You want to play great golf. You want to improve. But golf is a hard game.
There’s so much to learn. It takes a lot of time…
The long game. The short game.
Driving. Approach shots. Pitching. Chipping. Bunker Shots. Putting.
Hitting it high over trees. Keeping it low in the wind. Hitting a draw. Hitting a fade.
The list goes on.
Even the pros struggle with it sometimes - and it’s their job! So what chance does the average golfer have?
Then, to make matters worse - golf can be nerve wracking… and it requires a ton of mental focus and concentration.
Ever stood on the tee with out of bounds right, water down the left and a 30mph wind hitting you in the face? That’s nerve wracking.
Ever had to hit an approach shot or pitch over a lake, from a tight lie or knee high rough? That’s enough to make any golfer gulp. Hard.
Ever had a downhill 10 footer with 4 feet of break, on a green that’s fast as glass?… and all you have to do is sink the putt to win a competition or earn you “the money”... Stressful times.
To play great golf, you have to be in a state of flow, where:
• You’re pretty calm and relaxed…
While also being:
• Mentally focused, clear and sharp…
Sounds simple. But achieving that state is difficult because:
• Things that eliminate stress, anxiety and nerves can very easily make you sedated and demotivated…
And…
• Things that many people use to make them feel sharp and focused – like caffeine – can also make you jittery and nervous
To play great golf you need to be in the flow state.
The Flow state was made famous by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in his best-selling book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience…In a state of flow you are both:
Calm and Relaxed…
Motivated and Focused…
This combination is tough to achieve, because most substances that help relax you also sedate you. Reducing motivation and focus.
And most substances that focus you also increase stress chemicals, making you feel less relaxed.
Yet if you manage to pull off the perfect combination…
Alert + Focused + Calm + Relaxed…
…then you get what’s often referred to as a Flow, where action is effortless yet highly effective.
Biochemically this involves raising Neurotransmitters like Dopamine and GABA… while also minimizing Stress Chemicals like Adrenaline and Cortisol.
Just the act of playing golf is already fairly stressful, because:
Golf is competitive and competition is stressful…
There is often money, trophies and reputation on the line (even for amateurs)...
There are usually situations in a round of golf that are stressful. Hitting over water, playing in the wind, fast downhill shots, deep bunkers, driving with out of bounds left or right, hitting out of a divot… the list goes on and on!
All of these situations drive your stress chemicals up.
Therefore, taking substances that significantly raise stress chemicals, like caffeine, is not going to be helpful.
So the question is:
“What would help you focus on the short and play better golf?”
The answer is:
Substances that simultaneously REDUCE stress chemicals, while also BOOSTING cognitive performance (mental focus and clarity + decision making) are going to be the most helpful…
