I was playing golf with a friend the other day when something happened that we have all experienced before. My buddy was even after 5 holes but when we got to #6 he saw the sign in the picture to the left just 15 feet to the left of the tee box. He approached his tee shot and I was expecting his typical long, straight drive. To my surprise the ball started to hook over the houses and I mean HOOOOOOK!
I asked him “where did that come from?” he replied “I read that sign and it got in my head, I thought ‘Don’t hook it.'” That obviously didn’t work out very well for him. As we walked down the fairway we talked about why the sign affected him the way it did. I told him that he let that thought or image of hooking the ball dominate his conscious mind and in turn his subconscious mind did what he had thought about most. The mind doesn’t distinguish between do and don’t so if you say or think “don’t …” then what you were hoping to avoid inevitably happens. You will be glad to know that he hit the ball well for the remaining 3 holes.
Here is a mental skill process you can use if/when this happens to you. Take responsibility for your thinking and don’t allow it to dominate your playing.
1. Recognize – that you are not thinking in a positive productive way and say STOP!
2. Release – let go of that negative, unproductive thought (how to) – The easiest way is to take a big breath and let it out blow all the bad thoughts out. Try picking up some grass or dirt and throw it away with the thought. You can also spit and send the bad thought with it. Come up with your own that is most likely the one that will work the best for you.
3. Replace – the unproductive thought with one that will help you focus on what you want to happen.
4. Ready – get ready. In this case decide what your plan is for this shot and remind yourself you can do it! Think of your new thought.
5. Respond – address your ball, do your pre-shot routine and trust it!Free and easy
*if at anytime in this process another or the same unproductive thought creeps back in start over. As you work on this you will get better at controlling it and you will become more mentally tough.
Be proactive in your performance and thinking and your performance and thinking will activate the pro in you.
RECOGNIZE! READY! RESPOND!
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