Mind Coach

PAULWATSON

Guys,

Having worked with my swing coach (Barry Power) for the last two years, we have agreed that my technique is now reliable and grooved. I currently play off 4, to make the next advancement in my game, we have agreed that a mind coach may be useful. Barry has taught me various techniques, given me a four step routine before shots and so on. However, I am looking for a specialist in the field of sports psychology.

Anyone here have any advice on who I should contact?

Mister Sifter

PAULWATSON wrote: »

Guys,

Having worked with my swing coach (Barry Power) for the last two years, we have agreed that my technique is now reliable and grooved. I currently play off 4, to make the next advancement in my game, we have agreed that a mind coach may be useful. Barry has taught me various techniques, given me a four step routine before shots and so on. However, I am looking for a specialist in the field of sports psychology.

Anyone here have any advice on who I should contact?

Give Conno16 on here a shout... very much a 'new skool' approach, but garnering quite a reputation. He's been advising Harrington and Lowry for some time now.

Russman

Please don't take any of this the wrong way, I'm not trying to undermine you or your coach...

I don't know any mind coaches off the top of my head in Ireland but I would suggest, in the nicest possible way, a read of Golf is Not a Game of Perfect. Most of it is complete common sense but stuff we all too frequently forget on the course. Plus its actually an enjoyable read if nothing else.

If you already have a 4 step routine you don't want to complicate things further, the easiest way really is to keep it as simple as possible. There's a danger you get more caught up in the steps of the routine and going through the routine for the routine's sake rather than in pulling the trigger.

If you're off 4 then you already have the tools to go lower, there's no magic secret, at the lower handicap level its short game, short game, short game followed by more short game. That and the old adage of one shot at a time and don't get upset.

It really is that simple, even though its hard to do if you know what I mean.

oceanfish2008

I agree with the Russman, its all about the short game at your level.

And Bob Rotellas books should be all the psychology anyone should ever need.

The only thing I'll say is that reading the books is easy but it can be difficult to apply his theories on the course. Just like the game itself they require lots of practice. E.g if your used to having swing thoughts during a round it can be incredibly difficult to eliminate them completely. You have to train your mind as well as your swing until the good thoughts come naturally

PAULWATSON

Interesting advice. This could possibly be the best option, work on my short game. As with a lot of players I do get distracted with ball striking, and the touch around the greens can get left behind.

Must get those Rotella books, after all I believe he had a great influence on PH back in 08, and he could straighten out that mans head, anything is possible.

Russman

+1 to that.
His first one Golf is Not a Game of Perfect is probably the best of them in my opinion and would be the one I'd say to start with.
Important to bear in mind that there isn't a "secret" or "trick" or anything like a switch you can flick and then, that's it, you have it, it genuinely comes down to making things as simple as possible and enjoying it.

Broadly speaking the difference between scratch and 4 is more often than not one or two more putts holed or getting up and down maybe once or twice more than you'd normally do. Usually, not always, you wouldn't tell the difference between a 4 and a scratch off the tee, its in the scoring areas you see it.

curly from cork

would u consider those books on your i pod. i have them and find listening more beneficial to reading the info.

AldilaMan

curly from cork wrote: »

would u consider those books on your i pod. i have them and find listening more beneficial to reading the info.

Great choice I think or even on CD to listen in the car. I'm a huge fan of Rotella and I've read 4 of his starting with "Golf is not a game of perfect". The last one I bought was "Your 15th Club - The inner secret to great golf" (his latest). This is actually an updated version of "Golf is not a game of perfect" according to Rotella himself, and he actually claims to have slightly misled people in the original book. All the Pros linked to Rotella claimed that the 1st book changed their golfing lives for a while but it all went a bit stale a few years down the road. Rotella reminds everyone in the latest book that the mind has to be worked on like your body in a gym. Stop going to the gym and see the results - same with the mind. I find listening on CD reinforces the message.

Tin_Cup

Another one here in the Rotella camp! If you check out amazon they sell the books on cd in a package for about £10. Cant go wrong

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dr-Bob-Rotella-Collection-Confidence/dp/0743544773/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293108371&sr=8-1