Feature Article<\/p>\n
Just Right<\/p>\n
\u00a0by Michael Riggs, M.Ed.<\/p>\n
The relationship between a player\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>optimal level of arousa<\/span><\/strong>l \u2013 how revved he is – and performance is one of the most studied, and difficult to pinpoint, concepts in the field of Sport Psychology. Each golfer has an optimal\u00a0<\/span>state of mental stimulation<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>that allows him to think and feel \u201cready\u201d to play.\u00a0 If the golfer is under-aroused, less than peak performance may be the result. Conversely, over-arousal can lead to a sense of panic and feeling \u201cout of control.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As is true with all aspects of the mental game, learning to recognize different states of\u00a0<\/span>being<\/span><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>is the first, and thus, a critical step. It is important to become aware of how \u201ckeyed up,\u201d \u201cready,\u201d or \u201cmellow\u201d you tend to be when you are playing your best golf. Each player has a different level of\u00a0<\/span>optimal arousal<\/span><\/strong>; therefore, each player needs to be self-aware what that level is in order to \u201cgo\u201d there to play his best.<\/span><\/p>\n With golf, a lower level of arousal<\/strong> is usually best for extraordinary performance. Because playing great golf requires fluidity, excellent timing, and the ability to make clear and decisive decisions on the course, being mentally tense will usually decrease the player\u2019s ability to reach proper physical, mental and emotional states. For example, on a scale of one through ten, if being asleep is represented with a one, and being in a state of fury were a ten, the proper mental arousal leve<\/strong>l for great golf would be between a three and a five.<\/p>\n Most players do not know their optimal level of arousal<\/strong>. Consequently, they end up playing better when they \u201chappen\u201d to be properly aroused, and score high when \u201cthey aren\u2019t ready to play.\u201d Experiment and become aware of your optimal level of arousal<\/strong>. Your intuition will usually tell you when you are near your perfect level. While feeling butterflies in your stomach and increased respiration are natural for athletes prior to competition, feeling like you are going to throw up and your heart pounding out of your chest are sure signs of over-arousal. On the other hand, a lackadaisical \u201cI don\u2019t care\u201d attitude is almost always a sign of under-arousal.<\/p>\n The ultimate goal is to be able to \u201cdial up\u201d or \u201cdial down\u201d to reach your perfect level each time you play.<\/p>\n S\u00b2 Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n Train yourself\u00a0 – with the guidance of a mental fitness expert \u2013 to be able to \u201cdial up\u201d or \u201cdial down\u201d to reach your perfect mental and emotional level each time you play.<\/p>\n