Timothy Gallway's "The Inner Game of Golf" is arguably the most powerful book on the psychological aspects of golf ever written. One of his approaches is to divide a player into two different persons: Self 1 and Self 2.
Self 1 is the manager - he tells you want to do and how to do it, he criticizes you when you fail and takes credit when you're successful. He makes sure you have the exact yardage, the exact wind speed, and the exact break on a putt. He warns you about dangers and complains about the weather, the course condtions, your playing partner.
Self 2 is the player - he's the guy who has to hit the ball, find it and hit it again.
I think all of us know both these guys.
I'd like to propose a couple of tests to see if we can improve performance by knowing about these two selves.
The first can be done in the house with a ping pong ball and a small garbage can.
Toss (like a one handed free throw) 10 x 2 balls into the garbage can; half thrown by Self 1 and half by Self 2.
As Self 1, carefully aim at the target, move your arm back and forth in a waggle and be conscious of how far back you move your arm and how hard and at what angle you toss it. Try to improve every toss.
As Self 2, just toss the balls at the target. Don't aim, in fact, even look away and only focus when actually tossing.
Compare and report on outcomes.
Here's a golf one. Circle a hole with 10 balls at 10 feet. As Self 1 - carefully line up the ball, practice swing to test speed and choose and aim at an intermediate target.
Re-circle the balls, stand up to each, look at the hole, close your eyes and putt.
Compare and report.
Would be interesting to see what the outcomes are.
(Note - the poll doesnt work to compile the stats.)
Self 1 is the manager - he tells you want to do and how to do it, he criticizes you when you fail and takes credit when you're successful. He makes sure you have the exact yardage, the exact wind speed, and the exact break on a putt. He warns you about dangers and complains about the weather, the course condtions, your playing partner.
Self 2 is the player - he's the guy who has to hit the ball, find it and hit it again.
I think all of us know both these guys.
I'd like to propose a couple of tests to see if we can improve performance by knowing about these two selves.
The first can be done in the house with a ping pong ball and a small garbage can.
Toss (like a one handed free throw) 10 x 2 balls into the garbage can; half thrown by Self 1 and half by Self 2.
As Self 1, carefully aim at the target, move your arm back and forth in a waggle and be conscious of how far back you move your arm and how hard and at what angle you toss it. Try to improve every toss.
As Self 2, just toss the balls at the target. Don't aim, in fact, even look away and only focus when actually tossing.
Compare and report on outcomes.
Here's a golf one. Circle a hole with 10 balls at 10 feet. As Self 1 - carefully line up the ball, practice swing to test speed and choose and aim at an intermediate target.
Re-circle the balls, stand up to each, look at the hole, close your eyes and putt.
Compare and report.
Would be interesting to see what the outcomes are.
(Note - the poll doesnt work to compile the stats.)
