How Important Is It To Having A Sound Mental Health Golf Swing?

Last Updated on Tuesday, 4 October 2011 01:21 Written by Natural Health Team Tuesday, 4 October 2011 01:21

Health Information about How Important Is It To Having A Sound Mental Health Golf Swing?

Golf is a great game made up of rules and standards. It’s more than that however! Golf is a mindset and self-confidence game. It’s made for those golfers who want to take on challenges away from the everyday grind and problems that we must endure in our lives.

That is why for an average golf round of 4+ hours we can forget about everything else in our lives and just focus on one’s own self interest in improving our own golf swing or scores. You can call it arrogance and self-absorption but, the original inventor of this game did come from royalty.

If you are confident enough in your own ability to swing a golf club, then you will have no fear of sending that golf ball where ever you want it to go. Confidence is simply knowing that the golf ball will fly towards its intended target.

The opposite of confidence is fear. Lack of self- confidence in golf is knowing before hitting the golf ball what the consequences of the end result is going to be. When you are afraid of hitting your golf ball into trouble, you are no longer in the present moment. You are now thinking about all of the negatives of hitting the golf ball and what the final consequences is going to be. Loss of pride, loss of strokes, loss of match, loss of money and tournament.

Most professional golfers have one shot that they hit more or less religiously, whether it be a fade, draw, straight, whatever. While some work the ball on most shots, very few try and work the ball in a different direction for each shot, and this includes the best golfers in the world.

So what is the biggest difference between an amateur and a professional? The golf swing is built on belief, self-confidence and trust. They own their shots and feel most comfortable when they stay consistent with their grooved golf swing. It becomes instinctive, second nature and they feel most comfortable with it.They don’t ever veer from their money maker golf swing.

They don’t cut into the quality of their practices by trying to maintain three different ball flights. They don’t try and hit a golf shot that they haven’t practiced for thousands of hours. They stick with one and that gets all their attention and focus. They know they can count on it because their game was built around that one shot, rather than hitting shots they are less comfortable with in order to fit a particular hole. Why reinvent the wheel, when your golf swing has held up under pressure.

Many of the greats, from Ben Hogan to Jack Nicklaus have had one ball flight that they preferred to hit over any other and they have stuck with it. Always being the majority of their golf shots, and not trying to hit something on a consistent basis that was against their behavioral instincts.

Focus in golf is critical to successfully executing a golf shot to the best of your ability. The mind works best when a golfer narrows his focus to the smallest point possible. Often times amateurs will freeze up and get tense when trying to narrow their focus to such a specific point and say “they can’t do it!” Immediately, they realize that they’re simply trying way too hard to concentrate and must simply allow the mind to wander away from its intended target.

For a weekend golfer it’s very difficult to put your everyday life on hold while playing and only think about golfing. During play many thoughts do run across your mind and it only results in bad swing flaws. This can creep into your mind at any point on the golf course, and the end results normally is bad scores. For trained elite golfers they will often focus on only the small tasks at hand. Their focal point is that every golf shot counts and one bad mishit can cost them thousands of dollars.

A positive mental attitude creates emotional stability. Golf is one of the very few sports where you can go from pure joy to absolute devastation with one golf swing. A golfer with a positive mental attitude living in the very moment takes the great shots with the bad, knowing that full well everyone hits horrible and great shots everyday. P.G.A. Tour pros will only hit 12 or 13 greens per round on the average. So cut yourself some slack.

A golfer must stay in the present moment at all times. He must never deviate and get way ahead of himself, adding up his score or thinking about the next shot. How many times have you seen a golfer add up his score after 9 holes and say well, “I shot 39 on the front so I’m looking to shoot a 78?” The score you shot on the front has absolutely nothing to do with what you can or will shoot on the back side. Staying in the present moment keeps the golfer from fearing the consequences of this shot or the next, or remembering the last time he double bogeyed a particular hole.

He is only concerned with what he can control in this very moment, freeing up his mind from doubts and fears. Being tense is the perfect way to ruin a great golf swing. Tension in the muscles removes their coordination, suppleness and flexibility. Tension is most often caused by fear, doubts, poor golf swing mechanics, or all of the above. The greatest issue with tension is that it is controlled by the conscious mind, whom happens to be a horrible golfer.

Your conscious mind is amazingly capable of handling the demands of such things as the mechanics of your golf swing. On average the golf swing is said to be completed in less than 2 seconds. During that time, how many thoughts do you really think you can process and communicate to your body what to do next? Your mind must filter on average about two seconds of the full mechanics of your golf swing. This is simply an impossible task to ask of your mind and body. You’re not wired that way, no one is. Swinging the golf club is not about getting the club and body into certain positions, it’s about swinging the golf club. That’s it!

One of the most important processes in a golf shot is visualizing the golf shot. For many, this seems difficult or they don’t believe they can do it. Visualization is like programming a computer to perform a task. In this case, the computer is your subconscious mind and the most efficient programming language for this computer is imagery.

Visualizing goals gives us direction, motivates us and creates an internal drive that gives the momentum to achieve some thing big. Visualize what it will be like when you break 70 or 80 for the first time. Whatever your goals are they must be something that drives you to achieve.

Many people say that the reasons the pros can visualize their shots is because they have such great physical control over their golf ball. The truth is they have such great physical control is because they visualize their golf shots. If you don’t have an image of what you want the golf ball to do, then what do you expect the ball to do?

You must know where you want to go and the path of how to get there. In golf, the where is the target and the path is the flight of the ball. You know where you want to end up and there are many ways to get there. You need to consider the best way possible for you to get to your destination given your abilities and the elements. The journey is just as important as the destination.

Trust is something that must be built and nurtured through both mental and physical practice in golf. Trusting in your golf swing and your ability is one of the most important principles in golf. Without trust, there can be no confidence and fear is the first thing to replace trust. Trust is believing in your ability to hit the perfect shot. Trusting in yourself requires that you block out the past negative thoughts of golf swings that had poor results and believe in yourself now, in this very moment.

If you’ve ever hit one good shot with the golf club in your hands, then you are capable of hitting a thousand more like it. A bad attitude sees a bad shot and says that I am a horrible golfer, “I can never get off this tee”, and “I can’t hit this club.” Speaking positively about oneself is a method to creating your own reality. It is the self-fulfilling prophecy that we have all seen fulfilled in life and on the golf course. A positive mental attitude will allow you to enjoy the game and have fun at the same time.

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Golf Fitness: the Easiest at Home Golf Fitness Program

Last Updated on Saturday, 1 May 2010 09:03 Written by Natural Health Team Saturday, 1 May 2010 09:03

How do golf and fitness go together?  Why do I need golf fitness training?  What difference would a golf fitness program make to my golf game?

I can tell you all about that from what I have seen with my friend and golfing buddy, Dooley Duffer. 

Dooley had been away from the game for some years.  His career and family took priority over his time and golf, although he loved it, it just would not fit into his schedule. As he advanced in his career he became less physically active. He even moved to a management position so time in the office was nothing like the work he had been doing.

His body began to show his change in lifestyle. Don’t tell him I told you this, but his middle seemed to grow faster than his salary. Bet you know how that story goes, huh?

He had only played very occasionally during that time. So I don’t think he realized how much being out of shape affected his golf swing performance.

Then Dooley changed companies and began to play golf regularly again thanks to his new boss who had recently taken up the game. With his kids grown Dooley now had more time to devote to golf and it only took one round back on the course to re-ignite the passion which had burned so brightly in days gone by.

As he began to play more often his physical limitations became a more and more of an issue. He struggled at times to finish a round; scores would escalate due to inconsistent swings, loss of concentration and general fatigue.  He would even huff and puff when walking up hills in spite of always riding a cart. I can remember having to wait for him to catch his breath before he could putt on elevated greens. No chance he could walk when he played.

Then over a few weeks I began to notice improvement in Dooley’s game. Less and less of the struggles I had noticed before and more successful golf shots, better concentration and less fatigue. He even began saying he wanted to play an extra 9 holes!

You see, conditioning is critical to your overall golf performance. And poor physical conditioning will certainly ruin your golf performance. Just ask Dooley about that.

What was Dooley’s secret?  Had he hired a golf fitness trainer? Did he use golf fitness videos? What had he done to improve his fitness for golf and his golf handicap?

Turns out he had not done any of those things exactly.  He said he found this golf fitness eBook called “Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide” by Mike Pedersen. Seems Mike’s eBook is about how to improve your golf fitness at home in less than 30 days. Mike says that the secret to lower scores and longer drives is all about getting your body to move just a little bit better.

Dooley said he that he took the advice seriously and began to feel results quickly. Then he began to notice he felt better on the course. That was very encouraging to him and he was able to keep at it. He had tried exercising before but soon lost interest but this was different.  He could see improvement and he knew why! The Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide had delivered on its promise. Dooley says this is the kind of thing anyone could and should do from home to improve their fitness for golf.

Having watched Dooley now for these past few months make such wonderful progress, I too can recommend “Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide”.  (Yes, I am on it now too.)

If you need help with your golf fitness program, if you run short of breath at times or struggle scoring over the last few holes of a round then please look into how Ultimate Golf Fitness could help you see the same kind of improvement Dooley is experiencing.

Golf fitness training found here.  Ultimate Golf Fitness Guide

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Golf Fitness Exercises for Women Golfers

Last Updated on Saturday, 10 April 2010 09:04 Written by Natural Health Team Saturday, 10 April 2010 09:04

Golf fitness exercises can be beneficial for the woman golfer in terms of improving the foundation of the swing, rotation in the backswing, speed development in the downswing, and a consistent finish position. Learn how golf fitness exercises can benefit the woman golfer. Lowering golf scores and making the game more enjoyable.

It is well known in professional golf how integral golf fitness exercises are for success at the highest level of golf. Men on the PGA Tour and women on the LPGA Tour understand the benefits of golf fitness exercises in achieving success. Outside the circles of professional golf many questions exist about golf fitness exercises. Questions such as; what are the best exercises to improve golf fitness levels, are flexibility exercises and stretches better than other forms of golf fitness exercises, and what are the benefits of golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer?

These and many questions surround the topic of golf fitness. This article is to provide some answers for you on the topic of golf fitness exercises for woman. It has been well documented in magazines and television how LPGA women such as Annika Sorenstam utilize golf fitness programs to benefit their play on the golf course. Is there a difference between the LPGA player and the amateur woman golfer in relation to golf fitness training? The answer is no. Yes, the women on the LPGA Tour are the best women golfers in the world, but the physiology of the LPGA player and amateur are the same. The skeletal, muscular, and neural systems are the same. The professional golfer has the same number of muscles in their bodies as the amateur. The woman’s professional golfer has the same skeletal structure as the female amateur, and nervous system as well. Granted the LPGA player has more refined and efficient swing mechanics, but the body is the same.

As a result of the body being the same, the principles and structure of a golf fitness program for any woman is similar. Before discussing the specifics of a golf fitness program for women it is necessary to understand a few important principles. The first principle to understand about a golf fitness program is sports specific. Sports specific is a term describing the type of training utilized in a golf fitness program. Sport specific training simply states the program utilized by the woman athlete is geared towards improving them in their chosen sport.

A second principle closely related to sports specific training is cross specificity training. Cross specificity training is the utilization of exercises to develop the woman golfer in the positions, movements, and actions incorporated in the golf swing. The goal of cross specificity training is a transfer of training effect to the field of competition. Simply stated, a transfer of training effect is the ability of exercises utilized to train the female golfer having a direct benefit on their performance during a round of golf.

For example, golf fitness flexibility exercises will attempt to improve the flexibility within the woman golfer. As the woman golfer improves her flexibility parameters in relation to the golf swing. She may be able to create a bigger shoulder turn, which may increase the distance of her drives. This benefit is an example of a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. In summary, the three principles that assist in the development of a golf fitness program for women are; sports specific, cross specificity training, and transfer of training effect. Many additional principles exist that are used as guidelines in the development of a golf fitness program, but these are three essential ones.

Outside of the guidelines governing the development of a golf fitness program for woman. Specific physical components within the body are needed within the body to execute the golf swing correctly. Remember, it is the body performing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order for the golf swing to be executed correctly and efficiently certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required. These are the actual physical components within the woman golfer a golf specific fitness program looks to develop and enhance in relation to the golf swing.

The golf swing requires the body to move through a long range of motion for an efficient movement to occur. Much of this is contingent upon the ability of the core to coil and uncoil during the swing. In order for these two biomechanical actions to occur efficiently, the development of proper flexibility in the core is necessary.

We utilize flexibility exercises that are cross-specific to the movements in the golf swing to develop flexibility. The majority of these flexibility exercises are rotational and dynamic.

The golf swing is a dynamic movement, indicating that the body is in constant motion. It is crucial to develop a range of motion for the swing in a dynamic rather than a static (not moving) method. The goal of these exercises is to create a range of motion in the core for the golf swing. Flexibility is the first physical component requiring development within the woman golfer.

One needs to maintain, dynamically, a stable body throughout the entire swing. We have all hit balls at the range and know what happens when we do not stay balanced during the swing. Improving the balance and stabilization capabilities of the core translates into a better golf swing. Better Balance equals a Better Swing. Even subtle movements are consistency killers; thus we need to develop and maintain balance for a consistent swing.

Balance is connected to the efficiency of the nervous system and strength of the muscular system working together. The development of greater balance in the core and swing is the result of two types of specific exercise. The first challenges the nervous system creating greater efficiency. The second are exercises that create increased strength in the core. The combination of these two types of exercises permit for the body to maintain posture, promote efficient weight transfer, and create power in the swing. The result is a more consistent, accurate, and powerful swing. This is the second component included with a golf fitness program for women

Remember that the golf swing is a repetitive movement. The mechanics of the swing repeat with each stroke. This process can be repeated hundreds of times in a round of golf. Ever go to the range and hit two buckets of balls? At some point the body starts to tire, and shots scatter.

Proper endurance training enables us to repeat a sound swing. We produce this through a series of exercises developing endurance in the entire body. This nets us a consistent swing through eighteen holes. Increasing endurance leads to lower scores. This is the third physical component of the golf fitness program for women.

Club head speed is a function of power. The more power generated by the body, the greater speed at which a club head impacts the ball. More power to the ball equals longer drives. Developing higher levels of power within the muscular system of the body is achieved through the implementation of power exercises. These types of exercise assist in creating higher power outputs of the muscles involved in the golf swing. Power training is the final component found in a golf fitness program for women.

In summary a golf fitness program for the LPGA or amateur woman golfer is relatively the same. Golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer are sports specific. The exercises contained within the golf fitness program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and requirements of the golf swing. The exercises within a woman’s golf fitness program induce a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. A golf fitness program for women will look to enhance these physical components of the body. The end result is an improved golf swing equating to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notably Masters and PGA Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

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Correct Ball Position When Putting

Last Updated on Sunday, 3 January 2010 01:02 Written by Natural Health Team Sunday, 3 January 2010 01:02

The putting stroke is one of the most important strokes if not the most important stroke when playing golf. So naturally if you want to improve your golf you need to improve your putting.

One way to improve your putting is to place the ball in the correct position at address to ensure that you strike the ball at the optimum point with the sweet spot of the putter in the intended direction. Ball position is as important in the putting stroke as it is in the full swing.

The best position of the golf ball in the putting stroke is slightly forward of the center of your stance. The reason the ball should be positioned slightly forward is so that you place an ascending blow when the putter-face meets the ball. This imparts good forward role on your putts and and gives them the best chance of reaching the hole.

The ball should also be placed directly under your eyes at address so that you have the best perspective of the line from the ball to the hole. This will greatly improve your putting score as you will be able to line your putts up better and have more chance of sinking them.

A simple drill to ensure the ball is placed under your eyes when you putt is the following.

Adopt a comfortable putting stance and then drop the ball from the bridge of your nose. The place where the ball lands is the perfect ball position for you.

Try this when you practice your putting. Hope it helps

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Keeping Your Head Still When Putting

Last Updated on Saturday, 2 January 2010 02:53 Written by Natural Health Team Saturday, 2 January 2010 02:53

As we all know, putting is very important when playing golf and the aim of all golfers is to hit as few putts as possible. Here is a simple tip that will drastically improve your putting.

One of the most common mistakes amateur golfers make when putting is moving their heads during the putting stroke. This occurs because most golfers want to see the result of the putt and the path the ball is taking before completing the putting stroke. This occurs especially on short putts, where there is a tendency of golfers to take an anxious peek and establish whether the ball is going into the hole.

There are a couple of things that happen when you move your head during the putting stroke.

1) You don’t complete the follow through, giving you a putting stroke that is short and stabs at the ball resulting in inconsistencies in length. It also reduces the purity of the stroke.

2) When you move your head before the ball is struck your shoulders move out of position, causing the putter to leave the intended path of the stroke, leading to a crooked stroke and a missed putt.

The above results are results that none of us want and can do serious damage to our confidence which is especially important when putting.

To cure this problem you have to do the following.

For long putts, look at the ball during the entire backswing until contact while the ball is stationary and keep your eyes on that stationary position even after the ball has been struck. Count to at least two after striking the ball before lifting your eyes to ensure that you complete your follow through.

For short putts, keep your eye on the stationary position of the ball until you can hear the ball drop in the cup after impact.

This should ensure that you keep your head still during the putting stroke, will greatly increase your confidence and the consistency of your putts.

Hope this helps.

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