Off Season?
OFF SEASON?
Our golf season in Michigan may be over, but to me, that means it's the perfect time to focus on the offseason and make improvements! The ideal time to work on golf swing changes is between December and March. Why? Because we’re not actively playing golf during this period. Making swing adjustments during the season can be challenging since we're busy competing and playing regularly.
When we’re not focused on scoring, we can direct our attention to changing movement patterns. Altering an ingrained movement pattern is challenging for everyone, but what sets the best golfers apart is their growth mindset. They welcome early mistakes, viewing them as valuable feedback rather than failure. This shift in perspective is key for everyday golfers to embrace. Understanding that the brain’s ability to adapt—through a process called neuroplasticity—is at the heart of learning can make this journey both more effective and rewarding.
Our behavior plays a significant role in shaping the brain’s plasticity. By intentionally controlling our actions, we can influence how the brain adapts and learns. For golfers, this means viewing mistakes as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. Embracing failure, rather than fearing it, is crucial for improvement.
Plasticity, the brain and nervous system’s ability to learn and adapt, thrives when we encounter mismatches or errors in our performance. These "mistakes" are not obstacles but essential building blocks for progress and mastery. By reframing errors as valuable feedback, golfers can unlock their full potential for growth and learning.
As a teacher, I support this process through feedback stations and targeted drills designed to encourage learning and adaptation. A critical driver of neuroplasticity is the experience of making errors. By fostering a growth mindset—where golfers understand that mistakes are a normal and necessary part of learning new motor patterns—I help them unlock their potential for improvement.
However, overcoming the natural discomfort with frustration and mistakes can be challenging. That’s why I emphasize the importance of reframing errors as essential steps in the learning process. By embracing this concept, golfers can more effectively develop their skills and confidence.
The key to changing movement patterns is practicing in shorter, focused sessions. Overloading with too much information in one go can hinder progress. I recommend my students dedicate 15 to 30 minutes to concentrated practice on a specific area, incorporating feedback throughout. This targeted, incremental approach gives the nervous system a clear signal about what needs to change. By identifying and focusing on one specific component that requires adjustment, golfers help their nervous system recognize and address the error, paving the way for effective improvement.
Last month, Rory McIlroy shared how he spent the fall practicing exclusively indoors in his simulator room—but with the simulator turned off. He hit balls into a blank screen, choosing to remove any distractions from immediate outcomes. His reasoning was straightforward: he didn’t want short-term failures to sway his commitment to making a swing change aimed at long-term consistency. Rory understands that focusing solely on the movement pattern, rather than obsessing over immediate results, is the key to success. By trusting the process and dedicating himself to change, he knows the desired results will follow in time.
Are you ready to finally make a swing change and have a custom blueprint for your golf swing? I am here to help this off season GAME IMPROVEMENT SEASON. To setup a lesson email me at jimmy@kentcountryclub.com