Golf Psychology: Case Study

[G_Mulligan]

Morning all

I have been approached by a new client who wants to greatly reduce his handicap. He has kindly allowed me to keep track of our sessions in the form of a case study. He will be adding his own thoughts along the way as to any problems he is having and how we overcome them. He will also be posting about his lessons with a new coach, his practice sessions, and his play on the course.

I thought it might be useful to anybody who is going through a similar quest themselves or perhaps to any golfers who are interested in the mental side of the game.

Below is the link to the blog section of my website with the details of our first session already posted. I will also start to add some hints and tips over the next few weeks and months.

http://www.thegolfpsychologist.co.uk/blog/

play well and enjoy your golf everybody

 

[19th hole]

I shall be following this with great interest.

 

[CMAC]

is it Homer?

 

[G_Mulligan]

is it Homer?

For the purposes of anonymity my clients assumed name is Norman. I can't divulge any other information except to confirm it definitely is NOT Homer...I would love to get my hands on him though

 

[Birchy]

Focus only 6 out of 10? He needs to revise that for sure imo.

 

[Andy]

NOT Homer...I would love to get my hands on him though

Rather you than me.

 

[bladeplayer]

For the purposes of anonymity my clients assumed name is Norman. I can't divulge any other information except to confirm it definitely is NOT Homer...I would love to get my hands on him though

Why not make it happen then , as you are a professional id say Martin would accept , people may think different things about him but he is trying best he can to get lower , in my book that can only be good..

Do the first bit by PM tho ,

 

[garyinderry]

it would be interesting to see his swing development too if that was possible. it may also help with his dislike of people watching him practice.

I think straight off the bat he isn't truthful with himself about him self assessment figures. clutch putting 7 and shot game 7! that is not figures of someone off 26. sorry. sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. he has already dropped his driver so he is not leaking too many shots that way. Even the 6 for mental toughness doesn't fit his description of himself on the course.

I wish him all the best, he has a lot of work to do but should be a lot fun trying to achieve his goals. that's what this game is all about.

I think he needs to acknowledge his weaknesses a little more as this game has a tendency to exploit these weaknesses if you ignore them.

 

[G_Mulligan]

Focus only 6 out of 10? He needs to revise that for sure imo.

I may be inclined to agree. He however feels focus can be overated at times and sometimes leads to him trying too hard and tensing up. He might be right or wrong which is something we can visit again later but for now we have chosen to work on his other problems.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

For the purposes of anonymity my clients assumed name is Norman. I can't divulge any other information except to confirm it definitely is NOT Homer...I would love to get my hands on him though

We've got a pairs comp next weekend, any chance you can fix him up before then

 

[Foxholer]

is it Homer?

Psychology is different to Psychiatry!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

For the purposes of anonymity my clients assumed name is Norman. I can't divulge any other information except to confirm it definitely is NOT Homer...I would love to get my hands on him though

Your wish is my command. Lets get it on.

 

[garyinderry]

i'm pretty sure I could get homer chipping like a champion in about an hour. homer if you are ever up north, give me a shout!

no mind stuff, just raw technique! :cheers:

 

[G_Mulligan]

Why not make it happen then , as you are a professional id say Martin would accept , people may think different things about him but he is trying best he can to get lower , in my book that can only be good..

Do the first bit by PM tho ,

I have made an offer of my services to Homer in the past. I will leave it to him to divulge any information regarding that.

 

[Rooter]

Your wish is my command. Lets get it on.

Fair play homer, you do get a hard time here, sometimes i do think you leave your self open to it, but reading up on the issues you have had recently with your game, club swapping etc, maybe a different or adapted mind set could be the trigger to greatness! obviously playing of 10,11 whatever you are now, you can hit a decent ball! its just that final tuning bit, and maybe that's the 6" between your ears!

Good luck to you!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Greg

I'd love to work with you on this. Can you PM me. I know we spoke before, but in between house moves, changing PC etc I've lost anything you might have sent. I think this could be an interesting exercise for both you and me

 

[G_Mulligan]

Ok Homer you got it.

 

[Birchy]

I may be inclined to agree. He however feels focus can be overated at times and sometimes leads to him trying too hard and tensing up. He might be right or wrong which is something we can visit again later but for now we have chosen to work on his other problems.

Its probably because the stuff he is focussing on is flimsy as he doesn't trust it yet. Once he improves himself and trusts his technique I reckon his focus figure might go up a bit and the importance of it.

Will be interested to see how this pans out anyway. Im a firm believer in psychology and reading a few books certainly helped to turn me around. I was a nightmare when I started playing, rollercoaster round every week :rofl:

 

[garyinderry]

Its probably because the stuff he is focussing on is flimsy as he doesn't trust it yet. Once he improves himself and trusts his technique I reckon his focus figure might go up a bit and the importance of it.

Will be interested to see how this pans out anyway. Im a firm believer in psychology and reading a few books certainly helped to turn me around. I was a nightmare when I started playing, rollercoaster round every week :rofl:

not only that, your swear jar is that bit emptier at the end of the round!

 

[the smiling assassin]

Norman the 26hcp golfer of 5 years:
“I want to play off single figures, My first goal is to get down to 18 and then down to 10 or less. I also want to win my club championship and the club matchplay. I want my name on the honours board”

If you succeed with this ambition, you are a Genie not very realistic of Norman...26 to 10 would not be out of the question though.