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Psychology

We all play as well as we know how on several days of the year. What is happening is that we are under no particular pressure except for the token dollar Nassau, the weather is clement, the conversation is good, we're taking our time and the golf clubs seem to be swinging themselves. We're "in the zone" and there's no stress, physical or otherwise. We're playing the shots as though out on the practice range and all's right with the world.

Returning to the real world the next day, we play the way we usually do and none of the above prevails. We are not executing the shot and are being easily distracted by external incidents as well as by the disorganized goings-on in the mind. The problem is common to all, and there are a number of techniques for handling it which will help a few people. If you are unable to benefit by any of the following, go see a sports psychiatrist and tell us what he said.

By all means use the pre-shot routine that seems best to suit you, without unduly delaying the game for others; don't let it become too much of a good thing.

How to control this emotional potpourri?

Adopt the stoic, impassive deliberate approach, being totally oblivious to anything not related to your game. This will prevent your being invited again.

Don't get tired. Be like Fuzzy Zoeller, even if it's an act. Stay relaxed, be jovial and play the shots without undue delay. This is the least wearing on the body and mind. Every body likes Fuzzy.

As mentioned previously, we should concentrate solely on the execution of the shot. We will have made the pre-shot estimations and are ready to do this. Or are we? If we have any last minute doubts, we should regroup.

We mustn't ever take our eyes off the ball until it has disappeared. We are trying to convert this stationary object into a soaring high velocity projectile, so we don't look at anything else, nor even blink.

A fast and nervous backswing is bad and comes from a desire to get the whole thing over as soon as possible. Kant would have said this showed lack of reasoning ability. The speed should be saved for the bottom of the downswing.

It is necessary to complete the backswing, which means a full turn back. Here, anxiety may result in incompleteness. Incompleteness is a real problem in many other activities of life and is to be avoided.

After setting up at the top of the swing, a quick sudden downward hit in order to get the whole thing over will cause the classic "hitting from the top" with unpredictable results.

Some professionals have been seen to take one or two deep breaths before the stroke. We can develop our own breathing tricks to settle ourselves down; we mustn't hyperventilate.

Opera singers may relax the muscles of their neck just before hitting a high note. If they are tense, the muscles of their diaphragm tighten up, they expel too much air and their voice cracks. This is known as choking. It happens to us too. Do we have stage fright? Where are we tense? Why are we anxious? Where is the threat?

Greg Norman had a six shot lead after the third round of the 1996 Masters. He didn't convert his tension to his advantage as he did in the first three rounds. He became too careful and studious and therefore lost his competitive edge. He thought about losing and his dwindling lead. This is the curse of the front-runner. When the competitor perceives a threat, it triggers in the pituitary gland a powerful chemical cascade of stress hormones. When this happens the eyes and hands don't work as well and the natural reaction is to take it easy and not to care that much. It was clear that Norman was playing to avoid mistakes and was no longer in the hunt.

The Shark had become afraid to win. At some point on the back nine, in order to stop the rot he should have started to play as though he had nothing to lose.