Golf Psychology

[G_Mulligan]

Hi Everybody

I am setting up my business as a golf psychologist and need your opinions on a few things for market research.

Have you or would you consider a golf psychologist?

How much would you expect to pay for an hour long session?

How often do you take golf lessons and how much do they cost?

Do you change clubs to help fix a problem such as slice or yips?


Hope you guys don't mind helping me out.

Thanks

 

[JustOne]

Interesting. What have you won?

 

[G_Mulligan]

Interesting. What have you won?

what do you mean?

 

[chrisd]

I love golf psychology. I have read a fair few books on the subject. I havnt paid for any one to one but the books all pretty much give the same messages

 

[Foxholer]

I know a guy who had quite a few appropriate qualifications for Sports Psychology who was never able to get that sort of business established. The British establishments seem just too conservative to have a separate bod doing this sort of coaching. and players are a bit flaky too. A European Tour Pro was keen when he wasn't having the success his play deserved, but a win the week before the sessions were going to start meant he cancelled them!

And shouldn't you do Market Research before setting up the business?

Sorry if this seems a bit negative.

Good Luck though!

 

[G_Mulligan]

Yeah that is a problem with the books, I have read most going obviously and the majority of the time they boil down to confidence. Obviously this is very important but not the only thing that can cause or cure problems.

 

[JustOne]

what do you mean?

I mean how can you help someone if you don't know what it's like to be coming down the stretch with the scent of victory wafting up your nostrils? Books?

 

[tsped83]

Hi Everybody

I am setting up my business as a golf psychologist and need your opinions on a few things for market research.

Have you or would you consider a golf psychologist?

How much would you expect to pay for an hour long session?

How often do you take golf lessons and how much do they cost?

Do you change clubs to help fix a problem such as slice or yips?


Hope you guys don't mind helping me out.

Thanks

I'm interested in golf psychology, but what would a session entail? I could become a client, living in Leeds!

 

[G_Mulligan]

I mean how can you help someone if you don't know what it's like to be coming down the stretch with the scent of victory wafting up your nostrils? Books?

I assume from the tone of your message you mean professional tournaments, ryder cups, or majors? I have won nothing in that respect, nothing whatsover, never been in a position to, never been even 1% close to being good enough to get into that position.

I take it you are not a fan of golf psychology or sport psychologists in general.

 

[G_Mulligan]

I'm interested in golf psychology, but what would a session entail? I could become a client, living in Leeds!

the first session usually takes 1-2 hours and is a discussion about you your game, what you want to achieve, and the problems you have been having. This gives me enough information to come up with interventions, drills, techniques etc to help you overcome these problems. This would usually take place during one hour sessions every 2-3 weeks with follow up emails, calls, texts, skype to make sure they are working and if not to make changes and try again.

The way I work is very much client led and based on individual problems so the sessions are also built around the individual, what works for one may not work for another so we work together to come up with the best way to improve your golf.

Hope that helps if you need any more information my website is not finished just yet but feel free to PM me and I will answer any other questions you may have.

 

[percy_layer]

Good luck with your business venture.

I would recommend linking up with some local coaches, either having them refer clients to you and/or offering joint coaching packages that involve both yourself and another coach.

 

[G_Mulligan]

Good luck with your business venture.

I would recommend linking up with some local coaches, either having them refer clients to you and/or offering joint coaching packages that involve both yourself and another coach.

thank you I have been speaking to a couple of coaches and in fact my first client was recomended to me by his coach. I think some sort of oficial partnership would work very well in the future and is something I will discuss with him.

 

[JustOne]

I assume from the tone of your message you mean professional tournaments, ryder cups, or majors? I have won nothing in that respect, nothing whatsover, never been in a position to, never been even 1% close to being good enough to get into that position.

I take it you are not a fan of golf psychology or sport psychologists in general.

More along the lines of if Butch Harmon was telling me how to stay in the moment and understand that I wouldn't be there if I wasn't already good enough then it's more than my mate Brian who plays off 14 telling me. Rather like when I post some swing advice here I can get knocked because 'only Bob is qualified' to give advice. I think golf (in particular) is a tricky one, if someone comes to you saying they always slice the ball when they get nervous then surely some understanding of what causes the slice is important so that you can determine the physical reactions they are experiencing along with the mental ones. As another example can you 'mentally' talk someone out of shanking the ball if you don't know what they are doing wrong or even what causes the shanks? (Not knocking you BTW, I find it a fascinating subject as I like 'getting into people's heads') :thup:

 

[chrisd]

Our club had a short marketing presentation by someone doing golf psychology in the Kent area. He talked about most of the stuff I'd read.

The problem is relating the clients need in respect of his mental needs and how changes might be needed to his swing. You do need a good knowledge of golf teaching to successfully combine the two. I don't see any point in talking about positive thinking to someone who can't grip the club in a way that he could play a decent shot!

 

[DappaDonDave]

1. No
2. I wouldn't pay a penny. But £40 if I was to stick a finger into the wind
3. Never, so free
4. No, I research what I'm doing wrong, and fix it with practice

Without sounding harsh, don't bother starting up a business in golf psychology.

 

[CMAC]

instinctivegolf.co.uk deals with the mental aspect of the game quite successfully I believe, don't think they have won any 'biggies' but they are pro's.

I'm involved with a Psychology company and they have evidence to support what they say based on years of research gleaned publicly and privately, plus real scenarios. It's all evidence based and led but they haven't actually been in all the scenarios they can help with. I suspect the OP is in a similar position. Psychology is a fascinating subject, we all have traits and we can all be categorised and behave in a predictable way, this predictable way can be changed.

 

[garyinderry]

Have you or would you consider a golf psychologist?

I havnt. I cant say I ever will either. Ive only paid £20 so far in my life in actual technique lessons so the mental side will have to wait.

How much would you expect to pay for an hour long session?

£40 - this is the going rate for golf lessons

How often do you take golf lessons and how much do they cost?

once, ever. £20 is the going rate.

Do you change clubs to help fix a problem such as slice or yips?

I have done in the past when I was a little younger. I soon found out I could slice "draw" weighted clubs just as easy as regular clubs. its all in the swing.



in all honesty, Im in the " I wouldn't bother" camp. I just cant see it working. most golfers play for fun. our lives are not on the line.

when we make mistakes its 99% technique. the mental doubts appear in our minds when we doubt our ability to do something.

 

[Sweep]

Wow, the forum can be brutal sometimes. Give the guy a break! Personally I applaud anyone who is willing to get off his backside and have a go.
Psychology should not be confused with technique. They are two very different things. For example, I had a major problem getting down when I had hit a couple of bad shots. I got very frustrated, which of course lead to more bad shots. I would curse every bad bounce that I would see as bad luck and by the end of the round I was ready to quit. A guy I know who studied psychology explained to me that it was all part of the game, that by stepping out on the first tee, I was kind of signing a deal with the game that I would accept all the bad bounces - and the good ones. By the time he had finished I saw everything in a different light and not only did I play my way out of a slump, I enjoyed it more. And not one mention of grip or swing plane. I have to say, in one session I learned a lot and it can make a difference.
And if you are looking for a major winner to teach you how to hold it together under pressure, good luck. I don't know any that have set themselves up as psychologists. Guess they are too busy playing the seniors tour or flying their private planes. I don't recall Leadbetter winning much either. But I'd take a golf lesson from him.
Good luck with your venture. I hope it works for you.

 

[DappaDonDave]

Wow, the forum can be brutal sometimes. Give the guy a break! Personally I applaud anyone who is willing to get off his backside and have a go.
Psychology should not be confused with technique. They are two very different things. For example, I had a major problem getting down when I had hit a couple of bad shots. I got very frustrated, which of course lead to more bad shots. I would curse every bad bounce that I would see as bad luck and by the end of the round I was ready to quit. A guy I know who studied psychology explained to me that it was all part of the game, that by stepping out on the first tee, I was kind of signing a deal with the game that I would accept all the bad bounces - and the good ones. By the time he had finished I saw everything in a different light and not only did I play my way out of a slump, I enjoyed it more. And not one mention of grip or swing plane. I have to say, in one session I learned a lot and it can make a difference.
And if you are looking for a major winner to teach you how to hold it together under pressure, good luck. I don't know any that have set themselves up as psychologists. Guess they are too busy playing the seniors tour or flying their private planes. I don't recall Leadbetter winning much either. But I'd take a golf lesson from him.
Good luck with your venture. I hope it works for you.

So your buddy spoke common sense, and you listened. I'll charge £10 an hour for that if anyone is interested. PM me a question and I'll send you my paypal details, just put your question on the paypal message with £10 and I'll sort you out.

 

[Crow]

I find golf pschology absolutely fascinating but in answer to your questions:

Have you or would you consider a golf psychologist?
No
How much would you expect to pay for an hour long session?
Expect to pay = £100
Willing to pay = £5 for half an hour

How often do you take golf lessons and how much do they cost?
2 to 4 a year at £30 for half hour

Do you change clubs to help fix a problem such as slice or yips?
No