From Pat: Dear Dr. Rosa: I have been reading your articles regarding P3 and would like to know if you could recommend some psychotherapists on Long Island, N.Y. who practice NLP. I have lost all confidence in my game and now become virtually paralyzed when I go out for a round. I used to consistently score in the mid to low nineties. I have gotten so bad that I often have to stop playing half way through a round. I might be adding new dimension to the term emotionally traumatized. I love the game and want to rediscover my enjoyment for it. I would deeply appreciate your help. Dear Pat, Being unfamiliar with towns on Long Island, I'm going to refer you to an NLP practitioner database. Thereby, you can get the names of, and contact information for, NLP practitioners in your area. Go to www.nlpinfo.com and scroll down to and click on "NLP Practitioners Around the World". Next, click on "US Practitioner Listings" then; click on "New York" which will yield a list of certified NLP practitioners practicing in the state. All of the practitioners listed will be certified NLP Practitioners (basic training), NLP Master Practitioners or NLP Trainers (both having more advanced training.) Notwithstanding, all should be qualified to use the techniques that are at the core of the Peak Performance Psychology (P3)system. I suggest that you share either of my articles, "An Introduction to P3: A New Sports Psychology" or "Observing the New Golf Psychology in Action", with whomever you choose to work The techniques described therein should be an essential part of the treatment plan. Using the P3 system, any NLP practitioner worth his or her salt will be able to empower you to regain your confidence, rediscover your enjoyment of the game, and have you playing better than ever. Guaranteed!
Regards, From Carlos: I would like to know the difference between your half day school, and the full day. Also, where would I have to attend the school? Dear Carlos, Thanks for your inquiry. When you indicate "school", I believe you are referring to the Peak Performance Psych (P3) workshops I offer at sponsoring golf/country clubs and organizations. In the workshops golfers learn (P3) methods and techniques that improve their mind-body game. That is, they learn techniques that enable them to be focused, relaxed, confident, in a flow or in a zone when playing. The only difference between the half and full day workshops is in the time the golfers spend in learning and applying the techniques. Workshop participants range in skill levels from those playing a year or two through low handicap, scratch, and teaching professionals who want to earn PGA continuing education credits. Workshops have benefited this full range of golfers. Ordinarily I schedule the workshops with the interested country/golf club and various organizations months in advance. However, due to my recent surgeries, I cancelled and/or did not schedule workshops this season. I am now ready to begin contacting interested workshop sponsors for scheduling. I've conducted workshops throughout the United states and Puerto Rico. The next workshops will be conducted wherever there is interest. Perhaps your organization or country/golf club might be interested in sponsoring a workshop (which can be of financial benefit to them). If there is interest, let me know and I'll forward details. Notwithstanding, as I begin scheduling P3 workshops again, I'll keep you informed. Guaranteed!
Regards, Dear Dr. Rosa, I am a 7 handicapper, playing in Mumbai, India. According to my potential, I should be playing much lower than my handicap. Since the last couple of years, I am not able to play anywhere near my handicap during tournament as well as sometimes during practise rounds. According to me, this is happening due the following 3 factors:
2. Making mental errors while playing. 3. Sometimes, my concentration level is low. I am well aware when I am nervous during a round, or when my concentration is not there. However, inspite of my efforts to concentrate hard and play better, I am not able to perform well. Your help shall be greatly appreciated.
Thanking You, Dear Tarun, You playing in or being from India prompts me to believe that you are familiar with meditation. However, you may not have recognized how meditation can help your golf game. Hundreds of research studies support the neuro-physiological benefits of meditation. That is, with as little as 10 to 20 minutes of meditation, a person’s (golfer’s) cardiovascular functioning and blood pressure regulate, pulse rate slows, blood lactate levels decrease, electrical activity in the brain slows and becomes synchronized,… Now here’s how these benefits translate into benefits for you on the golf course. You will be more calm and centered due to the slower pulse rate and cardiovascular/blood pressure regulation. Your muscles (you) will be more relaxed from the reduction of lactic acid in your blood stream and muscle tissues. You’ll be clear-headed and more focused due to brain wave synchronization. If you already know how to do a form of meditation, use it. If you don’t know how to meditate, read my article “Meditate for a Better Game” found on this site. Then do a 10 to 20 minute meditation approximately a half-hour before teeing off and you will resolve the issues of nervousness, mental errors, and inconsistent concentration. Guaranteed!!!
Regards, From Cameron: Hi Nick, I was wondering if you could help with a rather unusual dilemma I have. I am a 37 year old male on an 11 handicap and have been playing golf for about 10 years now, but have never really seen any great improvement in my swing. About 3 weeks ago I discovered that when I go to the practice ground to hit balls, if my shadow is cast to the left of me I am able to perform an "absolutely perfect golf swing." All I do is concentrate on performing a nice rounded finish while watching my shadow and the ball just seems to get in the way. My finish is perfect and in perfect balance. Yet as soon as the sun goes out I resort to my old swing that finshes with my right arm across my body like I have played a big cut shot into the green and ball contact feels horrible in comparison. Then when my shadow comes back, everything feels connected and when I swing the club, I notice my backswing feels very compact in comparison and my ball striking is mind blowing (over 190 yrds with a 6 iron if I rip it). It happens with all my clubs from driver through to sand wedge. As long as the sun is out, absolutely perfect, but as soon as the clouds come over, back to my old swing, "its so frustrating." I have been trying to make the transition but just can't seem to get it working, in fact when I explain to other golfers what I have discovered with my shadow they look at me with great concern. I have the Augusta National Masters video of Tiger Woods that I have probably viewed about 30 times in the last year. Is it possible that when I watch my shadow that the visual feedback I am getting allows me to duplicate the finish I have watched Tiger perform numerous times? It's strange because my body just seems to take over and performs these moves automatically. I notice my takeaway is very connected to my body and the clubhead is pushed outside the target line for the first couple of feet, whereas my normal swing tends to pull the club back inside. The club shaft seems to flatten out on the downswing with my right arm feeling very connected to my right side, from there on in I just swing the club through the ball with my arms with the club finishing behind my head at about ear height with the toe pointing to the ground, my right foot up on its toes weight into my left side in perfect balance. EVERYTHING JUST SEEMS TO FLOW BEAUTIFULLY IN PERFECT BALANCE. I know it sounds bizarre, but it's true. Each day when I try to bring my swing "out of the shadows," I just go home frustrated because I can't seem to turn my normal swing into my shadow swing. If you could offer any practical advice as to how I could do this I would deeply appreciate it, as I am beginning to think that it will never happen. If i were to hit 100 balls a day for 2 weeks when the sun is shining will my body eventually accept these movements as normal? I hope you can help. Hi Cameron, There’s an experiential state that many golfers call by various names such as being in a “zone”, “flow”, or “rhythm”. In such a state we have the just-right physiology and mental set, enabling us to play at the top of our game. In this state one feels naturally focused, confident, relaxed and coordinated. Congratulations, without working at it, you developed a visual trigger. I hypothesize that at a time, when playing golf, you were in such a state and noticed your shadow. Either consciously or subconsciously, seeing your shadow got associated with your “absolute perfect swing.” Thereafter, seeing your shadow became, what I call and teach golfers to develop, an “automatic trigger” (also called an anchor). And, the just-right physiology and mental set enables you to swing perfectly with consistency. Now, triggers can be developed through any of the five senses. That is, triggers can be visual, as is yours, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory or gustatory. Once formed, a trigger can be linked to another trigger or other triggers. The relevance this has for you is that you need not be restricted to having only the one trigger, your shadow; you can have two that work for you by linking them. So here’s what I suggest you do. Continue going to the practice range at times when the sun is shining and your shadow is cast to your left. Every time you swing perfectly, take a deep breath and hold for a count of three or four, exhaling to a similar long count. Similarly, on the golf course, take your deep breath every time you swing perfectly. Be consistent with how you take this deep breath and you will soon develop a “deep breath” will be linked to and have the same effect as your current trigger (seeing your shadow). Once developed, when the sun goes down, when it’s overcast or raining you can use your deep breath prior to swinging. Doing so will yield the same results as seeing your shadow. Thereby, you’ll be playing lower-single-digit golf with or without sun. Guaranteed!!! Nick From Brian: Dear Dr. Nick, I've been playing golf for about 35 years, I'm in great health and am stuck shooting in the mid to high 80's. I have always had a big swing (past parallel) at the top, but have been able to make a good connection at the ball, resulting in a fairly long, straight shot. The last couple of years I've made a very concious effort to shorten my swing, but the result is that I have recently begun taking an even greater swing and most times I've become stuck at the top because I know I've gone too far. My regular group laughs that they can read the Sunday paper in my backswing. One recently commented, "you are suppose to pose after your swing, not in the middle of the swing." A friend of mine said he had a similar occurance several years ago and read a book (referred by a Sports Psychologist) written by a tennis pro that addressed this problem and cured his hitch. He has since misplaced the book. Oh by the way, this swing only exists on the course not on the range. On the range my swing is very normal. I practice a lot of drills to maintain coil, shorten the swing, etc.,but I can't seem to duplicate on the course. I am convinced the problem is between my ears. Any thoughts? Dear Brian, I agree that the swing difficulty that you have on the golf course is a problem between the ears. While the problem you describe is rather unique, it is basically a swing/tempo difficulty; one which you do not have on the practice range. Regressing for a moment to a bit of simple, homespun, logic. A person, who has the ability to expertly toss a Frisbee in the front yard, has the ability to expertly toss a Frisbee in the back yard. The mechanics and tempo of doing so are transferable. Apparently, on the practice range you have the proper swing mechanics and tempo; you’ve already established the body memory to do so. Similar to the transferability of Frisbee expertise, your body memory for swing mechanics and tempo on the practice range are transferable to the golf course. You just need to know how to go about making the transfer. One of my articles, already posted on this site, will enable you to make the transfer. Read that article “Transferring Your Driving Range Ability to the Course” and follow the exercise. Problem solved! Guaranteed!!! From Pam: I have been golfing for 3 years now. I have taken a lot of lessons and have a very sound swing. My problem is all in my head. I either play very, very well or I panic and play miserably. The panic is triggered by topping the ball. As soon as I do it once I panic and that's it for the day. I can't seem to get my mental focus back once I lose it. If I hit the ball well I won't miss a shot all day. It's all or nothing. It is very frustrating as I know that the problem is not with my swing but with my head. Any tips that might help?? Dear Pam: A synopsis of one of my articles follows. It explains what, I hypothesize, is happening after you skull a ball: Ring a bell near a dog and the dog may bark, wag its tail, roll over or pee on your newspaper. Present food to a dog and it will salivate. Ring a bell and immediately present food and, again, the dog will salivate. Repeat this a number of times for a few days and then ring the bell without presenting the food and the dog will salivate. Ring the bell on subsequent days and the dog will still salivate. Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov, was the first to demonstrate this phenomenon called "conditioning." As with Pavlov's dogs, human conditioning can take place via repeated associations For example, an operating room nurse will feel tense and anxious when assisting an abusive surgeon. At some point she begins to have panic attacks in the operating room. She may not experience this negative state in the delivery room but step into the operating room and it's panic-time. Or, conditioning can be instantaneous. Wham!!! A guy gets rear ended in a Volkswagen. nbsp; Thereafter, when driving a Volkswagen, he automatically experiences a negative state filled with, say, tension, apprehension, and anxiety. He may be OK in a Honda or Ford but even thinking about being in the Volkswagen will give him the yips. Like being rear ended, one powerful negative experience associated with sculling a ball (e.g., if the golfer was ridiculed by others or very embarrassed) can cause a golfer to, thereafter, experience a negative state after sculling a ball. Or, like the operating room example, a negative state can be conditioned over time; e.g., from little doses of embarrassment, etc. from sculling the ball. Pam, I believe that you've become conditioned to feel tense, anxious, and to lose focus after you skull a ball. That is, sculling a ball now triggers this negative state. And, such a negative state would throw anyone's game off. Accordingly, I will refer you to my "Visual Reversal" article. It describes a counter conditioning exercise: (1) Click on Visual Reversal and follow the exercise, therein described. Doing so will sever the connection between sculling a ball and the conditioned negative state you've been experiencing. Choose two or three times that you felt particularly terrible and played particularly poorly after sculling the ball. When doing this, easy to follow, exercise, work with one experience at a time. Do this exercise three or four times before you hit the links. Thereafter, while you are not likely to feel great should you skull the ball, the negative state will be negligible or non existent. Guaranteed!!! Nick From Tim: Dr. Nick, I'd like to thank you for your help. I finished 21'st in the Canadian Club Champions championship, and this week I won my third provincial title with rounds of 68, 74, 66, 71 in front of a good size gallery. My mental thinking is far more positive and confident and visual. Our provincial website should be updated in a couple of days www.peigolfassoc.com just in case your interested. Thanks again, Tim Yorke Congratulations on your successes in the Canadian Club Champions Championship and on winning the Provincial title. Rounds of 68, 74, 66, and 71 in front of a large gallery; fantastic!!! I celebrate your successes with you. Thank you for acknowledging that Peak Performance Psychology prescription empowered you to be more mentally positive, confident, and visual. Given your improved play, I assume that you are, also, empowered to be more relaxed playing in front of a gallery. I wish you continued self-empowerment and success. Again, congratulations!!! Regards, Nick Note: Click here for Tim's previous question and Dr. Nick's answer. From John: Dear Nick, I am a 24 year old golfer and have been playing for about ten years. I play off 9, but just can't seem to improve my scoring (averaging around 80). I can hit lots of great shots, and am able to do most things with the golf ball except score! I have been practising hard on the course but to no avail; my shots are looking prettier, but my card is not reflecting this. What is your advise? Thanks for submitting your request. It appears that practicing on the course, while very important, hasn't yielded desired results. Accordingly, addressing mind-body connection seems relevant. However, to prescribe mental exercises to improve your play/score, I'll need some additional information. That is, what aspect of your game prevents you from lowering your handicap? Up - down, green play, front 9 score is great - back 9 is terrible, etc.? And/or, what if any of your internal resources fail you (e.g. lacking confidence, loosing focus, being tense, etc.)? Nick John's response: Thank you so much for getting back to me. My general ability with golf is high. It seems however, that I either hit a perfect shot or a dreadful one. Perhaps, scoring wise, my long putting needs to be sharper and I am continually trying to hit the perfect, high drawn, two iron which gets me into a little bother occasionally. I realise that I shouldn't be thinking about my score as I play, but I find it impossible not to. It's OK to think about your score but not while over the ball. What you may want to do is develop a mantra "See the target, see the ball, swing freely." That is, when standing over the ball and focusing on your target, you say "See the target.", you next focus on the ball and say "See the ball.", etc. This will keep you focused and block thoughts of scoring when addressing the ball... When at the plate, Pete Rose would say "see the ball, hit the ball." Bob Rotella (Golf is Not a Game of Perfect) also suggests using such a mantra. My dream is to score an under par round, with my best to date being level par for 9 holes and 2 over for 18. I get very nervous if I birdie the first hole I play and I get quickly downbeat if I bogey it. The first two holes of my local course are the hardest to score on. They are long and narrow par fours and if I start bogey, bogey ( or even double bogey, double bogey!) I feel like the mountain I am facing is too hard to climb. My psychological approach to birdie putts is infuriating. I know I'm a decent putter, but over a birdie putt I am thinking it doesn't matter if I miss it because par is good enough. I also go for most pins with my iron shots and put it down to bad luck if I miss the green. I have recently been using a confidence trigger from your web site where I clench my fist and I feel calmer and more confident, reminding myself of previous great shots. Thanks for this, it is certainly helping, but I'm still not feeling as courageous as I would like. "Courageous" is the internal resource you need. Using the same technique you use to trigger confidence, mentally practice imagining a time in your life when you felt particularly courageous (not necessarily related to golf nor even sports) and when you get a courageous feeling, say "See the target, see the ball, swing freely." Doing so will empower you to feel courageous (CORAGEOUS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO FEEL). Also, after a couple of sessions, just saying the mantra will cause you to feel both confident and corageous. Then go on to the next step. When I was younger, people used to tell me I had immense potential. I am not sure, and I hate to admit it, but perhaps I am scared of realising this potential. I seem to let birdie chances slip through my fingers constantly. I believe that you've been subconsciuosly stuck seeing (defining) yourself as "having potential" rather than seeing yourself realizing your potential. Next step: using both your confidence trigger and uttering your your new trigger "See the target, see the ball, swing freely" imagine various rounds whebey you've marked your scorecard below par. Follow the prescription and you'll be breaking par consistently. Guaranteed! Nick From John: Dear Dr. Rosa, I've been playing golf for over 30 years. In the past year I have started shanking. Of course, I have shanked a few in my lifetime but Hey, this is getting ridiculous. I can shank any club and every club that I have in the bag. I think that I have done everything there's to be done to rid me of this problem. And I mean everything from A to Z. I have read books, taken tips from very good golfers, watched videos, spent hours on the practice tee like you wouldn't believe. Every tip that I tried has helped me for just a short time. After about 10 or 15 balls I start shanking again. And I can shank as much as 15 in a row. I really want to quit this game but can't cause I'm a true golfaholic. Would you say that my problem is mental? I'm at my wits end. John: Shanked a few in your lifetime eh? Haven't we all? Hang in there! I'm positive that the shanking problem can and will be resolved. Given that you tend to hit 10 to 15 balls OK and then begin to shank, eye or other muscle fatigue may be the culprit. Have you checked out such possibilities in your A to Z quest? If not, I suggest that you check out these possibilities(i.e. with an ophthamalogist and/or kinesiologist or chiropractor) before we consider mental exercises. The need for you to check the possibility of eye and/or muscle fatigue prior to doing mental exercises may not seem obvious. To make the point, a baseball player, a very good hitter, who was in a slump, came to me for mental coaching. Given some of what he told me, I suggested that he consult an ophthalmologist. Result: eye fatigue problem diagnosed and remediated via eye exercises. This helped him to stay more focused throughout the game which improved his hitting slightly. However, he still lacked confidence in his swing and he wanted to have "tunnel vision" when in the batter's box. Had the eye fatigue problem not been resolved, the success of the subsequent mental work would have been, at best, limited. However, with the eye fatigue problem resolved, we addressed the mental game. Consequently, he was able to have tunnel vision while at bat, develop an ideal grooved swing and have confidence in it. Thereby, his batting average skyrocted. If it turns out that neither eye nor other muscle fatigue is problematic for you, a 30 year veteran, the problem is probably purely psychological (mental). If an eye or muscle fatigue problem is diagnosed and remediated, the psychological fallout from having had the problem will still need to be addressed. In either case, grooving your swing and having confidence in it should be addressed with mind-body integration exercises. Therefore, whatever the ophthalmology/kinesology outcome, get back to me. Then, I'll prescribe appropriate exercises and the shanking problem you described will be history. Guaranteed!!!
Regards, Dear Nick: I been at several national championships,but can't seem to be able to focus enough to play as well as I can play. My worst problem is galleries. I not scared of them but not comfortable either. My normal solid focus in our own tournaments seems to get broken by galleries. Any help would be appreciated. Tim: Thanks for submitting your question. You indicate that you have “solid focus” in your own tournaments; tournaments without galleries. Thereby, the abilities to be focused and comfortable when playing golf is part of your repertoire. Accordingly, I can prescribe an exercise that will transfer these abilities to playing in front of galleries. Currently, a gallery is a stimulus that triggers loss of focus and some discomfort. I’ll describe a mental exercise that will, paradoxically, make the gallery a stimulus that will trigger your being more focused and comfortable; at least as focused and comfortable as you’ve every been on a golf course. The exercise is in two parts. Do part 1 at least once a day for three or four days. Then, do part 2 for the next three or four days. In part 1, you will practice taking a particular deep breath that, through conditioning, will become a trigger for you to be highly focused and comfortable. Below “deep breath” will mean taking a slow deep breath through your nose and slowly exhaling while saying “focus” three times.
Part 1 - Steps to follow:
Part 2 is designed to have the gallery become a triggering stimulus for your focused, comfortable, zone state. Part – 2 – Steps to follow:
Do parts (1) and (2) as prescribed and you will find that looking at the gallery before driving, putting, etc. will tend to automatically trigger your being more focused and comfortable. When actually playing in front of a gallery: For best results, take your deep breath as you look at the gallery; then, take another deep breath as you take your practice swing/stroke or when you set up. Tim, follow this prescription and problems with galleries will be history. Guaranteed!!!
Dear Dr. Nick: (A question from a European high handicap golfer.) By chance I came across your Peak Performance Programming (P3) on the Internet. I've got the following problem: according to my golf pro. Practically all my practice swings are good and round swings with the club following the correct swing plane. For quite a few years besides many lessons from my pro, I have used several swing trainers to "groove a perfect swing plane". Still, as soon as it becomes real and I envisage to hit the golf ball in front of me, I have obviously a tendency to just hit at the ball with my arms and "to forget" to move the weight from the right to the left foot with all sorts of disastrous consequences instead, like ducking down, releasing too early and hitting the ground far too early (consequence also a golfers elbow); sometimes I even tend to close my eyes for a short second (perhaps as if afraid that the ball might explode). What do you suggest I should do to overcome this mental problem ?
Thank you in advance, Dear Hanns: Fortunately one of my articles has a prescription to resolve the problem you've had. Read and follow the exercise prescribed in the article "Transferring Your Driving Range Ability to the Course." You may also find the article "Finding the Ideal Swing Mechanics and Tempo" helpful. Doing the swing memory exercises therein prescribed will enable you to hit them long and straight. Guaranteed!!! Dr. Nick, I will shoot in the high seventy or low eighty and have 8 to 12 shanks all close to or around the greens Is this from looking up ---or---not taking the club straight back and not going through with the club . Hi Albert: Thanks for submitting your questions. Shanking the ball happens when the club face is too open on contact. This could be due to looking up, not taking the club straight back, position of right or left elbow, stance, etc. Notwithstanding, rather than guessing what causes your club face to be open at contact, let me refer to a drill that will remediate the swing or mechanical fault. The following is an edited version of a drill recommended by Phil Ritson in his book Golf Your Way:
(2) Address ball # 1 in the center of the club face. (3) Swing naturally, to make contact with ball # 1, without hitting ball # 2. To hit ball #1 without hitting ball # 2, you have to make contact at the clubface center or slightly toward the toe. Continue this drill until you consistently successful. During the drill, every time you do succeed, take a deep breath and hold for the count of four and exhale slowly to a six count. Doing so will become associated with success and proper mechanics. During actual play, take this deep breath before chipping or pitching to trigger these positive associations. To further reinforce these positive associations, take the same deep breath after each successful chip or pitch shot. Shanking problem solved? Guaranteed!!! Dr. Rosa: I'm currently playing off a three handicap in Adelaide, Australia and have experienced a problem that has been re-occurring for too long!!! My short game or should I say lack of short game has caused me to get distressed and lose interest. My short game including chips, pitches and bunker shots are great in practice but on the course in competition, I blade them, hit them fat and do all types of crap that I can't even imagine possible!!! This problem has been around for a few years and I have contemplated giving up but I really want to turn Pro and have the long game. I know that if this problem is fixed that I will be well on the way to my dreams. Any help that you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Please any help. Gavin Hi, Gavin: Thanks for your email inquiry. I have two immediate suggestions that will be helpful: (1) Read the article Transferring Your Driving Range Ability To The Course Follow the instructions but instead of imagining practicing driving, imagine practicing your bunker shots, chipping and pitching. Then imagine transferring your practice (mechanical and psychological) abilities to your bunker shots, chipping and pitching abilities to the course. (2) Consider purchasing my Integrating Mind and Body for Better Golf: Driving tape ($19.95 + postage on Amazon.com). When listening, as above, follow the instructions; substituting bunker shots, chipping, and pitching for tee box and driving. (3) Check any of the three web sites in a week or so. I will write an article "Transferring Your Short Game Practice Abilities To The Golf Course." The article will make it easier for you and other golfers to follow. Doing (1), (2) or (3) will be very helpful. Guaranteed!!! Heck, let me add a fourth. (4) Get your club to sponsor a workshop. I'll give the workshop after which you can have a customized, individual session. Most helpful. Guaranteed!!! Dr. Nick, I like to practice my swing at home without a ball. I can work on the details of the swing this way. Why is it that when a ball is put down at the range or the course the swing is not like the swing without a ball? I seem to concentrate on the ball too much. Is it a good idea to practice without a ball?
Thanks Michel: Thanks for your question. Practically speaking, practicing at home in our living room or den, it’s advisable to practice without a ball. Moreover, your method of practice seems to work for you. That is, whatever it is that you are doing when you “work on the details of the swing” seems to result in the quality of swing that you would like to have on the golf course. So the question is, “What does Michel have to do to get the same swing results on the golf course ?” I propose the following. With one exception, continue to practice as you have been. The exception is to place a white circular shaped piece of tape or Velcro, the width of a golf ball, on the floor. Practice and “work on the details of the swing”, simply knowing that the white spot, representing a golf ball, is there. Such practice will create a trigger, by association, between your practice swing and the presence of the same visual, cues (the size, color, & location of a golf ball) that will be present on the golf course. Accordingly, when you are on the golf course and either “work on the details of the swing’, see the ball or concentrate on it, the same physiology and swing mechanics that you have when practicing will be triggered. Problem solved. Guaranteed!!! Dear Nick, I would appreciate if you could help me to overcome the mental problem of my golf swing. My practice swing without a ball is very good, I can do anything with the swing. But when it comes to an actual swing, I tend to rush the swing and hit the ball, which usually ended up a shot. I have tried all sorts of methods in order to correct the mistake, and the result is still the same. I know my biggest problem is unable to complete the back swing. Therefore I will be very grateful if you could help me solve my psychological mystery.
Thanks, Geoff: The easiest way to solve the problem is to purchase the Peak Performance Psychology "Driving" tape. I recommend this, not to make a couple of dollars but, because all of the work is already done for you. Notwithstanding, given that your practice swings are constantly good, you can do the following 2 exercises:
1) Practice taking 10 to 20 practice swings and BEFORE each practice swing/address (without the ball), take a deep breath and hold for a couple of seconds and then breathe out slowly. (2) Do the same AFTER each great practice swing. (3) Do this exercise every day for a few days WITHOUT going out to the golf course to play>
After doing the exercise I for a few days, do the following exercise for a few days: (4) Sit or lie down and relax, close your eyes and do the following (5) Take the same deep breath and imagine seeing yourself on the golf course (like seeing yourself on video) addressing the ball and making a perfect swing. (6) Repeat #(5)ten times. (7) Imagine that you are on the golf course, so you can see the fairway in front of you, feel the grass under your feet, the club in your hand, again taking your deep breath before addressing the ball and making the perfect swing. (8) Repeat #(7) ten times. You have now created just-right muscle memory for automatic, proper, swing mechanics. Now you are ready to go out to the golf course. Now, before addressing the ball, take the same deep breath. This will set your just-right body memory in motion and you'll be hitting them consistently long and straight. Guaranteed! NOTE: Your deep breaths should be consistently replicated. Also, when on the golf course, take your deep breath after each great swing. This will further reinforce the just-right muscle memory.
Questions from Mike: Q: Dr. Nick have you worked with any of the tour players? A: Yes, I have worked with tour players. Q: If so, who? A: Like previous ethics codes, the APA ethics code drafted October 21, 2001 prohibits the solicitation of testimonials from clients. (See APA codes 5.05 and 5.06). Q: And how long have you been a golfer? I am assuming you are a golfer for being someone who proclaims to be able to assist one with the mental aspects of the game of golf. A: Yes, I am a golfer. I've been golfing since I was 14 and I'm 65 years young. Wow, 50 years!!! Mike, there seems to be a sharp edge to your questions and the use of "someone who proclaims to be able to assist..." Now, given that I've answered your questions, I'd like you to ask yourself one. What's behind, what seems to be, your sharpness and skepticism?
Dear Dr. Nick: I have heard that when Tiger Woods was little he learned to put himself in a hypnotic state, he said that it lowered his scores significantly, I was wondering if you could tell me how to get in this hypnotic state. Shawn: Hypnosis is a procedure used to enable another or one’s self (your interest) to be in a trance state. When we are in a trance state we have a high degree of internal awareness or focus and we are very responsive to suggestions; for example, suggestions to think, feel, and perform better. When it comes to responding to suggestions to perform better, “One picture is worth a thousand words.” Here I’m referring to a mental picture of course. What happens when we imagine, not a single picture, but a movie or videotape of how we want to perform? We become even more responsive to suggestions, especially if we imagine it in color and add sound. Finally, what happens when, instead of simply watching and hearing this movie, we step into it and become the player? Now, because we not only see and hear but can feel (e.g. the mechanics of a good swing/stroke), we have used the most powerful and effective hypnosis formula. This powerful formula is utilized in the golf psychology audiotapes I’ve developed as well as in my responses to letters such as yours. Therein you will find tailored prescriptions for triggering a mini-trance state, on the golf course, empowering you to improve various parts of your game. So, to learn how to do self hypnosis, read any of the responses to golfers’ letters of inquiry about the mental game. Thereby you will learn how to do self hypnosis, trigger a trance state, and play consistently better golf. Guaranteed! Dear Dr. Nick: At the driving range I hit the ball great. when I get to the tee box I can't even hit the ball at all. I am a 10 handicap but for the last 2 years have not been able to hit a drive. I actually "step in the bucket" when I swing which I do not do on the driving range. I can’t stop it. Which one of your tapes would be good for me? Or how else can I solve this problem? Dear Robert: Many golfers I’ve worked with, who want to correct something, give themselves negatively framed mental instructions. For example, someone who steps in the bucket might say something like “Don’t step in the bucket!” Just as saying “Don’t think of the Eiffel tower!” conjures up a mental image of that structure, “Don’t step in the bucket!” conjures up a mental picture of stepping in the bucket and prompts concomitant actions consistent with that picture. Thereby, one is more apt to step in the bucket. Accordingly, when you are in the tee box, I hope you are giving yourself positively framed instructions. That is; for example, saying to yourself “Keep your feet planted Bob!” Notwithstanding, the tape you want to listen to is Integrating Mind & Body for Better Golf: Driving. Doing so will enable you to transfer your best balance and driving mechanics from the range into the, course, tee box. Guaranteed!!!
Hi, Dr Nick, I wonder if you can help me with this problem I have. At my home course we have 3 par 4 holes which have O/B on the right hand side. I hit the ball with a draw which means that these holes should be of no problem to me (Notice I said should!). Unfortunately, I have a major tendency to slice at these 3 holes. I know it is all mental, have you any advice? I am a 12 handicapper(ex 6) and still play to my handicap even with these 3 horror holes. Alan Beacham Hi, Alan: On the holes indicated, it seems obvious that your swing mechanics and, thus, your swing plane changes causing you to slice the ball. I suspect the following to be going on mentally. When driving the three holes mentioned, (A) mentally you’re saying to yourself “Don’t slice the ball.” and/or (B) you have a mental picture of slicing or having sliced the ball. Actually, one and two tend to occur in tandem, (A) precipitating (B) or (B) precipitating (A). For example, read the following: “Don’t imagine the Eiffel Tower.”… What happened? For a fraction of a second, you imagined the Eiffel Tower. Likewise, when we tell ourselves not to do something (e.g., “don’t slice” our brain creates a picture of it happening which, in turn, recreates the muscle memory related to the picture. Moreover, when remembering doing something that we don’t want to repeat (e.g. slicing), we tend to tell ourselves not to (e.g., slice). Accordingly, my prescription is: Before you address the ball (1) mentally say “I’m going to nail this one straight* down the pike.” or (2) mentally see your drive drilled down the middle. In either case you will be instructing your brain and body memory to execute the swing consistent with the self- talk or imagery. *Note that there’s even a difference between saying “right down the pike” vs. “straight down the pike.” The former will tend to subtly influence brain and body to “hit right”, the latter to “hit straight.” A third option (3) is to imagine (pretend) that you are playing any of the remaining 15 holes instead. Following prescription (1), (2) and/or (3) will help you to move towards being a 6 handicapper again. Guaranteed!!!
Dear Dr. Nick, I am an 8 handicapper at my club. I often shoot sub 40 nine holes, and occasionally break 80. I do have mental concerns about my driving as it is very average. My good scoring days come when I chip and putt well. Which brings me to my 'Achilles heal', the dreaded shank. It is in my thoughts every time I play a full sand wedge to the green. I can practice with my short irons and never seem to shank, then it just starts and I often have to pack up and go home as I cant stop it from recurring, sometimes 8 out of 10 practice shots can shank when it pops its ugly head into my head. I know that there is a mechanical cause to my shank, but I am also convinced that I trigger the shank by putting the thought into my head. I can continue practicing my short game, but how do I fix the mental side. I played a good round on Saturday, and shot a gross 84, that included a 7 after I shanked an approach shot from 40 metres. The positive side of my shank is that I accept it when it happens and continue on with the game. I did not play another bad shot for the rest of the game, and played the remaining 7 holes 1 over my handicap. George Crew Hi George: Great, you’re taking the first step by having a pro check out your mechanics. So let’s proceed to the second step, the mental side. Here’s what I gather from what you’ve described. The “it” that pops into your head is negative thinking. Whether we fully realize it or not, such thinking is both verbal and visual. Your negative verbal thought might be in the category of fearing that you will shank; e.g., “I’m going to shank this one.” or “I hope I don’t shank this one.” Either way, “Shank this one” is what you, inadvertently, program yourself to do. Concurrently, you would have a mental image of shanking this one. This image may appear for as little as a fraction of a second, enough time to reset your muscle memory for mechanics to shank. What triggers such thinking is the association that’s evolved between selecting and using (feeling/grip) your sand wedge and poor shot thinking and mechanics. So what we want to do is to create a new association between the act of selecting and using your sand wedge and great shot thinking and mechanics. Accordingly, I offer the following prescriptions. At home or in the clubhouse:
When playing:**
** Part (B) will take only 20 to 30 seconds. --- Take this half-minute to successfully blast out traps. Guaranteed!!!
Dear Dr. Nick, How do I overcome the fear of lowering my handicap? Currently I carry an 11, but with Scigolf principles, LPG and Scott's putting techniques, I have had a couple of rounds of nearly par golf, then I fall apart right at the end and triple a couple of holes. It's like I'm afraid of being that good. Dear Barbara: I doubt that you would be using "Scigolf principle, LPG and Scott's putting techniques" if you feared lowering your handicap. What I suspect may be going on is that you (a) fear that you won't finish as strong and/or (b) you begin to try harder and create inner tension. Accordingly, I'll suggest a mental exercise that will help in either case. In the exercise you close your eyes and relax (perhaps even listen to relaxing music). Then you imagine that you are playing the last few holes very well, having already played nearly par golf for a couple of rounds. More specifically, with your eyes closed, first imagine seeing yourself on a videotape holing out in one or two on the last few holes. Take a deep relaxing breath between imagining each hole played. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times. Keeping your eyes closed, next, imagine transporting yourself on to the green and rehearse holing out in one or two on the last few holes. Herein, you have more of a sense of the feel of the grass under your feet, the putter, your stance, stroke, etc.; seeing the roll of the ball and hearing it fall into the cup. Take a deep relaxing breath between each hole played. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times. The whole mental exercise can be completed in about 10 minutes. It will help you to be more relaxed, focused and confident when putting on the last few holes. Do the exercise once a day for a few times and be ready to have a single digit handicap. Guaranteed!
Dear Dr. Nick, At the driving range I hit the ball great. When I get to the tee box, I can't even hit the ball at all. I am a 10 handicap, but for the last 2 years have not been able to hit a drive. I actually "step in the bucket" when I swing which I do not do on the driving range. I cant stop it. Which one of your tapes would be good for me, or how else can I solve this problem? Dear Robert: Many golfers I've worked with, who want to correct something, give themselves negatively framed mental instructions. For example, someone who steps in the bucket might say something like "Don't step in the bucket!" Just as saying "Don't think of the Eiffel tower!" conjures up a mental image of that structure, "Don't step in the bucket!" conjures up a mental picture of stepping in the bucket and prompts concomitant actions consistent with that picture. Thereby, one is more apt to step in the bucket. Accordingly, when you are in the tee box, I hope you are giving yourself positively framed instructions. That is; for example, saying to yourself "Keep your feet planted Bob!" Notwithstanding, the tape you want to listen to is Integrating Mind & Body for Better Golf: Driving. Doing so will enable you to transfer your best balance and driving mechanics from the range into the, course, tee box. Guaranteed!!
For the past 3 years I've experimented with hitting short chips and all putts while looking at my target instead of the ball. I feel, since the ball is not going anywhere till I move it and the body is pretty much stable, that my mind can tell my hands and arms how hard to hit the ball. On chips I find a spot on the green where I want the ball to land, keep my eye on that spot, and swing the club. It does work better than if I look at the ball while swinging. On putts, I read the break, keep my eyes on a spot the estimated distance it will break, left or right of the hole, then stroke it.(e.g.- putt breaks left 8 inches, eye a spot on green, blade of grass, old ball mark, etc. 8 inches to the right of the hole, directly to the side of the hole, then stroke it. If a putt is up hill , my visual target will be 8 in. to the right and maybe 6 inches behind the hole. Visa versa on downhill putts. With this method, my body stays relaxed and my mind has a target to focus on. I feel more confident with this but nobody else does it so there must be something wrong with it. I believe this is much better than looking at the ball. Why would I want to look at the ball? Shooting basketball, throwing darts, passing baseball or football you don’t look at the ball. What are your thoughts on this and have you tried it? I need someone smart to tell me do it because ... or don't do it because....
Thanks for your time. Dear John: I’m not sure that hitting a golf ball is analogous to throwing a ball or darts. To me it’s more analogous to hitting a baseball or cue ball which requires keeping one’s eye on the ball. Notwithstanding, following are my thoughts on the short game focusing strategy you described.
If you haven’t done so, have someone stand behind you when you’re putting straight away and assess if:
(2) your clubhead is square to the line/path, and (3) your clubhead meets the ball on the sweet spot? If these three criteria are met consistently, congratulations! It means that your feel for the proper swing path and angle of the clubface at impact is consistently good. Accordingly, keep doing what you’re doing, you’re in excellent shape. Guaranteed!
Dr. Nick, I am going through one of the most frustrating times in my golf career. I have been taking lessons from my local pro and my swing has improve. However, I have a BIG problem...On the practice range I can take a full swing, especially with my woods, and hit my drive a consistent 230-240 yards and my 3 wood 210-220, which I a satisfied with. But once I get on the course to play a round I CANNOT take the full swing and "bunt" my drives and fairway woods 180-190 to the right. I believe the on course problem is mental and am thinking about seeing a sports psychologist. Suggestions?
Thanks in advance. Dear Harry: Thanks for your inquiry. I’m honored to offer suggestions for overcoming what you describe as the “Big” problem. Most of us have experienced the frustration of being able to drill the ball so well on the practice range and find that we could not do the same on the golf course. No question that this is a mental (psychological) problem. My Dad used to say, “Son, if you can ride a two wheel bike well in the driveway, you can ride it well in the parking lot.” So, I venture to say, “Harry, if you can drive the ball well on the practice range, you can drive the ball well on the golf course.” So, my first suggestion is that you change the presupposition from “I CANNOT” to “I COULD NOT”. It seems that when we tell ourselves we cannot do something that our brain seems to say “O.K., from now on, I’ll do my best to make that a reality.” “Could not” does not have the same effect on the future; thus giving us a chance to succeed. Now, the problem you present is commonly experienced that I wrote a brief article on how to resolve it. The article is entitled “Transferring Your Driving Range Ability to the Golf Course.” It is a do-it-yourself article that many golfers have used to empower themselves to successfully make the transfer. So, my second suggestion is to download the article, read it, and follow the exercise. It will help tremendously. Guaranteed! My third suggestion applies if you prefer to have someone do the exercise for you. Find someone in your area who has Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) skills. This person may or not be a sport psychologist; the important criterion is that the person be trained in NLP at the Master Practitioner level or higher. Show the person the above referenced article as well as an article entitled “An Introduction to P-3: A New Sports Psychology”. (S)he will be familiar with the strategies to be used. (S)he will be able to empower you to resolve the presenting problem within on or two sessions. Guaranteed! As you can probably can tell by my web name, smasher-brasher@webtv.net, I can hit a golf ball from tee to green. But I have a hang up on putting. I am sort of like Tom Watson. When I get within 3 to 5 feet of the hole I have a big hang-up but outside of that I am pretty deadly. Is there some sort hypnosis that could cure this or will it work it’s own self out in due time? David: I suspect that within five feet of the hole, you have a tendency to tense up and worry about not making the putt. This would negatively impact your stroke and ability to sink the putt. And, each time you miss such a putt, the tendency to tense up, worry or anticipate failure increases. So, as much as I’d like to predict otherwise, unattended, this difficulty is not apt to work itself out in due time. Actually, unattended, the difficulty is more apt to result in a full-blown case of the yips. Notwithstanding, be it mild tension or a full-blown version of the yips, the problem can be readily resolved using hypnosis plus suggestions and relevant techniques. The utilization of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques quickly (usually within one session) neutralize the negative thoughts and physiology associated with poor play in specific situations such as short putts as well as enhance confidence and flow. Here are a couple of options:
Do either of the above and you’ll be draining those three to five footers with confidence and ease. Guaranteed!!! Dear Dr. Rosa: I've taken lesson from several pros in search of becoming a presentable golfer. I generally show improvement initially but as I play and practice I start to revert back to my previous performance level or worse. This has been the case with conventional swing instructors and with Jack Kuykendal's method which I'm using now. So, what's the problem here?
Respectfully, Dear Willis: “So, what’s the problem here?” I assume that the problem is that you haven’t learned how to hold onto that initial improvement; how to maintain and groove the muscle memory associated with improved swing mechanics. So, what’s the solution here? How does a golfer efficiently and effectively grove improved swing mechanics? Generally, speaking you simply close your eyes, relax, and mentally rehearse practicing perfect swing mechanics a number of times. And practicing your swing perfectly every time (which is easy to imagine doing) will not only build muscle memory and groove your swing but build confidence as well. Anytime you have a lesson whereby you show improvement, here’s what you do at home:
Note: In both (1) and (2) it would be beneficial to imagine good distance, trajectory and placement of your drive (roll, speed and holing out your putt; etc.). It will take only a few minutes to do this exercise. Do it a few days or times after a beneficial lesson and you’ll be surprised at how well your improved body mechanics will be grooved. Guaranteed!!! Dr. Nick, Using a single-axis swing, a day typically goes like this:
2) Chunk the first few until I start stroking. 3) Hit the majority of the rest of the balls fairly well. 4) 4) Go on the course and flub at least half my iron shots. It has got to be mental (seems if it were physical I couldn't hit on the range either). How do I press the save button during a GOOD practice bucket and transpose those good shots during round? Hi Bruce: Thanks for submitting a question. Your answer can be found in one of my existing articles entitled “Transferring Your Driving Range Ability to the Course.” The article addresses transferring the mechanics, physiology, and mental set you have, every time you hit a GOOD shot on the practice range, to tee box and/or fairway. This is accomplished by establishing what you refer to as a “save button” (holding a deep breath for a long count, in the article). The “save button” is utilized to both: (1) save the GOOD shot mechanics, physiology, and mental set during practice and (2) access the GOOD shot mechanics, physiology, and mental set on the golf course. Follow the four steps recommended in the article and your iron play will be consistently better. Guaranteed!!!
Dear Nick, I am currently a student and a good single figure golfer who is interested in the possibility of a career in sports psychology and I wonder what would be the best way of getting into this area. Dear Paul: Sport psychology! It’s an exciting and fulfilling field! Before answering your question, let me make a distinction between a “sport psychologist” and a “sport psychology consultant”. To be considered a sport psychologist, individuals must meet American Psychological Association (APA) - Division 47 (Exercise and Sport Psychology Division) criteria –which includes doctoral level training in exercise science and kinesiology as well as experience working with individual athletes, teams and coaches. Prerequisite undergraduate training is typically in physical education or psychology. You can get specific details by going to the APA – Division 47 site: http://www.psych.unt.edu/apadiv47/ and clicking on “Becoming a Sport Psychologist”. Using the above stated criteria, the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP) provides the U. S. Olympic Committee with a list of sport psychologists considered qualified to work with Olympic athletes. The AAASP web site is: http://www.aaasponline.org. Pragmatically speaking, like a “personal trainer”, regardless of educational training and experience, anyone can offer services as a “sport psychology consultant”. If the athletic or golf community consider your psychological services of value, you can offer them under the umbrella of a sport psychology consultant. You can legally call yourself and advertise as “sport psychology consultant”, “psychological consultant”, “performance enhancement specialist”, etc. but not a “psychologist”. Ethically speaking, if or when, in good conscience, you consider yourself qualified by way of training and experience to counsel and help athletes, teams, and coaches perform better in athletics and/or life, you can hold yourself out to be a sport psychology consultant. I teach and supervise master’s level, applied counseling psychology, students at Villanova University. Students exit our program with excellent counseling and consulting skills. Their counseling skills range from Cognitive-Behavioral and Gestalt to Brief Strategic which includes Ericksonian Hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). The have earned a master’s degree in counseling and human relations and are eligible to be licensed as counselors. Some of our students have done their internships in athletic venues and have gone on to function successfully as sport psychology consultants. I consider these students to be exceptionally well equipped by way of training and experience to ethically hold themselves out to be qualified sport psychology consultants. I‘m a sport psychology consultant not a sport psychologist. Briefly, my background is a B.A. in psychology, an M.A. in school psychology and a Ph.D. in Psychological Services. I’m a licensed psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. In my graduate work I did not take courses in exercise science, physiology nor kinesiology. Accordingly, I don’t meet the criteria set forth by the AAASP. Instead I took more courses in applied individual, family and group counseling, hypnosis and brief strategic therapy and did an APA approved internship in clinical/counseling psychology. I’m glad I did. I got into sport consulting visa my private counseling/psychotherapy practice. Practicing just outside of Philadelphia since 1969, professional and collegiate athletes have been referred to me for individual or family counseling. Discovering that I utilized hypnosis (and later Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and have an interest in sports, some athletes began to request that I work with them on their athletic performance. Moreover, I was invited to serve as a psychological consultant to the Athletic Department which I’ve done for a number of years. Today, outside the university, the majority of my time is spent in my private practice working with athletes, particularly golfers. Bottom line Paul, you can go the AAASP route, take a similar route as do our students or a route similar to mine. If you’re not sure which route to take, consider looking into a master’s program like the Springfield College Sport Psychology Program. It is more counseling oriented than most, integrating counseling skills (a very important factor, in my view) with exercise science and physiology.
I have a bad habit of getting distracted by my shadow, especially on full shots. I've had this problem so long that I'm almost conditioned to hit a bad shot. Can you give me a way to deal with this? You're right on the money. You've become conditioned to hit a bad full shot when you see your shadow. Currently, your shadow is a stimulus which you automatically respond to by being visually and/or mentally distracted and, thereby, hit your full shot poorly. After you've completed the detailed exercise two or three times, your shadow will become a stimulus that you will automatically respond to by being more visually and mentally focused (not less) and having improved full swing mechanics and tempo. Read the basic exercise through once or twice. Then go on to the detailed exercise. Basic Exercise:
Great! Now, on to the detailed exercise. Read it over a couple of times. Then go ahead and do it; reading one step and completing it, reading the next step and completing it, etc. Detailed Exercise:
(a) Pay attention to visual details; seeing the course and hole you are playing, time of day, whether conditions and, most important, your swing mechanics and tempo. (b) Pay attention to auditory details; the sound of hitting the sweet spot as well as incidental sounds such as birds chirping, leaves rustling and so forth. What will doing the detailed exercise a couple of days do for you?
Guaranteed!!!
Dear Dr. Nick, I'm an 8 handicapper. A problem I have is with concentration. Often I think about hitting the ball instead of swinging through it. When that happens I rush my swing and come over the top in my hurry to get to the ball. Any suggestions? John I'm afraid that my response to how to maintain concentration will sound similar to previous responses to inquiries. However, the techniques detailed in the article "An Introduction to P3: the New Golf Psychology" and "Observing the New Golf Psychology in Action" should not be underestimated. The Personal Trigger and Contextual Trigger techniques detailed both have varied application. For example, the Personal Trigger (NLP's Anchoring) technique is designed to help people access whatever internal resources they desire. It can be used to empower a golfer to experience any desired resource such as being able to concentrate, be focused, confident, relaxed, centered, ... or a combination of these (a resource state). The Personal Trigger technique provides the golfer with a trigger (a movement, gesture, sound or thought), which can be used whenever (s)he wants to access his/her resource state. For example, taking a deep breath and holding to the count of three can be set up as a trigger for concentration or focus. Thereafter, whenever the golfer wants to be focused and/or in a heightened state of concentration, all (s)he need do is take a deep breath and hold to the count of three. Voila. Another technique presented in that article is the Environmental Trigger. This techniques is used when the golfer wants to automatically experience his/her desired resource or resource state, say when driving or putting. As a result of this technique the golfer's resource or resource state is automatically triggered by what the golfer sees and feels when in the driving box or on the green/fringe. You ca consult a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) master practitioner. He or she can implement both techniques within a one hour session. That's all it will take to achieve what I've stated above. Another option is to consider purchasing one of the P3 audio tapes "Integrating Mind Body for Better Golf: (Driving or Putting)". Both utilize the Personal Trigger and Environmental trigger techniques. Each will empower you to experience the above mentioned resource state; one when you are in the driving box, the other when you're on the green or fringe. Moreover, both will enhance your body memory for ideal swing/stroke mechanics. Dear Dr. Nick: I am a 10.2 handicapper and shoot fairly well 79-84 on a average day, but when I get in a tournament or play in front of a group of people watching, like at some charity events I can't seem to do as well. I'll shoot high 80's- low 90's. I can't figure out why. I don't feel any different than any other day, but I know something is bothering me. Can you possibly tell me why this happens and is there anything I can practice to help me with this?
Thank You, Dear Kyle: I believe it safe to assume that your course management skills are the same on an average day as they are on tournament days or when a crowd is watching (tournament + conditions). Moreover, your technical skills are at the same stage of development, regardless. So, the questions are why the difference in performance under tournament + conditions and what to do about it? You are a skilled golfer who, on an average day, executes your technical skills so efficiently and effectively as to shoot between 79 and 84. This indicates that your internal resources (perceptions, thoughts, nerve endings, body chemistry, kinetics,...) are efficiently working toward the successful execution of your skills; driving, approach shots, putting, and so forth. Apparently, such is not the case when you are playing under tournament + conditions. Under these conditions your internal resources are not working as efficiently. Fortunately, certain mind-body exercises can enable you to transfer the efficient internal resources you have on an average day to tournament + conditions. Even better is to transfer your most efficient internal (peak performance) resources to you tournament + play; the approach we will take. The following Peak Performance Moment exercises will enable you to experience your peak performance resources under tournament + conditions. This will enable you to maximize the level of your tournament + play. Read through steps 1 through 6 to get an overview of the exercises before doing them:
Nick, I am a 2 handicapper, from Hamilton, New Zealand. I am finding that I can shoot really good numbers in casual rounds, yet am struggling in tournaments, where I tend to get scared of hitting bad shots, and despite any focusing efforts, the first thing that I see on the tee is trouble. And often the last thing that enters my mind over a pitch shot is 'don't shank it'. I seem to have major confidence problems, yet have no trouble hitting the shots in casual rounds. Any ideas?
Thanks Hi Lee: There are two articles on Scigolf that I believe will be helpful. Positive Self Instruction addresses embedded messages. For example, if I say to yourself "don't think of the Eiffel Tower", you image the Eiffel Tower. That's because in order for our brains to understand something stated as a negative command "Don't think of a dog", as another example, our brain has to form an image of a dog. Likewise, when the last thing you say to yourself is "Don't shank it" your brain has to get an image of swanking the shot; your body will cooperate and cause you to shank. Instead say "Hit the ball straight.", "Hit it on the sweet spot.", etc.; your brain will have that image and your body will tend to follow. The second article Visual Reversal outlines a mental exercise that will neutralize the negative physiology (anxiety, up tight body mechanics, etc.) associated with your long game in tournament play. Follow the instructions in these two articles and your long game will improve dramatically. Your confidence gradually return. Guaranteed! If you want your confidence to return quickly, purchase the Integrating Mind & Body for Better Golf: Driving Tape. Dear Nick, To put it bluntly, I have "tee-box phobia." Whether it be a wedge to short part three, or a driver to an expansive fairway, I just can't get the ball where its supposed to go. However, once I'm in the fairway, I'm pretty good. On a handicap basis, My tee game would have me at a 40, and the rest of my game would have me at a 6-7. Help, please! Dear Jeff: There are two articles you can read that will be of great value to you. One, "Visual Reversal", is a do-it-yourself version of a technique called the Fast Phobia/Trauma Cure. As the name implies, the technique will provide you with a fast means to neutralize your "tee box phobia." It will effectively break the connection between the tee box stimuli (e.g., seeing the tee box and fairway, gripping your driver) and your current phobic reactions (e.g., muscle tension and uncertainty regarding your swing mechanics). Once neutralized, I recommend that you create ideal responses (e.g. being relaxed, focused and having confidence in your swing mechanics) to the tee box stimuli. To accomplish this follow the exercise outlined in the article "Finding the Ideal Swing Mechanics and Tempo." on the Peak Performance Psychology (P-3) website. Each exercise should take you only six or seven minutes. Doing them three or four times will solve the "tee box phobia" and improve your swing mechanics and tempo. Guaranteed! G'day Nick, I found your site a few days ago, and am finding my way through your articles. And am doing some of your techniques. I acknowledge it's what is between my ears that is stopping me from playing scratch golf. I would be interested in your thoughts and any exercises etc you can suggest. Although, I am working hard at getting myself into a positive frame and visualizing what I want to do before I swing. I find that sometimes during the swing, usually 1/2 way down, a negative thought will jump out. For example, water right, then I pull or hook the ball. It's as though my trust in the swing is compromised. 1. When swinging, should the mind be "quiet", have a swing thought, or other to prevent this from happening? 2. What do you suggest to keep the demons from wrecking my swing?
Thanks for reading Hi, Phil: As we address the ball, we’re going to think. Thinking, be it visual or auditory, is a constant part of the human, waking, condition. So your idea to use a swing thought to block out maladaptive thoughts makes a lot sense. So, keep visualizing what you want to do before you swing and add a swing thought while addressing the ball. Pete Rose’s swing thought for batting was to say to himself, “See the ball. Hit the ball.” Borrowing from Dr. Bob Rotella, “Look at the target. Look at the ball. Let your swing go.” is the golfer’s counterpart. My swing thought is, “Like a pendulum.” My father’s was, “Smooth as silk.” Make up your own self-talk, swing thought. Use any phrase or metaphor that will tend to enhance swing mechanics, rhythm, and tempo. Regarding mental practice, I suggest the following: Review some of your best drives and choose an ideal one. Close your eyes and mentally relive that ideal drive; including the bodily sensations of teeing up the ball, seeing your target, seeing the ball, the bodily sensations of addressing the ball (adding your new swing thought as you do), hearing the sound of contacting the sweet spot, seeing the trajectory of the ball, and so forth. This exercise will prompt you to mentally say your rehearsed swing thought automatically in the tee box or on the fairway. Moreover, your rehearsed swing thought will trigger your ideal physiology, muscle memory, rhythm, and tempo and trust in your swing. Guaranteed!!! Hi, Doc, I have a major problem getting myself from being too stiff while on the course (no problem on the driving range.) This causes me to not turn my shoulders and there "fore" reverse pivot and I'm trying to hit the ball rather than swing the club. Please help. I've tried just about everything.
Thanking you in advance. Hi Jim: There's bad news and there's good news. Fortunately, the good news far outweighs the bad. First, the bad news. Unfortunately, in the tee box you've been conditioned to experience a negative psychophysiology. You have a negative Pavlovian response, the kind referred to in the "Overcoming Anxiety During Competition" article. More specifically, when you step into the tee box your body gets triggered into getting stiff, causing you not to turn your shoulders, which negatively affects your swing mechanics. I suspect that you have some apprehension and that your confidence, expectation, breathing, grip and posture are negatively impacted as well. Now, the good news. Fortunately, on the driving range you've been conditioned to experience a positive psychophysiology. That is, on the driving range your body gets triggered into being loose, you have confidence in your swing and a positive expectation, and your breathing, grip and posture being positively affected. You experience, what I call, a peak performance state frequently on the practice range. Voila! All we need to do is transfer the peak performance state you already know how to experience when on the driving range to the tee box. There are two exercises you can do to do to accomplish this. One would be to follow do the conditioning exercises described in the "Overcoming Anxiety During Competition" article. The other is to do the following: (1) Go to the driving range and get a couple of buckets of balls and begin driving. Every time you're pleased with the feel of your swing and nail one down the middle with good distance, immediately take a deep breath and hold for a count of 5 to 7 and exhale slowly. Do this whenever you practice and you will be establishing a connection between this special breath and your peak performance state. Follow steps (1) - (4) and you'll be driving as well from the tee box as you had on the driving range. My prediction, even better! Dear Doc, I am a 6 handicap player that has been as low as a 3. I have a sound swing and practice quite a bit. I have read numerous instructional books on the mental side of the game by people such as Dr. Bob Rotella and Dr. Richard Coop. My problem lies in that no matter how much I try to use the principles of good, positive thinking on the course, when playing in competition I get so unbelievably nervous that at times I feel incapable of making a golf shot. It is so bad that I have almost stopped trying to play competitively at all, although deep down I really do want to play. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Hope I'm not a lost cause!
Sincerely, Rick, my diagnosis for your stated problem is that it is rooted in either repeated associations or instantaneous or both types of conditioning. Check the Overcoming Anxiety in Competition for some answers. Dear Dr. Nick, This is strange so bear with me. I have been a club pro, PGA guy for over 20 years and have always played a traditional game...mid/low 70's, some high 60's. Last year I read a book called "Extraordinary Golf" by Fred Shoemaker. In it he uses video of his students throwing a club at the target instead of hitting a ball at the target. The video shows that the student makes a totally natural move when throwing the club as compared to hitting "at" the ball. Well, I thought I would see how far I could go with this line of reasoning. As of now, after I set up to the ball and everything is right. I then swing while looking at the target. I tried it for fun but now hit all my shots while looking at the target...kind of like horseshoes...except I don't have the confidence to do it with my driver. (I can but accuracy suffers, I tighten up). I've shot under par and it's becoming more natural as my confidence increases. Doug, I'll answer your questions as you go along. You can increase your confidence in driving or any part of your game by creating the a Personal and Environmental Triggers described in the "An Introduction to P3: A New Sports Psychology" and "Observing the New Golf Psychology in Action". There are basically two options: (1) Consult an LP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Master Practitioner in your area, show him/her the articles and in one session you will have confidence in driving under your new system. or (2) Purchase the P3 audio tape "Integrating Mind & Body for Better Golf - Driving" (ISBN 1-892673-04-5) available through Amazon.com ($19.95) and derive the same results by listening to both sides of the tape (total time @ 1 hour)." My playing partners (including the club champ) are kind of in awe but it really is natural if you trust it...hit some very close iron shots... Congratulations!!! Question is...am I crazy or have I jumped over the final hurdle...flying without a net...I just swing according to what my body figures is about right...doesn't always work and concentration is difficult. My diagnosis: You are sane and approaching the final hurdles of being focused relaxed and confident.. So, ditto regarding (A) above since being focused, relaxed, and confident in your swing are three of the outcomes of the tape (or will be stated as your desired outcomes if you work with an NLP Master Practitioner). I'm very much into aspects of Zen and Yoga Excellent for overall game improvement, given that Zen and Yoga Meditation will regulate blood pressure, cardio-vascular functioning, decrease blood lactate levels, create brain wave synchrony, and in a host of other ways enable you to be more centered and relaxed. No doubt about it! Finally, golfers who have used the "Integrating Mind & Body for Better Golf -Meditation" tape (ISBN 1-892673-03-7) have verified these results. Hi, Dr. Nick, I've been playing Natural Golf for over a year now, I'm interested in Jack Kuykendall's method. I'm trying to find that repeatable swing that I can have confidence in, I haven't found it yet. I've hit some really good golf shots on the practice range, when I go to the golf course I'm still thinking about mechanics of my swing. I've been told that the only thing you can think of is the target when playing golf. Well, I don't have a switch that I can turn on and off to make that happen. I can par a couple of holes and then get an 8 on a par 4. I can remember a time this year that I had par on 5 holes in a row, then I slid back to my normal, not so good. I have many different lesson videos that I've studied, maybe too much. If I try to think of nothing but target, my backswing gets way too fast, I lose my tempo therefore I don't make a good shot. Can anyone really think of nothing but target on the golf course and play well? If you say yes, how can I do this? Thank you! Don Stevens Hi Don: Regarding your long game, let's do the following:
You can use one of your videos to find your model. Pick a video that has a segment that shows, in its entirety, (from set up to follow-through), what you consider to be an ideal swing/tempo model; one that demonstrates the mechanics and tempo you desire. Review only this segment of the video, a number of times, until you have a solid picture in your mind of what the ideal swing mechanics and tempo look like. This is the model that we'll use in the following exercises. The mental rehearsal exercises that follow will build body memory of the model you've chosen as well as create a "switch" that you can use to trigger your ideal swing mechanics and tempo. Read over steps (1) through (3) a few times to get an overview of the exercises before doing them:
Thereafter, when you're playing and in the tee box or on the fairway, use your "switch" (taking a deep breath and saying or thinking "relax") as you refocus on your target. Doing so will prompt your model swing mechanics and tempo to be triggered automatically.
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