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Set Your Intention Before You Swing
By
Sandy Earl
Last summer on vacation my
husband and I invited all who
were vacationing with us to join
us on the driving range. Our
purpose was to give them the
basics of golf so that they could
take the initiative to practice
more on their own and allow
them to discover that golf can be
enjoyed by players of all levels.
As we worked with our kids,
we encouraged them to state
what they wanted with each
swing, rather than worry about
a negative outcome. Everything
you give attention to grows,
whether it is positive or negative.
Before they attempted a shot,
I asked them to
‘state their
intention,’
allowing the mind
and the body to fully come
together for a smoother, swing
that was totally focused and in
the present.
This is ever so evident in the
transition of many golfers practice
swing to their actual swing.
The practice swing is smooth,
complete, and effortless because
the
intention
is to make a swing
that feels good and sends the
ball to the target. Then like Jekyll
and Hyde, intentions shift as the
players addresses the ball and the
smooth, complete and effortless
practice swing is history.
The intention of a smooth,
complete swing
is forgotten, the
ball becomes the target, and a
defensive slash of a golf swing
emits the body language of one
of hope, caution and fear. The
player created the context, his
body simply reacts to what it’s
told.
Don’t know where to start
setting the proper intention for
your golf game? Simply begin
by repeating,
“I am relaxed, confident, and
focused in the present moment.”
Saying this to yourself, or even
out loud, can allow your body to
respond to the intention that you
desire, giving a specific focus
with each shot.
Who knows, you just might
discover the simple act of
setting intentions will have a
tremendous impact on your
enjoyment of the game and may
even produce a lower handicap.
I am relaxed,
confident,
and focused
in the present
moment.
NWO Golf Links