(Another reason we say the Mind is Golf's Natural Enemy)
We are not talking about sexual arousal although sexual arousal would not be good for your golf either. Quite often others are more aware of your state of arousal than you are. They may be telling you to relax so that you can play better. Or they may be telling you to relax because you have just reacted to a poor shot, in which case you are very aroused.
As you climb the arousal scale your body changes and your ability to play golf changes. For a lucky few, increasing arousal is helpful because they are naturally very low on the scale and can struggle if they don't increase arousal. For most of us, we play too high on the scale for our best performance and go higher the more important the shot or round.
To compound this tendency, few of us are aware of the subtle changes that occur as we become more aroused. Most of us are only aware of high arousal when it is really high. Many of us live in an aroused state off the golf course. We get used to higher arousal and may even become addicted to it. These are the adrenaline junkies. If we are not under pressure and moving fast, we may feel bored and ineffective.
Through our research we have found a considerable range of arousal and awareness of that arousal. We have also found the optimum level of arousal for any golf shot with the
Mind Meter. Through our experience with the Tour pros and amateurs we have learned how to raise your level of awareness and how to teach you to control your level of arousal appropriately for each shot. The Mind Meter allows us to measure that arousal objectively on the course.
Right now you might be saying, "Just hit the ball". I don't need to worry about this. This stuff is for the Pros. And you would be dead wrong. You are human and so are they. They are affected just as much as you are by arousal above the optimum level for golf. Colin Montgomery and Phil Mickelson at Winged Foot are two very recent and glaring examples. While they were over-aroused for different reasons, over-arousal stole their golf skills and polluted their decision process.
The optimum level of arousal for golf when described on a 1-10 scale is between 4-6 where 1 is very relaxed and 10 is very aroused, closer to 4 when playing short game shots and putting and closer to a 6 when hitting your driver and longer shots.
If you are playing these shots with higher levels of arousal then you are not playing to your potential and are probably inconsistent. As you exceed these levels your abilities to play golf are immediately affected, although subtly so at first. This can be the difference between a great putting day and just missing all day.
The first things to be affected by increasing above the optimum level for putting are control of your little muscles, your intuition or ability to read the greens, to make good decisions and commit to them and your control of the speed of the putt.
To continue with this putting example, the player that is not aware of his level of arousal will not be able to understand why putting is so hard today. The lack of success can easily raise arousal further making putting later in the round even worse. If you try to fix your putting problem by focusing on perfecting your mechanics or alignment during the round, you are toast. Your level of arousal is more important than the mechanics of your putting stroke. Lower arousal to the optimum level and your putting ability will return.
The first step is to be aware of your elevated arousal. The second step is to identify the thoughts that have raised arousal and do something about them. The third step is to work to lower your arousal to the optimum level. As you focus on these steps, arousal should lower and your putting should improve. This assumes that you have a good mental routine for putting.
These things are easy to say but take some time to learn to do. Arousal above the optimum level for golf is a result of your thoughts. Arousal doesn't increase all by itself unless you are taking stimulants: sugar, caffeine, nicotine, amphetamines, some antihistamines, etc., in which case you have no control.
What is your natural level of arousal? Our online
GolfPsych Evaluation can identify it and compare your level to the optimum level. Working with our
GolfPsych Instructors and the Mind Meter can allow you to understand and practice playing at the optimum level, to know what it feels like.
Try to identify the thoughts that raise your arousal, create anxiety or excitement. For many players it is outcomes; of the shot, of the putt, or the score. This puts them on the emotional rollercoaster and increases arousal beyond optimum whether the outcome is good or bad. Are there concerns with what others think about you? Do you have a score goal for the round? Do you have a score you are uncomfortable surpassing? Do you have concerns about how little you practiced or prepared? Are you worried that you won't be competitive? Are you frustrated with poor performances?
Once you recognize these sources of emotion and increasing arousal or pressure then you must work to change them on the golf course. When they come up, recognize them and then change channels to thoughts that will help you stay relaxed. These can be thoughts of previous good rounds, a vacation, a movie, a concert, a favorite song or tune, a pet, a favorite person and activity, anything at all that will be relaxing and that you like to think about. You have to believe that letting go of those arousing thoughts will help you play and is the right thing to do.
Also work on abdominal breathing and relaxing your muscles all over your body. Slow your pace a bit. When you get to the ball, work on doing a really good mental routine to play the shot, no mechanics.
If you start poorly, be patient. Say to yourself, "I am just over-aroused and need to focus on calming, my game will improve."
The mind affects the body continually and subtly. Our thoughts trigger emotions and raise arousal. It is this heightened arousal that adds strokes to your game and makes you inconsistent. One more way the Mind is Golf's Natural Enemy!
