Thinking Too Much? Do the Oppostie

I sometimes look back to my amateur years as a time when I did not think too much. I just hit the ball and got the job done. Kinda an innocent time. Just a part-time “job”. There was a lot I really didn’t know or think about.

Now as a pro, “thinking too much” seems to be creeping in. Too much left-brain analyzing. Not enough right brain. The imaging and “feel” part of the game. My coaches are working with me on building up---maybe re-building--- the imaging side.

Interesting thing I have learned. The brain doesn’t know how to stop something, like thinking too much. But it can start or build more of a habit. That will cause the “bad habit” to shrivel---lack of use.

Simple idea. Hard to put into practice.

The Tiger Effect

Tiger just keeps raising the bar. With his 68th PGA Tour title at the Buick Open on August 3, 2009, he’s having an effect. For us young pros, we keep learning from him. How he handles himself and how hard he works. But, if you are playing in the same tournament with him and he’s on a streak, it’s tough.

My family told me about some research last year on what it’s like for other pros when Tiger hits the gas. Their scores go higher. But when Tiger’s in a slump, the pros are OK.

It would be interesting to know what the pros have to say.