As golfers, we all look for that low-hanging fruit that will help us find the path to lower scores. We can grind our way through to better technical fundamentals, which is helpful and necessary. Often, though, we neglect easy ways to manage our emotions better during a round. Many of our woes result from losing our core rhythm, either because we are angry about a previous shot or because we feel the pressure of the round mounting. Two physiological responses occur when we feel anger and pressure. One, we speed up. Our tempo changes as adrenaline kicks in. Once our tempo changes, it becomes tough to hit a quality shot. For me, I either start blocking my shots or duck hooks start appearing. The second physiological response is that we begin to look down. Our eyes go to the ground in front of us. In doing so, our posture changes. Additionally, the downcast eyes lead to negative thoughts.
We can fight these tendencies with simple, intentional habits. I can’t always keep from getting angry about a bad shot. Nor can I squelch the feeling of pressure that I feel when I am in a tournament or a round that matters. What I can do is create a counterbalancing habit. The moment I feel the anger rise, I look up. My eyes go to the top of the trees. Immediately, I breathe better and have the chance for the anger to subside. Lifting my eyes resets my brain. Likewise, knowing my tendency under pressure to tighten up and speed up, I consciously slow down my walking pace when the stakes rise. Both are easy hacks that give us a better chance to overcome the downward spiral that sabotages our scores. As an added bonus, we enjoy the rounds more.
These same hacks, slowing down and looking up, also work in other areas of our life. The busier I am, the slower I go. Ironically, the slower I go, the more I get done. When I slow down, my focus heightens, and I prioritize better. Likewise, when I feel stressed, I lift up my eyes. As my eyes rise, the stress lessens. Even looking up at a ceiling works because we naturally tend to breathe in as we look up. As with golf, increasing focus, overcoming anger, and lessening stress leads to happier, more fulfilled lives.
Give it a try! Slow down and look up!
