Do You Commit Any Of Golf's 7 Deadly Mental Game Sins?
Hi. I'm Bob Skura, researcher, author, learning specialist and Director of Mental Performance for Core Golf Academy. If you're like most golfers I'll bet that you commit at least a few of the mental game sins on this list. But you can shed those mistakes with a little help. Keep reading to find out how.
The 7th Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Growing Older
Why It's A Sin.
Because aging of the body is one thing but mental aging is more a series of choices than you may think. And the choices affect your golf game.
Explanation: The common perception of aging is that parts of our body degrade as time marches on. Physically this is true. However, mental aging is another issue altogether. It’s quite common for people in their 90’s to have minds as sharp as a tack even though their bodies are failing. This suggests that the brain can function closer to 100% regardless of age than the body can.
Neuroscience backs up the suggestion. Research shows that the brain doesn’t deteriorate so much over the course of our lives as it changes from right-brain dominance to left-brain dominance. For example language is primarily a right brain process in our youth but becomes more and more a left-brain process as we age.
Most notable for golfers is that the logical and analytical left side of the brain gains control over many processes that the emotional and creative right side of the brain did so well in our youth. So while you may have been a fearless putter when you were young as you age you’re more likely to analyze your putting stroke and occasionally lose your confidence. That is because the left-brain is gaining more control but there are ways to slow down or even reverse this process.
What to do:
Choose to use your right brain more while playing golf and your left brain less. Here a few right-brain exercises that will help you.
1. On the putting green spend 90% of your time reading the speed and slope (a right-brain activity) and only 10% of the time contemplating your putting stroke technique (a left-brain activity).
2. Pay attention to your emotions at different stages of the game. Then actively call upon the best ones. For example you’ll notice that sometimes you are enthusiastic and sometimes frustrated. When you stand over a shot call up the emotion that is most productive rather than leaving the effects of your emotions to chance. The left-brain doesn’t understand and has no interest in emotions so it will let the right brain have its way.
3. Give the left-brain a job to do that will allow it to participate with the right side. That way it won’t be tempted to take over and you won’t become too mechanical.
The first job you can involve it in is yardage. The left-brain loves numbers so be as specific as you can about the distance you have to the hole. Next go through a routine before you hit the ball. The left-brain loves order. Finally use one and only one swing key during the swing. Using one only will avoid confusion and occupy the left-brain enough that you can swing freely toward the target.
Here are the rest of the 7 Most Deadly Mental Game Sins Golfers Commit
The 6th Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Placing Too Much Faith In Process Goals.
The 5th Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Not Horsing Around.
The 4th Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Looking For A Quick Fix
The 3rd Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Believing That Your Swing Flaw Is A Career Killer
The 2nd Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit
Not Having A Clue
And The Single Most Deadly Mental Game Sin Golfers Commit Is....
Not Having A Mental Game Framework
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