“We probably shall not like what we see and hear, but we must be very patient and objective.” -Swami Prabhavananada The winter daylight is less (boo!), however, we don’t stop working on our game and ourselves after the sunsets. For those after-work dark hours, try this mental training exercise for a winter game-improvement project. It will influence […]
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 […]
“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. […]
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.”-Eastern Philosophy Proverb …and golfers hit low punch shots. Change is hard. Whether we accept it or not, the world around us has changed. Resisting these changes only adds to our own suffering. However, changing the height of our golf shot shouldn’t be […]
Recently proclaimed by one of my students who was struggling with his driver, “I can’t stop trying tokill the ball!“ The prescription: Vitamin “R” = Relax Slacken the tension, borne of your efforts. (Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra, 2:47)Swing within yourself. Focus on balance, continuously light grip pressure, and tempo. This is the cure for symptoms of chaotic tee shots. […]