This past summer I was playing in my very first competitive golf event. The tournament was 19U, which meant I was playing against some opponents who may have already had experience playing at the university level. In preparation for that day, I spent considerable time in spring and early summer practicing at the driving range and improving my swing, short game, and putting. On the range that morning I was consistently bombing drives 250 yards right down the middle!
A small crowd had gathered to watch golfers on the first tee, including my parents and grandparents. When the starter announced my name and where I was from, my heart was pounding out of my chest. I addressed the ball as I did on the driving range and swung….and the ball dribbled 20 yards into the long grass just in front of me. I was heartbroken as the small crowd stood in awkward silence!
I was ready physically for that day and had practiced every shot, but my emotional state and frame of mind did not match my physical preparation. I let myself become distracted and overcome with emotions and nerves rather than calmly executing as I had so frequently done in practice with a focused, but relaxed, mind. Rather than visualize the shot and calm my heartbeat before taking my swing, instead, I tried to get it over with as fast as I could.
I knew that something was missing! Most competitive athletes and students are well prepared for the actual task at hand but have not considered their frame of mind and body. My goal is to study and share proper methods and techniques to optimize performance by reducing stress and promoting calm and a positive state of mind before important events like athletic competitions or academic exams.