Dr. Travis Fox

Holding doctorates in both Psychology & Hypnotherapy, Dr. Travis Fox has devoted his life to understanding the mind and how to be in control of it.

Over the course of the year Dr. Fox is going to examine the game of golf and how you can improve your game.

- GolfObserver editors

Then, the next day when test time came, the "pressure" of having to perform began creeping into your brain and changed your mindset from one of confidence and relaxation to one of tension and anxiety. As this new mindset continued to gain momentum you found yourself "blanking" on the information that you crammed all night to learn! In fact, the more you realized that you were "blanking" the more you blanked and your tension/pressure levels grew worse.

Finally, after you successfully failed the test you put so much work and effort into, you walked out with your defeated/hopeless attitude only to have all the information suddenly flood back into your memory! Why couldn't you remember all the answers when you were taking the test? What stopped you from being your best when you needed it the most? The answer is simple; your mindset changed.

Like the students above, the mindset was the key to dreams realized or crushed for the men who prepared for qualifying school this past week. I personally know and work with several of those men and the only difference between the ones who now have their card and those who don't is their "mindset". They kept the same mindset they had preparing for Q school while on the practice range; relaxed and rhythmic. Those were the ones who could repeat the results and score well. Those who "changed" their mindsets to feelings of tension/worry, (cram-session) and started to "think" about protecting their score, making the cut and worse yet, having to make birdies to survive, were the ones who are now home trying to figure out what happened to their swing and game

It is the simple shifting of your mindset from the one you were in when you practiced on the range- relaxed and calm - to ones that are now worried about protecting and surviving. This makes it almost impossible for you to then access the "internal information" and pattern you created of making a good, repeatable move through the ball. The state of mind you learned and created with your stroke on the range has now been changed and thus you are not able to be access this on the course when the mindset of tension comes. This is like a "road block" placed between your current, anxious state and your desired outcome, good golf and the learned automated, relaxed swing that is stored in your subconscious mind.

For my part here is your... "Prescription for the Week"

When you are over a putt think tic, tock as your thought process while putting Next time you practice on the range, focus on keeping your mind relaxed and thoughtless. A similar state to the one you have when you practice without pressure. Keep thoughts away from the stresses and pressures of what the coming tournament means and instead remain focused on the enjoyment of playing. This will be the easiest way to learn a quality swing that can be repeated easily by clearing your mind on the course, like you practiced on the range... this is a surefire way to "Beat The Bogey Man" that lives in your mind to shoot lower scores.

P.S. - Be on the lookout for the Beat The Bogey Man Bus touring around the country spring 2007! Our goal is to help 1,000,000 golfer improve their game 3 to 5 strokes for Free! To have the Bogey Man Bus come to your country club or golf course email our tour director Jessica at info@beatthebogeyman.com



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