Dealing with Anxiety and the Top Mental Myths in Golf w/ Dr. Bhrett McCabe
Dec 11, 2023
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Dr. Bhrett McCabe, sports psychologist and author of Kick Anxiety's Ass, joins the podcast to discuss mental myths in golf. They explore anxiety prevalence in society, the role of ego and insecurity, coping mechanisms for golfers, and the importance of focusing on the target and consistency.
The first step in managing anxiety in golf is to become aware of anxious feelings and find an anchor to reset the mind to the present moment.
Golfers should differentiate between what they can control and what is beyond their control to focus on improving their performance.
Inflection points in a golf round are crucial moments where golfers should adapt and make clear actions to maintain momentum and prevent setbacks.
Deep dives
The Five A's Approach to Coping with Anxiety
The first step is awareness, where individuals should become aware of their anxious feelings and non-judgmentally describe them. They should then find an anchor, such as a physical action, to reset their mind to the present moment. Taking clear, definitive action towards a specific outcome can help individuals regain focus and confidence. They should also be open to adapting their approach based on their current state. Finally, reserving analysis for a later time allows individuals to evaluate their performance objectively rather than in the heat of the moment.
Understanding the Role of Control and Ego in Golf
Golfers often mistakenly believe that they can control more aspects of the game than they actually can. This leads to unnecessary frustration and struggles on the course. It's important for golfers to differentiate between what they can control and what is beyond their control. By letting go of trying to control every aspect of their performance, golfers can focus on what they can control and improve, leading to more effective play and a better mindset.
Identifying and Managing Inflection Points in Golf
Inflection points are pivotal moments or turning points in a golf round where the game's outcome can shift. Instead of compounding mistakes, golfers should learn to adapt and make clear actions at these inflection points to maintain momentum and prevent further setbacks. These inflection points can occur from shots that don't go as planned, and understanding how to effectively respond to these moments is crucial in managing anxiety and improving performance.
Strategic Analysis and Self-Awareness in Golf
Analyzing and understanding one's own patterns and tendencies in the swing and on the course can provide valuable insights and guidance. By being aware of common mistakes or trends, golfers can make more strategic decisions and adjustments during play. It's important to note that this analysis should be done during practice or post-round evaluation, rather than in the heat of the moment during a round. This allows for a more objective assessment and better decision-making.
The importance of rational intervention in golf
Rational intervention is crucial in golf to address common issues like club face control and shots veering off course. It is essential for golfers to have strategies that they know have a higher chance of success. Rational intervention helps alleviate the feeling of being isolated on the course, which can be particularly difficult in individual sports like golf. Pitchers in baseball and place kickers in football can relate to the solitary nature of golf and the need for rational intervention. The kinematic sequence of pitching, field goal kicking, and golf can be similar, leading to improved performance. Golfers need to remember that the sport is an initiation sport, requiring them to create action from zero, and they must find ways to overcome mechanical struggles without letting the game come to a halt.
Productive practice and the challenge for golfers
Golfers are often described as the worst practitioners in any sport due to certain habits and tendencies. They tend to focus on fixing problems and finding quick fixes to feel immediately relieved. However, this approach lacks clear intention, a written practice plan, and indicators of success. Golfers need to adopt a practice routine that combines 30% block practice and 70% random practice, with some of the random practice taking place on the course. Additionally, they should aim to develop a fairway finder shot and prioritize hitting shots that they know they can get in play. By focusing on practical outcomes and having a strategic and organized practice approach, golfers can improve their performance and become better practitioners of the sport.
Sports psychologist Dr. Bhrett McCabe joins us to discuss some of the big takeaways from his new book, Kick Anxiety's Ass. We also discuss some of the biggest "mental myths" he has seen among golfers.
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