imagination are in conflict, your imagination usually wins. If you want to play winning golf – to be In The Zone for longer and longer periods of time – you have to believe that this will happen.

Cheers to all of you who persuade yourselves to win – on the golf course as well as in life!

Jennifer

Jennifer Scott, C.Ht.

Spiritual & Clinical Hypnotherapist

1866 662 0939

http://ownthezonegolf.com

http://jscotthypnosis.com

http://facebook.com/JShypnosis

http://twitter.com/jscotthypnosis

http://linkedin.com/in/mindmender

As a fitness expert and a regular contributor for The Golf Channel, she has appeared on The Turn, The Big Break, Your Game Night, How Low Can you Go and Game ON! Katherine’s new golf fitness series airs on The Golf Channel in summer 2008.

Katherine is the producer of nine DVDs and author of the ground-breaking book Yoga for Golfers (McGraw-Hill). Her second book Swing Flaws and Fitness Solutions will be published in early 2009. Roberts is dedicated to helping people achieve maximum performance and balance both on and off the course.

Her new book, Swing Faults and Fitness Fixes, written with Hank Haney will be in stores in early 2009.

Katherine is the flexibility expert for the San Diego Padres and has just competed her fourth year with the team.

1.) Hip Huggers

As a physical fitness consultant to golfers for many years, I often see recurrent issues affecting golf performance – low back, rotator cuff injuries or tight hamstrings.

When evaluating my clients’ needs I examine not only the obvious problems, but also the not so obvious. For example, chronic low back pain due to the golf swing is often treated by addressing the erector spinae or back muscles. In fact, it is far more comprehensive to incorporate attention to the hamstrings, abdominals and chest muscles. As golfers we focus tremendous attention towards increasing rotation by practicing exercises that increase our range of motion. Although it is essential to maintain flexibility in the back according to Dr. David Seaman, “95% of the muscular effort involved in creating torso rotation comes from your oblique abdominal muscles”. To work on spinal rotation without regard for addressing the abdominals would be a waste of energy.

In the Natural Golf swing the gluts and hips assist with a solid foundation as well as power and distance in your swing. The ability to access that power from your gluts is a direct benefit from having flexibility in the hip flexors and quadriceps as well as promoting hip extension by using the full contraction of the gluts.

Often low back discomfort can be disguised as a shortened hip flexors. When a golfer tries to increase abdominal strength to create a healthier back they can sometimes increase hip tension. Without this flexibility we will not only have a full range of motion in the hips and you will be challenged to engage and use the full intensity of the gluts to power through the swing.

This month we will focus on three exercises that directly stretch the hip and strengthen the gluts.

Warrior Lunge

Begin on your knees placing your right foot forward and sliding your left knee backwards. Be sure to maintain a 90 degree angle in the right knee and larger than 90 degree angle in the left leg. Engage the buttocks on the left side and hold for twenty breaths. Switch sides and repeat.

Bridge Pose

Lying on your back place knees at a 90 degree angle. Press your navel towards your spine and your low back towards the floor. Maintaining this action lift the hips off the floor as high as possible. Hold for ten to fifteen breaths. Repeat three times.

Pigeon Pose

Begin on all fours and move your right knee up to touching your right wrist. Then take your right heel in your left hand and bring your right leg up as pictured. Then slide your left leg back while supporting your upper body with your hands. Draw your navel into your spine and engage your buttocks on the right side pressing the leg into the floor. If you feel any discomfort in your low back or knee come out of the pose.

Practicing these lengthening exercises for the hip flexors and quads will help you maintain a healthy back, strong foundation and greater extension on your finish.

You may not know it, but your Conscious Mind gets tired of figuring things out. Like, Do I need a new set of clubs? Or should I get the old ones re-shafted? Maybe a new putter would help. Maybe some lessons. Why am I so inconsistent?

Round and round your Conscious Mind goes, trying to figure out what’s wrong with your golf game. And while searching for what’s wrong, you go to the driving range and practice hitting shots, beating balls, trying different swing fixes.

Guess what? You’re at the wrong practice facility! You should be reinforcing the mental techniques of relaxation in “Own The Zone” TM (http://ownthezonegolf.com). You need to practice the mental part just as often as the physical. Because ” if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

I get many letters from clients who’ve had great initial success with my mental techniques,  but later reverted back to their higher golf scores. When I ask them if they were practicing and reinforcing these techniques, they confessed they weren’t.

The best part of practicing my mental techniques is that you don’t have to go anywhere special or spend any money to do it. You can practice these techniques at home, before you go to sleep, before you get up from bed, at work or even in a car. One client tells me it does wonders to diffuse his anger at bad car drivers!

Ok. Here’s one technique: Take a deep breath. Hold it for a few seconds. And on the exhale think, “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax. Do this two more times. Your body will enjoy the deep breaths and also the words. They’re soothing and the combination  of the deep breaths and the words will immediately release any mental or physical tension. Practice when you feel neutral or when you’re feeling stressed. Once you’ve created this technique as a habit, you’ll find that it will work like a charm to release stress on the golf course. But it must be practiced so you’ll remember to use it.

You can also use this technique during your pre-shot routine. Use it while you stare at your target,  whether it’s a drive, a fairway wood shot, an iron, a wedge or even a putt. Your eyes will create a trustworthy pathway to your target especially when you release built-up tension. You can practice this when putting on your living room rug. Trust is the key with this technique.

You don’t have to go to the driving range. Because your brain is the one practice facility you take everywhere with you.

Jennifer

Jennifer Scott, C.Ht.

Spiritual & Clinical Hypnotherapist

1866 662 0939

http://ownthezonegolf.com

http://jscotthypnosis.com

http://facebook.com/JShypnosis

http://twitter.com/jscotthypnosis

http://linkedin.com/in/mindmender

Change your thoughts. Change your life.

Golf Mental Coach

Is this you? You start off your round feeling great. You’ve been listening to “Own The Zone.” Trusting. Your swing tempo is good. So are your shots. You’re happy. Relaxed. Focused.

But what about the other guys? What do you do if your playing partners mess up? If they’re slow or stressed do you feel yourself getting pulled into their problems?

Before you know it, the ranger comes along and politely tells you to hurry up – you’re a hole behind and the foursome back there is complaining. You look back and see those golf carts waiting to mow you down.

Or maybe you’re one of those other guys — or gals — who’s having a bad day and feels the stress of your own misery.

Either way, you’re pushed by the clock.

But here’s the real question: Are you letting something outside yourself affect your personal space? Don’t.

Sure, it’s hard not to be pulled in. But don’t go there. Now is the perfect time to take a deep breath — maybe a couple of them — and think “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax.”

Stay on your own clock. Your personal tempo. After all, it worked before. It’ll work now. (By the way, this works off the golf course, too.)

Let the ranger’s warning speed up the slow players. And if you’re one of them, let it speed up everything but your swing. Just stay steady. Keep that good swing tempo. And if you want to groove a really good swing tempo, get my program “Golf Mental Coach To Go.™ It’ll help you make those good shots. And who knows? Maybe your continued good play will inspire the others.

Then you’ll all beat the clock.

Relax. This is a perfect time to get away from it all — to escape — to retreat into the comfort of your imagination. Even if you live in warm climates like California, Arizona or Florida, take advantage of these next few months by going “mental.”

Here’s what I suggest you do (aside from just listening to “Own The Zone” on a regular basis).

Practice the art of Self Hypnosis and Visualization. Your Subconscious Mind is where your real golf improvement resides. It’s where imagination comes alive. It’s where you can learn to develop your Sensory Recall.

Can you remember your best hole? Your best shot? Your best putt? Pros can. After a competitive round, they can remember every detail of every shot. All those impressions and pictures are available to you, too… when you’re in Hypnosis. They’ll just pop up on your radar screen. Then when you’re actually playing, you’ll find yourself executing those good shots again and again.

The key, however, to making this imagery come alive is practicing recall — opening up your senses while in Hypnosis.

First, get comfortable in your favorite chair, take a long, deep breath, close your eyes and imagine yourself walking down a flight of ten steps. Take your time. As you go down the steps, you find yourself walking through a foggy mist. You and the steps seem to disappear in the fog. Once you get down to the tenth step, you emerge from the mist — right onto a golf course.

The day is perfect. Not a cloud in the sky. There’s a blazing yellow sun that warms your arms and hands. The air is crisp. Now feel your hands grip your club — firmly yet gently. Body calm, knees bent, butt out. Sense your position in direct alignment with your target. Breathe. Think “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax.” See yourself swing. Feel your hands, arms and hips rotate smoothly. Nice easy rhythm. Pause. Swing. Accelerate down. Hear the whoosh of that acceleration as your clubface strikes the ball. Click! Feel your perfect follow through. Then see your ball take off and soar in the air. See the whiteness of it against a brilliant blue sky.

Experience the pleasure of this perfect shot. Recreate your other great shots as well. If your real swing is inconsistent, groove it mentally. This will help your muscles recreate it. Do this for 10 minutes three times a day, once before going to sleep, once before getting out of bed in the morning and once during the day.

Tell yourself over and over again how easy this game is, how confident you are. Believe in yourself.

End the Winter Doldrums.

At the practice facility, this is fine. You’re there to improve, to iron out kinks, to groove a good swing. Even to experiment.

But on the golf course, that stuff is destructive. For two reasons: one, you’re not objective enough to really see swing flaws. That takes a pro or a video camera. And two — even if your analysis is right — you can’t correct a swing flaw in one shot. Trying to do that usually results in “overcompensating,” which results in dreaded double bogies.

When something goes wrong during your round, don’t analyze. Take a deep breath, hold it, and on the exhale, say or think “Peace, Harmony, Relax, Relax.” Feel the tension and stress of that last bad shot melt away. Your usual swing is probably pretty good, and if you don’t try to change it or steer it, it’ll come back. You’ll be fine.

Also, don’t forget to trigger the focus and concentration you want for your next shot. Your last shot is behind you. Now you step into the Bubble of your pre-shot routine with a deep breath and the thought of “Level B, Relax Now.” Then, as Harvey Penick said, “Take Dead Aim.”

Without the analysis/paralysis, you’ll be ignorant of exactly why you flubbed that last shot. But you’ll be blissful after your marvelous recovery.

Maybe this story will inspire you:

Staying with Own The Zone pays off. Here’s another inspiring story:

So many of you expect instant success. Instant gratification. But that’s not what training the inner mind is about. Just as you go to the gym regularly to exercise your physical muscles, you also need to exercise those inner muscles regularly, too – that is if you want real changes in your game. Of course, the bonus is that those changes will happen in you life as well.

So Stay The Course…..the rewards will be great.

That’s right, Consistency is a habit just like brushing your teeth or saying “thank you” when someone pays you a compliment. In golf, you can really “be there” for each shot, no matter what happened before. You can do this if you ingrain consistency as a habit through the power of your Subconscious Mind.

Here’s what you can do: practice Self Hypnosis three times a day — once before you go to bed, once before you get out of bed and one more time during the day. Just close your eyes for a few moments and talk out loud. Here’s one possible scenario. You create your own.

Notice that this scenario is all in the present tense – not in the future. Because thinking about it in the now tells your Subconscious Mind that it is real. If you will do this faithfully for three weeks, you’ll find that — instead of having your usual love/hate attitude toward golf — you’ll be playing more consistently and feeling more in love with the game.