Are you struggling with your golf game? Are you up and down and completely inconsistent? Most golfers I know are all “over the shop” and don’t know how to go about playing golf at a level that allows them to play good golf most of the time.
Ben is a friend of mine and is a typical golfer.
He likes to play and practice. He reads a lot and is almost always thinking about his swing. Ben’s problem isn’t lack of talent or the ability to play and work on his game. His problem is that he doesn’t get out of his own way.
He makes golf hard because he tries too hard. Trying hard seems like the right thing to do but it almost always makes golf (or any skill) harder than it needs to be. Ben makes the mistake that a lot of adults make. He thinks he can consciously control the motion. He doesn’t understand that our conscious mind is NOT suited to performing skills.
The problem with this thinking is that the more he plays the more he thinks. This analysing doesn’t allow the golf swing to become free and flowing. It’s stiff, contrived and lacks power. It’s like a nightmare merry-go-round that has no way off. Worse of all it never allows Ben to play consistent golf. No matter how hard he tries he can’t get the results he thinks he should be getting.
So what’s the answer?
Your golf swing needs to become subconscious.
Subconscious performance is how we do all other skills in life.
It’s how you ride a bike.
It’s how you drive a car.
It’s how you throw a ball.
But for some silly reason golfers think they can consciously control every part of their swing. But they can’t.
No matter how clever, special or talented you think you are you can’t control your swing. It’s not possible.
Despite this the vast majority of golf instruction available is all about technique. And its thinking about golf technique that makes subconscious golf all but impossible.
Before you think I’ve lost my marbles take a minute to think about how you perform most other tasks. Are you thinking about the mechanics of how to balance, hold the ball or turn the wheel? Or is your mind free from technical thoughts and you’re simply acting on auto pilot?
Almost always we’re on cruise control. Our minds are clear and the skill (whatever it is) is being performed well.
The solution is to think less and play more. Instead of thinking about every part of your swing, you need to let go and swing freely. Stop thinking about your grip, stance or whatever else you tend to worry about.
This one step is probably the easiest lesson in golf. It’s also the most scary. Swing thoughts and trying hard feel like the right thing to do – but they’re holding you back.
If you want an immediate improvement in your game stop being so analytical. Get out of your own way and and you’ll unlock your instinctive and natural game.
Go for it.