Your Inner Golfer

In his first round at the 2010 Bridgestone Invitational Tiger Woods shot one of his worst scores ever at the tournament: A 4-over 74. Headlines on television and on the internet proclaim that Tiger has lost his touch. His play was ‘atrocious’. He’s all but finished. But is it really true? Is this the end for Tiger?

Tiger’s off-the-course distractions in recent months have been well publicized. It’s obvious to anyone that they have affected his focus and his concentration. While is it possible that for some reason Tiger has indeed lost his touch, it is much more likely that its not his physical game that is failing him, it’s his MENTAL game.

Continue reading It’s not Tiger’s touch, it’s his mental game »»

Anyone who was watched the first rounds of the 2010 Masters Golf Tournament knows 2 things:

• Tiger Woods is back
• Tiger Woods is BACK!

In addition to physically returning to the golf course, Tiger Woods seemingly has not missed a beat, showing the same skills as a golfer that have made him the best player in the world during the past several years. Although some of the pundits and golf analysts you see on TV seem surprised by his performance, I for one, am not. The reason is simple: Tiger Woods is a study in the importance of playing mental golf.

Continue reading Tiger Woods: Mental focus at The Masters »»

University studies conclusively prove that visualization works on several levels, and the fact that many of the world’s top athletes espouse the benefits of visualization further displays its enormous power. The reason that visualization used in conjunction with self-hypnosis and guided imagery is so popular amongst today’s athletes is because the techniques produce the desired results.

Visualization is not only effective at preparing an athlete mentally to be their best; it is also very useful at confronting specific shortcomings in one’s performance and provides a way for them to improve. Because the game of golf is more of a mental than physical pursuit, visualization is an extremely effective tool for professional golfers who are seemingly always at the top of their game.

 Tiger Woods world-wide fame can be compared to that of Michael Jordan’s during his hey-day, and this is because his accomplishments are nothing short of spectacular. He started his pro career with an unprecedented 12-stroke win at The Masters, and more than ten years later he continues to reach new heights.

Continue reading Why Use Visualization? »»

While I know there is no denying the sheer power of visualization and guided imagery in producing significant changes in a person’s emotional and physical attributes, there are many studies and real-life examples that prove this fact. Even if someone fully believes in these techniques, the mind works in such a way that it helps to see concrete proof of the process working for others.

Several large universities have conducted studies that prove the efficacy of visualization and guided imagery in a controlled setting, and the results garnered were truly enlightening. Most of these studies involved two control groups: one that was using visualization and one that wasn’t. Each group was asked to perform a myriad of related tasks and actions, both familiar and unfamiliar. In almost all cases, the group that utilized visualization performed significantly better than the groups left to their own devices.

Continue reading Visualization: Does It Really Work (for Golf)? »»