More thoughts on the mental game
I picked up a copy of Putting Out of Your Mind by Bob Rotella a few days ago and I’m enjoying it.
The mental side of the game is one of the main appeals for me. I’ve learned so much about composure and self-control over the years. Taking up golf a couple of years ago meant that I could apply what I’d learned to a physical sport.
The problem is that you do need to do a decent job with the mechanics — and that’s been frustrating at times. I was ready to give it up entirely this spring (or anyway, I said as much to myself a couple of times).
But looking back, I have improved. My bad holes are now sixes and sevens instead of nines and tens.
I cured the slice that was plaguing me.
I have a ways to go, yet. Most important: I’d still like to reduce the variables of my swing.
What’s fun, however, is that I’ve gotten good enough that I can turn more attention to the mental game. So Rotella’s book is a welcome way to spend a few minutes here & there, now that we’ve got snow on the ground. I find myself remembering what it was like to be a kid, when putting was something that I thought was pretty easy.
I’m going to work on my game this winter. Not quite sure how, yet. Indoor driving range — possibly. Maybe just swing a club in the back yard. Strikes me as a way to work on that reproducibility.
It’s funny how optimistic I feel. It’s like I have this Ideal Round in my head, and it seems so real to me.
And since I can’t actually go out and play, that Ideal Round just sits there, all pretty and uncorruptable . . .