Golfing Intuition

REMEMBER: That intuition is the process that cuts out all the logic – it enables you to just know that you are doing the right thing. Once you have decided on the shot you area about to take and you start your swing then just trust in your intuition – that part of you that instinctively knows that all the decisions, practise and conditions in that moment will allow you to play the best shot in that moment that you are capable of.

At this point in evolution the cave man was not noted for his intellectual prowess, he had only the mental tools to make an ‘emotional decision’ – a ‘gut reaction’ as we call it today. So he would feel or ‘sense’ danger and would react very quickly.

Over time man’s intellectual abilities have evolved, but accessing the intellectual part of our brain still takes longer (even if it is only a milli-second). So when we sense danger we still react through our emotions; emotionally and physically. Thousands of years ago this could have meant the difference between life and death – nowadays on the golf course it just seems like it!

It is strange that we still feel this anxious knot in our stomachs when faced with a situation that takes us out of our comfort zone, but we need to put some perspective on what is going on otherwise reacting so instinctively can result in poorly executed shots.

It is important to tune into your intuition and to ‘trust’ that you are about to do everything right, otherwise nerves can kick in and take over – for example ‘first tee nerves’ – most players want to take that first shot as quickly as possible and just get out of there. That is when the ‘fear and flight’ mentality kicks in.

This emotional response is all well and good if you are running out of a wood to save your life from an ensuing animal, but you do not need to react so quickly on a golf course. You can take your time and this is where so many amateurs and professionals make so many mistakes. They want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible. You know that feeling don’t you? This does not, however, help in achieving the results that YOU want in order to play great golf.

This is where learning to understand what happens to you will enable you to CHANGE what you have always done. You need to ‘listen’ to your intuition – and although your gut instinct will sometimes kick in and create nervous tension make sure you stay focused mentally on all the right things (read my tips below on how to do this). Your intution will be there to support you if you trust it and to help you to get into a good place emotionally and physically before taking your next shot.

By learning how to compose yourself in any anxious situation, by controlling your more negative emotional responses, and allowing your intellect enough time to give you a truer picture of what is going on, your self-talk has time to give you a positive outlook and support you in the belief that you are prepared and more than capable. This will result in that all important ability to ‘trust’ in yourself.

Here are a few tips to help you stay focused on the right things next time you set-up to the ball:

Take your time you have as much right to be there as your fellow players – breath and relax.

Hit towards your goal and not away from the hazards.

Tell yourself ‘I am going to get it in the centre of the fairway’ NOT ‘I don’t want it to go in the bunker’ – the mind will visualise the ‘bunker’ and will believe that is where you want to go and so will support you to achieve this so give it something else to focus on like WHERE YOU REALLY WANT TO BE!

As you go into your back swing count the tempo out in your mind with a timing that suits you – 1,2,3 ... or use three words in time to your swing, CALM, FOCUS COMMIT – try these out on a practice round first and remember REPEAT, REPEAT and REPEAT so it becomes habit.

Whilst you are using your self-talk to count through the stroke or to say the words that work for you in tempo with your swing you are not allowing any negative thoughts in. I know many people who sing to themselves – these tips are all designed to help you focus on the task in hand. They will also help you to play in the moment and will support you in managing your emotional responses to the situations you find yourself in whilst playing golf.