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Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article
#4
Clive's scores and handicap have steadily improved as time has
moved forward from Spring into Summer, and Autumn. He is also noticeably
more upbeat, positive and confident about his game. This creates
a positive reinforcing 'cybernetic' loop. Better scores, more confidence,
and so on. In this session, I wanted to check out progress in three
main areas. Visualisation, natural swing feelings and emotional
control.
Clive's visualisation skills are critical to building a successful
pre-competition mental rehearsal procedure and comprehensive preshot
routine. He completed a 20 point visualisation quiz, covering three
different aspects of the game and situations, easily and quickly
with an almost perfect 99% score (he was unable to 'see' the ball
bounce in just one question). Check out your own skills with the
5 point mini-quiz, see box. Developing clear images is of equal,
and in my opinion for most players, at least, if not more important
as developing the right swing feelings sensitivity.
Whilst I do not work directly with any technical aspect of swing
mechanics. I was curious to know the degree of alignment Clive
had between the perceived image of his 'desired' swing in his 'minds-eye',
a live video recording of his swing, across the line, and his 'natural'
swing. Clive had not been videoed before, and was naturally apprehensive
of the impending moment of truth. After reviewing the evidence
he was both pleasantly surprised and very pleased with the results.
Conforming closely to the ideal self swing image he was seeking.
To determine his 'natural swing', I videotaped him throwing some
old clubs (without hitting any balls). The 'best' natural posture,
power and rhythm, for all players, show up immediately with this
easy test. To develop your natural swing, you simply mentally rehearse,
reinforce and integrate desired swing images and feelings into
your current swing.
One successful way, taken from NLP (neuro linguistic programming)
to access powerfully effective positive emotions, states and feelings
(confidence, calmness, decisiveness, acceptance, concentration,
composure, determination, etc.) precisely when you need them, is
a technique called anchoring. Whilst not used in this session you
can also use to overcome negative feelings (frustration, anger,
fear, doubt, etc.) whenever you want. We used a simple form of
'knuckle anchoring' to strengthen his desired feelings, which Clive
will transfer to his physical set-up routine or address, to automatically
access desired feelings during play.
Overall Clive is making excellent progress with these important
foundation mental skills. Though to be effective they take discipline,
determination and effort to incorporate into regular mental practice,
physical practice and actual playing rounds.
Check out your visualisation skills
This brief quiz will check out your ability to visualise (see
pictures in your 'minds-eye') and at the same time help you improve
your skills. Get relaxed, then size up the situation quickly, complete
your visualisation, and then answer each question.
You are playing on your home course. You have hit an approach
shot landing the ball 10 feet in front of the fringe of the green.
You need to chip it towards the flag 40 feet away. Close your eyes
and see the complete shot in your 'minds-eye'?
Answer the following questions:
- Was the ball trajectory, bounce and run exactly as you imagined
it?
- Exactly, how many feet high, how many bounces, how many feet
did the ball run on, and in which direction?
- Describe exactly the condition of the green? Also how dry or
damp was it?
- From the same position with the same shot, imagine
that you made an almost perfect shot with the ball sliding
past the cup
to finish 2 feet on the low side. Can you see this clearly?
- You are now faced with an uphill putt which breaks about 3
inches left to right. Can you see this putt in your 'minds-eye'.
Scoring
Score one point for each complete and clear image for each question.
Score half-a-point for a part image, an unclear or fuzzy image.
Score zero points if you have no image at all. If your images
are clearer of poor shots, or what you are trying to avoid,
you probably have well-honed skills, to get what you don't want!
Half your score.
Research has shown that players who can create clearer and sharper
images, of what they want within their playing skill, have greater
shot making success. The sharper your images, the greater control
you have over your golfing mind. If you scored 3 or less, you will
find working on your desired 'inner-pictures' will pay big scoring
dividends.
Research has proven that golfers who concentrate on perfectly
executed fundamentals show marked improvement in their skills.
The visual
learning mechanism in your brain is activated and your muscles
store the memory of perfect motion. This 'perfect motion' is
naturally retrieved when you practice and when you play. This
unique, scientifically proven method is an important part of
the training regimes of world class athletes. Use it to improve
your performance.
Using scientifically prepared visual images to allow you to see,
understand, remember and perform the perfect shots that let you
recover from truly bad lies and dramatically lower your scores.
Slow motion sequences, close-ups and brief explanations of technique
help you improve from the very first viewing. Repeated viewings
will help you emulate the world class experts uncanny ability to
make shots, no matter what the lie. You'll enjoy a new found confidence
that will result in dramatically lower scores and improved handicap.
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #1
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #2
Golf Monthly - Team Agran - Article #3
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