I would say that this is one of the prime areas I work in. We want to play in a state of Relaxed Concentration where we have the right balance of energy in the mind and the body to bring about the best shot.
There are numerous ways we can create that and today let's look at how we can do some relaxation techniques on the course when the excitement / anxiety starts to take us away from that prime state.
Not everyone can use all these techniques. Some work better than others for you and might depend on the level of excitement.
You can best use these when walking to the ball or on the tee waiting your turn.
· Thumb and ring finger gently touching. This creates a kind of chi which naturally reduces the excess energy in your body. It's a great one for job interviews as the hand can be hidden away.
· Tongue to roof of mouth and gently touching the back of your teeth. This has a double effect as it also stops you from talking. A bit like biting your tongue.
· Breathing in squares – at your own natural pace, breath in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4. Think of it as a square and even draw it with your hand when practicing until you can do it with your eyes open in any situation. Particularly good when in times of big excitement.
As always, try them out and see what best works for you.
Stuart
Practice these so that they become habits and you do them automatically when stressed.