Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Most Crucial 90 Seconds in Golf
A round of golf takes 4 hours to play but the number on your scorecard is determined in just a matter of minutes. Did you know that most pre-shot routines are 45 seconds long and the actually golf swing takes just over a second? Since physical performance accounts for only 90 seconds of the entire round, the rest of the round consists of mental and emotional management. Your ability to concentrate your mind inside your performance zone and manage your emotions during the round is as much a determiner of success as executing your swing. While it is next to impossible to possess absolute focus over the course of a 4 hour round, it is possible to train your mind to have intense, unbreakable focus during these crucial minute long intervals on the course.
Regardless of the skill level, every golfer deals with the same mental obstacles throughout the round. The only difference is the scratch golfer has learned how to concentrate their focus on more shots than the 20 handicap. Simple lapses in concentration result in wasted shots and higher scores. Examples of concentration lapses include: rushed pre-shot routines, talking to friends while in the performance zone, getting distracted by noises or other people, and worrying about shots you already hit. There are so many examples of how we let our mind’s wander during those critical 60 seconds that a book could be written on the subject. That is why having the ability to tune out all distractions for 1 minute is so crucial because just one lapse in concentration during a round can be just enough to let the win slip through your fingers.
So if you are ready to put an end to those lapses in concentration and wasted shots then the mental exercise you are about to read is perfect for you. This mental exercise only takes 2-3 minutes and can benefit golfers of every skill level. The results of this exercise are cumulative in nature so the more you practice this technique the better results your will get. Since your results will consistently improve with practice, this exercise should be practiced on a daily basis to get the maximum benefits on the course.
First, this exercise will train your mind to create more intense and unbreakable focus during your pre-shot routine and golf shot. This exercise trains your mind to block out all distractions and focus completely during your shot. Over time you will actually be able to use the distractions around you to heighten your level of focus during your shot. Learning to focus in this way is guaranteed to help you produce better results and lower scores.
Second, this exercise will help you improve your ability to execute your swing and strike the ball better on the course. Annie Plessinger of Vanderbilt University Psychology Department said “Many sports such as golf, tennis, and skating, not only require physical skills, but a strong mental game as well. Most coaches preach the line that sports are 90% mental and only 10% physical. Although it is not as beneficial as physical practice, visual imagery fairs better than no practice at all. Hence, a program with physical practice combined with mental training seems to be the best method. Virtually all studies show that mental training improves motor skills. Whether you are a recreational athlete or a professional does not matter. The benefits of mental imagery have proved successful at any level. So if you are a professional looking to break into the top, or a club player who simply wishes to defeat his/her friend, I recommend incorporating mental imagery along with physical practice. Not only can mental imagery improve specific motor skills but it also seems to enhance motivation, mental toughness, and confidence, all which will help elevate your level of play1.” This exercise incorporates the mental rehearsal of your perfect swing which will help you to execute your real one better on the course. By utilizing an exercise like this, you don’t always need a driving range to improve your game. You can make improvements simply by relaxing at home or any other time you have a few free minutes.
Third, this exercise will teach you how to rapidly relax your mind and body in a very short period of time. Practicing this drill will give you another competitive advantage over your opponent because you will have the ability to relax and stay loose any time you wish. This is an incredible skill for all golfers to possess because physical relaxation is essential to executing your best swing. I once heard that relaxation is the key to fix any golf swing because tension will dramatically affect the movements of the body. The exercise as described below is designed to take 2-3 minutes, however once mastered this exercise can be shorten and used on the course to achieve rapid relaxation.
Finally, this exercise provides many great benefits off the golf course as well. You will notice that this exercise will help you release daily stress, help you to sleep better at night, stay more focused at work, and increase your overall health and wellness.
The Peak Focus Mental Training Technique
Step 1: Find a quiet place where you can sit back and relax for 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Begin the process of physical relaxation by taking a few slow deep breaths. Having studied stress reduction breathing techniques for years, I believe the easiest way to relax through deep breathing is by following what I call the 4x4 method. This simply means that you will breathe in, hold your breath, exhale the breath, and pause between breaths all to a count of four. Mastering this technique by itself can serve to be a valuable asset on the course for all golfers. It will help you control emotions, relax your body, and refocus your mind after a poor shot.
Step 3: After doing the 4x4 method for a few moments, close your eyes to block out distractions and let your body relax. With your eyes closed, begin to imagine as vividly as possible being all alone at your favorite golf course. Give your imagination the freedom to be child-like again and really make this experience as close to real life as possible. An easy way to tap into your imagination is by doing your best to incorporate as many senses as you can into the experience. Can you clearly visualize the course? What do you clothes look like? Is it a sunny day? Are you able to feel the sun on your skin or a cool breeze cooling the air? Can you feel the grip of your club or the ground beneath your feet? What things do you hear? Are the birds chirping? How does your swing sound? Can you smell the fresh cut grass? Every time you do this exercise, challenge your imagination to make it more vivid, detailed, and life like.
Step 4: Imagine that you are standing on the tee box and there is a bucket of brand new golf balls with the numbers 25-1 on them. As vividly as you can, imagine picking up the golf ball numbered 25 and tee it up. Next, visualize yourself executing your perfect swing and striking the ball right on the sweet spot. As you complete your swing and watch the ball get launched down the fairway, allow your mental and physical relaxation to increase. When you are ready, imagine picking up the ball numbered 24 and repeat the same process. Experience as real as you can, swinging your club perfectly and hitting another beautiful golf shot. Again, as the ball is catapulted down the fairway, double your mental and physical relaxation. Continue this process until you have successfully hit all 25 golf balls perfectly in your mind and have progressively doubled your level of relaxation.
Step 5: After mentally hitting all 25 golf balls, you will find yourself in a state of deep relaxation and will have a few options on how to end the experience. First, you can simply sit back and enjoy the deep relaxation you have created. If you have been stressed out at work or home then you will really enjoy this. The second option is to utilize this time of mental receptivity to give yourself positive suggestions and affirmations about your golf game. You might want to repeat a mantra like, “I perform without conscious effort” or “Everyday my golf game is improving.” In this relaxed state your mind will readily receive your suggestions so make sure your thoughts are positive. The final option is to take a few deep breaths to re-energize the body and simply open your eyes feeling refreshed and revitalized.
I know at first glance, this may seem like a very simple exercise however it can be much harder when it’s put into practice. Many will find their mind’s wandering around after just a few golf balls. If you find your mind wandering around during the exercise, the moment you do immediately go back to your mental course and pick up where you left off. Do this as much as necessary until you hit all 25 golf balls. Always be sure to finish the exercise even if it takes long than expected. The ultimate goal is to complete the entire exercise with absolute focus and concentration on every golf ball from 25 all the way down to 1. Once you have mastered this exercise and can do it without varying from the task in any way, begin to challenge yourself by learning how to do it with loud music playing or in a noisy environment all while maintaining total focus on the drill.
I believe in life simple things can most often be the most profound and this technique is one of those things. This technique works and will improve your performance on the course only if you put it into consistent practice. The beauty of this technique is you can enhance your game at anytime and anywhere.
Regardless of the skill level, every golfer deals with the same mental obstacles throughout the round. The only difference is the scratch golfer has learned how to concentrate their focus on more shots than the 20 handicap. Simple lapses in concentration result in wasted shots and higher scores. Examples of concentration lapses include: rushed pre-shot routines, talking to friends while in the performance zone, getting distracted by noises or other people, and worrying about shots you already hit. There are so many examples of how we let our mind’s wander during those critical 60 seconds that a book could be written on the subject. That is why having the ability to tune out all distractions for 1 minute is so crucial because just one lapse in concentration during a round can be just enough to let the win slip through your fingers.
So if you are ready to put an end to those lapses in concentration and wasted shots then the mental exercise you are about to read is perfect for you. This mental exercise only takes 2-3 minutes and can benefit golfers of every skill level. The results of this exercise are cumulative in nature so the more you practice this technique the better results your will get. Since your results will consistently improve with practice, this exercise should be practiced on a daily basis to get the maximum benefits on the course.
First, this exercise will train your mind to create more intense and unbreakable focus during your pre-shot routine and golf shot. This exercise trains your mind to block out all distractions and focus completely during your shot. Over time you will actually be able to use the distractions around you to heighten your level of focus during your shot. Learning to focus in this way is guaranteed to help you produce better results and lower scores.
Second, this exercise will help you improve your ability to execute your swing and strike the ball better on the course. Annie Plessinger of Vanderbilt University Psychology Department said “Many sports such as golf, tennis, and skating, not only require physical skills, but a strong mental game as well. Most coaches preach the line that sports are 90% mental and only 10% physical. Although it is not as beneficial as physical practice, visual imagery fairs better than no practice at all. Hence, a program with physical practice combined with mental training seems to be the best method. Virtually all studies show that mental training improves motor skills. Whether you are a recreational athlete or a professional does not matter. The benefits of mental imagery have proved successful at any level. So if you are a professional looking to break into the top, or a club player who simply wishes to defeat his/her friend, I recommend incorporating mental imagery along with physical practice. Not only can mental imagery improve specific motor skills but it also seems to enhance motivation, mental toughness, and confidence, all which will help elevate your level of play1.” This exercise incorporates the mental rehearsal of your perfect swing which will help you to execute your real one better on the course. By utilizing an exercise like this, you don’t always need a driving range to improve your game. You can make improvements simply by relaxing at home or any other time you have a few free minutes.
Third, this exercise will teach you how to rapidly relax your mind and body in a very short period of time. Practicing this drill will give you another competitive advantage over your opponent because you will have the ability to relax and stay loose any time you wish. This is an incredible skill for all golfers to possess because physical relaxation is essential to executing your best swing. I once heard that relaxation is the key to fix any golf swing because tension will dramatically affect the movements of the body. The exercise as described below is designed to take 2-3 minutes, however once mastered this exercise can be shorten and used on the course to achieve rapid relaxation.
Finally, this exercise provides many great benefits off the golf course as well. You will notice that this exercise will help you release daily stress, help you to sleep better at night, stay more focused at work, and increase your overall health and wellness.
The Peak Focus Mental Training Technique
Step 1: Find a quiet place where you can sit back and relax for 2-3 minutes.
Step 2: Begin the process of physical relaxation by taking a few slow deep breaths. Having studied stress reduction breathing techniques for years, I believe the easiest way to relax through deep breathing is by following what I call the 4x4 method. This simply means that you will breathe in, hold your breath, exhale the breath, and pause between breaths all to a count of four. Mastering this technique by itself can serve to be a valuable asset on the course for all golfers. It will help you control emotions, relax your body, and refocus your mind after a poor shot.
Step 3: After doing the 4x4 method for a few moments, close your eyes to block out distractions and let your body relax. With your eyes closed, begin to imagine as vividly as possible being all alone at your favorite golf course. Give your imagination the freedom to be child-like again and really make this experience as close to real life as possible. An easy way to tap into your imagination is by doing your best to incorporate as many senses as you can into the experience. Can you clearly visualize the course? What do you clothes look like? Is it a sunny day? Are you able to feel the sun on your skin or a cool breeze cooling the air? Can you feel the grip of your club or the ground beneath your feet? What things do you hear? Are the birds chirping? How does your swing sound? Can you smell the fresh cut grass? Every time you do this exercise, challenge your imagination to make it more vivid, detailed, and life like.
Step 4: Imagine that you are standing on the tee box and there is a bucket of brand new golf balls with the numbers 25-1 on them. As vividly as you can, imagine picking up the golf ball numbered 25 and tee it up. Next, visualize yourself executing your perfect swing and striking the ball right on the sweet spot. As you complete your swing and watch the ball get launched down the fairway, allow your mental and physical relaxation to increase. When you are ready, imagine picking up the ball numbered 24 and repeat the same process. Experience as real as you can, swinging your club perfectly and hitting another beautiful golf shot. Again, as the ball is catapulted down the fairway, double your mental and physical relaxation. Continue this process until you have successfully hit all 25 golf balls perfectly in your mind and have progressively doubled your level of relaxation.
Step 5: After mentally hitting all 25 golf balls, you will find yourself in a state of deep relaxation and will have a few options on how to end the experience. First, you can simply sit back and enjoy the deep relaxation you have created. If you have been stressed out at work or home then you will really enjoy this. The second option is to utilize this time of mental receptivity to give yourself positive suggestions and affirmations about your golf game. You might want to repeat a mantra like, “I perform without conscious effort” or “Everyday my golf game is improving.” In this relaxed state your mind will readily receive your suggestions so make sure your thoughts are positive. The final option is to take a few deep breaths to re-energize the body and simply open your eyes feeling refreshed and revitalized.
I know at first glance, this may seem like a very simple exercise however it can be much harder when it’s put into practice. Many will find their mind’s wandering around after just a few golf balls. If you find your mind wandering around during the exercise, the moment you do immediately go back to your mental course and pick up where you left off. Do this as much as necessary until you hit all 25 golf balls. Always be sure to finish the exercise even if it takes long than expected. The ultimate goal is to complete the entire exercise with absolute focus and concentration on every golf ball from 25 all the way down to 1. Once you have mastered this exercise and can do it without varying from the task in any way, begin to challenge yourself by learning how to do it with loud music playing or in a noisy environment all while maintaining total focus on the drill.
I believe in life simple things can most often be the most profound and this technique is one of those things. This technique works and will improve your performance on the course only if you put it into consistent practice. The beauty of this technique is you can enhance your game at anytime and anywhere.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Putt in a happy place; Golfers use hypnosis to break bad habits
Putt in a happy place
Golfers use hypnosis to break bad habits
BY PAUL A. SPECHT, staff writer
CARY - Richard Skinner has been golfing for more than 50 years.
To this day, he'll do anything to improve his game.
He has fancy clubs that are supposed to improve accuracy.
He has spent hours at the driving range or on the practice green.
And he obeys superstition: Never use a "water ball" because it encourages bad habits and possesses bad luck.
Despite all this, he can't putt consistently.
So on July 15, the White Lake resident drove 100 miles to Cary for a lesson. "If you don't try to get better you're wasting your time," said Skinner, 66, who plays golf at least once a week.
But during his four-hour stay at Prestonwood Country Club, Skinner never touched a club. And his instructor wasn't even a golf pro.
Instead, Skinner entrusted his technique with John Weir, a certified hypnotist who helps golfers shave strokes off their game.
People have long turned to hypnotists for help with overcoming some of life's toughest obstacles, such as weight loss and smoking cessation.
So it makes sense that more hypnotists are catering to those who subscribe to the tired, but true, cliché: Golf is played in the space between one's ears.
"Athletes perform best in a relaxed state," said Dorothy Taylor, a Cary hypnotist who helped organize the event at Prestonwood.
Golf hypnosis, while not exactly new, has enjoyed solid growth in recent years as more athletes discover the link between mental and physical discipline, said Dwight Damon, co-founder of the National Guild of Hypnotists in Merrimack, N.H.
"Only in the last 20-or-so years have we become aware of the mind-body relationship," he said.
The awareness has come as hypnosis in general has become a more accepted treatment. The cartoon misconceptions of swinging watches are fading, Damon says.
"It's being picked up at hospitals more and more," he said, adding that guild membership has grown 70 percent to 12,000 in 70 countries during in the past six years.
In a banquet room at Prestonwood, Weir walked confidently between tables populated with 10 serious golfers who had paid $75 for his three-hour seminar. They listened intently as he talked about the human psyche and the origins of frustration.
"Relaxation is the key to fixing your golf swing," Weir said between PowerPoint slides that featured images of golfers and the human brain.
A person's habits, he said, are a reflection of the golfer's self-image and that self-inflicted pressure can hinder a player's confidence, performance and enjoyment.
Whether a golfer becomes tense before putting for birdie or pulls out a "water ball" before attempting a shot over a pond, negative thoughts undoubtedly change the course of one's game. "It can become a case of the mind not getting out of the way of the body," said Weir, who wore a gray suit and power tie.
To break bad habits, Weir encouraged participants to breathe deeply, relax their muscles and imagine the best shot they ever hit.
"Think about that shot. ... What did it feel like?" Weir said calmly to the participants, whose eyes were closed in the dim room. "Visualize that swing."
Weir told them to play it over - again and again - in their minds. The goal, he said, was to bypass the self-critical thoughts and establish acceptable, positive, selective thinking in the subconscious mind.
Poor mental mechanics are what brought Roxanne Hicklin to Weir's seminar.
The Raleigh resident won the Ladies Club Championship at Prestonwood in 2008. But she still struggles with negative thoughts while standing over short putts.
"I'm more likely to make a 20-foot putt than a 5-foot putt because there's not as much pressure," she said.
Hicklin said it got to the point where she didn't expect to make the short putts anymore because she became tense while trying not to miss.
"The lessons hadn't done any good for me," she said.
Which is why she turned to Weir.
"I'm not desperate," she said. "This is just something I haven't tried. So, why not?"
On Thursday, she took to the green for some putting practice at Wildwood Green Golf Club in Raleigh.
She read the breaks, gripped her club, lined up the putt, took her time and swung smoothly.
She sunk the 15-footer.
aspecht@nando.com or 919-460-2600
Cary News
Reposted by:
John Weir is an award winning Board Certified Hypnotist, golf improvement specialist, and creator of the Mental Caddie. To improve your golf game using hypnosis visit www.hypnosisaudiomall.com and get your Mental Caddie program today.
Golfers use hypnosis to break bad habits
BY PAUL A. SPECHT, staff writer
CARY - Richard Skinner has been golfing for more than 50 years.
To this day, he'll do anything to improve his game.
He has fancy clubs that are supposed to improve accuracy.
He has spent hours at the driving range or on the practice green.
And he obeys superstition: Never use a "water ball" because it encourages bad habits and possesses bad luck.
Despite all this, he can't putt consistently.
So on July 15, the White Lake resident drove 100 miles to Cary for a lesson. "If you don't try to get better you're wasting your time," said Skinner, 66, who plays golf at least once a week.
But during his four-hour stay at Prestonwood Country Club, Skinner never touched a club. And his instructor wasn't even a golf pro.
Instead, Skinner entrusted his technique with John Weir, a certified hypnotist who helps golfers shave strokes off their game.
People have long turned to hypnotists for help with overcoming some of life's toughest obstacles, such as weight loss and smoking cessation.
So it makes sense that more hypnotists are catering to those who subscribe to the tired, but true, cliché: Golf is played in the space between one's ears.
"Athletes perform best in a relaxed state," said Dorothy Taylor, a Cary hypnotist who helped organize the event at Prestonwood.
Golf hypnosis, while not exactly new, has enjoyed solid growth in recent years as more athletes discover the link between mental and physical discipline, said Dwight Damon, co-founder of the National Guild of Hypnotists in Merrimack, N.H.
"Only in the last 20-or-so years have we become aware of the mind-body relationship," he said.
The awareness has come as hypnosis in general has become a more accepted treatment. The cartoon misconceptions of swinging watches are fading, Damon says.
"It's being picked up at hospitals more and more," he said, adding that guild membership has grown 70 percent to 12,000 in 70 countries during in the past six years.
In a banquet room at Prestonwood, Weir walked confidently between tables populated with 10 serious golfers who had paid $75 for his three-hour seminar. They listened intently as he talked about the human psyche and the origins of frustration.
"Relaxation is the key to fixing your golf swing," Weir said between PowerPoint slides that featured images of golfers and the human brain.
A person's habits, he said, are a reflection of the golfer's self-image and that self-inflicted pressure can hinder a player's confidence, performance and enjoyment.
Whether a golfer becomes tense before putting for birdie or pulls out a "water ball" before attempting a shot over a pond, negative thoughts undoubtedly change the course of one's game. "It can become a case of the mind not getting out of the way of the body," said Weir, who wore a gray suit and power tie.
To break bad habits, Weir encouraged participants to breathe deeply, relax their muscles and imagine the best shot they ever hit.
"Think about that shot. ... What did it feel like?" Weir said calmly to the participants, whose eyes were closed in the dim room. "Visualize that swing."
Weir told them to play it over - again and again - in their minds. The goal, he said, was to bypass the self-critical thoughts and establish acceptable, positive, selective thinking in the subconscious mind.
Poor mental mechanics are what brought Roxanne Hicklin to Weir's seminar.
The Raleigh resident won the Ladies Club Championship at Prestonwood in 2008. But she still struggles with negative thoughts while standing over short putts.
"I'm more likely to make a 20-foot putt than a 5-foot putt because there's not as much pressure," she said.
Hicklin said it got to the point where she didn't expect to make the short putts anymore because she became tense while trying not to miss.
"The lessons hadn't done any good for me," she said.
Which is why she turned to Weir.
"I'm not desperate," she said. "This is just something I haven't tried. So, why not?"
On Thursday, she took to the green for some putting practice at Wildwood Green Golf Club in Raleigh.
She read the breaks, gripped her club, lined up the putt, took her time and swung smoothly.
She sunk the 15-footer.
aspecht@nando.com or 919-460-2600
Cary News
Reposted by:
John Weir is an award winning Board Certified Hypnotist, golf improvement specialist, and creator of the Mental Caddie. To improve your golf game using hypnosis visit www.hypnosisaudiomall.com and get your Mental Caddie program today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
