Hypnosis for swing hitch

[Pope33]

When I get extremely nervous on the course, especially tournaments, I will put a hitch in my swing (Barkley-esk). To go with the hitch, I slide so far forward, that my hands then try to make up for the mistake.

I know it's 100% mental, because I'm near scratch when I don't feel any pressure.

Has anyone tried any kind of hypnosis to fix a golf swing? (Seriously) I am at the point I will try anything!!

[Tomboys]

It could work.  There are people that try hypnosis to stop smoking and while the results seem mixed, it could work for you.  That being said, make sure you go to a proper hypnotist, preferably one without comedic aspirations.  It would be kind of weird to see you shoot scratch and then cackle like a chicken when you hear a car horn.

In all seriousness, I took a lesson once from an EFT (Emotional Feedom Therapy) certified (?) instructor.  I didn't know what that was at the time (I just wanted someone to look at my swing).  45 minutes of our 60 minute lesson was spent just talking which threw me for a loop.  She asked me all kinds of questions about what the shot meant to me and what I was hoping to accomplish, etc.  I was like, "WTF lady?, I just wanna get this little white ball into that little hole @ 400 yards from here in as few strokes as possible.  Tell me what I need to do with my swing and I'll go to the range and do it."  Later, after our lesson, I looked up what EFT meant and then I understood what she was doing (a little fixing of the mind).  Unfortunately, when I tried to set up another lesson with her--now that I understood why she was asking all those questions, she had left for a head teaching pro job out of state.

[allin]

There are a number of self hypnosis books and dvds on the market, including some with an emphasis on golf.  Many of the relaxation and visualization techniques taught in social work courses are not very different than those taught to athletes in many sports.  Self  hypnosis is closely related to these techniques.

[Pope33]

Thanks for the tips. I just started the Tour Tempo book, which some say will help with "my ailments". Guess we'll find out

[Ernest Jones]

Originally Posted by Pope33

When I get extremely nervous on the course, especially tournaments, I will put a hitch in my swing (Barkley-esk). To go with the hitch, I slide so far forward, that my hands then try to make up for the mistake.

I know it's 100% mental, because I'm near scratch when I don't feel any pressure.

Has anyone tried any kind of hypnosis to fix a golf swing? (Seriously) I am at the point I will try anything!!

Might be worth taking a look at Fred Shoemaker's "Extraordinary Golf".

[phillyk]

I'm not a firm believer of hypnosis or the effects of it.  I understand it works for many people, but it really it all comes down to self-confidence.  So, whatever you feel you can do to achieve self-confidence with, go for it.  For me, it's a mixture of relaxing music and hyping music to get the energy flowing before the round, then during the round I keep the energy flowing. I don't let a bad hole get into my head, and I feel like that's they key.  Ex-out the bad holes and thrive yourself on the good shots, regardless of their proportions on the course.

[allin]

Originally Posted by phillyk

I'm not a firm believer of hypnosis or the effects of it.  I understand it works for many people, but it really it all comes down to self-confidence.  So, whatever you feel you can do to achieve self-confidence with, go for it.  For me, it's a mixture of relaxing music and hyping music to get the energy flowing before the round, then during the round I keep the energy flowing. I don't let a bad hole get into my head, and I feel like that's they key.  Ex-out the bad holes and thrive yourself on the good shots, regardless of their proportions on the course.

You state you are not a believer in hypnosis. There is nothing wrong with that, and people vary in their ability to be hypnotized and how deeply they can be hypnotized. For this reason the potential benefits vary greatly.  To equate it to self confidence is not an accurate  representation of how hypnosis functions.  You state you use music to relax you or what psychology would identify as a way  to alter your arousal state.  Breathing techniques, visualization etc are well recognized performance enhancing techniques.  For the most part hypnosis works the same way.  Your correct level of arousal,, sometimes called the zone is more difficult to reach if you lack confidence or are to tense etc.  Hypnosis cannot give you confidence  and is not intended as a substitute for confidence. The cues, sometimes called post hypnotic suggestions are commonly used in many areas.  Tiger has stated that he uses meditation techniques taken from his mothers beliefs as a way to manage his emotions on the golf course.   All of these techniques are just ways to obtain the emotional state in which you perform best.

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by allin

You state you are not a believer in hypnosis. There is nothing wrong with that, and people vary in their ability to be hypnotized and how deeply they can be hypnotized. For this reason the potential benefits vary greatly.  To equate it to self confidence is not an accurate  representation of how hypnosis functions.  You state you use music to relax you or what psychology would identify as a way  to alter your arousal state.  Breathing techniques, visualization etc are well recognized performance enhancing techniques.  For the most part hypnosis works the same way.  Your correct level of arousal,, sometimes called the zone is more difficult to reach if you lack confidence or are to tense etc.  Hypnosis cannot give you confidence  and is not intended as a substitute for confidence. The cues, sometimes called post hypnotic suggestions are commonly used in many areas.  Tiger has stated that he uses meditation techniques taken from his mothers beliefs as a way to manage his emotions on the golf course.   All of these techniques are just ways to obtain the emotional state in which you perform best.

Well as I don't really know anything about hypnosis, I presumed it had something to do with emotional strength and confidence in yourself from what Pope33 said in his post.  I figured that when i said listening to music for relaxation, it would be somewhat similar to hypnosis, but I just went with it.  But regardless, whatever some feels will be best to boost their mental game, they should go for it.

[GolfHippy]

I do not think I would go so far as to get hypnotised but I do believe it is a lot to do with your mental attitude. I try to be really positive and imaging a good shot before I swing.