Dealing with slow play
That slow player is a giving you a gift … an opportunity to improve your mental game
We've all been there. The group in front are just taking their time, without a care in the world about YOU - the group behind.
Or you're playing with an individual who is much slower than everyone else, and you're certain the time they take to line up their shot, standing over the ball and make a practice swing would be pushing the time requirement rules…
Source: talkSPORT
What do you do in such a situation?
Well, you have three options - each with their own benefits and downsides…
You can react normally, as you usually do [insert angry thoughts, frustrated emotions, swear words here]
Distract yourself by looking at your phone or talking to your mates
Use it as an opportunity to practise your mental game… (see below)
Which do you think would have the most effective outcome for your performance?
Answer? Option 3 is the best for your long term sustainable optimal performance!
Let's consider the principle of locus of control. The ability to understand what is within our control, and what is not, and then carefully responding to that which we can control, for optimal outcomes.
Every time you are faced with adversity on the golf course, whether it's slow play, or bad weather, or an opponent who just doesn’t seem to miss, it's an opportunity to work on your mental game.
Focus on the things you can control, and be methodical about it.
With time, this will become your natural response, and lead to improved performance. Let me explain how it works, using cognitive behavioural theory from psychology…
Option 1: react normally, whatever "normal" is to you.
Situation: slow play
Thoughts
Notice what thoughts immediately pop up:
“Screw this guy, he's so slow!”
“Ah, this is really going to mess with my rhythm, I was playing so well”
“I need to keep moving, keep the momentum, what can I do?”
Emotions
Then notice what you feel:
Get angry, frustrated, pissed off.
Constricted chest, hot head, tense neck and hands
Maybe faster breathing or heartbeat.
Action
Tense up, hit a bad shot, something similar
And what is the outcome? Often this leads to more difficult thoughts and emotions, and the cycle continues…
Get more angry or frustrated
More thoughts about how slow play affects your game
Feeling out of control, hopeless, bad about yourself
Sound familiar? Everyone would experience something slightly different, but you get the gist. Result - not good!
Going through option 1 is not bad, in fact it can be super helpful in understanding how an external event, out of your control, can get in the way of you playing your best game, if you let it. The good news is, there is another option, which may take some practise, but you may get better results…
Starting with mindset
Mindset: “unexpected events such as slow play, are an opportunity for me to practise my mental game”
Thoughts:
Ah, a slow player. Usually I'd get pissed off, but I'm going to see if I can use this extra time to work on my mental game.
Emotions:
Whilst you can’t control your emotions, you can control how you respond to them.
Start by noticing what you feel - try and label the feeling (anger, where do you feel it, frustration, etc)
Make space for the emotion to be there
Action:
Here you do have control. Decide how you want to act. Take a deep breath, and commence your performance routine.
Intention --> commitment --> action
Watch how your thoughts respond to the outcome. And then reframe.
So, in summary: you have the choice.
The mental game is as important as the physical game, and we need to practise it as often as possible. So, what better time than when waiting for slow play? (Or waiting in traffic, or in a shopping queue…)
A common event - waiting - that usually produces negative emotions, can be transformed into a gift, that can be used as an opportunity to practise mindfulness, and how you act in response to adversity.
As you undertake this practice, you learn to notice body changes that signal impending negative thoughts and emotions, such as frustration after a missed putt or anger at a bad drive. Each time we can stop and not let a negative mindset take hold, we are erasing a habitual and unhelpful thought pattern that impacts our golf game. If we don’t let the mind keep running down the same negative paths, eventually the habitual states of frustration and irritation will dissolve. This takes time, but it works. And it's worth it, as your overall performance and enjoyment of the game will benefit.
