We have all been told many times over the years to ‘pick the smallest possible target’, ‘aim small then miss small’, ‘if you don’t hit the bullseye, you will hit the board’.
All of it sounds great and perfectly logical and if you do this and it helps your game, then for goodness sake keep doing it!!
But for most golfers, I have come across the advice of ‘small targets’ doesn’t take into consideration something called ‘the perception of difficulty’ and how your brain actually works.
In a nutshell, when we perceive a task to be difficult, our brain can PERCEIVE threat and in the presence of such perceived threat ,there will be the primeval responses of FIGHT, FLIGHT and FREEZE.
All of these responses are wonderful for evolution and keeping our cave men and women alive, but for your golf they can be DEADLY.
When we get on a certain hole that makes us feel uncomfortable, the catastrophic rush from backswing to downswing is your brain on full out threat response and in flight mode.
So if the task makes you feel uncomfortable – CHANGE the TASK.
Instead of picking a small target of a leaf on a tree 250 yards away, how about you see two imaginary alignment sticks just in front of you that are SIX FEET wide.
Now, your brain when asked the question ‘can I do this?’ gives you a categorical YES.
The perception of difficulty has been reduced and, more importantly, the perception of threat has reduced.
Your brain will now allow you to make a more free and rhythmical swing which allows you to access the skills you have.
Try this the next time you play.
Remember!! ‘If the task makes you feel uncomfortable, change the task!!’
This is just one of a number of game changing habits presented in my new book The Mind Caddie. Check it out on Amazon.
