Hypnosis and Golf Performance

[sportshypnotist]

Hi everyone,

My name is DJ. I am a certified hypnotist and doctoral student in Sports Psychology at Victoria University, Melbourne.
I am currently doing research on using hypnosis to enhance golf performance (putting in particular).

I would like to know what you think about the effect of hypnosis on golf performance. If you have not had experience with hypnosis, your first impression when hearing about this topic will be appreciated.

I look forward to hearing your opinions.
Thank you very much in advance!

DJ

[spanner039]

Wow, the collective intellect of the whole forum just quadrupled.

Im sure you will get some worthy opinions/lab monkeys from here

Will follow with interest, welcome.

[markTHEblake]

When I think hypnotists I think of the well known stage shows where the subjects are not really under a 'spell'.
How do you apply hypnotism to golf? i don't think you can hypnotise me into playing golf like Jordon Speith.

[jimandr]

I don't understand what hypnosis does, or why you would try to apply it to golf. I'm sure DJ will tell us what its perceived benefit would be.

I doubt if any other recreational golfer would have explored this option either, unless they had used it to quit smoking. To me, it seems this would be an absolute last resort option when everything else has failed. None of us takes golf that seriously. I would imagine some pro golfers in a slump would think it about though.

[Steve]

Is this not the same line as that IQ thing does

[davepuppies]

I have used guided self hypnosis with binaural beats in a program called golfIQ. I haven't used a one to one hypnotist for golf, but have done so to try and address my insomnia.

When I first did the golf IQ program my golf improved significantly, and I shot a few even par to 2-3 over rounds off a 12 handicap. Wether this was pure coincendence, luck or placebo I am not sure, as the performance was not long term/ sustained.

I lowered my handicap to 2-3 over a year, but did so through diligent practice.

Do I believe putting is more about mind set than technical perfection? Yes. I actually feel similar about the full golf swing.

In my mind if you have a great focus on the target, a feeling of confidence you will hit the ball to the target, instead of worrying about technical imperfections of the trouble you are trying to avoid, you have a much higher chance of executing your goal.

This is based on my personal experience only, and my mind often wanders away from target and onto what I want to avoid.

I think mental strength and structure has a big place in high performance golf, but I am yet to be convinced this is achieved through hypnosis

[razaar]

Mental tool to calm the mind, deal with anxiety and use visualization techniques to activate the subconscious to play the shot.

[Captain Nemo]

After today, I'll have a crack at anything.

[dee cee]

I reckon it would be a good thing for most of us. For me, I can be really negative and unfocused when putting. The idea of triggering good stuff and clearing bad stuff sounds good for sure. My probelms definitely exist subconsciously.
I'd love to hear how it pans out.

[markTHEblake]

Are you partnering with any neuroscientists to measure the effects on gene expression resulting from the hypnotherapy.

[Scifisicko]

https://youtu.be/q06YIWCR2Js
worth a look if you can find the time. I imagine it to be a simple form of self hypnosis(?)

[3oneday]

I'd consider it, my starts are usually so bad that my day is a battle from 6 onwards.

I also have putted with a claw grip for about 3 or 4 years, so I'm probably a perfect candidate. Pity I'm in Sydney

[razaar]

I'd consider it, my starts are usually so bad that my day is a battle from 6 onwards.

I also have putted with a claw grip for about 3 or 4 years, so I'm probably a perfect candidate. Pity I'm in Sydney

Tooheys might be your best bet.

[3oneday]

Fair point, although looks bad with a 6.30am hitoff

[3Puttpete]

Sounds like a crock

[matty]

I think hypnosis could be very beneficial in putting where the mechanics are much reduced compared to the full swing. If nothing else, using hypnosis to reduce the fear of missing and the fear of initiating the stroke could only be good.

[razaar]

Fair point, although looks bad with a 6.30am hitoff

some of our pennant players are on their fourth stubbie by 6.30 am.

[Matt 3 Jab]

help my yips! Please.

Tried a bit of solution focused guided imagery and i felt better but its hard to stick to

[sportshypnotist]

Thank you everyone for giving me your inputs.

It will take me some time to answer all your questions.

First of all, it is a common impression that hypnosis makes you black out or do crazy stuffs like on these stage hypnosis shows.
However, there is a difference between clinical hypnotherapy for treatment such as weight loss or quit smoking and stage hypnosis. In stage hypnosis, sometimes there are a few other psychological factors such as social pressure or mob mentality that make people act the way they do.

The aim of using hypnosis in this research is to get people into the "zone" (or trance state) of total relaxation and concentration where they just go through their motions automatically (the mind and body merge as one).
That is the state of mind similar to what Tiger Woods mentioned in this video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEaWv0SBp3A

[LoveGolf2012]

That's a great clip

[Coldtopper]

Not for me but welcome and im sure there are a few here who could benefit from your studies.

[Dotty]

I don't think that I could get more relaxed on the golf course, but getting me to concentrate has a lot of room for improvement.

* Provided it doesn't diminish my apathy. That's the strongest part of my game.

[Poults]

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[Yossarian]

Have you been hypnotised to only reply in jpgs?

[Poults]

Sorry don't know what happened . iPad or internet