18.The interference and frailty of the conscious mind is the reason as to why golf is not only imperfectable but also the great appealing game that it is.
The Game of Golf is Easy,...... we make it difficult - Part 2
This lesson carries on from lesson 13 regarding Iron Byron, the robotic armed, club swinging, ball testing machine, that I pointed out could hit shots to a high standard because it isn't aware of the golf ball having no conscious mind.
I have only once witnessed a player hit a ball whilst not been aware of it, how it came about is a lesson in itself but there is a far greater message in this experience that never fully dawned on me until a couple of years after it happened.
Nearly 15 years ago, this gentleman came to me for a lesson. His problems started, not like the majority of us when we put a ball in the way of the club, but when he put the club in his hand for his practice swing. So aggressive was his practice swing that I stepped back to a safer position to observe. The usual ways of trying to calm things proved futile so in desperation, I tried an unusual technique that I had read about as a last resort. I asked the man to close his eyes and imagine that his club was a child’s playground swing and sat on the seat was his little granddaughter. With his eyes still closed I told him to now give the little child a swing and as if by magic, a calm rhythm appeared in his action and a good looking swing, that had until now lain dormant, suddenly revealed itself. I moved in closer, encouraging him to stay with this image as he swung back and forth and whilst he remained totally oblivious to what I was doing, I sneaked a ball into the swing path of his club. The ball was struck right in the middle of the club-face.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that you could not hit a better golf shot. On many occasions, I have had pupils hitting golf balls with their eyes shut with great success but they have always known the ball was present. Sadly, I could not get him to do it again. He had seen the trick I played on him and his desire to attack the ball came back as strong as ever. On that one occasion though, he achieved perfection because by my diverting his attention, he momentarily lost all desire to achieve and unconsciously allowed the simple technique to deliver the golf club through the ball to a finish.
Because all golfers are always, to a greater or lesser degree, involved in a mental struggle with the ball, we can never approach the level of pure perfection achieved on this one occasion. The interference and frailty of the conscious mind is the reason as to why golf is not only imperfectable but also the great game that it is.
I will leave you to ponder this quote from the Zen Master - Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki.
