Instead of trying harder and going after the game, try to let the game come to you.
3. Conscious Competence; the handicap golfer.
When you arrive, as you inevitably will, in the world of the “Consciously Competent player, you will begin to see reward for all your efforts. However, don’t think for a minute you are out of the woods as the many golfers who are already in this zone will testify.A Conscious Competent Golfer remains frustrated because the odd excellent game they have had is the standard they now set themselves by.
Having experienced the game they want the player now makes the mistake of making a grab for it in the only way they know how, which is to analyse the technique to a greater degree and filling the mind with more information. Sadly through this approach they more often than not stifle what should be by now a reflex action, in a mental straitjacket. It may be hard to appreciate but for many players at this point, less technical knowledge is required. In other words, you would do yourself a favour in forgetting most of what you have been taught. Trust the fact that the knowledge should be hard wired into your system as muscle memory.
There is a well known saying for this situation called 'Paralysis through Analysis'. Chasing the game in this fashion creates anxiety, frustration and eventually loss of confidence as what we want stays just out of reach.
Instead of trying harder and going after the game, try to let the game come to you. A client/ friend once made the remark that instead of “trying harder,” why don’t we “try softer.” A very good observation which holds a lot of sense. Trust what you already know, remembering on the occasions when you let it, it can perform very well. How often do we find we perform our best when we would least expect it.
Conscious Competence, for most golfers is the end of the road, but it need not be. The last section of this web site can show you the means to pass through the door into the realm of the Unconsciously Competent; the home of the Elite Player.
