Lights, Camera, Action!
We hope by now you have read the script?
You should have because you wrote it!
You have now decided everything that you need to
do in order to play the best shot you, you have based
this based on the facts you have gathered from where
your ball is sitting, it’s lie and what lays in front of you.
Remember these onservations are facts, you have to
decide to turn them into emotional challenges, no-one
else will.
This process is repeated every time you approach each
shot. Just like an actor has to deliver the opening lines
of the scene a golfer is has a process for every shot
across the four plus hours you are on the golf course.
You are the producer, the director and the actor and
sometimes this can just seem like there is too much to
do every time the situation of striking a ball confronts
you, for that reason you have to keep the process as
simple as you can. It may take some time to get used to
the complete process, but with practice and patience
you will start to see the results you want.
It is action time, you are now about to approach your
ball. If at this point you would normally make some
practice swings then do them before you arrive at your
spot. The less time you spend over the ball means less
time you have to think.
The challenge we all face is thinking time and being
human means if we give ourselves time to think we
probably will over analyse the situation. At this point we
need a ‘pattern interrupt’, something that allows us to
interfere with what we might usually do.
The answer is simple, just breathe!
That’s the secret to interrupting your normal pattern.
There is a difference though to your normal breathing.
We all breathe and we do it without thinking. In this
case we introduce a specific pattern to your breathing.
Once you have approached the ball confidently and
from directly behind, simply address the ball as you
would normally do and then as you look at the ball inhale
through your nose deeply and then exhale through your
mouth.
Repeat the process twice and no more than three times,
once you have finished your final exhale swing and hit
the ball. It is that simple. Please experiment with the
number and length of the breaths as it may seem like a
strange thing to do at first. Make the breaths audible to
you, none of your playing partners will notice, they are
so caught up in their own game and thoughts to notice
what you are doing.
One of the biggest benefits to beginning and applying
this process is the fact that we practice golf away from
the golf course, on the driving range or the practice
area. By spending time applying this technique when
you practice your brain will not know the difference
between practice and play, it will only recognise the
calming technique you apply no matter what scenario
you are placed in.
68 | YOURCADDY MAG - ISSUE 06