MarczO said:
Many golf players are subject to extreme outbursts of anger. I personally don't lose my temper, but my dad and little brother always lose their temper while golfing. I don't know if anyone else shares this trait or can relate to it. What are your thoughs on Anger Management and Golf together?
My take on this is a little more involved. Yet it seems to me you are experiencing somewhat of a mini- crisis in the game we all experience so perhaps you'll be responsive to a more detailed post...
To play anger free golf begins with an overall mindset adjustment
prior to playing. Attempting to calm ourselves down once we're already angry is close to futile. Sure we can slow our breathing and do various short term, damage control exercises to expel the anger but come on. Does this really change your state for the better and improve your game? Unlikely.
The key is to do mental preparation before you play. Actually visualize poor shots that you are apt to hit and bad breaks you might get ('cuz you will get them, that's golf) and see and feel yourself as being completely relaxed and centered. Looking at the result of the shot as an opportunity to blow your partner away with your recovery ability!
I'm very serious about this. I have been playing golf seriously for over 5 years and with no lessons and using only inner mind techniques I'm a 3 handicap and I've stopped throwing clubs!
To suggest that this post is all you need to expel anger forever would be naaive on my part. Yet the answer definitely lies in previewing your round
before you play and allowing your unconscious a new way to anticipate bad shots and bounces. I assure you, if you take the time to do this as a habit your playing partners will see how you play and your state of mind and how calm you are. This will rattle them!
Have you ever noticed that when you're playing against someone who's angry you just know you're going to beat them because not only are you shooting better than them and beating them in score, they are beating themselves too with anger! So it's actually twice as easy to win!
Hope this is useful...