WE ARE OUR GOLF SWING

Our golf swing is a reflection of how we feel in the moment. Our feelings and emotions are always in a state of flux. Sometimes we feel confident and sometimes we feel worried and what we feel can change in an instant.

So, when we play golf and we have shots that feel good and bad, both are linked directly to how we feel. For example, when we pick up our favourite club on our favourite hole we feel confident and at ease and ready to swing. But when we face a situation that makes us nervous we become worried about what is going to happen to our performance.  When we feel at ease and confident, our bodies can produce a golf swing has rhythm, balance, less tension. When we feel like this, our bodies are usually able to move more and the swing even has a sense of completion. Because of how we feel, we are not concerned with the outcome therefore we are not getting in our own way and trying to control contact. Basically, our most effective swing just happens and it feels amazing.

The opposite is also true when we feel uncertain or frustrated, our swing becomes rigid, short, and choppy and impact feels terrible. We can try to think of finishing our swing but our bodies won’t allow us to do it because the fear of what is going to happen has taken precedence.

This connection between our emotions and how we swing is probably an obvious one for most who play golf however, it is not something we focus our efforts on shifting. When we play poorly we tend to look directly at our technique and go try to fix something in our swing without reflecting on how and why we felt the way we did in the first place. If we just took a moment to self reflect, we might discover why we didn’t play our best.  Some common underlying reasons are personal stress, over emphasis on outcome and caring about how others perceive us. 

These are so common and within all of us to some degree.  Which explains why we can be so good at the practice range; there just isn’t the same inner dialogue of concern and worry about outcome. We put an increased emphasis on outcome when we play the game therefore we experience golf differently on the golf course.  Our golf swings are not separate from us; they are always linked and connected to how we feel and how we perceive our reality.

Self-exploration:

When you feel too outcome oriented on the golf course, instead of trying to fix or focus on a specific part of your swing, step away from the golf ball and take a handful of swings that just feel great to the body.  Feel your swing from beginning to end. Let it feel amazing to your body. Notice your tension begin to decrease, and the swing starting to feel lighter, fuller.  Remind yourself why you play golf, what you love about it and find joy in the feeling you get when you swing.