I have been teaching sports psychology skills for over 30 years and have found the Freeze-Framer? software to be a powerful tool in shaping Attention Control, Arousal Control and Visualization skills. After learning the above skills, attitude, motivation and confidence simply fall into place. I have used the Freeze-Framer with more than 50 golfers. So far, each one has experienced significant gains in their golf game. Simply "talking the game" adds very little improvement. However, simply sharing the "progress data" as they use the Freeze-Framer creates a positive outcome experience. I have found it useful to practice the mental game according to seven general categories to become a great golfer:
-- ATTENTION CONTROL
-- AROUSAL CONTROL
-- VISUALIZATION AND IMAGERY CONTROL
-- POSITIVE ENERGY CONTROL
-- ATTITUDE CONTROL
-- MOTIVATIONAL LEVEL
-- SELF-CONFIDENCE
Without question, these seven "mind game" factors critically impact a player's ability to control their game during play. Research has shown that when we bring the mind, emotions and nervous system into balance/coherence -- reaction times improve and golfing success improves. My experience has shown that just five to 20 sessions (20 minute session) of training with the Freeze-Framer results in three to seven strokes (depending on handicap) off the total score. Let's examine each factor more closely to see how the Freeze-Framer can power-up your mental game.
ATTENTION CONTROL
Attention control is a skill a golfer needs during play to tune in to what is important and tune out what is not important. Attention Control is THE most important mental skill a golfer must display. It's also called the Focused Attention State. (focused intention with focused attention).
Attention Control mental tips:
1. Play the hole that you're on (don't think about other holes).
2. Play one stroke at a time.
3. Stop magnifying your flaws.
4. Where is your mind -- when you stand over the ball?
5. Think about the target -- let the ball go.
You can develop Attention Control quickly with the Freeze-Framer interactive software with pulse sensor so you can monitor your physiology. You focus your attention on the area of your heart as you breathe deeply, which helps to release distracting thoughts and stay in the present moment. Then as you shift into a positive feeling as you breathe, you watch your heart rhythms change on the computer screen to a smooth and coherent pattern. In this state, focused intention and focused attention come together with power.
AROUSAL CONTROL
Arousal control is the skill that allows a golfer to find the right balance of relaxation with energization within the competitive environment. Arousal control allows one to insulate oneself against the Stress Response (run or stay). The goal is to evoke calm yet energized balance (coherence) to help produce the perfect playing state -- The Zone. Practicing with the Freeze-Framer will teach you the feel of when your heart rate is accelerating or decelerating, or when your heart rate rhythm is in the state of balanced acceleration and deceleration (gateway to the Zone).
Arousal Control mental tips:
1. Get your game off to a peaceful yet confident start.
2. Set your mind and emotions at ease -- so your body can perform.
3. Develop an emotional "reset" button.
4. Get yourself and your game in balance.
5. Learn to "chill" out.
VISUALIZATION AND PICTURE-MAKING
Visualization is the ability to think in pictures and to visualize important golfing outcomes (e.g. seeing a putt drop into the cup). It's important to not just see but feel the pictures for your nervous system to get in sync with your mind. Holding a positive feeling and attitude about what you visualize prior to and during competition helps in lowering scores and making successful shots.
Picture-Making mental tips:
1. Changing self perception and feeling is key -- the Freeze-Framer helps you clear the slate so you can make these changes.
2. Practice 5 minutes/day of focused attention then visualizing and feeling yourself holing putts.
3. Create a putting "corridor."
4. Imagine- think of a "bowling ball" flowing to the hole.
5. The interaction between target and nervous system is crucial -- practice getting your mind, heart and nervous system in sync with the Freeze-Framer -- and repeat it on the course.
POSITIVE ENERGY CONTROL
Positive energy is the power energy of a peak performer. This ability enables a golfer to successfully regulate positive emotional/mental focus. Positive energy is important in controlling tempo/rhythm elements crucial to swing dynamics.
Positive Energy mental tips:
1. Golf is a game of emotion and adjustment of emotion as you play.
2. Remember what "play" means.
3. Change the way you talk to yourself about your putting.
4. Flow the club back and through for rhythm.
5. Imagine -- "bird in hand" to create soft hands.
You can learn to recoup quickly from negative or drained energy with the Freeze-Framer. It shows you how to regulate and shift your emotions fast, and to control attitude right in the moment when it counts most.
ATTITUDE CONTROL
Attitude control is a direct reflection of a golfer's ability to control his/her mood and thoughts during practice or play. Positive attitude is the ability to produce thoughts and feelings that will enhance a successful round of play.
Attitude Control mental tips:
1. Golf is 90 percent mental/emotional -- and so is the other 10 percent.
2. Solve an attitude problem first, then your mechanics will improve.
3. The secret of quality golf is not in the stroke, but in getting mind, emotions and body in sync.
4. Remind yourself -- every hole is a new beginning.
5. Resist the urge to criticize -- it will just drain your energy.
MOTIVATION SKILLS
Motivation is the energy that results in commitment (burning desire) which further enhances confidence to succeed. The more a golfer is successful in his/her playing skill, the greater the motivation. Therefore, the golfer should set up a "nourishing set of experiences" that will encourage further successful outcomes. You can use HeartMath power tools and Freeze-Framer to nourish your game play ? to power up motivation and confidence to make these mental tips a reality for you.
Motivation mental tips:
1. Don't let your warm-up dictate your future game.
2. Go with the twist, turns and doglegs.
3. Stop comparing yourself to the pros.
4. Get over the previous hole -- let it go.
5. Learn to laugh at yourself.
SELF CONFIDENCE
Self-confidence is the belief that "I can do it" -- the unshakable belief that one has what it takes to shape successful outcomes. This skill is one of the best predictors of competitive success and is an outcome of exercising the above skills. It often is a consequence of all the above skills acting in concert.
Self Confidence mental tips:
1. Practice patience -- it keeps your system in balance.
2. Putting is a game within a game -- practice it a lot using these mental game tips.
3. Don't dwell on missed shots -- it sabotages.
4. Practice short putts (pros putt 50% of 6 ft, 20% of 10 ft).
5. See the forest for the trees.
ANTICIPATED VALUE OF TRAINING
It is widely understood that the game of golf is a sporting activity whose success is highly dependent on being able to modulate mental/emotional/physical stress, and then getting those systems to work in sync. Stress due to the mismanagement of the mind, thinking and emotions significantly harms your ability to perform to your optimal potential. I have found that practicing the above seven "golf mind game" factors and integrating them with the Freeze-Framer to get your mental/emotional and physical systems in sync will greatly enhance golfing success or success in any sport. In fact, my experience with Olympic athletes in many sports reveals is that achieving 50% coherence in the green bar diagram on the Freeze-Framer Zone is sufficient for achieving performance excellence. After practicing the Freeze-Framer, aspiring golfers can train themselves to quickly return to a coherent pattern while playing on the course. This ability to return to coherence is crucial to managing your mis-hit shots. Isn't powering up with 100-400 minutes of Freeze-Framer training worth it?
Deborah Rozman is a high performance psychologist, author, President and co-CEO of Quantum Intech, Inc. (QI) a technology company that develops and licenses products and services that reduce stress, improve health, and increase performance based on the HeartMath System For more information about on the HeartMath System, visit or .
Curt Erickson, Ph.D., has been a sport consultant for seven Olympic Games and "head" coach for the Gold Medal winning U.S. Synchronized Swimming team, whom he helped coach to a perfect score, previously believed to be unattainable. Since 1980, Dr. Erickson has worked with numerous sports. He has worked extensively with golfers of all ability levels, helping them achieve optimum performance. Dr. Erickson's practice is located on the Monterey Peninsula in California, the jewel of golfing paradise. You can contact him at 831-647-6393.
