This article looks at how overthinking can hinder your performance.
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“I Think Therefore I am”… a Great Golfer?!
It was Descartes who coined the phrase “I think therefore I am” and when it comes to golf, or any sport for that matter it’s as if many of us believe that because we are reasonably smart and intelligent it will help make us a better golfer. I’d argue that it can often get in our way.A colleague of mine Karl Morris quotes that the average golfer’s handicap both in the USA and in Great Britain has not come down in the last forty years. I’d imagine the statistics would be similar in New Zealand. And I would suggest this is due to “Paralysis by Analysis”, what I call the biggest disease of the modern golfing age.
Ever since Ben Hogan played at his peak in the 1950’s golfers have become obsessed with imitating HIS “perfect” swing and HIS approach to obtaining that – hours and hours of hitting thousands of balls on the range. As a result, golf professionals, coaches and club golfers alike have become obsessed with thinking and analysing the swing down to the smallest detail with the aid of modern technology – video cameras through to launch monitors - all in the pursuit of achieving the perfect swing. Yet all this thought, technology and obsession with obtaining the “perfect swing” - the golfing nirvana – has left us no better off as club golfers. We haven’t improved.
Contrary to the idea that we all should have a perfect swing, stand a multitude of very successful tour golfers whose swings are far from text book and you’d be far pushed to find a coach who would teach the moves that these players get themselves into. Unorthodox players include Jim Furyk, Colin Montgomerie, Laura Davies (on toes at impact) and Annika Sorenstam (is looking at the target at impact). No club player would dare tell these players that their swings are not perfect and that they should change them!!! These players have worked on “perfecting” THEIR swings not conforming to Ben Hogan or anyone else’s ideal of a perfect swing.
Overthinking our swings can mentally tie us in knots. And as our brain is the control centre for our bodies, it can literally leave us physically scared stiff in the worst case scenario or swinging contrived and awkward at best. Our brains and bodies work best if we don’t try and consciously intervene all the time. In other words the brain and body doesn’t need you to “tell” yourself how to swing it.
How long have you been playing golf for? Chances are you’ve been doing it for months if not years. The overall move is a learnt motor task which you can do automatically without thinking about it. It’s much like when you first learnt to drive a car. Initially you were consciously instructing yourself on what to do with your feet and timing it with the gear changes, but after a couple of months you no longer needed to think about HOW to do it you just did it automatically without thinking. In much the same way your swing is automatic to some degree. You don’t need to think about it on the course. In fact if you do you’ll perform worse!! Rather you would be better off letting your automatic swing happen.
We need to take a leaf out of the books of children who often are great putters and golfers for their ability. One of my 18 year old clients the other day declared that children have no fear. “Why do you think that is the case?” I asked. “Because they don’t think about things they just do it” he replied. Exactly!!! As adults we all have a tendency to overthink not just our swings, but sometimes our tactical games where we can second guess our club choices for example. We can also overthink our psychological game where we are busy thinking about what we should be thinking – rather than just doing it “au naturale” or letting it flow.
Golf is a paradox, the less we struggle and try the more things flow. The more they flow or happen naturally the better we play! Some people ask “Why is it that I play better when I’m tired, still hungover from the night before or if I’m playing extreme golf (fastest time running around the course and score combined)?” It’s because you have stopped trying to over-think and over-control things. Doing this leaves the brain and body to work best as it already knows how. It will capitalise on all the work you have already put into your game. It will mean you don't have to “work” at your golf when you go to play a round, rather you need only “PLAY” (the opposite of “work” in our western culture) at your round regardless of its importance.
When you are tired or even sick (they do say be wary of the sick golfer for a reason!) you are operating on automatic. When things happen automatically (i.e. you are not thinking or analysing rather just “doing”) you are closer to getting “in the zone” or “in FLOW” the state associated with peak performance. If you are in flow then you will be playing to the best of your current ability.
Therefore I challenge you to go out and quit thinking about your swing or how your “ought” to be playing golf. Rather trust what you’ve got on the day, let it happen and see what may!!
© BY VICKI AITKEN Printed Nov 2005 in NEW ZEALAND GOLF MAGAZINE
