New Norms of golf will lead to lower scoring

Society is beating the drum of the new norms we all must adhere to ...or else.  Is there a new norm for golf too and if so, what will that look like? The best golf that you have ever played has always been a reflection of what you are thinking and telling yourself.  You have been and will be responsible for what you see when you play each time you tee it up.  The new norm for your golf game can be just a new way to perceive yourself.

Many of my students are emailing me these days giving me feedback on the first days back to the range or the course.  Here is one from this afternoon; "Started playing some and going through our previous lessons has been very helpful.  Amazing how much I have forgotten, especially the basics of set up.  The old swing analysis videos are an eye-opener."

I put that in there just as a reminder that the 'basics of set up as my student Nithin wrote today, never go away.  I will add that most players who send me their swings are using proper camera angles and alignment stations when practicing...so congrats to all who are doing that as we return to golf.

Other comments I get from players is how happy they are to be back out and the appreciation they have for their golf game.  Everyone is having issues no matter who they are after an 8 week lay off from golf.  So if the basics of set up are sound, and your swing a little more back on track, what else can you do?

One of the great reads about how reality is unveiled in front of people (in life or golf) is a book called The Kybalion.  It speaks about 7 Hermetic principles that account for how the universe works.  Almost every religion or mental guru touches on some aspects of this book.   Maybe not directly, but in an indirect way they all do. One of the key aspects  in the book is called The Principle of Correspondence.  This is a huge topic especially for golfers.

Much of what I write about on this blog is based on how the mind works in relationship to golf.  The first Fundamental in The Kybalion is that everything is mental or of one mind. In golf you hear about professionals 'visualizing the shot' they are about to attempt.  Basically they are using their imagination to help the Subconscious mind create a map of what they are trying to accomplish at any given moment.

Thus if you are consumed by fear or doubt or indecision when you are returning to the range or golf course you basically are projecting negative outcomes that will fall your way.  Why is this?

Simply put, the reality you see is a reflection of what you are thinking.  The above picture is a sample of this concept.   The concept is 'As above, so below'.  This is the Principle of Correspondence. The outer world you see when you play golf is a reflection of the inner world of thought that you have.

As a golfer you create mental images of shots that you will attempt.  You may not do it as deliberately as a tour professional like Jason Day or Nick Faldo who I personally saw do this nearly 30 years ago when he was the number one player in the world.  But in some way you do create some image of what you are going to see.  The same concept can be viewed as to what you are 'saying' to yourself before each shot or after I shot you just created.  Here your subconscious is listening again to what you are programming it to do.  But that is a whole other topic.

In golf you have an idea of what you want to create in the reality you see on the course or the range or even how others will view yourself as you talk to them about your own golf game.  The principle of Correspondence is showing each golfer that if they do not like what they are seeing in front of their eyes they are going to have to find out internally what is it that they are telling themselves?  Remember; As above so below! If you are thinking poor thoughts above in your mind, or fear an outcome of a bogey on the next hole or a tee shot putting you in a terrible position for your next shot then this thought pattern will be reflected to you in the reality you will see.  As above so below!

The Principle of Correspondence in many ways is reflecting the 'identity you are' when you play golf.
This may seem odd, how do you explain the tremendous amount of long hitters now and low scorers now who are fearless at age 14-30?  How has that become so popular now and players hitting the ball so far and breaking records all the time for scoring?

What one golfer has led golf to this new horizon?  Simple answer.....Tiger Woods!  No doubt about it, so many golfers of today in their teens to thirties grew up wanting to BE the NEXT Tiger Woods.  What has happened?  An enormous amount of new people playing golf, and golfers who are very fit.  I played today with a student of mine and two others for recreation.  The two others about 30 years old, Extremely fit, one hits it 300-320 yards off the tee constantly.  I asked him what inspired him to hit the ball so far?  He said , of course...Tiger Woods.  He had never thought much of golf until when he was 15 he saw Tiger Woods and his friends were playing golf.  I asked has he always been so fit and buff and he said fitness was always big for him but Tiger made it the norm for him.  

Thus as you can see many of these younger golfers have seen themselves in some way like a Tiger Woods.
Tiger became a beacon for golfers to emulate.  They wanted to hit it further, be stronger, have an extremely strong mind to win!  These golfers have trained their mind to be the next Tiger Woods.  They probably could care less about the Principle of Correspondence but they have figured out that if the 'imitate' Tiger then they may hit if further, be stronger with their WILL to succeed or win.  

These players are consciously projecting onto the their Subconscious mind that they will hit it further, straighter, make more birdies, create new record scores for themselves.  As I have mentioned before your Subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is imagined or what is seen.  It is all a mental program that each golfer has reflected to them.

As a younger golfer how many times did you imagine you were particular pro yourself?  Growing up I used to imagine being Jack Nicklaus.  Every golfer has 'imagined ' their opportunity to sink a winning putt for The US Open or The Masters .  It may seem fickle...but I guarantee you every golfer who strives to be better is imagining something.

Now the task at hand is to determine what to imagine when you return to the golf course this weekend?  
As above, so below.  What your mind visions or imagines and what you tell yourself while you play has a tremendous impact on what you see when you play.

So the basics of the swing are a must yes, BUT the basics of how your mind shapes your reality on the course or range is just as important.    This is why it is great to take lessons and improve your swing but many golfers still do not see the progress they seem to want even though they take lessons and their swing is better.

But is their mind better?  Probably not or at least not as good as it could start to be.  So you need to start this weekend to get your mind to work in your favor.  As above, so below.  What will you tell yourself before each shot?  Will your mind imagine a good outcome or fear a dreaded past poor outcome arising again?

As above, so below.  Could you imagine yourself like a professional golfer when you play? Sure.
Could you imagine you are returning to your old home course where you knew every corner of it and even with a slice you still shot your best scores?  Sure.
Can you imagine new and better outcomes for yourself starting this weekend?  Sure.

Now the question is; "will you imagine new outcomes that are better and more thrilling or desirable"?
Your better....or the old outcomes will still keep on coming at you.  Working the imagination at first is a little odd so have fun with it.  It is exhausting too, especially when playing with other friends.  You literally will be in a type of play on the stage of life.  You will have to 'act as if' you are someone different.  Or act like a more successful player on the course.  Fake it until you make it is a phrase you have probably heard before?

The point to all of this is simple.  What you imagine or think of is being reflected when you play.  Notice what you do think and tell yourself .  Then take on a new role as a New player.  Hey if society can tell you the new norm is to wear a face mask near a golf shop as you check in, then certainly you can create the New Norm for how you mind will lead you to greater outcomes.

Have fun with this. Make your new norm on the course a reflection of your new mind and how it looks at golf.
If you keep looking at your golf game in old ways....old things continue to happen.  So the new norm for you must start to operate as if you are a new person!  What you see on the course is a reflection of beliefs and thoughts you have.  If you have to use your imagination to the most extreme way then give it a try.  Have fun with new norms .... and now in golf really have fun with this new norm of the New You.