Silent mind golf...

[Hobbit]

Silent mind golf by Robin Sieger. Been flicking through this this morning and came across a section called Belief before behaviour, and it set me thinking about a round from a couple of Saturdays back. It was a singles Bogey(par). Its a format I used to enjoy but in recent years I've been very frustrated with.

Anyway, I'd got myself into the mindset before the round that I was going to play it like I used to play it, i.e. treat it like matchplay against the best player in the club. I managed the difficult holes with the intention of playing for a half, assuming the 'other guy' was in command off the tee and into the green. The end result was a convincing 5 up, 1 over gross.

Was it coincidence that I posted my best round for nearly 9 months, and in what had become a difficult format for me? Or was it a product of sitting there on the Friday night and setting my mind to play golf how I knew I could? Certainly, some of my best rounds, especially in tough comps, have been preceded by me sitting the night before and visualising my best golf and reaffirming my own belief in my ability.

Is belief before behaviour worth a few shots to your game?

 

[lyden]

Sounds very similar to golf the inner game. It taught me above all else that if you have a clear picture of what you want to achieve your mind knows how to do it to some extent. Just as how it can know how to destroy you when the pressure you put on yourself is too great.

 

[kev_off_the_tee]

I think a lot of golf is about believing that you can do it. I have never got on with a driver until I got your RBZ and instantly started hitting a few good drives. Even this was enough to convince me to keep trying and bit by bit think I'm hitting it better every time.

The same with putting, I reckon just believing you can do it and not dwelling on a 5 footer then it will come good.

I wish I could practice what I preach, time to start believing :thup:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Similar to some of the Karl Morris stuff I'm working on to get my own head sorted before and during a game

 

[white_feather]

I bought the Silent Mind last week and start to use the meditation CD.

I went on my next mid-week medal and shot my personal best (83) with a triple bogey on a par 5.

I'm going to keep up the exercises and I hope for more to come.

How many of us train our bodies but neglect our minds, which ultimately control everything around us?

 

[mcbroon]

I bought the Silent Mind last week and start to use the meditation CD.

I went on my next mid-week medal and shot my personal best (83) with a triple bogey on a par 5.

I'm going to keep up the exercises and I hope for more to come.

How many of us train our bodies but neglect our minds, which ultimately control everything around us?

Some of us neglect both.

The 2 best rounds i've had this year came when I made a conscious effort to not get excited by good shots and not get angry about bad ones. Hit it, find it, hit it again, then count it up at the end.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Silent mind golf by Robin Sieger. Been flicking through this this morning and came across a section called Belief before behaviour, and it set me thinking about a round from a couple of Saturdays back. It was a singles Bogey(par). Its a format I used to enjoy but in recent years I've been very frustrated with.

Anyway, I'd got myself into the mindset before the round that I was going to play it like I used to play it, i.e. treat it like matchplay against the best player in the club. I managed the difficult holes with the intention of playing for a half, assuming the 'other guy' was in command off the tee and into the green. The end result was a convincing 5 up, 1 over gross.

Was it coincidence that I posted my best round for nearly 9 months, and in what had become a difficult format for me? Or was it a product of sitting there on the Friday night and setting my mind to play golf how I knew I could? Certainly, some of my best rounds, especially in tough comps, have been preceded by me sitting the night before and visualising my best golf and reaffirming my own belief in my ability.

Is belief before behaviour worth a few shots to your game?

I enjoy playing bogey golf (which is what you played). It's matchplay against the course and on every tee your opponent already has his par So you first try and make sure that you don't lose the hole - and if you get in position to win it then good. Carry a matchplay mentality through the round and it can work well. You can be 3 down after 4 - and you might have dropped so many shots or might only have so many stableford points which would be a bit of a downer - but we've all come back from 3 down after 4 and we know we can and so you remain positive. The mentality works OK in stableford - less so in strokeplay as you have to really curb your 'go for it for a half' mentality.

 

[My_HarrisTweed_Cap]

There is no correct way to approach the golf course. You need to find your own key to allow the mind to control your score and potential.

Some people like to set goals and targets and set out with a mindset to beat this at all times. Some need a calmer mind in order to stay with the moment and enjoy the experience. The original poster found a way that worked for them on that day. Now what would you have done if that approach didn't work what would you have done to change your approach if you had a "poor" day's golf? Would you have tried to change it, would you have abandoned it for good?

The mind is a wonderful thing, use it to your advantage.

Oh, well done the opening poster, hope it continues to work, if it does never change your approach.