The work of Steve Peters is well-known in elite sports. He is a professor of psychiatry and wrote the book The Chimp Paradox. The book discusses parts of the human brain that are emotional and irrational as the chimp part and the logical parts as the human parts.
It got me thinking. I see golfers reacting to pressure differently. Some are calm and measured. Some golfers are sweary and club throwy. By Professor Peters’ research the calm and measured golfer is using the human brain. The sweary golfer is using the chimp brain. Simply put as I understand it.
The trick is to be able to control it. How does a golfer go from sweary, unpleasant, prick to calm, measured, coolness? We can begin by being proactive instead of reactive. Start with a plan. Not everything in golf is going to go to plan. But, we know this and can accept it. Acceptance is probably the hardest skill to learn. I don’t mean not caring, I mean things we can’t control will happen and that’s just part of playing golf.
We can prepare properly for events. We can have the right equipment. We can choose the right attitude. You can do this ahead of playing.
You can practice too, putting yourself under pressure and being measured in your reactions. You can control the chimp and use it to your advantage. Get it here: (I get a small commission)
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