Dependency On Results

It's good to care about how you're playing because that's what makes golf fun, but there comes a point where you care too much or you care about the wrong things. playing to impress people counts as one of those things. I would call this "ego golf".

You know you're an ego-golfer when your happiness hinges on your success on the golf course. When the good shots provide emotional highs and the bad shots make you feel depressed. A simple round of golf can be an emotional roller coaster for the serious ego-golfer. If you find that your good shots make you feel the desire to snap your clubs and throw them into the nearest pond then the diagnosis is coming out positive for ego golf. But you know you've really got it bad if you lie awake the night before a tournament worrying about your performance. (That has been me at times).

Other signs of the ego-golfer include bragging about your achievements and making excuses for your failures. And anything that involves straining to hit the ball further than your playing partners for no reason other than to see the look of awe on their face and know that you are more of a man than them. Alright, I still enjoy that one, but hell who's perfect ;).

The irony, the bitter irony, of this whole situation is that being an ego golfer makes you play worse. It's utterly self defeating. You get tense, nervous, sometimes euphoric and sometimes angry and make a lot of bad decisions. And golf really isn't much fun any more because as we all know golf has a nasty way of knocking you down one way or another.

Fortunately there is a definitive test to determine whether you are an ego golfer, which happens to be the cure as well.

Here's what you're going to do:

It is incredibly easy. You are going to play a really bad round of golf. Intentionally.

If a normal round for you is 80 then go out and take 100. If you're normal round is 90, aim for 110... go crazy and shoot 120, you get the idea. The whole point of this is to play about as well as the average baboon on ecstasy and have your playing partners believe that you are really trying.

A golfer who has no desire to impress anybody will probably find this an amusing thing to do, but overall it won't be a big deal at all. Maybe even a bit pointless.

However for an ego golfer this could be a huge epiphany. It can completely destroy the mindset of trying to impress other people. To intentionally play badly in front of others is the ego's worst nightmare, right? Topping the ball off the first tee in front of a large crowd. But soon you'll realise that nothing bad happens at all when you do this. playing badly does not hurt you. The worst that can happen to you is people will playfully joke about it with you and that's just fun. In fact, you'll probably have a great time without the pressure of needing to impress people.

The key to this process helping is to make it seem believable to other people. If they find out what you are up to the whole thing will be ruined. Your acting must be on top form. If somebody mentions how badly you are playing appear to be distressed and be all like, "Yeah, I don't know what's wrong with me." If your ego forces you to tell someone well then you'll just have to do it again!

If you're feeling conservative just do this on a practice round but it's most effective to do it in a competition and completely screw up. Get the dreaded point one on your handicap. The most bold amongst you will do it whilst playing foursomes when the need to impress is highest. NOTE: www.goodatgolf.com will not be held responsible for any bloody noses inflicted by your partner's fist after you have hit two of his brand new ProV1's out of bounds, followed by lipping out from 4 inches for birdie after he has hit the best approach shot of his life.

But seriously, try this out. If you're scared all I have to say to you is you must be an ego-golfer, otherwise you wouldn't care! That's right I have you now, mwahahaha. Meh.

Happy hacking to one and all.

Fraser Hasell is the owner of www.goodatgolf.com.

Yoga Nidra Meditation

Golf - How To Practice

If you want to practice golf then you should do so correctly. Only go to the range if you have a specific purpose in mind.

I see far too many people at driving ranges with a bucket of 100 balls which they whip through in half an hour - or worse 15 minutes. If you play a round of golf and are a really good golfer (scratch) you will play 72 shots in about 4 hours and 15 minutes. So why do people whack 100 balls in 15 minutes and call that practise?

Firstly I think a hundred balls is far too much for the average golfer (remember the average golfer's handicap is over 18) per practice session. Let me explain.

When practising you should have something specific in mind. Whether that is to learn to draw the ball with a driver, practice chips, hit long or medium irons working the ball or whatever it is you should be there with a specific goal in mind.

Before you even start practising wear the right gear. By that I mean wear the same clothes you would if you were actually playing golf. put on a golf shirt, golf trousers and golf shoes. Use a glove if you play with one. Do not get to the range from the office and hit balls in your work lounge shirt and work shoes.

To start off your practice session do some stretching. Ninety nine percent of people don't bother with this at all. They are on their way home from the office and expect their muscles to perform after sitting behind a desk all day. These same people probably warm up their motor vehicle before leaving for the office but don't give their muscles the same courtesy. How can we expect good results? In fact I've seen people injure themselves because of this bad practice.

OK so now you're correctly attired, you have stretched and resisted the temptation to buy 100 balls, having settled for 50. You have also allowed yourself enough time to do things properly and slowly. With 50 balls I would suggest between 45 minutes to an hour.

Before you hit the first ball go over in your mind what you plan to do and then let your muscles know. The way to do this is to pretend that you have selected a ball, selected a club and are ready to go. Follow the normal pre-shot routine you would if you were at the golf course. With club in hand approach the "ball" from behind, select your target line and step up to the imaginary ball. Go through the motion of a full swing, without a ball. Practising exactly what you have come to work on. Get feedback from the feeling in your hands, legs, club, takeaway, follow through and body. Repeat the exercise one more time without a ball.

If all feels right go ahead this time with a golf ball. Analyze the feedback and determine if the ball did what you intended. Make a mental or physical adjustment if required for the next shot.

Now look over at the cubicle next to you and you will see another player on his 7th ball. He is simply lashing away and getting rid of his bucket as if each ball has the plague!

Repeat the process for each of the 50 balls in your bucket. After about the 10th or 12th ball the neighbor in the next cubicle will have been replaced with a new machine gunner. Do not let this worry you.

With each ball in your bucket go through the routine you would on a golf course and have at least 2 practice swings for each ball that you hit.

By doing this you will have had 150 practice swings, each with a particular purpose in mind. It should take you about an hour and you should have had at least 3 different neighbors during this time - if not you may have gone too fast.

You will probably also find that you will be a bit more exhausted than you normally would be after lashing 100 balls in double quick time.

Slow down, practice with a purpose and enjoy the experience. You will find that practice sessions become beneficial.

You are welcome to reproduce this article provided you do not change anything including my bio box.

As a qualified EGTF golf professional teacher I get great pleasure in helping people improve their game. Why not head over to Better Golfing and take up my challenge to reduce your golf handicap by 25% within 6 weeks?

Rachel Welch Yoga Video