In the last few months I have played more high pressure match play events than I did in the previous 6 years. Most of these are events organized by groups of like-minded golfers, and played over two days in a Ryder-Cup-like format. There's team T-shirts, logos, strategies, and after event parties. But most important of all there's highly competitive match play golf, and most matches go down to the wire.
Invariably these games create a lot of pressure. Particularly as we get to the business end of the event, and the last few groups remain on the course.
As I was playing these events, I was aware of the risk of choking under pressure, and I was reminded of a brilliant article written by Malcolm Gladwell about panicking and choking.
When we choke, we get very deliberate about our physical movements, and go back to an explicit mode of learning. Here's how I would explain it in the context of a high pressure round of golf.
You are in the middle of a very tight singles match. The result of your match could determine the fate of the event, and there's a gallery walking with you. Your match is all square on the 15th tee, and you hit a terrible pull-hook into the trees while your opponent puts the ball in the middle of the fairway, and has a wedge to the green - you are sure he will make par. You walk to your ball and decide that you need to play a low punch through a gap in the trees and get close to the green and try and make up and down. As you start addressing the ball, your heart rate goes up. From the corner of your eye you spot your team captain watching with about 20 others. You start thinking about the position of your elbow on the back swing, your wrist cock, and whether you are keeping your head still. Your movements become mechanical as you start thinking about technique. The fluidity from your swing is gone. You hit a shank, but fortunately the ball clatters around in the trees and ends up in the fairway with 95 yards to the pin. As you address the ball with your wedge, your heart is pounding. You tell yourself "Play a good shot idiot! You can't let your team down!". You become even more deliberate with your back swing - "low and slow" you tell yourself. "Remember to start the trigger movement with your hip". Finally you take your shot. You top it, and put it in the water body behind the green. You get this knot in your stomach, but you are determined not to let the match get away. One down with three to go. As you look at your opponent, he has this serene look on his face. You think "My god, I have to pull myself together!".
The lesson I have learnt from Gladwell's article is that I have to trust my swing and technique completely under pressure. I have to focus on the "what", and let my instinct guide my body on the "how". Years of playing and practicing has already taught my body how to swing the club, and how to chip & putt. The worst thing to do under pressure is to get more deliberate about technique. You have to let instinct play its part. This approach has worked well for me so far.
You can read the full article at: http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.html
Happy golfing!
Invariably these games create a lot of pressure. Particularly as we get to the business end of the event, and the last few groups remain on the course.
As I was playing these events, I was aware of the risk of choking under pressure, and I was reminded of a brilliant article written by Malcolm Gladwell about panicking and choking.
When we choke, we get very deliberate about our physical movements, and go back to an explicit mode of learning. Here's how I would explain it in the context of a high pressure round of golf.
You are in the middle of a very tight singles match. The result of your match could determine the fate of the event, and there's a gallery walking with you. Your match is all square on the 15th tee, and you hit a terrible pull-hook into the trees while your opponent puts the ball in the middle of the fairway, and has a wedge to the green - you are sure he will make par. You walk to your ball and decide that you need to play a low punch through a gap in the trees and get close to the green and try and make up and down. As you start addressing the ball, your heart rate goes up. From the corner of your eye you spot your team captain watching with about 20 others. You start thinking about the position of your elbow on the back swing, your wrist cock, and whether you are keeping your head still. Your movements become mechanical as you start thinking about technique. The fluidity from your swing is gone. You hit a shank, but fortunately the ball clatters around in the trees and ends up in the fairway with 95 yards to the pin. As you address the ball with your wedge, your heart is pounding. You tell yourself "Play a good shot idiot! You can't let your team down!". You become even more deliberate with your back swing - "low and slow" you tell yourself. "Remember to start the trigger movement with your hip". Finally you take your shot. You top it, and put it in the water body behind the green. You get this knot in your stomach, but you are determined not to let the match get away. One down with three to go. As you look at your opponent, he has this serene look on his face. You think "My god, I have to pull myself together!".
The lesson I have learnt from Gladwell's article is that I have to trust my swing and technique completely under pressure. I have to focus on the "what", and let my instinct guide my body on the "how". Years of playing and practicing has already taught my body how to swing the club, and how to chip & putt. The worst thing to do under pressure is to get more deliberate about technique. You have to let instinct play its part. This approach has worked well for me so far.
You can read the full article at: http://www.gladwell.com/2000/2000_08_21_a_choking.html
Happy golfing!
