"To try and fail is at least to learn. To fail to try is to suffer the loss of what might have been."
-- Benjamin Franklin, statesman
Not since Jack Nicklaus, has the golf world witnessed an individual who possesses the same high degree of combined mental toughness, focus and the competitive desire to win as is now demonstrated most consistently by Tiger Woods.
Clearly, playing great golf with such great frequency has a significant mental factor to it. Every golfer will tell you that when they played their best, they were able to remain calm and relaxed, they were able to concentrate and make good decisions, and were confident throughout their round. These are all important features and functions of a proper mental state of mind when playing golf.
And, as the first Physical Therapist and Golf Fitness Training Expert for the PGA Tour, I have greatly appreciated what Tiger Woods has done to elevate the golf public's consciousness to the importance and benefits of golf-specific physical conditioning. Prior to our early work on the PGA Tour, and before Tiger took the golf world by storm, golfers weren't generally considered to be 'athletes' like they are today. But now, due in large part to the media's coverage of Tiger's fitness regimen and the obvious physical development of Tiger's body, most every modern golfer is aware that, in order to play better golf and reduce golf-related injuries, having a golf-specific fitness program is a necessary component to their golf performance progression.
But the missing performance feature that Tiger has added to his game, that even Jack Nicklaus and other golfers have not demonstrated to the same degree, is the ability to fully integrate the mental elements of his game with his golf-specific physical conditioning. In my opinion, the synergistic benefits of Tiger's mind-body connection is the key factor that has most contributed to his already unbelievable winning record, and will, if maintained, enable him to break every remaining record for regular tournament and major win totals.
So, if the mind-body connection is so important when it comes to playing great golf, what can we amateur golfers learn from what Tiger is doing to help our own golf game?
To best answer this question, the first thing that needs to be done, before going any further, is to clearly define and fully understand what it really means when we refer to the "mind-body connection". We regularly use the words "mind" and "body" in our daily conversation and, for the most part, we have a working definition and understanding of what these two words actually mean in our English language. However, for any word in our vocabulary to be completely understood, we have to have an image or picture that is formulated in our mind ... much like a movie flashing onto a movie screen ... when we think of the word. And, when we see the image in our mind, it must create an associated meaning relative to an experience that we can identify with in our life.
For example, if you think of the word, "golf". Instantly, one or more images flash onto the movie screen of your mind that represent the concept of "golf" to you. Perhaps you may see a person, dressed in golf attire, holding a golf club in their hands, making a full swing, hitting a small white ball down a perfectly manicured fairway. Or, you might see your favorite golfer, like Tiger Woods, sinking an incredible chip-in shot for a birdie from an impossible position behind the 16th green at the Masters. Whatever the image or images are that represent ,"golf", to you will be what you think about when you think of the word, "golf". And, if you think about it, this remains true for each and every word you could possibly think of ... if ... you have a complete understanding of the word.
On the other hand, if you were to say the word, "haiblish", it is highly unlikely that any specific picture flashes in your mind. You probably have no reality to this word. And, that would be good! As far as I know, "haiblish", is a completely made up, non-sensical word (that's because I just invented it) that has no meaning! Therefore, as hard as you may try, you will not be able to create an image in your mind for this word. That's how it works!
But sometimes, even for words that we are very familiar with, we may not be fully aware of all its possible meanings. Therefore, we can be limited to the full applications of that word in our vocabulary and, more importantly, in our life experience.
One word that often fits that description is "mind". Think for a moment about this word and ask yourself what images come up for you? When surveying 100's of people over the past several years, the two images that most people reported were; 1) a brain, and 2) nothing! Isn't that interesting? What came up for you?
Well, as true as it may be that our "mind" is located in our brain - at least partially - the truth is, our "mind" is not limited to the brain. The "mind", in its most complete definition is, in fact, located in every molecule of our body! That's the main reason why golfers who operate with a limited image of the "mind" (brain only) also have limited benefits from golf-specific mental training programs targeting improved performance involving their entire body. Only when they are able to expand their "mind" definition beyond the image of the brain to also include the entire body will they begin to see significant and lasting benefits from mental training programs.
Likewise, if a golfer possesses an incomplete understanding to the word, "body" including imagery that does not support the reality that the "body" is an instrument of the "mind", then any golf-specific physical training program will have limited results.
It has been stated, time and time again, by many experts and represented in a variety of different ways ... "You become what you think about." This statement represents the 'Law of Attraction' and best conveys the relationship with 'mind' in the non-physical world and our 'body' which is in the physical or material world. If any of our non-physical thoughts are going to materialize into our physical world, they must do so through the specific actions of our body. Every great golf shot you have ever had was first a great golf shot in your mind. A thought without a physical reaction is just as impossible as a physical reaction without a thought. It is a pure 'cause and effect' or 'action and reaction' phenomenon each and every time. It's the law!
Consequently, with respect to the extraordinary accomplishments of top competitors like, Tiger Woods in golf, Michael Jordon in basketball, Roger Federer in tennis, or Michael Phelps in swimming, the common characteristic shared by all is their expanded awareness and functional understanding for both the "mind" and the "body" as these two common words specifically relate to the mind-body connection. In the worlds of these top athletes, they were able to fully integrate their mental and physical training programs to produce performance results that more consistently represent their true potentials.
If it is your true desire to be the best, most consistent golfer you can be, then I suggest that you learn more about the mind-body connection and understand how it really works so you can optimally leverage the amazing performance benefits that the natural synergistic relationship between your mind and your body can provide ... beyond your wildest dreams!
No comments:
Post a Comment