Sports Psychology

[Moonlightgrm]

Bob Rotella CDs

Here's the Reader's Digest version of my tale. For most of my adult life I've played to a low single-digit handicap (2 to 3). Last year I had knee surgery and I completed my rehab and got the green light to start swinging a club. My handicap index climbed to a 4.4 by the end of the 2009 golf season. I started this season with a fresh outlook. I started Yoga in the off season and couldn't wait to get going in 2010. The joy was short lived as my handicap grew to an unbearable index of 6.5. Struggling to break 80 caused me to rethink the time I spend playing and practicing golf. I was ready to quit the game and spend my time on other things. Fortunately I'm friends with our state champion. He's a tremendous player (index +2.9). He shared with me a similar experience. He was struggling so mightily that he considered quitting the game, too. He recounted a round where he needed to sink a 4-footer to break 90!! It was then that he saw a sports psychologist. Why? Because like I, he started tinkering with his swing and became more and more confused. His psychologist told him to stick with the swing mechanics that brought to the level of player he'd become. That his problem was a lack of trust in his swing and a lack of focus on his target. We went down to the range and he watched me hit a few shots. He told me my mechanics were fine. He told me to read Bob Rotella. I'd read Bob Rotella's book about a decade ago. He said "that stuff wears off". Reread it! I did, and it's the holy grail. I next purchased the 4 CD set so I could listen to Rotella in the car. I keep pounding Rotella's message into my head. RESULT: I love golf again. My handicap is dropping back to the acceptable range (I'm down to a 4.1) and I've decided to set a lofty goal. GOAL #1 I'm going to get my handicap down to scratch. GOAL #2 I'm going to win our state mid-amateur. I'm 52 years old therefore GOAL #3 I'm going to win our state senior when I turn 55 years old.

Stay focused, trust your swing (some of the world's greatest players don't have what "experts" call a perfect swing), set goals and don't let anyone tell you that you can't or won't achieve them.

Good luck to everyone!

[gdeep]

I have a couple of Dr. Bob's books and reread chapters here and there every year and when I feel things getting away or need a refresher, I skip to the back and read Rotella's Rules. Would love to have the opportunity to play a round of golf with him or chat over a couple of beers. He turns psychological babble into common sense.

[aliikane]

agreed. sometimes we get in our own way. over think too much. i have heard a lot of pros say that the more they practiced and thought about the mechanics of their swing the worse they got. no two swings are alike. it doesn't matter what the swing looks like as long as the ball is going at the target. there are so many pros right now who are just so good but have the most unorthodox swings ever. a few to come to mind jim furyx, ricky fowler, 2 gloves gainey, etc. i play better when i just have good tempo and looseness. it really comes down to whatever works for you, do it.