FEAR CONTROL: Task Focusing to Control the FEAR

To become TASK focused, golfers must start to become aware of their hands and their state of mind.
STATES OF MIND
The brain can choose one of five states:
• PREDATOR, this is total concentration on the task at hand.
• FIGHT, this is an adrenaline produced stress reaction.
• FLIGHT (FEAR), this is an over production of adrenaline where motion circuits shut down.
• CONSCIOUS, this is interference with the subconscious by the conscious mind.
• I DON'T CARE, this is lack of concentration and ACTS (circuits) are not defined.
For the golf stroke, predator is the ideal state.
The question that is logical to ask then is,
How do predators act?
The body prepares for action with the same chemicals that produce fight or flight. The difference is that the area of the brain that determines the emotional status has chosen predator.
What are the characteristics of a predator?
• How does a predator walk, move, run, stalk?
• How does a predator talk?
• Does a predator have fear?
If you've seen a lion stalk a zebra on the wild kingdom programs on TV, you are watching one of the ultimate predators in the animal kingdom. You'll see that the lion's eyes are riveted on the zebra. His muscles will be rippling under his skin - ready for action. There is total concentration on the TASK at hand -- DINNER!
Stress is the term used when the human body prepares itself for action. You must have stress (the correct level of arousal) to perform sports motions optimally. Stress is essential for meeting challenges. "Choking" is losing control as a result of heightened and uncontrolled anxiety. "Choking" is just another word for an uncontrolled stress reaction. The problem is how to choose the correct stress; predator.
To understand how to choose predator, we need to understand how the body produces stress. The stress response starts in the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex interprets present and past experiences and defines what is and what is not stressful. Stress is the meaning you give it.
It's necessary to gear one's stress response to a helpful and correct level of arousal. Arousal, at an optimum level, is linked to two internal functions critical for best performance.
They are: CONCENTRATION and SELF-CONFIDENCE.
Concentration enables the trained athlete to screen out distractions. The state of sustained mild stress facilitates recall. When the cerebral cortex chooses fear, too much adrenaline is poured into the blood stream and memory is interfered with: you literally forget your training. You must practice enough to have the self-confidence that you can perform the mechanical motion effectively. This is the starting place. You must have correct fitting equipment and practice correctly enough to be a good ball striker. You must be able to consistently hit golf balls where you want them to go. Once you are a good ball striker, you can then begin to build a routine for concentrating on the task at hand.
This is when sports psychology is useful. Visualizing, thinking positive, and the multitude of psychological advice that is written in golf publications now have the potential to be effective. You can visualize all you want, but if there are no ACTS (circuit) for ball striking, you will not consistently hit a golf ball where you want it to go. When you become a good ball striker, then start applying sports psychology techniques.
Use the ones that are grounded in science. Supernatural techniques (Zen, etc.) have many claims of success, but no way to verify. Scientific techniques produce consistent results and reasonable explanations for results - desired or undesired.
The brain is organized around GOALS and PURPOSE. Stress is controlled by choosing to be in CONTROL.
You cannot control situations, only your reaction.
Any one I choose to let annoy me, controls my life! Is that you?
Only you can determine your fate. You must choose to be in control, have a goal, and establish the purpose

[@YUHO-qt9hk]

I have “embarrassing “ feeling on the green to be seen I missed short putt and can’t stop thinking of that. It’s been 3weeks trying task involved goal and be in predator mode on the golf course since I found your great videos. I made few good 3-feet putts yesterday in front of the people. Thank you. I will learn all your videos.

[@scienceofgolf]

When you learn actions to control your fear, every part of your game will improve. Nothing helps putting more than making those 3 footer in front of people!

[@YUHO-qt9hk]

I absolutely agree with what you said. Thank you very much.