| One very common problem for golf players is | | | | employed by many top athletes just before the |
| anxiety and this is much more prevalent in golf | | | | start of a big race and yawn a few times. This |
| than in many other sports because of the far | | | | will again fill your lungs with oxygen and help to |
| higher level of mental activity which you bring to | | | | slow your heart rate. |
| the game of golf. | | | | Having calmed yourself down and regained your |
| Anyone who has played golf for any length of | | | | composure you are now ready to continue on |
| time will know only too well the signs that things | | | | with your game but, having had an attack of |
| are starting to go wrong. That slow and fluid golf | | | | anxiety, you will need to take steps to ensure |
| swing which you practice so regularly suddenly | | | | that it does not return again a few minutes later |
| becomes much faster and jerky and you become | | | | and this means first understanding just why you |
| aware of the fact that your upper and lower | | | | got stressed in the first place. |
| body are no longer working together in harmony. | | | | In the vast majority of cases your anxiety will |
| Once you start to lose your natural rhyme you | | | | have been brought on by focusing too intently on |
| also begin to lose your ability to focus on what | | | | your game, and in particular on your swing, with |
| you are doing and fear begins to set in. At this | | | | the conscious rather than the subconscious part |
| point you are truly conscious of the fact that you | | | | of your brain. When you are driving a car you find |
| have a problem and things get rapidly worse | | | | that, once you have learned the basic skills |
| because the more you think about it the greater | | | | involved, it becomes second nature and you drive |
| your sense of fear becomes. | | | | around without really thinking about what you are |
| Now you start to question your own ability. 'Can I | | | | doing. The same is true of golf and much of the |
| hit this shot'? 'Can I reach the green'? and of | | | | mechanics of your play will become natural and |
| course 'Why is this happening to me'? | | | | something which you do without thinking about it. |
| Unfortunately, anxiety is all too common amongst | | | | However, once you do start to consciously think |
| golfers both new and old but, fortunately, it is one | | | | about what you are doing and, for example, |
| golfing problem which you can cure very quickly | | | | concentrate your attention on the mechanics of |
| and very effectively whenever it arises. | | | | your swing too much, things start to go wrong. |
| The first thing you need to do is to stop and take | | | | So, having suffered an anxiety attack, make a |
| a short 'time out' to take your attention away | | | | conscious effort to calm yourself. Look around |
| from your anxiety and focus it for a moment on | | | | and take in the flowers and beauty of your |
| your breathing because this is itself affected | | | | natural surroundings. Relax in the company of |
| whenever you become anxious. So start by | | | | your playing partners and simply enjoy playing |
| simply taking a few slow, deep and deliberate | | | | golf. Sometimes just the simple act of not trying |
| breaths to get oxygen into your body and to | | | | so hard can work wonders. |
| slow your heart rate. Then, try a little trick | | | | |