Golf Accessories

Archive for July, 2009

So what is this golf mind and unconscious golf stuff that I’m always writing and talking about? And how does it actually work? These are questions I occasionally get asked by more sceptical golfers. Thankfully the vast majority of people I talk to either accept my explanations or trust me based on the results they’ve seen other people achieve.

Hypnosis tends to be experienced in many different ways with different [people and what works in one session with a client may not work as well, if at all, the following week. That means that golf psychologists and hypnotherapists have to be flexible in their approach to every client session. It also means that it’s difficult if not impossible to analyse and document hypnosis and hypnotic technique scientifically. For some people that means that hypnosis doesn’t exist and that it’s dangerous because it can’t be explained.

Now I’ve often explained the unconscious mind as the source of our autonomous or instinctive actions. I illustrate this with stories about how difficult it was to consciously learn to drive, tie your shoelaces or a bow or ride a bike and how at some point it just becomes an automatic process that we don’t have to think about.

Before starting on a long car journey, most drivers spend a little time planning their journey. They consider the merits of different routes, taking into consideration factors like road works, whether they prefer to drive on main roads, the impact of rush-hour traffic and many other factors including the weather. Once they start driving, most of these people drive safely while settling down to conscious pursuits like talking to their passengers, working out the personal and business problems in their mind or just daydreaming. Their unconscious mind keeps them safe and follows all the techniques and processes they learned years ago. How often have you drivers been on a long familiar journey and suddenly just seemed to “wake up” thinking, “How did I get here?” It can be quite worrying the first time it happens, but your unconscious mind has protected you along the way.

If a top golfer described a similar experience, we’d be inclined to think they were “in the zone” or, as Tony Jacklin famously referred to it after his major wins in the early 70s, in a “cocoon of concentration.” Years later, Nick Faldo talked about getting into a trance-like state, he called it a “cocoon”, during the week of a major. He went on to describe it as “a state of oblivion where I shut out all the people on and off the course.”

So, like the driver I described earlier consciously plans the journey in advance, the golfer consciously plans his shot taking into account all the information available, including his lie, how he’s playing today, the weather and wind conditions, the distance, the landing area and his chosen target. He completes his conscious preparation and then transitions to his unconscious mind by recalling a similar shot and vividly imagining the experience of hitting by stepping into his stance and trusting his unconscious mind to hit the ball. Put differently, the golfer is “in the zone” or in a “cocoon of concentration”, a trance-like state of oblivion. That sounds good to me!

So who made it to Sunningdale to watch the Senior Open Championship last weekend? I know that one of the latest subscribers to my newsletter did and he tells me that he and his wife really enjoyed it? For me it was well worth the visit, especially as it’s only 10 miles down the road from me the Old Course at Sunningdale is one of my favourite courses in the world – not that the New Course isn’t just as good.

There’s absolutely no doubt that this weekend and so many times before in majors Greg Norman, also known as “The Great White Shark”, has struck the ball brilliantly and enjoyed a great short game, it just seems that he’s missed out on the mental side of the game, especially in the closing holes. As far as I can recall, Greg has never worked with a golf psychologist and sadly it shows at times like these. If he had Tiger’s training and could use golf psychology and self hypnosis at these critical times, just imagine how many majors he would have won by now.

Coming back to the venue, Sir Michael Bonallack, one of the UK’s and possibly the world’s finest amateur golfers of all time and secretary of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews for 15 years, describes Sunningdale very aptly on the welcome page of the club’s website:

“All that one would hope to find in the ideal golf club is in abundance at Sunningdale. Two magnificently conditioned courses of superb design and so pleasing to the eye, a clubhouse which provides members and visitors with an unforgettable experience of pampered comfort, accompanied by exceptional food and wine, a staff that anticipates and provides for the members’ wishes, no matter how eccentric they may be, a first class professional’s shop and competent instruction on hand, the most knowledgeable caddies in the game and the finest halfway house I know.”

My first memory of playing at Sunningdale was in the early 1970s when I played in an event there run by The Plus Four Society an elite group of golfers sponsored by the Surrey Golf Union with membership restricted to handicaps of 4 and less under the old handicapping system. Thankfully, I can’t remember much about my rounds that day, but I do remember one of my fellow golfers playing both courses of the championship tees in 68 for a total of 136. It must have really felt like he was being cheated when his plus 2 handicap was added back to his score and he ended up with a net 140 for the handicap event. It certainly seemed so unfair to me, as someone playing off 2 handicap and desperately needing both my shots! Unlike today, there were very few players of plus 2 in those days. I was intrigued to see that same man playing in the Senior Open Championship there last week and still as an amateur.

I really enjoyed watching so many of my golfing heroes out there playing just as well as I remembered back in their heydays. People in their 50s and 60s playing that standard of golf is an inspiration to people like me of a similar age and, like last week at the Open, it reminded me that I really can’t use my age as an excuse for playing less golf.

I found it difficult to choose who to follow and who I really wanted to win and it came down to a choice of Greg Norman and Tom Watson. They are both players I admire and both have played remarkable golf in major championships in the last two years. I felt sorry that Tom again missed out after coming so close at the Open. However the person I really wanted to win was Greg Norman. Although Greg has won the Open twice before, I hadn’t realised how many times he had slipped up in the last round of majors. I remember of course his pushed long iron on the final hole of the Masters in 1986 when a par would have got him into the playoff and his turning a six shot lead in the last round there ten year’s later into a 5 shot defeat by Nick Faldo.

When I checked the records, it turned out that Greg had just had those two Open victories out of 23 majors where he finished in the top 6. In addition he came second in 8 of those majors and third in 4 more. So he clearly has a problem finishing off his rounds.

So what happened last weekend, well Greg was striking the ball awesomely well and his shots were going long and straight. Despite dropping a few shots, that you’d expect from a man who plays so little competitive golf, his short game was just amazing. He was probably playing as well as he did in all those top 6 finishes in majors. But when he got to the 16th on Sunday, needing one more birdie to tie the lead or two to win outright, he pushed his drive way right just like he had hit that long-iron back at the Masters in 1986. He made a miraculous recovery from deep in the trees and hit his third fairly close to the pin, he was out of it and three putted. He was still hitting the ball well on 17 and 18, but he was a defeated man.

Here’s wishing Greg Norman and all my other golfing heroes every success at the US Seniors Open this coming weekend.

Many novice golfers dont realise just how much work and technique actually goes into developing a proper golf swing . Watching the pro’s could lull you into a false sense of security Having a pro teach you can also just make it seem so simple. But watching it and listening about it, and actually managing to do it yourself are very much two different things!

A proper golf swing doesnt come overnight Many good golfers spend years developing their swing Keep in mind that the object is to get the ball into the hole at or under par for that hole?. The swing is one of the major factors in whether or not you break par Essentially , a proper golf swing determines the entire outcome of the game!

The good news is that there are lots of aids to help you develop a proper golf swing. You should always take advantage of the available technology to help you improve your game. There are guides that will focus on helping you keep your arms and wrists locked. Other guides will help you correct your stance, as well as your backswing, upswing, and even the force with which you hit the ball.

Remember that developing a proper golf swing takes a lot of time, practice and especially patience. If you are having problems, do not get frustrated and give up. Instead, keep persevering, and look for the solution you need to correct the swing problems you have. Eventually you will have developed a proper golf swing and you will be playing like a pro!

When you first start to leanr golf you often dont realise just how difficult it can be to develop a proper golf swing . Experienced golfers make it look so easy It even sounds quite straightforward when the techniques are explained to you. Most golfers will soon tell you though that its one thing to watch and listen and another thing to do!

A proper golf swing doesnt come overnight Many good golfers spend years developing their swing Keep in mind that the object is to get the ball into the hole at or under par for that hole?. The swing is one of the major factors in whether or not you break par Basically , a proper golf swing determines the entire outcome of the game!

Nowadays, however, its not always necessary, thanks to modern technology, to seek the assistance of a professional golf coach. There are many golf swing aids available to buy or to download. You should always take advantage of the available technology to help you improve your game. Guides are available that concentrate on certain aspects of your swing, while others are more general in nature.

Keep in mind hat in rder to develop a proper golf swing you will need to invest time as well as money. If you are having difficulties then simply heed the advice, try the routines, and keep going – success will come with the right amount of effort. In no time at all you will have developed a proper golf swing and you will be playing like a pro.

Say the word golf and more often than not, people would think of the word green. This is only understandable since the game is being played in an outdoor setting. The greenery of the golf course makes up the perfect picture of a playing field. When you compare golf to other sports, it stands out because they do not utilize a standard playing area. This means that unlike other famous ball games, the playing field varies when you move from one location to another. Their designs are unique, depending upon the preference of the land developer or course designer. Golf courses can either be composed of either 9 or 18 holes.

The players are more fondly called as golfer and they employ different kinds of clubs in trying to hit a ball into a hole. The goal is just like any other ball game, which is to make the ball enter the hole. This should be achieved using the lowest possible number of strokes. One can play by his lonesome or he can invite his peers for a team effort, depending on the situation.

A typical round of golf is played with the number of holes in a particular order. Most of the time, a round involves 18 holes. Now, if you are caught in a nine-hole course, you will be required to play two successive nine-hole rounds.

How does the game begin? Well, the golfer has to hit the ball from the teeing box, which is what the starting point is called. Then, he uses a drive, or a long distance shot across the fairway so that the ball can travel for a very long distance. When the ball comes to a stop, the golfer can choose from among a number of strokes for his follow up. It could be a lay-up, an approach or a green. When the golf ball approaches the nearest area near the hole, a putt is performed.

Do you think the whole process sounds uncomplicated? The answer may be a yes or a no, depending on the overall condition. The drawback is if you will encounter major obstacles like a rough, or areas of long grass, a bunker and the notorious water hazard. They are dreaded because they pose a very challenging time for any player. Then there is also the probability that a heavy wind and a short rain can interfere with your concentration. For professional players, they still have to consider the cheering and jeering of the crowd.

Golfers can choose between two options as they travel the course. They can either walk or drive in motorized carts. They can also play alone or enjoy the time with their friends and helpers. A typical helper is a caddy. Aside from accompanying the player, they also carry and manage the golfer’s equipment. Veteran caddies can even give insights to beginning players on how to improve their craft.

Golfers usually don a preppy cotton shirt paired with a pair of lightweight shorts. They include the ubiquitous sun visor as a protection. When the cold season arrives, they usually opt for a pair of slacks and thick jacket to keep them from feeling chilly. For those who foresee a light drizzle, a cap is brought along in preparation. The more health conscious ones bring a sturdy umbrella for better protection.

It is undeniable that golf can bring about many advantages. It is good for the health because one can derive a flexibility exercise from it. Cardiovascular workout is also expected if one walks in a brisk manner from one hole to another. Your respiratory system will also thank you for the fresh air that you have supplied it. Lastly, it can clear the mind because the greenery is an ideal spot for musing or meditation.