Dropping the ego

[garyinderry]

Absolutely humongous task getting hackers like us to reach a flow state. I am not even sure its possible to tell someone how to reach such a state of mind.

To get into this state when practising you really have to enjoy what you are doing. To fully immerse yourself and drop all your usual trains of thought I believe can happen but its not a switch that can just be turned on at will.

Nakamura and Csíkszentmihályi identify the following six factors as encompassing an experience of flow. [3]
1.intense and focused concentration on the present moment
2.merging of action and awareness
3.a loss of reflective self-consciousness
4.a sense of personal control or agency over the situation or activity
5.a distortion of temporal experience, one's subjective experience of time is altered
6.experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding, also referred to as autotelic experience

Those aspects can appear independently of each other, but only in combination do they constitute a so-called flow experience

Looking at these points id say I do sometimes end up in what is described as a flow experience. It only happens when I get the course to myself. Its one of the aspects of golf that I really enjoy. No matter what mood you are in you can go out and throw yourself into practice. Completely take your mind off normal life. I can get lost for hours chipping around the same green if no one shows up behind me. I can take 3hours to play 6holes as I become so engrossed in what I am doing. Hit multiple drives, a load of approaches then countless chips and pitches from various places until I move to the next hole. Only after a few hours do I actually realise how long I have been doing it and that I haven't even remotely thought about touching a cigarette in my pocket or anything other than what I am doing for that matter. I get extreme enjoyment from it, its not something I go out with the intention of doing, it just happens.


This behaviour ticks quite a few of those flow components. I think its just a natural state that comes around when you fully love what you are doing. Its the same for people who get lost in their own mind and removal from everyday distractions, be it golf, playing video games or reading a book!

Flow - Interesting reading none the less.

 

[TheClaw]

I have already given several examples as to how psychology can help you practice better and also take it to the course. How dropping the ego from golf can help play with more enjoyment and perform under pressure. Flow can be hugely beneficial to performance if you can open your mind to the concept. If you don't want to or fail to see the point, as I said before, go to it just get on playing the way you want. I am posting here to perhaps help those with similar problems that I have had to overcome them. Golfers who identify with some of the things I am saying but didn't know it was a problem or how to think differently.

I have seen many posts from people who have practiced and had lessons but failed to improve, golfers who say they hit it great on the range but can't take it to the course. Can play well for the front nine then it falls apart or start badly and only get it together when it is too late or not at all and leave the course angry and frustrated. If thats not you then great you don't need my help but perhaps others do.

Fair enough. I can't argue with any of that.

My post was reflective of my experiences. I am someone who 'over thinks' things (everything) or at least used to. With golf I'd have been the person going to the range before a medal, eating the right things for breakfast etc....but then playing like a tit. What has fixed that this year was a bit of a swing change (mainly a much shorter feeling swing).

You might have already thought of this but in case it's of any use with your clients:

I feel that I need less preparation because my swing is simpler and I have confidence.
Unorthodox/flawed swings that normally work are less likely to if you're nervous.
If you're hitting more good shots it not only takes pressure off the short game but it makes the short game more focussed- I found it hard to care about putting on days when I was hitting it all over the place.
If you have a good swing thought or two there's less space for negative thinking.
A change in expectation during a round will either take away or put pressure on you- a better swing will cope with either scenario better.

Just some of the psychological improvements that came from a swing change.

 

[chrisd]

At no point have I said 'mind control' can help overcome a swing fault or poor technique. I have basically said the exact same thing as you with regards to identifying weak points of the game and working to improve them but with the addition that a clearer mind set and developing a mastery not ego orientation can help in this process and avoid frustration and self doubt.

Lets say you have hit every drive of the day into the woods, you have had lessons and trying to implement the new grip, takeaway, transition, plane, or whatever it may be. You keep slicing or hooking, you get angry, frustrated and embarrassed each time it happens. You are tight and tense, sure that the next will go the same way as the last. What if you can stop all of that right there, relax, breath, remove the tension and the doubt. Accept that the changes have not come together yet but be patient that they will eventually. Just swing loose and free, stop trying to fix the swing on the course but swing with freedom and a clear quiet mind. Perhaps you still will hit into the woods but I guarantee the chances will be reduced and you will punish yourself less if you do.

Everything I have said has not been about focussing or worrying about mental side of things. It has been about removing certain negative aspects, approaching golf with a new way of thinking and tackling the problems in your game with a clear mind and a diligent focus and patience which will carry over onto the course in time.

I think that in many ways we are singing from the same hymn sheet - but - if I were advising a high handicapper who was struggling I would be more likely to assure him that money spent on good coaching and good practice will be far more beneficial than learning how to control his anger, frustration and embarrassment which should disappear (or reduce) as his play improves.

But I do stress that the techniques that you mention are important and IMO particularly suited to a better golfer

 

[G_Mulligan]

Absolutely humongous task getting hackers like us to reach a flow state. I am not even sure its possible to tell someone how to reach such a state of mind.

To get into this state when practising you really have to enjoy what you are doing. To fully immerse yourself and drop all your usual trains of thought I believe can happen but its not a switch that can just be turned on at will.

Nakamura and Csíkszentmihályi identify the following six factors as encompassing an experience of flow. [3]
1.intense and focused concentration on the present moment
2.merging of action and awareness
3.a loss of reflective self-consciousness
4.a sense of personal control or agency over the situation or activity
5.a distortion of temporal experience, one's subjective experience of time is altered
6.experience of the activity as intrinsically rewarding, also referred to as autotelic experience

Those aspects can appear independently of each other, but only in combination do they constitute a so-called flow experience

Looking at these points id say I do sometimes end up in what is described as a flow experience. It only happens when I get the course to myself. Its one of the aspects of golf that I really enjoy. No matter what mood you are in you can go out and throw yourself into practice. Completely take your mind off normal life. I can get lost for hours chipping around the same green if no one shows up behind me. I can take 3hours to play 6holes as I become so engrossed in what I am doing. Hit multiple drives, a load of approaches then countless chips and pitches from various places until I move to the next hole. Only after a few hours do I actually realise how long I have been doing it and that I haven't even remotely thought about touching a cigarette in my pocket or anything other than what I am doing for that matter. I get extreme enjoyment from it, its not something I go out with the intention of doing, it just happens.


This behaviour ticks quite a few of those flow components. I think its just a natural state that comes around when you fully love what you are doing. Its the same for people who get lost in their own mind and removal from everyday distractions, be it golf, playing video games or reading a book!

Flow - Interesting reading none the less.

No there is no switch and certainly no way of telling someone how to get into flow on any given day. What you can do is several things that done properly over time and integrated into practice and daily life can increase the chances of getting into a flow state. One of which is dropping the ego if it is having a negative effect which has been discussed in depth already. Confidence as usual is also key as is self talk and imagery. Time management is another, also patience and gratitude.

Possibly the most important aspect of flow is the challenge skill balance, while the above was outlined by Csíkszentmihályi around 30 years ago now, like most things it has been tested and refined over time. Those are all aspects of flow but not all have to happen to be in a flow state some are harder than others to achieve and some like the distortion of time may never be experienced.

Practice as you have experienced is one of the best ways of getting into a flow state but that can be transferred to the course if you work at it and do the right things then have patience and allow it to happen. It may not be a whole round but it is very much possible. You can't think your way into a flow state but you can definitely think yourself out of one.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

And you honestly think lessons, practice, lessons, practice and yet more lessons and practice are the way to do this????
I can be sailing along having a great game and then suddenly come to a hole that I totally cock up.
I walk off of it cursing myself for playing it like a prat but the thought of having a lesson to sort it out doesn't even enter my head.

When did I mention a thinking "I need a lesson" in the middle of a round? I need to cut out the silly errors. World of difference

 

[Smiffy]

When did I mention a thinking "I need a lesson" in the middle of a round?

When did I????
Read it again.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

When did I????
Read it again.

I assume you mean this.. More lessons beckon to refine the technique a little further and onwards and upwards. Nothing mentioned about thinking about it in the middle of a round. Either way I don't really care.