Instruction
Dr. Gupta: On Becoming A Golfing God
You have had those days before. You speak of them still.
It matters not your age. Or your level of skill. You know exactly the days that I am speaking of. The days where you could do no wrong. The days in which golf felt effortless. The days in which the ball seemed to gravitate toward the hole. The days in which you marveled at your own possibilities.
Those rare and treasured days in which you tasted The Zone.
It is at once mythical, mystical and mysterious. It is the subject of legend and lore. But you have lived the legend. And you have craved it ever since.
How could you have it one day and lose it the next? Is it not possible to bottle it? Or to tease it out of hiding?
Like all things, the first step is to understand it. And in this journey to understand what it is, we must first understand what it is not.
Much of what you are about to read will surprise you. For it will likely be the antithesis of what you have heard.
The zone has more to do with the mind than it does with the brain. The fascination with electrodes and brain signals and imaging reflecting glucose uptake is simply an example of scientists playing with their toys. Its real world application takes place only in the pages of reference-laden journals, rather than in the day-to-day experience of the human being that is the golfer.
What do I mean?
When a golfer is in the zone, do you think he cares which of his brain hemispheres was more active or what his heart rate was or which parts of his brains lit up on the scan?
And can the scientists who disseminate all of this impressive jargon take a golfer and put him into the zone using all of their fancy toys?
Forget the electrodes and the scans and the myelination and the motor patterns. Let’s talk about the reality that YOU the golfer knows. And what YOU the golfer experiences on any given day.
Let us move on to the mind.
Perhaps the most ubiquitous phrase in the lexicon of sport psychology is Mental Toughness. Sport psychologists love this phrase. Let me ask you a question. When you are not playing well is it because your mind is your friend or your enemy? And if it is your enemy, why would you want your enemy to be tough? If it is your mind that gets in the way of your performance, would you rather it be a tough adversary or a weak one?
The zone has nothing to do with mental toughness.
What about all the talk about positive self-talk? You have surely tried to tell yourself that you CAN DO IT and that YOU WILL PREVAIL. And when you did, did the mind not whisper back? Which voice had the greater effect? Your self-talk? Or the mind’s response?
What about thinking positive thoughts? You have likely tried this as well. When you had a positive thought it made you feel better, right? But how many seconds did it take for the negative thoughts to return?
You have perhaps even tried breathing, yoga, meditation, positive imagery, visualization, aphorisms, exercise and diet modification. Did any of these do the trick?
If you agree to suspend all of this ill logic. If you can abandon for a few minutes this bag of colorful potions, perhaps we can have a serious conversation.
Are you ready?
The side effects of the zone may be detected in the brain, but the zone itself is not found there. The zone has nothing to do with mental toughness. The zone is not about calming the mind, controlling the mind, appeasing the mind, or taming the mind.
In case you have not noticed, the mind cannot be tamed. It was never meant to be tamed. The mind is a tempest. A wild beast. Frenzy is its very nature. And if you stand in the way of this storm, you will be devoured.
The zone is not a state of a strong mind, a quiet mind, or a calm mind.
The zone is a state of No Mind.
When you experienced those tranquil, effortless days in which you accessed the zenith of your skill, it was because you had transcended the mind. Purely by accident. You did not have positive thoughts or happy thoughts. You had NO THOUGHTS. When there is no mind there is no thought. And when there is no thought, you have access to the full sum of your skill.
Can we get into the zone at will? Certainly. But it will cost you something that you may not be willing to pay: Your intelligence. The deep-seated belief which says that YOU KNOW.
Understanding the state of no mind will be more about unlearning rather than learning. It will require you to abandon all that you have been told. It will require you to admit a certain degree of ignorance. In accepting ignorance, you will begin to clear your mind of the cobwebs of thoughts. And you will begin the road toward clarity.
Can you do it? Can you make yourself available to existence? Can you let go of the knowledge of which you are so proud? Can you allow yourself Just To Be? Can you allow yourself to regress into childhood? Wholly new and innocent?
If you are willing, you will have started the journey. The journey toward No Mind. The journey toward clarity.
The journey toward becoming A Golfing God.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Michael Holmstrom
Jan 6, 2015 at 10:00 pm
Great Article. Basically similar to other things i’ve read from Bob Rotella, etc. I was excited to go out today and play, doing my best to eliminate conscious swing thoughts I normally use during setup and swing, i.e. kick left hip out, Flare the left foot, lower right shoulder, blah blah. Instead I just tried to “feel” the setup in my body and adjust setup based on tee. Old thoughts still creep in on the tee, or on the putting green, but i’d say i was successful about 80% of the shots. I play to a 9.5 index and shot a 74 today with 4 birdies. My second best round of my life. This stuff works….just saying!!
other paul
Jan 4, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Golf is thinking followed by focused thoughts directing an action. Not thinking and then no thinking.
other paul
Jan 4, 2015 at 7:57 pm
I was playing Virtual golf (36 holes in one hour) one night and found the zone for 1 shot. What I felt was a overwhelming focus and confidence (not an empty mind) in the task at hand. I knew exactly what I was going to do and how to do it. I then stepped up to the ball and thought “right at the pin” and hit it. Landed 10′ past from 194yards and almost hit the stick. I disagree with empty mind, an empty mind is not a focused mind. I also have found the zone in martial arts as well a single time while fighting. It was a amazing, felt like Jet Li for 30 seconds.
Philip
Jan 4, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Depends on the individual and how one defines an empty mind. For myself, my mind is constantly full of thoughts. My best golf is when I focus on my objective, visualize the result, step up to the ball and execute. To me that is an empty mind – not thinking about and being distracted by the wind, that golfer who won’t shut up, the traffic, the office, what am I having for supper, and the pain in my left leg, etc.
For myself, being in the zone is a form of walking meditation. So for me, I agree with the concept of an empty mind where I hardly notice the golfers I am playing with when I approach my ball. What I still find difficult is switching this state of mind off and on so that I can still enjoy the company of those I play a round of golf with. It is easy to switch off, not so easy to get back to it.
Mike Belkin
Jan 4, 2015 at 10:18 am
Great piece, and totally agree on the “unlearning” component in that we have to remove our preconceived notions and “let go” to help get in the zone.
Kapil Gupta MD
Jan 4, 2015 at 12:53 pm
Much appreciated, Mike. Glad you enjoyed it.
Craig T Nelson
Jan 3, 2015 at 8:21 pm
More WRX. Scam material
jon
Jan 3, 2015 at 9:58 pm
Scam? Why you hate to hate. You be trollin.
Beacher50
Jan 2, 2015 at 6:38 pm
What did Chevy Chase say in Caddyshack…NA NA NA…NU NU NU…NH NH NH
Toby Smith
Jan 2, 2015 at 8:42 am
Really interesting article, but leaves out the key info….how do you achieve it! I struggle to keep my mind quiet, would love more info about how to achieve this.
Barry S.
Jan 2, 2015 at 11:48 pm
Visualize the shot with your third eye and you’re pretty much there.
David
Jan 3, 2015 at 9:28 am
Didn’t you read? You must unlearn what you have learned. Go watch Star Wars – The Empire Strikes Back. If you are still asking this question, you have completely missed the point of the Force and need to watch again.
Yoda
Jan 3, 2015 at 3:49 pm
true dat
Anon
Jan 10, 2015 at 1:35 am
For the low price of 399.95 he be willing to show you the secrets of the no-mind!
???
Jan 2, 2015 at 4:56 am
Great piece,
Pleasure to see a golf related subject not covered in launch monitor data, or every golf psychology terminology under the sun. Golf was played well, by more skilful players than the modern day tour pro long before these two over subscribed genres ever came into prominence, so all aspiring players please take note. Play the game as it should be, which is ‘a game’, with the best results often found when simply mucking around or experimenting, it’s all in the dirt so to speak, and having lots of lessons will not give you the answer. Only you can find the answer from within, by trying a variety of styles/techniques that suit your own individual awareness and feel proprioception. Mimicking others will not help, as that is there journey and you need to follow your own, Furyk/Watson/Kuchar don’t stand on the range wishing they looked like some text book swing, when they are laughing their way to majors and top ten finishes. If they had been told they must follow the norm be that technical or mental they would never have made it to the top!
Kapil Gupta, MD
Jan 2, 2015 at 11:32 am
Amen, friend. Your wisdom shines through.
Armisen
Jan 3, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Sorry, I don’t buy it.
MANY people ‘muck around’, without help, and get stuck in an endless pattern of experimentation and a constantly changing swing that never allows them to progress as a player (this coming from a creative-type, avid golf experimenter).
Surely there is a middle ground where one can learn the game with the help of someone who encourages experimentation within some guidelines.
And players of old were more skillful than their modern-day counterparts? I’d like to know how you measure that. Smacks of bias to me.
Philip
Jan 3, 2015 at 5:45 pm
I guess it depends on how they “muck” around. If they just try different things then I totally agree as I did exactly that a few years ago and did nothing but go in circles. However, if they are starting to listen to their body (i.e. instincts) while experimenting (paying attention to cause and effect) then they can open up a large door to improvement if they try to simplify what they are doing.
Can people accelerate in their game with outside help – for sure (videos, books, golfing partners, etc.) I personally have found it difficult to find a golf coach who was on my page or was able to get me to their page – tricky for sure, but I will be trying again with another course pro this spring. I learn so much from other golfers each time I play (both better and worse than myself) so why not from a teacher of golf. Every little bit helps.
I agree with your third point – players of long ago are not more skillful than yesterday, today, or tomorrow. Each independent era had the most skillful players of that time based on the then current course conditions, equipment and knowledge available. If you took anyone from two era’s at their prime and they competed together they would both get better as a result of learning from each other.
Fred
Jan 2, 2015 at 12:30 am
I wonder if the author even golfs….
Bla bla
Jan 1, 2015 at 9:25 pm
Booooring! To long didn’t even start reading it!
Brad Ingarfield
Jan 1, 2015 at 8:58 pm
Very interesting. I’ll give it a shot. – Brad Ingarfield
KK
Jan 1, 2015 at 7:40 pm
Is this really an article on GolfWRX about how to be a god or gain superhuman abilities by using something that is beyond my mind?
J
Jan 1, 2015 at 6:41 pm
Irreverent and offensive title for an article and a statement.
Equating to some ability to focus on a task to Godliness however unintentional or not intended is despicable.
Choose better words next time.
Philip
Jan 1, 2015 at 10:42 pm
Very relevant and non-offensive. Definitely not despicable as many individuals often blame their success on some “God” and not themselves. Not religious in any shape or form as “Gods” have existed in human affairs for thousands of years and numerous “Gods” still do to this day.
J
Jan 2, 2015 at 7:12 pm
Irreverent… Not irrelevant.
Philip
Jan 2, 2015 at 11:08 pm
Gotcha, missed that. However, I do not think there is any disrespect here. Beside, I personally would not want to be a golfing god, how boring – takes all the fun out of golf. That being said, there is no disrespect in accepting that our bodies and senses, as designed, know more how to play golf than our intellectual minds. If anything, it is a sign of respect that we know so little within our minds.
As was said a long time ago, our hands know more on how to play golf than our minds will ever know.
Scooter McGavin
Jan 2, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Which of the hundreds of gods is he being offensive to? Take your sermons elsewhere, please.
Splatgirl
Jan 3, 2015 at 11:57 am
Get over yourself.
Splatgirl
Jan 3, 2015 at 11:59 am
This was in reply to J, not you, Scooter.
Philip
Jan 1, 2015 at 5:09 pm
That has been my journey over the last two years with my swing, setup and execution on the course. No thoughts – just let my body determine what is required based on what my eyes see, my senses feel, and the visualization of the ball flight in my mind.
The more i try to control with my thoughts what has to happen and how, the more I mess up. The more I allow my thoughts to evaporate and trust my senses the more amazing the results.
I accepted this through an experiment 2 years ago at a driving range. My 7i was 150 yards at the time and I setup to three targets. 150 yard target at centre, 130 yard target 30 yards to the right, and 170 yrs target 30 yards to the left. I always faced the 150 yard target and then would visualize which target I wanted the ball to go to and allow my body to determine my grip and setup while always facing the target in front of me.
I then proceeded to watch myself take the one 7i and hit it straight to 150, cut it to 130, and turn it to 170 yards repeatedly while landing less than 10 yards of each target. I had no idea on how to make those shots with precision, but my body did based on what I visualized in my mind. Thus began my journey to simplify everything about golf, including my thoughts which where an unnecessary burden.
Every year since has been an improvement – this one looking to be the best yet.
Kapil Gupta MD
Jan 1, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Truly fantastic, Philip. You are indeed on the right track, my friend.
Best,
Armisen
Jan 3, 2015 at 12:42 pm
This is all fine and dandy, but in no way are you ‘letting your body determine what is required’ when you swing. It’s all in your brain, man.
Philip
Jan 3, 2015 at 5:31 pm
Yes and no – I guess a better way is to say I was letting my unconscious mind control my body. In regards to this experiment, I set-up to the ball without looking at my hands or my stance. I walked up to the ball and focused on the target with my eyes, seeing the ball flight and once my hands and body felt comfortable I made the swing.
I didn’t walk up the ball and start thinking – okay, I need to open the club face a bit, open my stance and come over the top just a bit to cut the ball and take off yardage. I would be lucky to hit the ball.
Yes, my brain is being used but at the instinct level, not intellectual level. No different than if someone tosses you a baseball. You’re not calculating the speed of the ball, the angle of flight, where your feet are located, are you in balance and how far you have to outstretch your arm to catch the ball. You just move in front of the ball path, stick out your arm and catch the ball without conscious thought (or as little as possible for you).
My goal is to make my game of golf as close as possible to catching a baseball, or running though the woods at dusk – instinct.
Bill
Jan 6, 2015 at 3:30 pm
curious to know your handicap Philip… the amount of body control and unconscious mind connection you have achieved, does not just happen. I would venture to guess you are near scratch, and you have done extensive *conscious* work on grooving a fundamentally sound setup from your consistent pre-shot routine for your body type/ability level, before you were able to let your unconscious take over and actually produce the shots you visualized. You want to swing instinctively as we do in other sports, but Golf is not like other sports where we reacti to a moving object. The ball just sits there, which makes it very difficult to use the same unconscious reaction instincts of high-motion activities. You haven’t just tapped in to the same instincts you had in baseball, you have put a lot of hard work and effort in to developing your golf-specific skills. Well done!
Bill
Jan 6, 2015 at 3:41 pm
*caveat – I do agree that if the conscious mind gives a ball flight visualization to the unconscious mind to ‘react’ to, the unconscious mind will produce the shot, BUT the set-up has to be good, too. which is material for a whoooole nuther post.
AJ Jensen
Jan 1, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Great article. You’ve pinned down what I’ve struggled to explain to myself, about how to recapture the often-elusive Zone and the way I feel whenever a window opens and I find myself in it. This season maybe I will focus myself on a ‘just play’ kind of approach, abandon the active thought thing and let my hands and body do what they already know how to do with a golf club.
Gloover
Jan 1, 2015 at 1:25 pm
Eh, I’m going to trust Daniel Dennett: “all varieties of perception—indeed all varieties of thought or mental activity—are accomplished in the brain by parallel, multitrack processes of interpretation and elaboration of sensory inputs. Information entering the nervous system is under continuous ‘editorial revision.'” “These yield, over the course of time, something rather like a narrative stream or sequence, which can be thought of as subject to continual editing by many processes distributed around the brain, …”
Armisen
Jan 3, 2015 at 12:43 pm
Yes. Mind=Brain.
Nick
Jan 1, 2015 at 12:32 pm
Great article. Really makes me realize how much I overthink the game at times. I just need to sometimes let it go…