Excitement and Arousal

Chapter 2 Routine

There’s a fine line between a positive post swing routine that is supportive and builds confidence and becoming too excited.

• To much Excitement causes two problems.
  • Number one. your nervous system is flooded with an internal state of arousal that creates tension and hampers performance. And that can be translated to the following, your tempo and movement Quicken and your balance and sequential movement are compromised.
  • Number two. this arousal state produces a flow of intrusive thoughts that interferes with concentration in the present.

David Fairity European and PGA tour player says that the younger inexperienced players get too excited, too early. He says the symptoms are a punch in the air and jumping up and down and getting excited very early in the round.

Every player who has been around a long time has probably gone through that stage themselves I know I did.

Tom Kite’s comments show insight into this process as he discussed his 1992 US Open when he hauled out a 20 yard pitch shot on the seventh hole of the final round at pebble beach. His comment regarding that shot, I wanted to jump up and down, but the reality was I still had most of the golf course to play.

• This is not to suggest that your post wind conversations be limited. Just keep a cover on the intensity.
  • For example. that was a great Drive. That is perfect position for my approach shot. I drive the ball. Well, I am a good player.

Greg Norman says that everybody likes to hear words of encouragement as he faces a tough shot in congratulations after he pulls it off. Unfortunately, unless you play golf with your mother, you can’t depend on hearing these things. That’s why I talked to myself, not allowed, but inside my head, the tougher, the shot I’m facing, the more I talk, if I’m on the last hole of a tournament facing a long iron shot to the green needing birdie to win, I’ll say to myself, you know the shot cold, you’ve knocked it stiff a thousand times, and now you’re going to do it again.

I also talk after I hit shots after a particularly long straight drive, I’ll often say, damn, Greg, I’m pretty impressed with that one.

These inner words can be more encouraging than the cheers of the gallery. You don’t want to linger too long on your shots, good or bad, but you do want to stamp the good ones on your mind for future reference in pressure situations.

Silent self congratulations is one way to do that. Now note that Norman’s quote includes both his pre swing and post wing conversations with himself, his pre swing and post swing mental strategies, the pre swing in swing and post swing conversations you have with yourself are called internal dialogue. You have heard it referred to as self-talk. If you want your internal dialogue on the course to change, you will need to change your off-course conversations with yourself.

Please continue with: Mechanical Post Swing Routine