Here’s a phenomenon which many golfers are familiar with; hitting a beautiful, well-connected and fluid shot, followed by a clumsy, ineffective topping or slicing of the ball.
On the surface, it seems as if swing technique has broken down, that the moving parts of the body have come out of sequence. However, looking deeper, you will find yourself aware that the mental processes that occurred BEFORE the pure shot and those that occurred BEFORE the clumsy shot were markedly different.
The mainstream approach to better ball-striking is to learn more about the technique of the golf swing, for example, changing the method altogether or trying more tips and techniques. This would seem the obvious way to go about improving technique, which, after all, is a linked series of actions or movements which have somehow or other broken down. Yet perhaps not; understanding how the mind~body connection actually works and that the quality of motion begins with the quality of the stillness experienced before the shot, offers the key to recreating a fluid, powerful and effortless shot every time.
This is more than a pre-shot routine; it is a method of finding ‘the zone’ before taking the shot. There are so many processes occurring in the mind, brain and body while you swing that once you start thinking about it, the less able your body is to move smoothly, efficiently and with power.
Research now proves that the quieter your mind is, the more able your body is to produce a fluid, powerful motion. Therefore, training yourself to think as little as possible really is the key to peak performance. Keeping your mind quiet, for instance by focusing on your breathing, (also known as Mindfulness or Meditation) helps you to use the gap to activate the zone and, as a result, experience fluid motion.
How to Practice Meditation
- Sit upright in a chair with your feet firmly on the ground, palms either resting on your thighs or cupped together in your lap (both palms facing upwards, left hand on top, thumbs touching). Hold the crown of your head up, as if it were held by a thread; tuck your chin under and relax your neck and shoulders.
- Look straight ahead with a gentle gaze and choose a point of focus in the distance (i.e. a tree, or the like). Begin to focus your attention on your breathing.
You can do this in a number of ways, from simply observing your breath, by listening to the sound of your breathing, or by counting each breath from 1 to 10.
- You will notice that your mind generates thoughts all the time. When this occurs, simply relax, staying quietly focused on your breathing and your mind will become calmer and clearer.
- For the best and most effective results, aim to sit quietly like this for at least 5 minutes at first, three times per week, and/or before each time you play golf.
As you become more comfortable with it, slowly build up to 10 minutes each time, then 15 minutes, then up to 20 minutes each time.
The sense of calm and relaxation will enable you to play better golf, increase your enjoyment of your golfing experience and, you may just find that you’re hitting more perfect shots.
