Whenever you struggle, instead of revisiting your index of swing thoughts, always review your fundamentals, such as alignment, set-up, and ball position. You’ll often sort things out right there.
The idea of a self-coaching golfer exploring their own experiences runs counter to a golf culture that preaches there are right and wrong ways to swing a golf club.
It’s my strong sense that acceptance is not something you execute like it was a tactic kept in your back pocket in case of an emergency.
This speaks to the brain’s amazing ability to take in millions of bits of data from the environment, adapt, self-organize and hit the shot. All unconsciously.
I used to think awareness was enough. That once we’re aware of the dumb things we do, well, it’s obvious that we’ll change. It makes no sense to do the same stupid nonsense over and over.
Almost every golfer I know swings with some kind of “swing thought,” such as “turn this” or “shift that.” While they swing, their heads are full of mental chatter. You cannot think your way through a golf swing. It’s a recipe for bad golf.
“The quality of your golf—and your life—is determined by the quality of your attention.” I’m not sure who I first heard utter this nugget of wisdom, but I have heard myself saying it a lot lately to my coaching clients.
Most golfers go through a round of golf without a clue what their minds are doing. It’s like we’re in a trance, carried unconsciously this way and that by our thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours. This is no way to play golf or live your life.
If that’s how you play golf, the game is going to punch you in the nose. You’re going to be on your back so fast your head swims. It will be another round in which your great hopes were squashed yet again.
