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Our special guest,
Dr.Bob Phillips "Golf
Psychologist" will be here exclusively every
month to reveal to you techniques used by top
level professional golfers to mentally prepare,
maintain focus, bring about their peak
performance and to help you improve your score!
APRIL, 2001:
Calling Time Out
You
bring the putter back and suddenly you feel like
your hands have turned to stone. You have
addressed the ball and begin to take two deep
breaths (step-breathing) but your mind continues
to think about the tree on the left side of the
fairway. You’re bringing the sand wedge back
but you still do not feel like your feet are well
planted. All of these are times to call a time
out.
If
your mind is telling you that something is wrong,
than there is a fifty-fifty chance that there
really is something wrong. Stop what you are
doing and step back. Refocus and back up in your
pre-shot or pre-putt routine. You are better off
taking the time-out even if there really is
nothing wrong. That is, you have prepared the
shot or putt well. You still need to reset your
routine so that you are not allowing the tension
from this distraction to enter your muscles and
affect the shot or putt.
These
"time outs" are a much smarter way to
proceed than simply forcing your way through. The
"yips" are an example of what happens
when you are not prepared to stop, refocus and go
on. The best attitude to have is one of
appreciation. After all, this message has
probably allowed you to take a second look at the
situation and to make corrections. I suggest that
golfers actually say "thanks" as they
step back and check things out. This is more
helpful than getting upset or frustrated with
yourself.
Some
people are more worried about what others in the
group might say or think about their stopping or
spending more time. Usually, nothing is said if
you do this only two or three times a round. It
also helps if you make it clear that you needed
the time to do it right. Not many will fault you
for doing something smart. If they do say
something or act annoyed it says more about them
than it does about you. Of course some good
natured kidding should be taken as part of
friendship.
If
you find yourself wanting to take more than two
or three of these "time outs" in a
round you may want to take a good look at your
pre-shot and pre-putt routine. Remember, pre-shot
routines are ways of moving quickly and smoothly
through the process of being ready for your best
shot or putt. These routines are not rituals that
must be performed perfectly or in just the right
order. They should become so natural that they do
not interfere with the process of making the shot
or putt. Make sure that you have set an exact
target and, in putting, an exact line. Always
have this exact line in your mind before you
putt. Work with your training pro on your
alignment and aiming techniques so you are
confident of them. Use step-breathing to separate
the thinking from the hitting parts of your
routine and keep everything as smooth and
uninterrupted as possible. Remember, if things
are not right, there is a good chance that your
mind will let you know in some way. Be aware of
these signals and take a time-out when you need
it.
RETURN
TO DR SPORT MAIN MENU
Bob
Phillips, Ph.D.
Aspire
Training and Coaching Personal coaching for
success in sports, business and life. Helping you
achieve your goals. 748 Holcomb Bridge Rd.
Norcross, Ga. 30071 (770)729-0030 Fax
(770)449-5758
Ask Dr. Phillips about any
mental game of golf question or problem you have
and he will e-mail you an answer.
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Bob Phillips, Ph.D., has
been helping athletes, sales people and managers
perform at their best for over fifteen years. As
a leading performance psychologist and coach, he
has developed several methods of evaluating and
maximizing performance.
In this series of articles
Dr. Phillips gives golfers the information and
techniques used by top level athletes in all
sports -- especially golf -- to mentally
prepare, maintain focus and bring about their
peak performance. A number of articles will focus
on Junior Golf.
ONE-ON-ONE
COACHING
Now Available
- First Session Free -
Dr. Bob Phillips offers
one-on-one coaching by phone to home or office
for golfers who are "stuck" and want to
move up to the next level of play, taking 5-10
strokes off their game. For more information,
call Dr. Phillips at 770-729-0030 or e-mail him
below.
E-Mail
Dr. Phillips
"Check
out your mental game for FREE"
Visit
Dr. Phillips'
web site
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