Is psychological recovery necessary?
Contrary to popular perception, golf is an extremely stressful game. The players, especially the professionals face a tremendous amount of stress in the tournaments.
Recently, many golf observers have commented on the pressures of golf. A very recent example is the world’s number one, Yani Tseng. Her downhill performance in the recent torments is attributed to the stress of being the top player in the world.
Stress could be the worst enemy of a golfer. Golf requires constant attention to detail and careful planning. Each hole is a new battle and what proved to be a successful strategy at one hole could turn into a disaster on the next.
A player in anxiety is not able to cope with these demands. The result is a sub standard performance that further fuels the stress and pressure. This kicks off a vicious circle that ends in the lost career for the player.
Many trainers and coaches at both pro and amateur level now emphasize psychological recovery of the players. The body requires its rest but it is the mind that matters the most. A rested body will not be of much good, it is the brain that is directing it
is fatigued.
Each trainer and coach has their own recipe of relaxation and psychological repair. They know the players and are in the best position to advice them. However, every routine contains three common ingredients that have stood the test of time.
The most important point in any psychological recovery program is stress relief. To relieve stress, a number of relaxation techniques have been devised. The purpose of these techniques is twofold. These techniques are designed to relax the mind and boost
the energy levels of the players.
The next point is the concept of off days. Also known as the rest days, these are the days on which players do not play golf at all. The purpose is to give players breaks so that they can loosen up and overcome the tensions of a tough training regime.
Almost every sports program has its off days. These days are meant to be spent with friends and family. The break from golf relaxes the players and takes their mind off the tensions and performance anxiety associate with the golf course.
Last but not least, proper sleep. This is where many athletes fall short. Sleep is vital for anyone involved in physical and/or mental labour. Golf is a high intensity sport that demands proper rest from the players. Often, players cannot sleep due to stress
and pre match tension.
The best way of hastening the psychological recovery is to combine these factors and integrate them into the players’ schedule. Time devoted to relaxing exercises should be at the start of the day. A second session should be held at the end, so that the
player can go to bed and relax immediately instead of staying awake for hours.
Rest days should be mandatory and coaches and trainers should enforce them strictly. Some highly driven players often sneak in a few hours of practice on rest days. While this might appear to be productive, the results could be disastrous for the player.
These three points are by no means exhaustive. They should serve as the foundation for any routine that the trainers develop in consultation with the proper medical authorities.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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