Gary Player once said that 'the harder you practice, the luckier you get'.
For a long time, I've fully believed this to be the right approach to get ready to compete. Since I turned professional nearly 10 years ago, every year I have worked harder and harder.
Over the years, the one consistent thing has been that I've practiced and played in the way I thought I should.
I've looked to other, more successful people and rather than learn from them, I tried to copy them. This usually meant playing in a way that didn't necessarily feel comfortable or enjoyable and then standing on a range and hitting shot after shot until I found something that would work for a while. When that stopped working, I'd find the next thing. I'd dance like Elvis on the back swing if it made me hit a good pitch shot!
Practicing the way someone else does is only going to work for one person, and it probably won't be you. It's a huge part of being successful, but for practice to be effective you have to play to your strengths.
For example, it was well known that Vijay Singh was one of the hardest workers on tour and would often hit over 1000 balls a day. He made it to the top of the world rankings. In contrast, Fred Couples knew it was better for him (and his back!) if he rarely practiced. He hardly ever beat balls, but had complete trust and belief in his ability when it came time to play. He made it to the top of the world rankings. Two completely different people, completely different golf swings, completely different ways of working. Both former world number 1s.
Serious isn't a word many would use to describe my personality. In fact, it's probably the complete opposite. But when it comes to golf, that's exactly the attitude I have had. Golf was at the forefront of my mind at all times. I didn't have to be playing or practicing to be thinking about what I would, could or should be doing. It's probably not surprising that I found it difficult to switch off. In fact, on the rare chance I did give myself a break I'd feel guilty about it and the opportunities I potentially had missed.
It was something that had been ingrained in me since I was a kid. I was told by coaches and many barely credible sources that if I wanted to get anything out of golf, I must keep hitting balls until I couldn't hit any more. Being somewhat slow on the uptake, I took their advice literally. "If i just hit another 500 balls in the next ten minutes, I might find the secret". On the one hand you could say this is dedication. On the other hand, which I would completely agree with, you could say 'what a d**khead'.
I find it really easy to get obsessed with the process. But when the process isn't right, the most you get out of it is sore hands, worn out golf clubs and a mood somewhere between frustration and fuming....there's another F word that I would use but I'm trying to keep this professional.
At the end of last year, I reviewed my whole approach and decided to re-focus. Rarely have I stood on a range and hit more than 50 balls. Any technical work, I've tried to do indoors, focusing purely on the swing, then taking it out to the course. Practice has been concentrated around scoring. Most of my range time has been spent playing pitching challenges and doing Flightscope scoring tests because making a perfect golf swing on the course, but the ball flying 20 yards too far isn't going to get me very far. Trusting that my distance control is good and I have the results to prove it is much more valuable to me.
Results on the course have started to improve with a couple of wins towards the end of last season. Who would have thought changing something that hasn't worked for years immediately shows results. Crazy eh. I reiterate "what a d**k head!".
What I love about sport is that it forces you to earn its rewards.This comes easier for some more than others and I'm definitely one of the latter.
When it comes to practice, just because you put in more hours, hit more balls and feel like you sacrifice and dedicate yourself completely, doesn't mean you automatically will 'get luckier'. What you feel you deserve might never come. But that's sport. It's part of the challenge and should also be part of the fun.
The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If what you're doing doesn't feel right don't be afraid to change it. Find what works for you and go for it. Trust me, life and golf is so much more enjoyable. I still have work to do but it will be the work I want to do and not motivated by anything or anyone else. I no longer walk off the range with a need to punch the nearest wall, which is a bonus.
Now get to work....
Comentarios