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Mind on the Game - Golf Training at AHPGA
By Tony | February 3, 2008
In part five we look at how Stuart has progressed after three weeks of intensive golf training at the Australian High Performance Golf Academy. For other parts of the series see the links under the “Categories” Menu
Stuart-After 3 Weeks Training at AHPGA
This week we increased Stuart’s golf training in the mental game, pitching and putting. Stuart has worked hard on his pitching this week. He realises the importance of a good wedge game.
He works on his pitching daily for 1 hour. This training is broken down into 30 minutes technique improvement training and 30 minutes of targeting and testing.
All of our training is worked around this simple methodology which is used in training with many other sports.
Stuart’s been working with one of our many technique improvement aids (path improvement bar) to improve his plane and path.
I’m giving him some hands on golf training - giving Stuart the correct feel. And finally Stuart working on his distance control by pitching to our pitching targets set at random distances.
We use a variety of exercises to improve and enhance the feel required to control your distances with the wedges. One of my expectations of AHPGA golf students is they hit a minimum of 5,000 pitch shots in training in a year.
Another area of Stuart’s game we have spent considerable time on this week is his mental game, or what we refer to at AHPGA as, ” Mind on the Game” golf training. This is where we position ourselves from many other golf training facilities, we work on the individual the SELF.
1.Self awareness
-Know when you are thinking negatively
-Know when your self-talk is helpful
-Know when you are becoming angry
-Know how you are interpreting events
-Know what senses you are currently using
-Know how to communicate accurately what you experience
-Know the moments your mood shifts
-Know when you are becoming defensive
-Know the impact your behaviour has on others
2.Managing Emotions
-Able to identify shifts in physiological arousal
-Be able to relax in pressure situations
-Act productively in anxiety arousing situations
-Calm oneself quickly when angry
-Use self talk to affect emotional states
-Communicate feelings effectively
-Reflect on negative feelings without being distressed
-Associate different psychological cues with different emotional states
3.Motivation
-Able to gear-up at will
-Able to regroup quickly after a setback
-Able to complete long-term tasks in designated time frames
-Able to produce high energy in the context of low-enjoyment work
-Able to change and stop ineffective habits
-Able to develop new and productive patterns of behaviour
-Able to follow through words with actions
Like many talented golf players, Stuart has a hard time accepting non-excellence (poor shots, bad bounces, bad breaks, putts lipping out etc.).
The first thing we needed to clarify was Stuart’s definition of excellence in golf. Once this was disclosed we were able to begin our mind on the game training on the driving range and on the golf course.
There is nothing short term about this golf training, and Stuart is well aware that like all skills this requires continual training.
During Stuart’s remaining time with us at AHPGA we will integrate this into his daily golf training.
Topics: Golf - Mental Game, Golf Instruction, Golf School, Stuart's Golf Training |