The holy grail that all golfers are searching for is Unconscious competence.
Unconscious competence?
‘The individual has had so much practice with a skill that it has become “second nature” and can be performed easily. As a result, the skill can be performed while executing another task. The individual may be able to teach it to others, depending upon how and when it was learned.’
I recently saw this interview with Charley Hull on her 2nd place finish in the 1st major of the year. She certainly understands Playing mode.
“I don’t think about golf when I’m actually on the golf course,” she said. “I just kind of go with the flow and just hit my shot when it’s ready and don’t think about it after.
So I teed up this shot and I was actually thinking about this dress I had ordered. This is so funny, it’s a yellow dress I ordered, and I’m thinking about it.”
“I hit my tee shot and hold my finish and I’m looking at the sky and I say to Adam: ‘Where did my ball go?’ He says: ‘What do you mean?’
“I can’t even remember hitting the shot. It went straight and he says: ‘Charley, you’ve got to start concentrating,’ and I’m like ‘yeah, but I’m in the zone but out of the zone, I’m just kind of forgetting about the whole thing.’
“And that’s what I have been doing lately and it’s been working for me. Sometimes I used to get so far ahead of myself. It’s interesting, it’s weird.” (BBC Sport)
I call this Playing mode. You pick your club, pick your target and then watch the ball fly (or maybe not in Charley’s case!). All without technical thought.
To get to Unconscious competence you need the following:
1.Pre-Shot-Routine. The more consistent the better and it doesn’t matter on your skill level. Start to work on it now. Practice it then play with it.
2.Visualise the shape and trajectory of the shot then deliver it. This comes from…
a.Good fundamentals
b.The ability to repeat a centred strike at impact
3.Playing mode is what you should be striving for. Make sure it forms part of your practice.
For more info on Playing mode and Practice mode has a look at this article
neal granville golf 