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How many times Have you hit a bad shot, stormed up to your ball determined to redeem yourself with your next swing-only to hit another lousy shot?

Golf is not a game of perfection. Even during your best round you are likely to hit some shots that disappoint or frustrate you. It’s normal to react negatively, but it’s not effective for playing your best golf. Your reaction to your shot can happen as soon as you initiate your back swing. Not everyone is as disciplined as Tiger Woods, who will stop in the middle of his swing if he’s distracted by, say, a bird chirping. If we notice something doesn’t feel right or if a playing partner distracts us, we go ahead with our swings anyway, usually with disastrous results.

For many of us, our reactions to our shots start as soon as we make contact with the ball and see its trajectory. We immediately decide if it’s a good, bad or indifferent outcome. Typically, thoughts lead to emotions, which our bodies then feel. The sequence is fairly predictable: negative judgment (“That was really stupid!”) leads to negative emotion (anger), which the body experiences as muscle tension and shallow breathing, similar to a stress response. It’s important to note this whole process happens within a split second and is nearly impossible to stop. Many of you already know you shouldn’t hit a shot while feeling angry and tense, so what are you to do?

Here’s when a post-shot routine comes in handy. A good, consistent, post-shot routine will allow you to stay in the present and let go of bad shots more quickly than anything else I know. The following are important steps for the post-shot routine:

• Give yourself a brief period of time (5 seconds) to feel your emotions and react.
• Breathe deeply (5 seconds in and 5 seconds out) to let go of the tension in your body. Depending on the intensity of your
reaction, it may take several breaths before you start to feel the release.
• Replace the negative emotion with a neutral or positive feeling by focusing on something else, like the fact you are playing golf and not at work!
• Take another swing, and visualize the ball going to your intended target. Let that be the image and feeling you take with you to the next shot.
• As you walk to your next shot make sure you have completely let go of the negative thoughts, emotions and physiological reactions to the previous shot.

Do a body scan and see if you are still feeling tense. If so, continue to breathe and refocus yourself. Find something you can actually feel positive about.

If you can discipline yourself to do this after every shot, you will see positive results in a short period of time. Better yet, you’ll be more fun to play with.

By Denise McGuire

Denise McGuire, Ph.D., founder of Get in the Zone, uses mind-body techniques to teach golfers of all ability levels to optimize performance. Contact her at 303-902-5998 or denise@getinzone.net

After investing quality time with Dr. Denise, our daughter has been able to deal more effectively with distractions and negative thoughts and has developed emotional management tools to help her play more consistently under pressure. In fact, in a pressure intensive large national tournament, attended by the coaches from all three of her top choice Division I schools, she fired her all time personal best (at the time) and received offers from two of the three schools on the spot. 

It is said that you can’t change what you aren’t aware of, and we have found that many golfers are unaware of how their thoughts, feelings and physiological reactions are interfering with their ability to play well.

If you are looking for an innovative and integrated approach to golf then Get in the Zone is the place for you.

Dr. Denise primarily works with golfers on the practice range or course. Sessions are typically held at CommonGround Golf Course, Meridian Golf Learning Center or the Boulder Country Club.

Elena King
303-503-0330
eking@experiencegolf.biz

2010 Optimal Performance Programs

Our unique Optimal Performance Programs take golf instruction to a new level!  While most golfers and golf instruction primarily focus on the mechanical components of the golf swing, we believe that to take your game to the next level you must integrate improved golf technique with finding your optimal state of mind and body.  These programs explore new ways of leaning and will show you how thinking differently about your yourself and your game opens the door to better results.  We think you will find the experience quite rewarding!

ExperienceGolf – Two Day Optimal Performance Program

• Do you have a hard time freeing your mind so that you can stay focused on the shot presently in front of you?
• Are you curious as to how well you might play if you were more confident?
• Do you feel like you don’t score as well as you should?
• Are you interested in learning how to have a more enjoyable and rewarding experience on the golf course?
• Have you ever considered that maybe it’s not your technique that’s holding you back?

CommonGround Learning Center has partnered with Dr. Denise McGuire of Get In The Zone to create this unique two day learning opportunity designed to help you increase awareness of what interferes with your ability to play your best golf and give you the tools you need to change the way you think about the game.  We will expand the concepts of self-discovery and experiential learning to help you learn the skills that will help you to improve your focus and allow you to play and practice with more confidence in any situation.  You will learn through activities on the practice areas, the Par 3 Course, and the sharing of ideas in a group discussion setting.  This program is designed for golfers of all ability levels who are ready to explore new ways of thinking to improve their game.

Age Range: 12 and up
Minimum / Maximum Number of Participants: 4/8
Total Hours of Instruction Per Session: 12
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Date: Friday & Saturday May 7 & 8
Price: $699 Includes Lunch, Refreshments and Participant Gift. $649 For Juniors