Golf and the conscious mind – a bad mix?
(NOTE: This is part one of a two-part series on the mental side of golf. Special thanks goes out to Brian Alderson, photo subject Dallas Combs and the folks at Potters Park Golf Course in Hamilton, Ohio)
By MIKE SMITH
If golf scorecards could talk, mine would have some kind of stories to tell.
Oh, I’m capable of some good play, but there is typically a maddening inconsistency. The good deeds of my Dr. Jekyll swings are often countered by Mr. Hyde’s evil. On occasion, I thought I noticed Steven King scribbling notes in the distance.
A dozen or so lessons over the years yielded limited results – at best. Eventually, I began to suspect a sinister culprit beyond my two arms (which I mockingly alluded to as my “two-handicap.”). Could my mind be behind it all – or at least the ugly golf?
In search of answers, I . . .
By MIKE SMITH
If golf scorecards could talk, mine would have some kind of stories to tell.
Oh, I’m capable of some good play, but there is typically a maddening inconsistency. The good deeds of my Dr. Jekyll swings are often countered by Mr. Hyde’s evil. On occasion, I thought I noticed Steven King scribbling notes in the distance.
A dozen or so lessons over the years yielded limited results – at best. Eventually, I began to suspect a sinister culprit beyond my two arms (which I mockingly alluded to as my “two-handicap.”). Could my mind be behind it all – or at least the ugly golf?
In search of answers, I . . .
. . . contacted Brian Alderson. The Newcastle, United Kingdom native spent time at the professional level (e.g. South Africa’s Sunshine Tour and Australasian Tour Down Under in Australia) before a 2006 back injury ended that path. Along the way, however, he became intrigued with the mental side of golf. Now a golf teacher, he has incorporated it into his instruction options.
If there is a regret to his professional career, it is that the idea of harnessing his mental game came to him too late.
“My mind was my biggest adversary, instead of what it could have been, which was my biggest strength,” he observed.
Reflections on why he didn’t win more eventually led Alderson to Dr. Bob Rotella. It’s not a name that average golfers readily recognize, but Rotella is a sport psychologist better known for his work with professional athletes.
If there is a regret to his professional career, it is that the idea of harnessing his mental game came to him too late.
“My mind was my biggest adversary, instead of what it could have been, which was my biggest strength,” he observed.
Reflections on why he didn’t win more eventually led Alderson to Dr. Bob Rotella. It’s not a name that average golfers readily recognize, but Rotella is a sport psychologist better known for his work with professional athletes.
“Within (my) first session, he analyzed me to be a type A golfer,” Alderson said. “I was thinking about my golf swing at every checkpoint there is – going back, coming down, impact, going through – and never really thinking about the target.
“How I was as good as I was, the Lord only knows,” he continued. “While I trained my body as much as was possible, I didn’t train my mind at all (before).”
Alderson’s curiosity graduated first to intrigue and then to university studies in psychology. “It didn’t seem to matter what I was reading, what I was studying (or) what I was learning, I could relate it to some kind of component of golf,” he said. “I had a lot of ah-ha moments in the training.”
Alderson’s efforts eventually led to a psychology degree at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It then seemed natural to combine his golf and psychology passions as he moved on to the next phase of his life.
At the same, “sports psychology” was gaining traction with elite/professional athletes, Among them, Alderson sees a particularly significant impact of mind on performance in golf. “Of all the sports I work with, nothing is quite like golf.”
“How I was as good as I was, the Lord only knows,” he continued. “While I trained my body as much as was possible, I didn’t train my mind at all (before).”
Alderson’s curiosity graduated first to intrigue and then to university studies in psychology. “It didn’t seem to matter what I was reading, what I was studying (or) what I was learning, I could relate it to some kind of component of golf,” he said. “I had a lot of ah-ha moments in the training.”
Alderson’s efforts eventually led to a psychology degree at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. It then seemed natural to combine his golf and psychology passions as he moved on to the next phase of his life.
At the same, “sports psychology” was gaining traction with elite/professional athletes, Among them, Alderson sees a particularly significant impact of mind on performance in golf. “Of all the sports I work with, nothing is quite like golf.”
The internet has contributed information, and Alderson estimated about 40 percent of pros on the European and PGA tours work with somebody on their mental game. “Furthermore, I would say at least 50 percent of the field are reading about it, because they know 90 percent of the game is between the ears."
Certainly, physical skills and athleticism can be a foundation for hard work. However, Alderson maintains that mental discipline – or lack thereof -- often play a decisive role.
“There is no substitute in any sport for hard work,” he said. “And anyone that we know as a household name in any sport, it’s fair to assume they worked very hard to become elite in their game. But through competing, they’ve learned that the mind can be a thing of great value if used correctly.”
Certainly, physical skills and athleticism can be a foundation for hard work. However, Alderson maintains that mental discipline – or lack thereof -- often play a decisive role.
“There is no substitute in any sport for hard work,” he said. “And anyone that we know as a household name in any sport, it’s fair to assume they worked very hard to become elite in their game. But through competing, they’ve learned that the mind can be a thing of great value if used correctly.”
“There are countless tour pros (and) professionals in any sport that have got the skills in abundance, but (they) seemingly cannot win tournaments, or majors, or whatever,”
Even gifted athletes can be hampered by doubts, Alderson noted, adding, “You cannot outperform your self image.”
“What a lot of guys on the tour now (are doing is) using visual imagery to change their self image. So, they’re imaging themselves in different situations and closing it out. … You can execute if you are comfortable and confident.”
Even gifted athletes can be hampered by doubts, Alderson noted, adding, “You cannot outperform your self image.”
“What a lot of guys on the tour now (are doing is) using visual imagery to change their self image. So, they’re imaging themselves in different situations and closing it out. … You can execute if you are comfortable and confident.”
Of course, it seems like the latter would be easier for professionals, who at least have a good fundamental game and perhaps decades of relative success upon which to draw. What about “average” golfers?
Alderson believes good mental discipline can help non-professionals, as well. While they are not playing for big paychecks, there can be significant pressure even in local club tourneys or leagues.
Part of Alderson’s prescription for success is to spend less time listening to the conscious mind.
“The only time a sportsman needs to use their conscious mind is to find the venue that they are playing at. The minute you get there, you have to get your subconscious to take over.”
Alderson believes good mental discipline can help non-professionals, as well. While they are not playing for big paychecks, there can be significant pressure even in local club tourneys or leagues.
Part of Alderson’s prescription for success is to spend less time listening to the conscious mind.
“The only time a sportsman needs to use their conscious mind is to find the venue that they are playing at. The minute you get there, you have to get your subconscious to take over.”
From there, it is a matter of “staying in the moment” – one shot at a time. A bad shot should be over when it comes to a stop, but some players self-inflict further damage by not letting the bad shot go.
Occasionally, golfers can slip into a meltdown, which is not a pretty sight. “I feel sorry for them for the most part,” Alderson said. “In the moment, they have allowed their emotions to overtake (them). Their conscious mind is taking over and emotions (are) just floating through every pore in their body. As soon as you get emotional in any game, you give up the ability … to play well.”
Occasionally, golfers can slip into a meltdown, which is not a pretty sight. “I feel sorry for them for the most part,” Alderson said. “In the moment, they have allowed their emotions to overtake (them). Their conscious mind is taking over and emotions (are) just floating through every pore in their body. As soon as you get emotional in any game, you give up the ability … to play well.”
“Mentally tough people under-react,” Alderson noted. “Once the ball goes, he has no control over it and he completely under-reacts to it.”
(Part 2 to follow)
(Part 2 to follow)
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