By: Charles W. Boatright
Getting Out of a Slump in Golf
On “Arkansas Fairways & Greens,” Bob Steel and Jay Fox discussed how a golfer can get out of a slump. The golfer can’t practice their way out; they have to play their way out of a slump. This goes back to how the golfer’s subconscious mind works. Mental Rule of Golf No. 7 states- The subconscious mind always prevails in conflicts with the conscious mind. In other words, the subconscious mind is responsible for HOW the golfer will play. This doesn’t refer to your practice or golf lessons on how to perform a golf shot. The subconscious mind goes back to how the golfer plays. The conscious mind is responsible for the WHAT; this is how the golfer practices, not plays.
Kim Backus, an Arkansas Nike Distributor, tweeted into the show this morning to Jay Fox, Administrator for the ASGA, “That the golfer can’t practice themselves out of a slump, they have to play themselves out of their slump.” The main reason is that the golfer’s practice is a conscious process and is not structured to perform HOW, which is a subconscious process. If there is any difference between how the golfer practices and how the golfer plays, the golfer’s mind will default to playing conditions that resemble those on the course and not the golfer’s last practice sessions or lesson.
Caddyshack, “Be the Ball” Quote
The best quote in golf comes from the movie Caddyshack by (Ty Webb- played by Chevy Chase to Danny Noonan- played by Michael O’Keefe). I’m going to give you a little advice. There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.
- There’s a Force in the universe– The force is referring to the golfer’s subconscious mind.
- Get in touch with it– The tasks and conditions must be familiar, normal, and routine. The golf swing must become routine, like the baseball swing is to the batter. I don’t know too many batters who think about their baseball swing in the batter’s box, while looking at a 95-mph fastball.
- Stop thinking– A high level of relaxation, confidence, and muscle memory must be present. In the case of an experienced driver, the majority of their tasks are instinctive, which do not require a conscious effort. These tasks become subconscious, as a matter of fact, almost relaxing, compared to that of a new driver who has to think about every element.
- Be the Ball– The conscious and subconscious minds are focused on two different tasks at the same time.
AlmostGOLF ®, The 405- Training Drill Scrimmage-Type Practice
During my practice sessions, I take a page out of the football coach’s playbook to set up my practice game sessions, like a scrimmage-type format. I call it the 405- Training Drill, described in Section 7 of my book, The ESPY Golf Swing Coach. I use five special practice golf balls (AlmostGOLF ®) and five actual golf balls and work out in my backyard. I have a one-third scaled-down version of a par-four of the first hole of my home course, Lake Caroline in Madison, Mississippi, in my backyard. If you don’t have enough room in your backyard, you can use a vacant field works great. My tee and approach shots are made with the AlmostGOLF ® balls just like I’m on the golf course. These AlmostGOLF ® balls are foam-filled PVC coated golf balls that travel one-third the distance of an actual golf ball. Using the AlmostGOLF ® balls, the golfer is roughly hitting in feet instead of yards of an actual golf ball.
The AlmostGOLF ® balls don’t cause property damage or harm to people or pets. But my dog loves them, because they provide him a tantalizing treat that he can sink his teeth into. I use these actual golf balls to make my chip, pitch shots, and putts.
As the 405- Training Drill implies, I have to make four-out-of-five golf shots to what I call a Drop Zone. The Drop Zone is a 10- foot diameter target area marked by a five-gallon bucket. If more than one of my C or actual golf balls misses the target area, I have to pick up and go back to the tee box and start over. I perform 405- Training Drill routines until I have three consecutive tee-to-green sessions without missing more than one golf shot at each target area.
The Home Depot Orange Bucket Challenge The 405-Training Drill
NOTE: This was produced in September of 2014, before I lost 52-Lbs and over 8-inches in my waistline
This RODE Wireless 8-Iron Home Depot Orange Bucket Challenge was produced in July of 2020
The 405- Training Drill allows me to practice how I play, and play how I practice, and more importantly, with a purpose. You always have to have a purpose in your practice sessions. This way, my subconscious mind can’t distinguish between how I play or how I practice. This is the whole purpose of the 405- Training Drill.
NOTE: Arkansas Fairways & Greens Radio Show can be listened to on KARN 102.9 FM on I-Heart Radio each Saturday morning at 7 am Central Time. This program originates from Little Rock, AR.
I would recommend that anyone trying to learn or improve their golf game purchase a box or package of AlmostGOLF ® to use for effective training. These golf balls can be bought either in your local golf or sporting store or on line AlmostGOLF ®
To learn how to develop the 405- Training Drill golf swing workout, purchase your copy of The ESPY Golf Swing Coach from the links below, or visit your local bookstore:
My book can also be purchased at Edwin Watts Golf Store in Jackson, Mississippi. Phone No. 601-956-8784
820 East County Line Road, Ridgeland, MS 39157
My book can also be purchased on-line at:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
This book is a self-coaching forum that provides basic and advanced fundamentals to help you play golf with confidence and start lowering your handicap.
Please take advantage of my SR-925 Diet Program, where I lost 6 inches in my waist in 3- months (FREE of CHARGE) with the CASPER Workout Program, detailed in Section 20 of my book:
Please include an exercise routine in your weekly schedule.
Also, learning The ESPY Golf Swing Coach process is an excellent way to develop Rhythm without experiencing the Blues in your golf game, learn how to take your baseball-style swing from the batter’s box to the tee box.
Please visit “The Locker Room” for an Index of all my golf articles to improve your golf game and life. Discover how you can take your baseball swing from the batter’s box to the tee box.
For Comments or questions, please contact me at 1-888-514-1228 Mon – Fri from 9 am to 4 pm CT Zone.