Long-term student Joe Griffith retired from a 40 year career with JPMorgan two years ago. He currently manages his working ranch in the Texas Hill Country. He raises cattle and exotic game for sale to other property owners.
Joe has played golf for over 50 years. He competed on his high school golf team and played to a low single digit handicap. Given time constraints his golf was very limited during most of his banking career. A year following retirement from banking he had knee replacement surgery, since then he’s refocused on the game he loves most.
Topics we discussed include:
Everything comes down to the practice for a better golf game and life. When you miss it, you notice the difference. Poor golf is always related to a busy mind.
Ben Hogan, slow motion practice and feeling what’s going on in the body.
1960 Open Championship with Arnold Palmer who played his best golf when he wasn’t thinking; you play against yourself and the course; most of your opponents will have a meltdown.
Jack Nicklaus; you play golf with the feet – how this links to Tai Chi. The purity of movement, from intention through to action without interruption or mental interference. A strong connection between the mind and body.
What helps you play better; mental toughness or a quiet mind? The only way the mind can have a positive influence on sport is if it gets out of the way. The more you try to control the golf swing the worse it gets.
Are the secrets of success in golf the same as those in life, commerce and business or does it require something else?
Nothing in the golf and sports world supports your Performance Practice; even elite athletes and sports commentators miss the point about breathing and recommend players think about how they’re thinking.
Witnessing what happens to your mind and body in meditation prepares you to bring this into your game, otherwise you’re just thinking about breathing like you think about the mental game.
The quieter the mind the more fluid the motion; flow is a knowing but the absence of thought.
Meditation can be a preparation for prayer; it puts you in touch with a peaceful awareness that seems to be there all the time, but we cover it up with a busy mind.
The flow state is not a mental construction or psychological state; it is this peaceful awareness which is getting out of one’s own way. It’s like a benevolent intelligence behind everything as life, breath and energy move through the athlete.
Are there any conflicts with meditation and religious practice?
Playing with gratitude.
The initial experience of the practice; varying seated and standing meditation. One legged stance training helps you see the condition of the body; the ‘four fundamental actions’ must be applied to keep your balance.
Benefits of the 12 Week Mind-Body Performance Challenge (in The Athlete’s Ascent) for getting fitter and losing weight.
The practice helps you pull yourself back when the mind starts racing. The greatest players could be even greater if they forget about swing thoughts; even the best talk about “searching for a swing” instead of quietening the mind and developing a relaxed readiness in the body.
Life and golf become much more enjoyable with a Performance Practice.
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