Mind Your Golf

The Ryder Cup is almost upon us, and I have been very busy with my NLP and Hypnotherapy diploma. Both very important types of preparation. In this article on the Sky Sports website, we see a young man with an exceptionally bright future speak in an ideal way to keep his mindset optimal.

Rory has immediately reframed that he played poorly the week before, by stating it has given him the chance to work hard with his coach and get his game into even better shape for the Ryder Cup. Positive anchor. STRIKE ONE!!!!

As the interview continued he has stated in a manner of humble self confidence that he thinks Europe can win, keeping his emotions at the most effective level by not getting TOO excited or making too brash and emotive a statement. STRIKE TWO!!!!

In discussing his role in the match, he has opened himself to playing with anyone, which cannot be said for the American team in my opinion. This cements the well known belief that Europe have a better team spirit, which any American player reading will then have a negative anchor reinforced. STRIKE THREE!!!!

I really do believe that Europe will win the Ryder Cup, and look forward to watching live on the Saturday.

If you want to learn about the importance of keeping your emotions at the optimum level to play golf, keep on checking mindyourgolf, and learn how to improve your game with your mind.

If you need to know what an anchor is, in a non nautical sense, please post a comment and I will happily explain.

Wishing you happy golf, which leads to great golf

With my very best wishes,

Gareth

Any golfer who has played the game for a period of time will tend to fall into one of two putting camps:-

Those who love their putter

Those who will change putter at the smallest twitch or poor putting round

Ian Carter has a great new blog entry in which Tiger is interviewed about why he has changed putter from the one that has won him 13 of his 14 major titles. As always his mental reasoning is very sound. He clearly loves his putter, but finds it hard to hit putts harder with it. He has chosen to use a different putter rather than try to modify his stroke and be uncomfortable with his usual putter. This both gives him extra confidence this week, and the addition of being happy to use his favourite putter when he is back to putting on fast greens.

The other clever thing is that he has not putted quite as well since his return and this gives him a valid excuse to change putter.

It will be interesting to see how he plays this week, as I cannot wait to see him hit top form again.

The thing to take from this to your game is are you someone who sticks with equipment, or are happy to change when things do not go well?

If you stick with equipment and things are not as good as you would like them to be then you should

• Work with the putting fundamentals that you use and make sure they are sound, usually with a coach or friend to check
• Make sure your mental approach is consistent, listening to any NLP or hypnosis recordings you may have
• Make sure you track your stats to measure if you actually are putting badly

If you tend to chop and change and things are not as good as you would like them to be

• Have a quick check of fundamentals
• Make sure your mental approach is consistent, listening to any NLP or hypnosis recordings you may have
• Go to the “naughty cupboard ” or wherever you keep your old putters and feel around and find one that feels good
• Get to your local pro chop and buy whatever feels best

The great thing is if you think a new putter will make you put better, IT WILL!!! And if you think you should stick with your old faithful, you are right too!!!!!

Well, it was always on the way in my opinion and we have a 58 recorded to win a tournament.

Ryo Ishikawa shoots 58

Now that is someone in complete control of his emotions, managing his excitement and staying focussed in the only time that there is (NOW!) and you can have that state too.

He mentions his calm mental state in his post tournament interview and I do not think anyone would be surprised by this. Ryo has ALWAYS dreamed of this, but was surprised at how fast it happened. Notice he says he knew it would happen, but wasn’t sure when. He did not say he DIDN’T think it was going to happen YET. A BIG difference in thinking.

The tools and people to get you into this state are available, if you want to, and why wouldn’t you?

You may not hit it as well as Ryo, but ANYONE can get into his calm state, you just need to know how!

For now, I raise a glass to the cool dude from Japan

John “lagpressure” Erickson

The above link shows a demonstration of pivot driven hitting. It is based on TGM priciples with modifications followedon from a career of discoveries in tournament play.

Lag favours the use of what some would consider to be true equipment. Flat, heavy bladed irons and persimmon woods.

I will be covering equipment in much more detail in upcoming posts but I agree with Lag that they give the best feedback there is on how we are swinging.

You can find out more about the course in Advance Ball Striking at the following:-

Advanced Ball Striking

In what is one of the most heartwarming stories of the year, English golfer Simon Khan clinched the BMW Championship at the newly designed Wentworth.

BMW Championship 2010

It was interesting to hear in his post win interview that this was the one he had pictured and dreamt of winning other than the Open Championship.

To go from losing his card last year, to winning Q school, to getting into the tournament as a reserve show the depth of talent on the European Tour, and that anyone can win on any given week. Some would argue that at this level the mind is the key difference and those who use their mind well and those who don’t.

The key to take from this is your brain, and the subconscious can only perform what they are asked to do.

• Do you think you will win your next competition?
• Can you imagine giving the speech?
• Can you imagine what your best score would be?

If you don’t answer some of these basic questions, how can your mind know what needs to be done?

Dreaming is easy, so sit back now and think of something you want to achieve and in the coming weeks we will discuss how to do this more effectively.

Until next time,

Gareth