Conference 7.286::golf

    

	There are several books on the subject of using the mind to improve
	your golf game.  One book I read is the "Inner Game of Golf". I 
	can't remember the author's name. I will have to go home and check.

	>I don't think they train the mind in golf lessons, do they?  
	>Maybe a new idea to give to the local pro.

	In one of the chapters, the author mentions that Dan Shea (maybe 
	Tom) is teaching pro who uses inner game techniques to improve his
	students golf game.  Mr Shea also works as a golf columnist for the 
	Boston Globe. There are other pros in the LA area.
	
	The book stressed quieting the mind so that you can access skills
	the reader posesses but is unaware of. One of the basic ideas 
	is to prevent negative thoughts so that you can execute to your full 
	potential. One of the techniques is to eliminate the running 
	conversation (usually negative or destructive thoughts) in your mind 
	as you attempt a shot.
	
	Al McGuire (basketball coach) use to say, "I want a C student instead 
	of an A student on the free throw line in a clutch situation. The reason 
	is the A student will think too much, the C student will just make the 
	shot."  I have heard other announcers say a player is unconscious or a 
	player say they are in a zone or the ball looked like a beach ball 
	coming up to the plate.

	For me the author put into words what McGuire and others have been
	trying to get across to their audience.  The purpose of the book is 
	to prepare a golfer for success. He also explain techniques to 
	leverage the mind to reach higher levels of skill in golf and in life.

	He has also written two inner game books for tennis players and one
	for skiers.
								     Ken W.

    
    mind ? what mind ??
    
    My partner always asks me, what are you thinking that enables you
    to drive through the ball like that ?? 
    I guess I'm what you call an unconscious golfer ! My mind clears
    and body mechanics do the work, I just watch the ball ! If I try
    to concentrate on doing a certain thing I get all screwed up ....
    My partner has five different things he concentrates on and he
    still hits six inches behind the ball and snap hooks it !  
    
    Randy
    

    
    	... and kicks your butt every time for the last 12 years !!
    
    	And this year too!
    
    

    
    Hi,
    
    	What sport can hurt you more for being distracted? Seems with golf
    the best rounds are played when you are in the "zone" . Mentally
    focused and physically in tune.  The touring Pro's must battle
    with distraction constantly... it comes at them from every angle. The
    ones that can remain focused win, the others see psychologists :) .
    
    	This is defintely one one the most mentally demanding sports. I
    learned rather early from a friend of mine ... he asked me what I
    thought about on my backswing, I said Geee I never really thought
    about it. And up until then I didn't. After paying him the money
    he won, I vowed never to let someone distract me again ! :)
    
    Well at least not THAT easily..
    
    	I too read a little of the Inner Game of Golf... it was very
    helpfull in battleing negative thoughts.
    
    	Walta

    Next time your friend asks you about your backswing, ask him if he
    inhales or exhales on his backswing, and sit back and enjoy.
    
    bob
    

    I think the phenomenon of "bad shot = bad round" is called the "lapse-
    relapse-collapse" syndrome: you make a bad shot (lapse), start a lot of
    negative self-talk (relapse), and wind up kicking it all over the
    course for the rest of the round (collapse). Dunno what the secret is
    to avoiding it; maybe being unconscious is one way. I'm still looking
    for the one swing key I can concentrate on that will help me keep only
    positive thoughts ("If I do [swing key], the result will be good,"
    rather than "I *knew* this [swing key] was only a dumb gimmick"). I
    hope my winter lessons have provided me that key (hand and wrist
    position at the top, plus correct setup). It sure seems to work at the
    practice net - now all I have to do is take it to the course.
    
    Great day for golf here in the Boston area - too bad I'm stuck here in
    the house!
    
    		Frank

    I played in a two-man net best ball tourney this last weekend. At
    the turn we were 7-under and right in the thick of things. On the
    10th hole my partner shoots a 7 while I take 8 !! We get to claim
    a double bogey for our net !! THe brain is starting to kick in now
    but I somehow manage to hit the green on the next par 3 and while 
    thinking about the previous hole and our misfortunes I manage to
    3 putt from 20 feet !! Negative thoughts are flying fast by now and we
    manage to play the back nine in 2 over net !! Another example of
    how the evil golf brain takes over and destroys a round.

    
    Very interesting topic...
    
    I was playing a practice round with a league partner many years ago, 
    he was a bogey+ golfer, typically shot in the mid to upper 40's for 
    9 holes. He was playing much better than normal. We were in the fairway
    on the 9th hole, he was in perfect position, about 155 from the hole.
    I glanced at the scorecard and noticed that he was only 3 over par.
    I casually asked him if he had ever broke 40, no intention at all of
    psyching him out or putting pressure on him, but trying to pump him up
    and encourage him if anything. He needed a par (4) to shoot 39.
    Well, he completely fell apart and took about a nine on the hole. 
    I've always felt a little guilty about that.
    
    I think the key is to NOT focus on a score or a techinical swing
    thought. Rather, focus on a feeling or a tendency. For example,
    think about keeping your body steady and in balance, or smooth
    rhythm. What I mean by a tendency is, for example, if you want to
    play a right-to-left draw, think about a swing that will have a
    'tendency' to make the ball draw, rather than consciously trying to
    'make' it draw.
    
    As far as one bad shot affecting the rest of the round, the best
    advice I've heard on that is to realize that if you shoot say 85,
    one stroke out of 85 has virtually no bearing at all, it's only a bit
    over 1% of your total score. Of course, this falls into 'thinking'
    instead of 'feeling', and your golf game (or at least mine) seems to
    be controlled more by emotions than by rationalization.
    
           -Joe