Comments on: Performing under pressure

By: dan

dan — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:12:46 +0000

Mike,

That is a good one, I read Dr. Rotella’s book a while ago and perhaps it’s time to pick it up again.

Thanks,

Dan

By: Mike Maddalena

Mike Maddalena — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:58:58 +0000

A book that I have found to be the most helpful with pressure and golf in general has been Golf is Not a Game of Perfect. Dr. Rottella really did a good job explains the mental side of golf which I think is hily underrated.

By: Wade

Wade — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 07:16:48 +0000

Here is the most simple, straightforward way I have found to produce a quality golf swing under pressure: Deliberately try to make the golf ball do something that you have rehearsed in practice. To wit, hit the golf ball low or high, from left to right or vice-versa, on purpose. It triggers muscle and sense memory. Forget the target once you have decided on a shot. For me, my natural shot is a draw. I tend to hit one with a typical, solid shot. Under pressure, if I decide that I am going to hit a low fade or low draw, this requires a very decisive setup and motion through the golf swing. Under pressure, if I pick a low fade, my body instinctively will do certain things. By doing this, I have forgotten the larger implications of the shot and have triggered my body to do this certain thing. It works. Try it.

By: Tom G

Tom G — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 06:32:53 +0000

Hello Dan,

I found your site while surfing. I have a long time interest in deliberative practice and find your endeavor interesting. I’m an older guy and have put in the 10K+ hours (not always deliberative) in two different fields – theoretical physics and quantitative finance. I’ve had significant success in both areas (90+ percentile in both – physics/measured by publications, finance/measured by compensation).

It surprised me that you haven’t started competing. I consider competition core to deliberative practice. Your goal is not be to be “good” in golf, but to be the 1 in 100,000 best in competitive golf required to be minor pro or the 1 in 1,000,000 required to be a PGA pro. You have to compete to know how good you are at any time. You have to compete to know what mistakes you make and to know how your should make your practice more deliberate.

You are familiar with the deliberative practice literature — musicians compete, chess players compete. Without competition, you don’t have appropriate metrics to judge the improvement of your performance. In this regard, check out the book The Art of Learning, by Josh Waitzin. He is remarkable in achieving world class performance in two diverse areas – chess (grandmaster, he was the kid in the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer) and in martial arts (world champion in Tai Chi Chian).

In the areas in which I have competed, there is the theory (read, good golf style) and problem solving (read, winning tournaments and matches). The required skill sets are not the same.

Good luck, and may your practice be truly deliberate.

Tom

By: dan

dan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:28:48 +0000

Martin,

I’m hoping that is the case. Guess there’s only one way to find out

Thanks,

Dan

By: dan

dan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:27:37 +0000

Michael,

Glad you found the site and thank you for the comment. I’m in the stage of building the mechanics so that I can take it to the course without thinking about it and then the next is to build them to the point where you can compete without thinking about it, then winning without thinking about it.. It’s all baby steps, but always in the right direction.

Never thought about how much a magician must practice, but that makes sense as you’d be pretty nervous performing in front of people and it’s all about sleight of hand..

Thanks again and stay in touch,

Dan

By: dan

dan — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:23:01 +0000

Hi Brice,

I know, I know, I need to get that book.. Will do soon! I really appreciate the insight and comments

Have a great one,

Dan