Playing Under Pressure...32
Solving the Wrong Problem
Pressure is a physical force applied to an object. Playing under pressure would describe a physical force being applied to the golfer. What a golfer experiences on a 4-foot putt to win a hole or a shot across a lake to a tight flagstick is not pressure—it’s distraction. We are “dis-tracted” or taken off track from focusing on performing the shot to our best ability and instead focusing on the potential of failure.
While there is no solution for a problem called “playing under pressure” a solution becomes apparent when we call it distraction. The solution is to devote some of our practice time to being aware of our point of attention or focus. Can we hit a dozen range balls and differentiate between focusing on our desired outcome versus allowing our mind to wander?
Bottom Line: Invest some practice time in “keeping your attention on your intention”. Every player will succumb to some distraction. But your practice will minimize those occurrences and make it evident when a missed shot was not pressure but distraction.
Each Thursday we’ll bring you a helpful insight.
Swing to the Target,
Ed