|
The following informative article was created for a local golf publication.
 La Quinta Golfer Brings Expert Instruction to the Desert
The Zone Golf system was developed by a network of expert instructors, trainers, and managers with proven track records with hundreds of touring professionals as well as top amateurs. In September 2008, The Zone Golf Academy (the Academy) moved to a 2000 square foot studio in La Quinta to finish developing the system, to write books, and to provide expert instruction to local golfers. The studio contains an indoor driving range with high-end video systems, launch monitor, and putting green as well as a collection of 700+ reference books, training aids, and CD/DVD programs.
This unique system is a comprehensive, multi-discipline development plan to master golf involving the mind-body-technique connection. This consists of a golfer’s mental game, physical game, and swing/stroke techniques. The Academy’s expert, independent service providers teach their specialty areas.
The Academy teaches you to eventually coach yourself in the future.
The Academy’s star client went from a 9-handicap to a 5-handicap in less than a year. The same client then went from a 5-handicap to better than 0 (or scratch) handicap in 5 months- at the age of 64! He is currently competing on the Golden State (Masters) Mini-Tour.
Your mental game is the straw that stirs your ‘golf drink’.
To play to your potential; you must learn and practice a strong mental game.
If you are not satisfied with your potential, then seek to improve your swing/stroke techniques and your body (the physical game).
The Mental Game
Some golfers realize the mental game is about strengthening thought-driven functions such as confidence, motivation, perseverance, strategy, relaxation, focused concentration, etc. The Academy provides a blueprint to develop and improve these functions.
Few realize the mental game even orchestrates the actual swing to propel the ball. Your brain sends neural signals or messages to your muscles, ligaments, and joints to direct them on what to do and when. If your mind is cluttered or distracted, then the timing/accuracy of the signals are faulty as well as the movement itself.
This is what causes inconsistencies even in a mechanically good swing: confused signals and poor sequencing. And a bad swing becomes worse.
It is that simple.
Few golfers and teachers realize that feel and awareness can be learned with a focused mind and an understanding of techniques to process the proprioceptors (PP) information. Millions of PPs are located in the body as ‘on-board feedback devices’. With a cluttered and/or untrained mind, this important feedback is lost.
You can experience PPs at work by closing your eyes and pointing the shaft straight up. Open your eyes and see that pressure points in your hand, joints, and ligaments allowed you to correctly position the shaft. Sense more PP feedback as you move the shaft off a vertical line.
The following are five main categories of obstacles for the mental game:The inner critic.
- ‘Win or worthless’ mindset.
- Loss of confidence.
- Management issues with self, course, and distractions.
- Fear, doubt, and worry.
The golfer can learn a strong mental game, overcome these obstacles, and learn how to get into the Zone through the Academy.
The Physical Game
The Academy has developed a proprietary exercise program (Yog-Golf™) that uses some Yoga fundamentals but includes golf specific ‘poses’ or positions. Yog-Golf™ and Yoga improve a golfer’s strength, general and golf-specific flexibility, mental clarity, balance, posture, and integration of the mind-body-technique components.
The Academy’s physical game includes resistance training, cardio, nutrition, and core conditioning. The Academy directs golfers to the best medical support and repairs as needed.
Stress Management and Relaxation Techniques
The Academy has developed a proprietary activity (Breathitation™) to reduce stress and generate a relaxed body state. Breathitation™ is the primary tool in generating a Zone internal climate. Breathitation™ contains no mystical aspects and no religious undertones or connections.
Breathitation™ includes elements specific to golf from the following practices (which can be individually learned through the Academy as an option):
- Meditation
- Self-Hypnosis
- Autogenics
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Breathitation™ and Yog-Golf™ are linkages between the tightly coupled mind-body-technique components of the Zone Golf system.
The Academy owns four commercial, biofeedback devices/systems to be used by the golfer. They following products can validate the effectiveness of our relaxation techniques as well as determine if you are in the Zone or not.
- Stress Eraser
- Heart Math
- Mind Meter
- Resparate (with an FDA approval to lower blood pressure)
The Swing Techniques
The technique component has the three fundamentals:
- Decide on the swing model and learn it position-by-position and link-by-link as well as the required timing or sequencing. The Academy has the books, videos, and instructors to provide any model swing. Or your swing instructor can provide a detailed model.
- Learn what your movements/positions are in comparison to the model.
- ‘Saddle time’ or smart work focusing on the body pivot and the swing itself with near-constant feedback of training aids, mirror, video, and/or an instructor. Unless you are preparing for a tournament or big event, the majority of this work can be done in your yard or office without hitting a ball. And without going ‘Barkley-Haney’ and hitting a zillion balls.
Your Golf Improvement Program Startup
The first step is to contact the Academy (info@.ZoneGolf.com or 951.200.9880) to obtain an evaluation and a step-by-step blueprint/prescription for improving your complete golf game. This includes a detailed evaluation of your mental game, physical game, and techniques.
Certified expert teachers/trainers will be provided to fit your budget.
About the Writer
 Lee Woodard, a La Quinta resident, has been mentored over the past 20 years by six masters in his specialty area (the mental game).
Lee co-founded Zen Golf International (ZGI) with Dr. Joe Parent. Lee was President and Director of Instruction of ZGI for several years. ZGI’s impressive client list included Vijay Singh, David Toms, Carlos Franco, Tim Petrovic, Christy Kerr, and hundreds of other pros and top amateurs.
Lee left ZGI to form the Zone Golf Academy to improve his golf game and to teach the mind-body-technique comprehensive system to other local golfers.
|
