July 05, 2010
Welcome to this special edition of The eZone.
Firstly, an apology -it’s been quite a while since I have written an eZone edition. I’ve been busy working on other projects and these have taken priority as there are only so many hours in a day.
Anyway I hope to make up with this special edition for golfers - and maybe a plug for my new book :0) If you don't play golf but know someone who does, please feel free to pass this one.
Regards
Roy Palmer
You can also view this ezine online please click here
In this issue
1. Five Reasons Why Golfers Should Learn The Alexander Technique.
2. Are You Trying To Fail?
3. What to do when you're having a bad day on the course.
4. Special Summer Offer
1. Five Reasons Why Golfers Should Learn The Alexander Technique.
You may not have heard of The Alexander Technique, but this innovative system of movement re-education could work wonders for your golf. The benefits for the golfer are many, but how can a technique developed by an actor as long ago as the 1890s help your game? Here are five reasons why you should seriously consider learning this remarkable, yet underrated technique.There’s nothing quite as frustrating as an injury that stops you playing the game you love; with the exception of a recurring injury! Most golfing injuries are due to overuse of certain muscles due to poor technique and movement. Lessons in The Alexander Technique will show you how to move with much less effort dramatically reducing the stresses and strains you unknowingly place on your muscles and joints.
To read the rest of this article please click here.
2. Are You Trying To Fail?
Improvements in your golf can only come about from hard work. Really? Firstly, you have to know what you’re going to focus all that hard work on and, secondly, whether your effort is applied in a way that will bring about the best results. What do you do when you say to yourself that 'you're going to try harder' or 'focus your efforts on ....insert your weakness here'?What do you then do differently? From my own experience and from working with many golfers, when we ‘try harder’ we invariably add a bit more of what we’re already doing to the task in hand. This usually involves furrowing our brows, fixing our eyes and jaw, holding our breath, and tightening up a little for good measure. Test it out next time, I bet you’ll do at least one of them!
Do they help or are they going to make things worse?
The stereotypical ‘trying harder’ face is not good for promoting the poise necessary for golf. Although these actions may convince us that we really are trying harder, we are in reality reducing our chances of a free, relaxed shot.
The more you try, the more your muscles will contract, reducing sensitivity and ultimately the control you have over your club. Take a few shots and see how little effort it takes, and let the club’s momentum do the work for you. Also, notice how much more you become aware of when you remove even a small amount of unnecessary tension.
The same can apply to concentration. At a critical part of a game you will obviously feel the need to concentrate on what you need to do. But how do you concentrate? Do you put on your 'trying harder' face? Check whether you feel the need to furrow your brow, tighten your jaw or hold your breath. All these will have an effect on your coordination and lead to excessive use of your muscles.
You don’t actually need to do anything physical to concentrate, but many of us do!
3. What to do when you're having a bad day on the course.
If you’re having one of those days when it’s just not happening, how do you change it there and then on the golf course? It doesn’t help when someone tells you to "chill out, it’s only a game". Is it heck! Of course, getting frustrated or annoyed at yourself isn’t going to help, but it’s difficult not to react negatively when silly mistakes are spoiling your round.But a bad golf day is just that – a bad golf day. You’ll be better next time. Even if you’re in the middle of a competition, there are positive steps you can take to improve the situation.
Adding more stress to your game by being over-critical and trying harder to correct it will simply reinforce your current behaviour and worsen the situation.
To read the rest of this article please
- click here.
4. Summer Special Offer
My new book, 'Golf Sense' was published last month and I'm offering a FREE online golf swing analysis to everyone who buys the book before 11th July 2010.The book has already received some very good reviews and I'm really pleased with the results so far. To find out more about the book and how you can benefit from the special launch offer please
Please click here.
Have a good month and remember to look beyond the obvious to achieve a personal best. If banging your head against a brick wall isn't working – take a step back and look for the gate :0)
Regards
Roy