-Learn from my journey-
I’m not playing professional golf again, at least not full time. That chapter has passed and closed. I played as hard as I could, dedicated myself fully, tried to do all the right things—even the little things.
But, as they say, you don’t know what you don’t know.
And there was a lot I didn’t know.
Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time educating and learning about how to improve at this wonderfully silly game, and, call this an updated list if you will, here are the things I’d do (on a mostly daily basis) if I were to return to playing professional golf. I also include the WHY behind the behaviors, which is the most important question you can ask yourself with any of your endeavors.
I’d lift 4x per week. When I was playing, I used to lift more (think 5 or 6), but on this end of the sideline, I think 4x is the perfect amount. It allows the workouts to remain somewhat short, in the 45 min range or so, and keeps the body moving enough to stay fresh. In-season vs out of season training looks different, but largely, this many lifts will keep you as strong as possible for as long as possible.
I’d do mobility 2x per week. This involves a specific routine designed for mobility of the hips, upper back, shoulders, feet/ankles, etc. Lifting keeps us strong, and allows us to hit the power and everything we need, but mobility will help keep us limber. I would stretch every day for 5-10 minutes as well.
I’d walk while playing the golf course 1x per week, and I’d go for a neighborhood walk 1x per week. Walking the course is the best way to maintain your golf specific fitness, much more so than running, or other forms of cardio. During my professional career, I got to where I didn’t walk the course at all, just rode carts, I think this made the end of golf tournaments fractionally tougher.
(Notice I didn’t mention anything about real cardio work, I have a lot more to say on that, but shortly, if you feel you must do cardio—and I recommmend it— keep your cardio short and painful. Bike sprints are the best.)
I’d practice only 6-7 hours. I used to be a marathon man, getting to the course early and leaving at dark. This was highly inefficient, and just produced a badge of honor rather than better results. I would now spend a boot-camp-type-intensity first 3 hours (at probably a :50 minute work :10 rest clip) working on my putting, chipping, and swing drills. Then I’d break, eat, and spend the time remaining on some feel stuff like wedges, and playing the course.
I absolutely would not allow myself to have headphones while practicing. The couple percentage points in decrease of focus is enough to miss some of the upper level returns of quality, focused practice. I used to have background music going most of the day and I’m confident, had I “suffered in silence”, so to speak, I’d have gained many more insights about what I was doing.
I’d cold plunge every day. Not because I think it has some miraculous health benefit—although I put it in the “positive” category—but mostly because of the mental advantage doing so will produce. If you can learn to calm your breathing in a very difficult physical environment, you will gain a mental edge, plain and simple. I used to go to the basketball gym in college and shoot free throws for the exact same reason. It was the ability to practice self control and stay in the moment without actually being at the golf course.
Everything is practice and training if you allow it to be so.
I’d weigh my food when I was home, and I would be incredibly diligent about eating enough protein when I traveled. During the off-weeks, while at home, I would make sure and eat the basics perfectly (don’t worry, indulging on snacks and sweets is fine in VERY limited quantities), primarily making sure to eat tons of veggies, lots of protein, and enough fuel to allow me to train and practice the way I needed to. I mostly did this when I was playing full time, however one thing I didn’t do well, is measure protein intake on the road. I sort of let myself just go about the week, focusing on practice rounds, or tournament rounds, and wouldn’t pay attention. I am sure that led to less protein and a dip in performance later in tournaments that could have been avoided.
I’d make it a daily discipline to look at some statistics and analyze better ways to play the game via google earth or pga tour numbers. I put this in the category of “learning the higher levels of the game” and I now consider it to be part of the job, while not being the physical act of swinging the golf club.
I’d read every day; a variety of different things. Some of my greatest golf insights have come from business books. Some great spiritual insights have come from non-spiritual books. When you read you glean from those who know more than you, and when you look for insights into performance, you find them in all different places and ways. I can’t begin to explain how studying Apple as an organization can make you a better golfer, but it will. (Everything is practice and training if you allow it to be so, remember?)
I’d journal after every practice (briefly), and write out my plan for tomorrow’s practice, as closely as I could. Simply having a plan means more improvement. This is just one of those things you need to do.
Lastly, I would make sure the game stayed fun. I’ve just listed 10 things above that all sound like work— and don’t mistake, they definitely are— but it’s still supposed to be fun. Just because it’s difficult and challenging and requires a lot of hours, doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. So I would take great heed to make sure it remained that way as much as was in my power. (Also, don’t forget, if these things helped me play better golf, the most fun I ever had playing the game was when I was winning).
It’s pretty easy as a professional golfer to let things slide, and just assume you are giving your best 100%. But the little additions are where the gaps are. Everyone spends time at the golf course, everyone works on their putting, but doing the small things just make the difference.
Now on the trail side of that mountain, I see where I could have been much better, in mindset and activity. Here are the things that I would do different, that would have taken me to the next level.
-Michael
Comentarios