Posted by Charlie King on Tue, Sep 22, 2009 @ 01:46 PM
On Friday, August 28, nationally recognized performance consultant and sports psychologist Rick Jensen spoke to a packed room at the Reynolds Golf Academy. Jensen, who is a long-time friend and advisor of Director of Instructor Charlie King, presented his thoughts on "Taking Your Golf Game to the Next Level." The high-energy talk focused on the importance of learning motor skills the right way - through practice. Jensen warned that learning a swing through the "old rules" of golf would only provide a temporary fix for a long-term problem. The fallacy of traditional teaching lies in trying to mimic a "perfect" swing through studying videos of professionals. Dr. Jensen argued that prescribing to the "new rules" of golf (made popular by Charlie King) would prove beneficial to a lifetime of improvement. By understanding the essentials of a good swing, and realizing why your swing isn't working, you create a solid foundation upon which to build a better golf game. And to build motor skills that truly work, you must commit to and embrace one training methodology from one teacher. It is this dedication to practice that will eventually lead to success on the course...the final step in "Taking Your Golf Game to the Next Level." Dr. Jensen warns that too many times golfers see a tip in a magazine and take it straight to the course, thus skipping the vitally important step of practicing and developing motor skills.
Dr. Rick Jensen is the author of Drive to the Top: 5 Timeless Business Lessons Learned from Golf's Greatest Champions, and is gratefully credited by King as the man who talked him out of becoming a tour player (he's very happy as a teacher). Dr. Jensen's clients have included more than 50 touring pros on the PGA, LPGA, and Champions Tours, plus other champions from Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and tennis pros from the WTA. Upon arrival at Reynolds Plantation, Jensen remarked, "I've traveled through the area many times, and unbelievably never made a stop at Reynolds. This place is incredible. As soon as I made it through the gates, the wheels in my head began turning like crazy. The possibilities of this place!"
Posted by Charlie King on Sat, Apr 18, 2009 @ 06:45 PM
YES!
Emotions are part of every golfer's game. Have you ever experienced anger or frustration on the course, and then you feel like you lost your swing? Emotions can quickly override and undo all of the long hours of work and practice you put in. Anxiety, irritation and anger are types of emotions that can turn up the mental noise to such a disruptive pitch that it becomes difficult to perform and stay in a great, positive state of mind. How you think on the course will influence your game. If you want to get the most out of your golf game, it would be worthwhile to discover whether or not your mindset is hindering your results.
It is important to determine what your emotional state is for playing your very best golf. Emotional states drive physiological functions and performance. Emotions are what controls and determines the quality of our golf game. Once you have discovered what you are trying to accomplish whether it is winning a tournament, or shooting your best round, breaking a 100 for the first time you will have a pattern of emotions. Once you establish what you are trying to achieve, each individual will have a pattern of emotions that they associate to this meaning as their way of dealing with the issue.
- How you use your physical body such as breath, posture, and movement will have an effect on your game. A great example would be when someone is playing well and confident they usually have their chest up, shoulders back, and are breathing calmly. You can tell a lot by someone's posture on the course.
- Whatever you focus on, you will feel. As soon as we put words to the experience it changes the meaning we experience. Someone who believes they can do it will have a better chance of getting the results they desire. Focus on that task and it will lead to the best results. Think back to a time on the course when you played your best you were unbeatable and everything seemed to go your way. Were you confident, Fearless, Focused, or Relaxed? It might be a combination of them all.
Get rid of meanings or excuses for how or why you are feeling. Put yourself in the state of emotion that allows you to play your best golf. This is very important when your tendency is to react negatively to bad shots. Remember if you try to put the shot out of your mind but your emotional state is still negative you will struggle out there.
Check out Charlie's video below on this topic.
Happy Golfing, Karen