Rinker’s Golf Tips SiriusXM September 14th Dr. Bob Winters Dr. Bob talked about handling pressure. Do we welcome it, do we look forward to taking that shot, or do we shy away from it and try to avoid pressure? This approach avoidance mechanism really needs to be addressed. Another mental mistake from Dr. Bob’s new book, “Mistake Free Golf” is getting ahead of yourself, thinking what will I shoot if I par in, or thinking about your acceptance speech when you have work still left to do to win the tournament. Mental and emotional stress can and will lead to physical breakdowns in our performance. Many of us are so unfamiliar with pressure situations and it’s very easy for people to say we “choked.” What does it mean to play with emotional control? We all learn from our failings and we “fail our way to success.” We learn to win by failing and become familiar with the situation. “Don’t fear failing. Failure is the fertilizer for success, “ Rick Pitino.
No one is immune to pressure and anxiety. Have to keep everything value free and just be in the next shot. We all get ahead of ourselves by projecting, counting, and score keeping. Continue playing golf. “You never count your money at the table. There will be time enough when the dealing’s done,” Kenny Rogers from the song “The Gambler.” Quit playing the game of counting and get into the moment and play one shot at a time. You’ve got to be in the moment for peak performance. Understand your personal playing philosophy and your optimal way of functioning. Pressure-A factor or any combination of factors that increase the importance of you wanting to perform well and the key aspect of that is the value of something. Thinking I have to, I must, and I need to make this putt, puts more value on the shot at hand. That is not an external factor. That is coming from you, subjective internal pressure. Need to not put more value on any shot and be value free. The ball doesn’t know what we are putting for. Most people don’t practice the way they are going to play in the tournament. They pick up two and three footers and don’t putt out. People miss putts because they don’t see the ball going in. Practice by having contests with other people. Have to practice seeing, hearing, and feeling the ball going into the hole.
We all want to eliminate mental errors. Have to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. The people you are playing with most likely don’t really care what you shoot. Ben Hogan took care of Ben Hogan. When you can dismiss what other people are thinking and get into your own game you will play your best. First key is self awareness-monitor what you are saying to yourself in your self-talk. Two-thirds of our thoughts are negative, careful, and limiting. The moment you change your mind and self-talk, you change your physiology and you change your perspective. “Angels fly high because they consider themselves lightly.” Emotional composure-Golf is a game of passion and controlling it. Get your gas grill too hot and you can burn the steaks. Get too euphoric and we can’t get into our best performance state. Have to pull something positive out of every shot, accept, and release the emotions. Because if we don’t it could affect the next shot. Get back to shot for shot and this is how I am going to execute this next shot. Eat your steak one bite at a time. Accept it and move on. Dr. Bob Winters can be reached at his web site www.drbobwinters.com