| |
Grooving Your Ideal Swing:
The Mental Secret Inducing Swing Motion Excellence!
Pete Siegel
Consider the medieval woodsman. His job was to fell trees,
then cut the fallen timbers into logs usably sized for ceremonial,
heating, and cooking fires.
Many depended on the woodsman; their exploits kept their town
or village supported with fuel. As such, their most important
tool was their axe. And keeping their axe razor sharp was
essential to their consistent, high productivity performance.
They would take their axe to the grindstone regularly, sharpening
from side to side, until they knew they'd gotten what they
needed for maximum results.
Then, they'd do their daily felling and chopping ... and begin
their next day again with prudent sharpening efforts.
A "dull axe" would never get the job done; only a highly sharpened
blade would accomplish their purpose. And so, they would take
their axe to the grindstone regularly to ensure they'd grooved
the capability which would afford them the most pronounced
- and profound - performance efforts and results.
Sharpening Your "Axe"
The medieval woodsman regularly kept taking his axe to the
grindstone so he could groove the sharpest blade possible.
This wasn't a one-time shot, but a continual practice, a daily
ritual, so he'd bring forth the potential enabling him to
produce his desired results.
Blade sharpening was an accepted, purposefully engaged part
of his life. He neither feigned away from, nor bemoaned it;
his involvement was thorough and substantive because his daily
success at the grindstone was integrally linked to his degree
of success in the woods.
Now, you surely aren't a medieval woodsman. But you surely
must take your "axe(s)" to the grindstone (i.e., driving/putting
range practice, practice rounds, etc.), and then stay at the
grindstone until you feel you've sharpened your skills - notably
your swing motion - so it's at a level enabling you to perform
effectively on the course.
Grooving your ideal swing draws a similar parallel to the
woodsman's daily grindstone efforts. Your swing motion must
be regularly "sharpened" (i.e., practice physically and mentally)
so you'll be in the best possible position to fell your "tree"
(i.e., play continually well, lower your score, register birdies,
pars, etc.).
And, like the woodsman's routine, your practice efforts must
be generated toward enhancing success during rounds; you must
apply your "sharpened axes" during a round. Then, proceed
to engage "sharpening" them again, before your next round.
Then again, and again, and again. Indeed, "sharpening" your
"axe" (practicing strengthening and further cultivating your
swing) is an essential, intimately connected aspect to your
overall course success!
And this process is a lifestyle, and playing style decision;
if you're a true "woodsman" this is something you just do
- with eagerness, purpose, and committed focus. Why? Because
you know you surely can't produce the results you want, and
need to, if you don't.
And so, assuming you are a true "woodsman," let me now give
you an Ideal Swing Grooving mental development strategy to
complement your physical swing cultivation practice efforts.
Honing your "axe" (or, "grooving your sharpest blade") as
a golfer is most effectively, and decisively accomplished
by engaging a mind/body approach. Physically, you do your
range work, lessons, and practice rounds diligently, and with
the express purpose to improve. Mentally, you strive to precision
hone the target subconscious attitudes, emotional fuel, and
swing motion generation affinity which serves to direct and
enhance your physical execution.
Indeed, honing your swing (with drives, irons, and your putter)
this way, addresses the comprehensive crux of true learning
- that of subconsciously structuring the sensory framework
which leads to desired physical action. Then, practicing the
physical action in a manner that strengthens efficiency, reinforces
proficiency, and further "cements in" a success inclined subconscious
sensory framework.
And, knowing that you will, and likely already are engaging
diligent, purposeful physical practice efforts, let me now
outline for you a simple, yet high powered mental component
strategy to help you groove your ideal swing.
Grooving Your Ideal Swing:
The Mental Component To Honing Precision Swing Efficiency
First, developing and generating your ideal swing is a process;
regular attention to detail, and continual mental/physical
practice is required to produce, then sustain, maximum results.
And so here's a profoundly targeted exercise you can regularly
do to help accelerate and more fully develop your ideal swing.
Read it through first in its entirety, then apply it exactly
as outlined.
[*First, decide upon which swing motion you want to work on
(i.e., your driver? irons? chipping? longer range putts? etc.).
Decide upon one specific swing motion, and then wholly focus
your mental efforts upon that. Once you've determined which
swing motion you'll address, then proceed to engage the following
Factor 1.] 1.) Relaxing Your Mind And Body To Accelerate Your
Inner Focus Capacity.
First, in an area where you won't be disturbed, lie comfortably
upon your back on either the floor, your couch, your bed,
or stretched out comfortably in a reclining chair. Let your
arms rest at your sides, arms facing downward, fingers loosely
apart.
Next, let your eyelids close down, and take 3 l-o-n-g, d-e-e-p
breaths - inhaling through your nostrils (letting your stomach
expand and distend as you do), and then easily exhaling through
your mouth. And, with each easy breath that you exhale, mentally/silently
repeat the word "R-e-l-e-a-s-e," allowing every muscle and
fiber within you to just easily let loose, and wholly relax.
2.) Subconsciously Grooving Your Ideal Swing With 5 Sensory
Impact Factors
Now, we get to the "meat and potatoes" - the "axe sharpening
grindstone!" You'll be creatively using your imagination here
to accentuate precision swing motions.
And so, having pre-determined which swing for which club you'll
be working on (and having deeply relaxed your mind and body):
In your imagination envision you're on your course ready to
play this shot. Don't just "watch" this (as if on a movie
screen or monitor), but perceptually step into the picture;
feel your feet upon the ground, feel the club held firmly
in your hands, smell the grass, hear the sounds - wholly be
there, in the moment.
A.) And next, before you set up to your ball, ask yourself
"If I would generate my ideal swing motion here, what would
this be?" And, as you address your ball, notice what your
specific attitude and presumption is as you're getting ready
to execute your ideal swing motion. For example: "Loosely,
comfortably, and confidently, I crisply flow through my backswing,
downswing, contact and follow through. I have a lot more skill
than I realize; more than I give myself credit for - I just
smoothly, decisively execute masterfully now."
Then, just let this attitude and presumption completely fill
you, imaginatively set up to your ball, determine your outcome
point...and, letting this attitude and presumption exclusively
direct you now, go ahead and execute your ideal swing.
Then, sensing you've generated thorough swing motion proficiency,
inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and:
B.) Imagine you're about to set up to that same shot again,
and ask yourself: "If I would generate my ideal swing motion
here, what would this be?" And this time, as you imaginatively
address your ball, notice what your specific feeling is as
you're getting ready to execute your ideal swing motion. For
example: confidence? determined? relaxed/loose/fluid? comfortably
composed? emotionally centered? etc.
Then, just let this feeling completely fill you, imaginatively
set up to your ball, determine your outcome point... and,
letting this singular feeling wholly fill and direct you,
go ahead and execute your ideal swing.
Then, sensing you've generated thorough swing motion proficiency,
inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and:
C.) Imagine you're about to set up to the same shot again,
and ask yourself "If I would generate my ideal swing motion
here, what would this be?"
And now as you imaginatively address the ball, allow yourself
to deeply sense automatic, coordinated muscular flow surging
through you - a rich and empowering feeling of muscular unity,
strength, and fluidity within. (Take your time here; just
focus on this sensation, and you will come to vibrantly sense
it.)
Then, just allow this sensation to completely fill you, imaginatively
set up to your ball, determine your outcome point...and, letting
this sensation of automatic co-ordinated muscular flow wholly
fill and direct you, execute your ideal swing.
Then, sensing you've generated thorough swing motion proficiency,
inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and:
D.) Imagine you are about to set up to the same shot, and
again ask yourself: "If I would generate my ideal swing motion
here, what would this be?"
And now, as you're imaginatively addressing the ball, let
yourself deeply sense a natural pre-disposition toward instinctive,
precise, right swing motion, contact and follow through -
a nourishing feeling of sensing - and knowing - you can only
generate excellence - and succeed. (Watch how quickly this
sensation unfolds, and freely flows through you as you begin
to focus upon, and believe in it!)
Then, just allow this sensation to completely fill you, imaginatively
set up to your ball, determine your outcome point...and, letting
this sensation of natural pre- disposition toward instinctive,
precise, right swing motion, contact and follow through to
wholly fill and direct you, go ahead and execute your ideal
swing.
Then, sensing you've generated thorough swing motion proficiency,
inhale deeply, exhale slowly, and:
E.) Imagine you're standing in front of a full length mirror.
Clearly envision yourself the embodiment of what you now know
is the target attitude/presumption, feeling, automatic coordinated
muscular flow, and pre-disposition toward instinctive, precise,
right swing motion, contact and follow through - all connected
to you generating your ideal swing.
Just let this impression easily, comfortably form. And, when
it does, say to yourself: "What I've just structured in my
mind, continually unfolds as my real life performance on the
range, and during my actual rounds. I wasn't just 'daydreaming,'
I was creating and cultivating my actual potential; this ability
and swing motion capacity is becoming a more decisive, and
pronounced, fact of my life!"
Then, for the next few moments, continue to experience yourself
the collective embodiment of these ideal swing motion sensory
elements - savoring the good and commanding feelings of positive
expectancy and self -belief easily, completely flowing through
you.
And then, inhale deeply, let your eyelids easily open, and
s-t-r-e-t-c-h.
Related Instructions And Suggestions
The whole process should take 10-14 minutes to perform. Don't
rush; take your time, and follow the outlined instructions.
The more you perform this process, the more effective you
will be with it, and the more powerful its impact will become
for you.
Remember, before each session, decide upon the specific swing
motion you want to work on. I suggest you keep working on
the same swing motion physically, and mentally as outlined,
until you notice decided improvement. Then, move on to mentally/physically
working on the next stroke you want/need to improve. (i.e.,
Resist the temptation and impulse to jump around; stay focused
on improving one swing motion at a time - move on to address
another only after you've seen decided improvement.)
Stay regular with your mental practice here. You try to be
regular going to the range, and playing in your rounds, don't
you? Well, take 10-14 minutes each day to also practice your
mental ideal swing motion training. (Remember: the more you
practice, the more profound your neuro-muscular success link
develops!)
You can also use this process before you begin your actual
range work, and before your actual round as a mental/emotional
success primer. Find an area where you won't be distracted,
and easily proceed through steps A-D. Then, begin your practice
efforts, or round play. (You're sure to feel an enriching
and settling sense of confidence in the swing you're striving
to improve through implementing this pre-range/pre-round mental
practice strategy.)
Now, It's Up To YOU!
A great golf swing is a byproduct of prudent physical practice,
and targeted subconscious priming. You're going to practice
physically anyway. And when you include mental training, your
improvement accelerates, and you become more astute, more
decisively. Remember, learning occurs when your mind first
grasps a concept, then develops and sequences the elements
involved in understanding and/or task execution efficiency.
The physical impacts the mental. And, the mental impacts the
physical. And when you address both simultaneously, potential
becomes fact ... and the fact continues to improve!
Author, clinician, and national TV therapist, Pete Siegel
is America's foremost sports hypnotherapist. Golf Digest named
him to their "Top 25 Mental Game Practitioners List" Go ahead
now, and review his highly acclaimed "Super Mental Toughness
For Golf", And "Bringing Forth The Zone" mental game success
programs at http://www.incrediblechange.com.
Article Source: http://freegolfarticles.com
Return to The Mental Game of
Golf Articles directory.
|
|
