|
Golf is arguably a simple game. What
could be more straightforward than knocking a ball around a big open
area we call a golf course? But you forget one thing - the game is
played by humans.
Learning to hit the ball with some
consistency is most certainly a challenge. A huge industry has
emerged around the mechanics of a golf swing. But even if you manage
to develop a reliable technique, either as a social golfer or a
serious competitor, there is one unreliable variable you will have
to contend with every time you play - your attitude.
Every moment of the day the brain is
processing information. Whilst it controls every bodily function, it
also determines how you act in response to internal and external
stimuli both physically, but more importantly, emotionally.
Your emotions play a huge part in
determining how your body responds to given situations. From
depression or anxiety causing loss of appetite and weight loss, to
restlessness when bored or hyperactivity when exited, you are
relentlessly affected by your state of mind.
This is why golf is such an intriguing
game. Your general attitude to life will be a determining factor of
how well you approach the sport, but ever changing circumstances
will alter your mood in more subtle ways - often stroke by stroke.
To achieve consistency or excellence it is vital you understand what
might be happening to you and learn how to stay in control, rather
than allowing circumstances to control you.
Psychology in golf seeks to explain
and offer solutions to the inevitable rollercoaster of puzzling good
and bad performances every golfer will experience.
|
