Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf - What is Mindfulness?

What is Mindfulness?

12/05/19 • 24 min

Better Golf Academy: Strategy to Awesome Golf

In this episode of the Better Golf Academy, I discuss why it is so important in golf to be in the moment.

I truly believe in order to conquer this game to play our very best, we have to control our thoughts. It’s really true what they say, this game is 90% mental and 10% mental. And I so much believe that if we get this part right, it can really change our game.

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. Is this easy to do?

It’s Not Easy

No one said it was easy. Staying focus and not allowing your mind to wander is not easy. It takes discipline. It takes practice like everything else. And most of all it takes confidence. What do you mean by confidence? It takes confidence to know and believe and have a conviction that this really works. And, thinking back...I was teeter-tottering. I didn’t think seriously enough about it. Maybe, even though I preach it, I didn’t entirely believe it. I was thinking that if I had the physical talent and ability to shoot well, that I would automatically shoot well and the score will show it at the end of the day. NOT. It takes mental discipline every hole, every shot. Full focus. Being in the moment.

It’s a Journey

How do we get there? I am not there yet. Obviously. But, I believe our pursuit of getting there is the goal, not just getting there. Okay, this reminds me of a quote, I know...sometimes introducing quotes in a podcast is a bit cliche-ish and corny but I think this really applies to what we are talking about today.

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome”.

This quote is by Arthur Ashe. Who is Arthur Ashe? He was an American Professional tennis player who won 3 grand slam titles. He was the first black player selected to the US Davis Cup team and the only black man ever to win the singles title at Wimbledon, The US Open and the Australian Open. He was also an author and mostly known for being a crusader for equality. He really lived with intention and impact.

So, for me, I can look at this event as a total failure. Which, I actually called it that on my dreadful drive back home in my head. But, nah...I don’t believe that anymore. It’s all part of the journey and it’s never about the outcome, or the end result, or the certificate, or whatever's in your life...I truly believe it’s about our attitude, discipline, will and our struggle and fight in getting there.

Look Up

When I started my podcast, my friend Charlton messaged me and said dude, this podcast is for me. I am your poster child. Do you know how many books I’ve read on golf? Every single one. Do you know how many videos I’ve watched? Workshops I’ve attended? He’s a learner. A seeker who’s hungry for knowledge, a true student of the game. When we are playing golf together several months back, I asked him, hey...just curious, from all the books you’ve read, videos you’ve watched and the workshops and lessons you’ve received, what’s the one thing, one main thing that has impacted you the most in your game?

He said. “Look up” huh? So, I went home and looked it up. Yeah, the book Zen Golf talks about the expansive awareness. It’s a practice of Mindfulness. “When you have a difficult tee shot or short putt and you are waiting your turn, it’s not very helpful to stare at it, think about it, and let your mind get very small...instead, look up and breathe out, opening to the awareness around you. He says “in life..as in golf, you give it your best shot when you’re free of tension and self-consciousness.” In life as in golf...lol. That’s my line.

Summary:

So, here’s the deal. It’s not easy. It’s a journey and you gotta remember to look up. Take a breath. Don’t get stuck on the small stuff. Be grateful. You are out here, on a beautiful day, on this beautiful course, with awesome people, playing golf. Look up. Enjoy. Have Fun. And be in the moment.

In this episode of the Better Golf Academy, I discuss why it is so important in golf to be in the moment.

Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment. Is this easy to do?

It’s Not Easy

It’s a Journey

“Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome”.

Look Up

Summary:

Previous Episode

Three Fundamental Questions Answered

There are so many aspects of the game that are negotiable. That's one of the reasons why I don't talk about swing techniques on this podcast, there are so many different ways to achieve your goal. I can offer one suggestion but someone else can offer something completely different and the result could end up being the same.

But, why do we have to know the science behind it? Because it doesn't change. It's what we all need to work on to improve. But there are 3 key fundamental questions we can answer through science.

How to hit it straighter? Understand the relationship between your clubface and your swing plane at impact.
How to hit it longer? Understand the relationship between swing speed, ball speed, attack angle, launch angle and spin.
And finally, how to hit it over and over again? Eliminate using small muscles and focus on using your large muscles in your swing.

Golf is an endless journey of improving and perfecting. This game of golf can be so complex yet so simple at the same time. It's an individualized game that you can't try to mimic or compare with anyone else. Along with black and white fundamental of science, it also offers a more complex, variety of colors and shades, which is mixed with technique, science, and art.

And it involves mental, physical and even spiritual components that when it's all aligned, understood and executed, you can fully experience the fullness of it and appreciate the infinite details and beauty of it all. You all with me?

I hope all this can help give you a new perspective on your growth and help you reach your full potential.

Next Episode

Preparing Beginners to Play their First Round

In this episode of the Better Golf Academy, I help prepare those that are thinking about playing golf this year to figure out what to work on to be ready to tee it up for the first time and also go over proper etiquette to make your first round a huge success.

So, from spending a lot of time on the driving range preparing to someday get on the golf course, how do I know when I am ready to play? For me, there were 4 key components that happened on the practice range that gave us enough confidence to say, okay I am ready and eventually step out on the golf course.

I made contact with the golf ball 100% of the time with every club. If this is not you, don’t venture out yet...it might frustrate others and you certainly don’t want to do that. I know people will say things like, “hey, who cares what others think, just go and have a good time”. Well...I was taught to always think about others, and you do not want to be a burden or to ruin someone else’s fun. When you are whiffing the ball and hitting it all over the place, they will never invite you back...trust me.
When I make contact with the ball, it goes where I expected it to go....most of the time. You know what army golf is? When your ball goes...LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT...lol. You’ll waste a lot of your time and everyone else’s if you cannot somewhat control where the ball is going. You’ll hit it in the hazard and end up with your group being the search party. No fun for anyone...not even you. And those golf balls are expensive!!
I understand the distance control. Meaning, if I am close to the green, I know enough to hit the ball softer and use a more lofted club. I have a pretty good concept of chipping that can get my ball closer, not overshooting it way past and there’s a component of me being a danger to others.
I have a decent feel around the green when it comes to putting. That it doesn’t take me more than 3 putts to get the ball in the hole. 4 putts are okay for long long distance putting but let’s stick to 3 as a goal for now.

I say when you can consistently do the 4 points that I just talked about, you are almost ready to get on the course. But not completely ready. You know why? Because I think this is where a lot of people get stuck. There’s a deep fear or intimidation or something that keeps them from just taking the first step to tee it up. I really think it stems from lack of knowledge and not really knowing what to expect or even what to do...there are so many rules and etiquettes. So I will attempt to try to keep your mind at ease and prepare you to go out there and have a great, fun and enjoyable first round. Links: