Sport psych Q&A

[Deleted member 16999]

Summed up well - keep things nice and simple , just concentrate on technique until pulling the trigger then just let your muscles do the rest.

You can't empty the mind IMO - it's impossible - you will always be thinking of something - only have to look at the pro's when they are getting ready , as soon as they have finished any practise swings , they are down into the shot and it's done. Then walk on to the next shot and play the next - it's a simple game mentally IMO with the techincal aspects at time being complex. Hit ball - walk - hit ball again - walk - repeat until all 18 holes are done.

Isn't that the point Phil, you may have a strong mental attitude combined with ability many of us aspire to, some have the technical, some have the mental, lot's of different things work for different people, this way may help some. If you're letting your muscles do the rest, is your mind empty at that point?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Isn't that the point Phil, you may have a strong mental attitude combined with ability many of us aspire to, some have the technical, some have the mental, lot's of different things work for different people, this way may help some. If you're letting your muscles do the rest, is your mind empty at that point?

How can anyone "empty" their mind - as I'm swinging my mind is thinking of a smooth swing whilst the muscles just naturally swing the club - I concentrate on each shot through till the ball is in the air. Think the shot - concentrate and hit it.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

How can anyone "empty" their mind - as I'm swinging my mind is thinking of a smooth swing whilst the muscles just naturally swing the club - I concentrate on each shot through till the ball is in the air. Think the shot - concentrate and hit it.

I was going on your opening paragraph, once you pull the trigger then let your muscles do the rest, what I am wondering is, are you/people subconsciously, emptying their mind without realising at that point?

 

[G_Mulligan]

How can anyone "empty" their mind - as I'm swinging my mind is thinking of a smooth swing whilst the muscles just naturally swing the club - I concentrate on each shot through till the ball is in the air. Think the shot - concentrate and hit it.

By replacing it with a fluid cue

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I was going on your opening paragraph, once you pull the trigger then let your muscles do the rest, what I am wondering is, are you/people subconsciously, emptying their mind without realising at that point?

It's a second at most the shot and the concentration is a on that shot - so yes you are thinking the whole way through

 

[G_Mulligan]

I was going on your opening paragraph, once you pull the trigger then let your muscles do the rest, what I am wondering is, are you/people subconsciously, emptying their mind without realising at that point?

Probably they are yes at least enough so it is not detrimental to their swing but perhaps not enough to be optimal in many cases.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

By replacing it with a fluid cue

What is a "fluid cue" ?!

 

[G_Mulligan]

What is a "fluid cue" ?!

see the previous posts

 

[bobmac]

One thing I see often and was guilty of myself at one time was protecting a score.
The last 3-5 holes of a good round. 34 points, 4 holes to go. 3 up, 5 to play etc.
That inability to push on for an even better score.

I believe it's down to lack of confidence/self belief.
What if I duff/hook/slice my driver so they duff an iron instead..........blob, instead of smashing the driver down the middle with confidence.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

One thing I see often and was guilty of myself at one time was protecting a score.
The last 3-5 holes of a good round. 34 points, 4 holes to go. 3 up, 5 to play etc.
That inability to push on for an even better score.

I believe it's down to lack of confidence/self belief.
What if I duff/hook/slice my driver so they duff an iron instead..........blob, instead of smashing the driver down the middle with confidence.

Not to be arguementative, for people with undoubted ability I find that confusing, single figure players have the ability to hit consistently well. I can understand hackers (like myself) saying it as we lack that consistencey.

 

[G_Mulligan]

One thing I see often and was guilty of myself at one time was protecting a score.
The last 3-5 holes of a good round. 34 points, 4 holes to go. 3 up, 5 to play etc.
That inability to push on for an even better score.

I believe it's down to lack of confidence/self belief.
What if I duff/hook/slice my driver so they duff an iron instead..........blob, instead of smashing the driver down the middle with confidence.

Yeah confidence can definitely play a big part but also in different ways. Specific task confidence (self-efficacy) in the individual shot and global self confidence in your ability to produce a great score. Fear of failure and pressure to perform can also play a part.

Some people find their comfort zone and feel very anxious when they suddenly find themselves outside of it. They are looking at going 4-5 under their handicap and either consciously or subconsciously begin to look for ways to self sabotage and return to level par and the comfort zone.

It's a complicated issue and very difficult to understand why they might do it and come up with a solution. As you said confidence and belief but often easier said than done.

 

[bobmac]

Not to be arguementative, for people with undoubted ability I find that confusing, single figure players have the ability to hit consistently well. I can understand hackers (like myself) saying it as we lack that consistencey.

See new post

 

[MashieNiblick]

Suggestions for videos

How to deal with those nervy little shots we all hate and the big ones that could result in disaster (tee shots over water or with OOB all along the right).

Also if you can do it without any resort to psychological jargon like "flow" and "fluid cues" you will be on to a winner!

Finally one thing that works for me in terms of enabling me to think about execution but without filling my mind with specific swing thoughts is to get a picture in my head of a tour player (usually Tom Watson for long shots and Luke Donald for short ones) playing the shot I have to play. Then I imagine what it would feel like to play the shot like them.

 

[G_Mulligan]

Suggestions for videos

How to deal with those nervy little shots we all hate and the big ones that could result in disaster (tee shots over water or with OOB all along the right).

Also if you can do it without any resort to psychological jargon like "flow" and "fluid cues" you will be on to a winner!

Finally one thing that works for me in terms of enabling me to think about execution but without filling my mind with specific swing thoughts is to get a picture in my head of a tour player (usually Tom Watson for long shots and Luke Donald for short ones) playing the shot I have to play. Then I imagine what it would feel like to play the shot like them.

I always try and remove jargon from what I am saying to make it easy to understand. Unfortunately sometimes there is no other words and I have to use the best of what I have. If you can think of another word that sum up flow and fluid cues then be my guest

Personally I like the word flow but I am not keen on fluid cue but I can't find anything to replace it with. I am going to have to explain what they are anyway whatever word I use so I have to call them something.

Interesting idea with the becoming a tour player picture when you play a shot. I have used something similar away from the course to help people realise their current and desired abilities by merging themselves and their skills with a better/elite player.

Thanks for the fault I think that is a common one and should be a good one to do a video on with a simple practical solution.

 

[MashieNiblick]

I always try and remove jargon from what I am saying to make it easy to understand. Unfortunately sometimes there is no other words and I have to use the best of what I have. If you can think of another word that sum up flow and fluid cues then be my guest

Personally I like the word flow but I am not keen on fluid cue but I can't find anything to replace it with. I am going to have to explain what they are anyway whatever word I use so I have to call them something.

Interesting idea with the becoming a tour player picture when you play a shot. I have used something similar away from the course to help people realise their current and desired abilities by merging themselves and their skills with a better/elite player.

Can't help you directly with alternatives (that's part of the issue with jargon - you know exactly what is but I probably don't ) but agree that it will really help to give a good clear explanation in plain English. When someone understands what the idea is they may find their own words to describe the actual process.

PS Luke helped me save par yesterday with a nice little pitch over a bunker on our 17th.

Good luck!

 

[chrisd]

I am really into golf psychology but I just hate the expression "muscle memory" - to the best of my limited knowledge, muscles do not remember anything.

 

[G_Mulligan]

I am really into golf psychology but I just hate the expression "muscle memory" - to the best of my limited knowledge, muscles do not remember anything.

yes but it sounds much better than the basal ganglia - the section of the brain in which motor actions are stored and retrieved.

 

[chrisd]

yes but it sounds much better than the basal ganglia - the section of the brain in which motor actions are stored and retrieved.

Except that one of the teaching staff at my local range bangs on about working on muscle memory all the time and I know it's so wrong and, as a result, can't take him seriously!

 

[G_Mulligan]

Except that one of the teaching staff at my local range bangs on about working on muscle memory all the time and I know it's so wrong and, as a result, can't take him seriously!

Well yeah but if that is what he means, building up his subconscious memory of motor control so he can do it without thinking. Personally I like the term and sums up the process quite nicely.

 

[garyinderry]

I was going on your opening paragraph, once you pull the trigger then let your muscles do the rest, what I am wondering is, are you/people subconsciously, emptying their mind without realising at that point?

As Phil says you are still thinking when taking the shot. Concentrating on making a smooth stroke, where you are looking to bottom out and overall power of the stroke. on certain shots you might also be thinking about holding the face open or you might be turning the face over slightly. These things have to be conscious thoughts or you simply wont do them.

Top players use visualisation techniques. They fill their mind with positive thoughts. The recall playing previous similar shots well. They try send get their body to repeat previous movements. They do not, empty their mind and hope their sub conscious takes over and is a better player than they are.