Golf

As all of us who play know, golf is a difficult game, but a joy when we have a good round and even a joy when we don't. The challenge in golf is what makes it so captivating, but the mental aspect  is what sets it apart. Golf works the mind more than any other sport I know.

I began very young, caddying at weekends, and outside of competitions was capable of playing to a single figure handicap. Competing, however, I would get anxious. Frustration would kick in at not playing to my best, thus perpetuating a vicious circle perhaps familiar to many reading this. Such emotions can blight our scorecard but can also affect our overall enjoyment of the game. 

"If only someone had taught me how to control my breathing", is what I would say today.

Our breathing ‘mirrors’ how calm we are. Anxiety or frustration changes how we breathe in an instant. We breathe faster, shallower, and sometimes with deep sighs thrown in. Sound familiar? If not think Sergio Garcia, or what it's like on the first tee with an outing behind you waiting to tee off after you. Key to restoring calm is knowing what you need to do, when you most need it. 

Breathing well on the course not only calms anxiety, for the time we are out it transforms our round into a far healthier 'exercise session' bringing greater health benefits long-term.

Lastly, an often overlooked aspect of the game, is ensuring that we protect our back. A ‘safe’ swing is one that should help us to avoid the back pain that many, like Tiger, suffer from. All golfers can learn how to ‘brace’ their core prior to the backswing. This we do using the breath.

Today, there is so little between the top players in terms of skill, they all seek out ways to give them an edge. For me, similar to other techniques such as meditation (e.g. Tommy Fleetwood, Luke Clanton) and hypnotherapy (e.g. Cam Davis, Rory McIlroy), breathing is such a formula.

If there is no respiratory issue involved, a few sessions is all it usually takes.