“You put your right elbow in.You put your right elbow out.You put you right elbow in and you shake it all about…” With too much “flying elbow,” the shot’s unpredictable outcome will be either hokey, a slice, or pokey, a pull…with a very good chance of missed contact. As a video checkpoint, notice the […]
Add Child’s Pose to your golf-specific stretching program to assist in lengthening the muscles and relieving lower back tightness. Also, breathe deeply while sustaining this posture. It quiets and calms the stormy nature of the mind…Which, by definition, is Yoga.* *Yogas chitta vritti nirodha. (Sanskrit. Patāñjali’s Yoga Sūtra, I:2)*Avoid or modify if there is an injury. Dodie Mazzuca is the […]
The infamous #3 at Delaveaga? Or how about #10? Or #15? We all encounter holes that carry negative scars. In yoga philosophy, samskāras(Sanskrit), are the habits, patterns, and ruts we’ve created from the past that have become strong enough to influence our current circumstances. The samskāra of getting pre-annoyed and tense does not help the situation. When unhelpful memories and negative samskāras creep into a challenging hole, stop […]
To increase shoulder turn and lengthen the backswing, practice swinging “cross-handed” (reverse the hands on the club). This will gently stretch the front shoulder and train the muscles to correctly rotate into the backswing while maintaining width. *Avoid or modify if there is an injury. Dodie Mazzuca is the author of “Golf Sūtras,” “Daily Golf […]
“Through the cultivation of positive qualities, the mind becomes untroubled, serene, and capable of one-pointed concentration” -Dyanand Diffenbaugh When the ego is out of control on the links, the mind’s inclination is toward negativity. We start to look for excuses, blaming other golfers and external factors for our bad shots. The ego proclaims, “It’s too windy, the course conditions […]
Tension is the number one killer of golf swings. Tightening the jaw before and/or during the swing spreads tension to the shoulders and other parts of the body. This sabotages both swing mechanics and tempo. Explore relaxing the jaw before and during your swing. Place a thin potato chip between your front teeth and swing. […]
“With an ungrounded awareness, we can become skillful at the ways we are unskillful.” -Rev. Daijaku Kinst (Co-founder of Ocean Gate Zendo, Capitola, CA.) Awareness Alert: Every moment on the golf course, and in life, is an opportunity to pay attention. Here are a few inquiring questions to illuminate potentially sabotaging mental golf habits: How is the quality […]
Thinking about your putting stroke while attempting to make a 4-foot par putt is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos. On the course,DO NOT THINK ABOUT YOUR PUTTING STROKE…unless you want to 3-putt often. Focus your attention on a helpful attribute such as the target, sensing the putt’s distance, or seeing the ball go in the hole. […]