Peak Performance Coaching

[PerformanceCoach]

As the coach that is providing the free coaching session through Golf Monthly (lookup the Free Coaching Session topic), I just wanted to ask readers to seriously consider and comment on the following:

Peak Performance = Potential - Interference

Whilst this formula is relevant in everything we do in life, I particularly wanted to ask what you do to remove interference from your game of golf? Do you know what the interference is? Are you even aware of it. Here are just a few examples of interference:

Projecting your score
Fear of the next shot/hole
Dwelling on previous shot/hole
Unlucky bounce/Landing in divot
Irritating playing partner
Fear of hazards
Irritation of lost ball
Self-limiting beliefs (huge subject)

 

[USER1999]

I am probably the wrong person to post, as I don't have swing coaching either, but....

I come to golf from a different sport where I competed at an elite level. At this sport, I had technical coaching 4 times a week, and also worked with a sports psychologist once a week. The psychology was very important, and I would recommend anyone serious about their golf to give it a go, it does work.

However, I play golf mainly for enjoyment, it is meant to be fun, and so I don't get as hooked up on coaching as maybe I would have done.

Whilst I would like to improve, I am unwilling to really put sufficient effort or money in to do so, as I would rather spend this time playing.

I would guess that I am not alone on this, as most of my friends who I golf with have a similar outlook.

 

[HTL]

Just a swing coach for me, however, im having my first on course lesson friday.

Murph what sport where you elite at?

 

[Deleted member 1147]

1 Projecting your score
2 Fear of the next shot/hole
3 Dwelling on previous shot/hole
4 Unlucky bounce/Landing in divot
5 Irritating playing partner
6 Fear of hazards
7 Irritation of lost ball
8 Self-limiting beliefs (huge subject)

1 I often calc' in my head potential scores based on my current position ie, "if I par in my score could be ...."
2 I hate 2 drives on my course & often mess them up because of fear of going OOB.
3 If I have messed up I'm not too bad at letting it get to me.
4 I definately get more unlucky bounces then anyone else .
5 I do let annoying people get to me, even though I know i shouldn't.
6 I'm not frightened of most hazards, in fact I see water as a challenge more than anything else.
7 If a ball is lost somewhere that it should be easy to find it gets to me, but if it is just from a crap shot I don't get too bothered.
8 I know I'm better than my scores suggest, I can hit just about every shot there is and most people I play with tell me this but I still lack confidence.
I was recently asked to play a scratch league match because we had too many people on hol's etc. At first I said no, because I thought I'd make a fool of myself. In the end I played 2 under my handicap and lost on the last against a lower handicapped player on his own course. So I know I shouldn't have been so worried, but that's just the way I am.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Projecting your score
Fear of the next shot/hole
Dwelling on previous shot/hole
Unlucky bounce/Landing in divot
Irritating playing partner
Fear of hazards
Irritation of lost ball
Self-limiting beliefs (huge subject)

1) I do let my mind wander although getting much better at playing one shot at a time. You can't change the past or influence future shots
2) I have beleif in my ability and the knowledge to recognise when a shot is on or not and so not scared of taking any shot or hole on
3) You can't change what has been. I've learned to let bad shots go and just concentrate of finding it and then assessing my position
4) Bad luck is part of the game. It happens its how you deal with it.
5) I like to play the game in good company but would be prepared to tell my partner particularly in a competitive round if they were becoming an irritation. It wouldn't put me off and would be more likely to act as a motivation
6) Not scared of hazards. If my ball is in one its because of a badly executed shot. I just need to worry about minimising the damage. I can escape from bunkers pretty well and so they hold no fears. If the ball is swimming there's nothing I can do except proceed within the rules
7) Its a frustration as its a weakness in my game to have hit such a bad shot. More likely to worry about it in a rolll up game than a competitive one. If I've hit a bad shot in competitive play I'll focus on putting a provsional in play and then scoring as well as I can from there. I have a good supply of balls so no intrinsic value attached to them.
8) I played to a reasonable level as a teenager and get frustrated that I can't get anywhere near that standard. I have a very good swing coach though who has got me down to my current level and has a programme of winter work to help get me to single figures next year.

I'm a firm follower of the Rotella school of thinking so have learned to focus on positives and start each shot with a clear picture and accept that mistakes will happen

 

[AuburnWarrior]

I could certainly use some 'mental help' with my golf. I'm a competant player (my last handicap was 10.6) but, for some reason, when it comes to competative golf I get a severe bout of nerves. It's annoying because I know I can play well but as soon as I'm on the comp tees I mentally fall apart. I have no idea why this happens as I'm confident in all other aspects of life and I'd love to get it sorted.

 

[Smiffy]

I'm a competant player (my last handicap was 10.6) but, for some reason, when it comes to competative golf I get a severe bout of nerves.

Fancy a game for £50.00???

 

[AuburnWarrior]

£50 to play a round with me - I'll take that...
I could give up work with offers like that...

 

[golfandmoregolf]

nice one smiffy PMSL.......

 

[PerformanceCoach]

1) I do let my mind wander although getting much better at playing one shot at a time. You can't change the past or influence future shots

Actually, you can change your memory associated with past events, and you most definitely can influence future shots. These are both NLP processes, and part of my skill-set.

Whilst you are right we can't change what happened, we absolutely can change our memory of it, and more importantly how that influences our future mental state on the course. Make a bad memory a great memory. Imagine how that influences your game.

We can also create new triggers (or anchors if you wish) to manage our mental state - again another NLP process - to counter any negative emotions that we encounter on the course (or in life!)

We all have mental state anchors in our brain. For example, if your hear a fire alarm you leave the building. If you see a speed limit sign you check your speedometer. If you smell smoke you look for its origin. These are all triggered responses. Exactly the same as feeling anxious when you have a 175 yard carry over water to a tight pin position.

The power of NLP!

 

[RGDave]

Projecting your score - don't know what this is.

Fear of the next shot/hole - um sometimes, I certainly get anxious on holes where I struggle

Dwelling on previous shot/hole - no, not really.

Unlucky bounce/Landing in divot - it's part of the game.

Irritating playing partner - no, don't take any notice.

Fear of hazards - yes, I have a fear of bunkers, cause I know I'm probably not going to get up and down.???

Irritation of lost ball - well, yes, because a 7 usually costs my whole card.

Self-limiting beliefs (huge subject) - um, interesting. Since I don't actually BELIEVE I can play golf (even after a 74 or 75) then clearly, I have issues.

 

[MizunoMan]

I just hit the ball, then walk after it and hit it again.

Dont give it much thought.

 

[viscount17]

Projecting your score - or protecting? goes wrong if I try this
Fear of the next shot/hole - Fear? No too strong. Concern - well I don't think I do, therefore I probably do
Dwelling on previous shot/hole - no matter how much you know you shouldn't sometimes . . .
Unlucky bounce/Landing in divot - a brief, usually unprintable, comment but that's it
Irritating playing partner - it's more likely to be the irritating group ahead
Fear of hazards - I don't like going in bunkers (I think I'm still in the last one) but fear them - no
Irritation of lost ball - if I bash it in the bundoo it's my own fault, if it disappears behind a leaf on the fairway I can get a bit miffed.
Self-limiting beliefs (huge subject) - more often it's because I think I can do something I have never so far achieved (eg eagle the 17th)