GOLF PSYCHOLOGY

“I’ve Got Rhythm”

Dean Sunseri, MA, MED

      On the way to the clubhouse during the Masters, Byron Nelson heard a Waltz being played on an organ, and he was filled with the smooth rhythm of 1,2,3.  After playing one of the best rounds of his career, he said that every shot was guided by the rhythm of the Waltz he heard in the morning.  Golfers of every level often say after a good round, “I was in a good rhythm today.”  What does it mean to have good rhythm?

     Rhythm is a series of movements that are tied together by a consistent tempo.  The consistent beat of a drum is the glue that brings a group of musicians into sync.  The rhythm of a song keeps a pair of ballroom dancers in harmony.  Can you imagine these dancers attempting to dance without the rhythm of a song?  Can you imagine a golfer who is executing a shot without any sense of rhythm?  

     Rhythm is a key ingredient that ties all the different elements of golf swing into harmony.  How do we find our rhythm?  We must begin with our body, and find the organ that has rhythm.  The heart is the center of our rhythm.  It pulses consistently, as the rhythm increases or decreases depending on the response to a given situation.  Recently, scientists have proven that the heart moves into a mildly erratic rhythm when one is angry, hopeless, fearful or frustrated.  Experienced golfers will say, “I could have told you that is true, just look how erratic my swing rhythm is when I am angry, hopeless, fearful and frustrated.”  On the other hand, scientists have verification that the heart beats smooth and rhythmic when a person is peaceful, positive, grateful or safe.  The greatest of golfers have the ability to move into a place of peacefulness, positive, grateful or safety even when the external circumstances are challenging.  Byron Nelson was grounded by the rhythm of the Waltz during his extraordinary round.  A professional golfer that I know says he hums a song between shots during tournament play to keep him in rhythm.

     Perhaps, the rhythm grounds a person into the center of his body, the heart.  At the time of execution, our center of consciousness needs to be in the center of our body, and out of our head.  The fastest way the create an errant shot is to be thinking too much during the swing, just as it is impossible to dance in rhythm when one is thinking too much about what is the next step.  Get out of your head and into your heart is imperative for competitive golf.   So the next time someone tells you that you played out of your mind, simply respond, “Thank you very much!”

Dean Sunseri, MA, MEd, is a specialist in Sports Performance Psychology and has coached Golf Tour Professionals, NFL Football Players, Professional Baseball Players and Professional Hockey Teams.  He can be contacted at ds@ihaveavoice.com or 251-626-5454.