Golf_ The Mind Game - Marlin M. Mackenzie [28]
On the practice tee hit several balls while listening to the selected music, using a Walkman or simply hearing it in your head. When you’re satisfied that the music positively influences the tempo and effectiveness of your swing, anchor the music to your swing. While hearing the music in your mind, hit balls on the course or practice tee daily, or swing a club at home if you can’t get to the range. Continue this practice for several weeks until the music becomes firmly associated with your swing. Eventually you’ll discover that the music will automatically play in your head when you swing a club.
When developing your musical anchor on the golf course, it may be important for you to complete your normal preshot routine before you start the music in your mind. That is, decide how and where you will hit the ball and get into the address position first. If you start the music too soon, you may disrupt your swing altogether because you’re not mentally prepared for the shot at hand.
Swing Elements. A more sophisticated application of music consists of matching specific elements of music with specific parts of your golf swing. The elements of music consist of its rhythm, or beat, its intensity, or “energy,” its volume, and the personal meaning of the words, if any. The parts of your golf swing that could be matched with the music include: grip strength, waggle, pace and length of the backswing, speed of the club head at impact, and the follow-through.
For example, the rhythm of an entire piece of music, or even one musical phrase, might parallel your entire swing; a syncopated rhythm might be just right to emphasize the hand action at the bottom of the swing; a pause or extended note could regulate the amount of hesitation you want at the top of your backswing. The energy or loudness of a song might be appropriate for regulating the amount of effort needed to blast out of a buried lie in a sand trap, while quite the opposite level of musical energy would be more suitable for stroking a delicate downhill putt with a double break. A soft love ballad might be just right for a smooth approach shot, while a John Philip Sousa march could be more fitting for a long drive into the wind. The possibilities for “matches” between music and the golf swing are infinite.
Here are the steps to follow while using the M & M Process.
M & M PROCESS
Sitting somewhere comfortable at home, recall making a fine golf shot; or relive a shot you just made on the practice tee. See and hear what you saw and heard then, and feel again the rhythm and effort of your swing.
Identify several pieces of music you enjoy which you think might have the intensity, beat, rhythm, and harmony that match the entire swing or an element of it.
Test the match between the music and your swing. If the images of the remembered shot are clear and positive, if you can feel your muscles contract and relax in harmony with the music, then it’s time for on-course encores.
Strap a Walkman to your waist and listen to the music while executing that preselected shot. If you don’t have a Walkman, start the music in your mind.
If the shots are good, fire the musical anchor at home and on the practice range for two or three weeks, or until the music plays automatically in your head whenever you’re about to make the shot on a golf course.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the process. If the quality of the shot decreases, change the music.
Follow the same steps to identify and anchor music that matches the just-right walking pace between shots. It is especially