Golf: its affect on coordination, balance, flexibility, as well as stamina and strength, are undeniable.
We all know about the positives effects that sports generally have on our bodies. However, we often underestimate how much physical activity positively impacts on our mental health also. Especially if we are talking about individual sports in which the “inner game” is key, as tennis coach Timothy Gallwey calls it in his famous book. In this article, we've decided to talk about the intellectual benefits noticed by people who, like you, spend a good portion of their time improving their swing and training on the putting green. Therefore, let’s take a look at 4 reasons why golf is a panacea for the mind, as well as the body.
1. IT IMPROVES CONCENTRATION
When they are about to hit the ball, a player thinks about one thing and one thing only: hitting the ball. Concentration is a basic skill in this sport and practising it can only improve it. Which, after many training sessions and matches, leads us to better managing our mental energies and managing to maintain the balance between excessive excitement and unproductive calm.
2. IT INCREASES SELF-CONFIDENCE
Unlike a team sport, where the athletes support one another, in golf every player is an island to themselves. In addition to requiring a rare level of discipline to master the movements and technique, incredible mental strength is also required, an infallible “inner game” as we said at the beginning. It takes years of experience and practice, but swing after swing, brick after brick, you will find that you have built a fortress of mastery and self-confidence. Every time you step out of your comfort zone, even by just one step, your mental walls will strengthen and consequently you will set in motion an unstoppable cascade of positive thoughts.
3. IT TEACHES YOU TO CULTIVATE PATIENCE
An expert player must recognise the right moment to hit the ball, without being rushed or cracking under the pressure of the audience that is watching them. Simply put, they take their time. What’s more, anyone who starts playing this sport soon learns that it is useless to expect results too quickly. It is much better to lower your expectations right away, or at least learn to manage them, and in the meantime get your head down and train, repeating the same movement again and again, until you reach the right level of mastery.
4. IT CALMS THE MIND
Intrusive thoughts, a negative internal dialogue, uncertainty and anxiety: there is no place for any of these things in the mind of a golfer. Once they have stepped onto the green, a golfer must become as calm and imperturbable as a mountain lake. The practice of golf, even as an amateur, will get you to focus on your breathing and to think only about the here and now, two practices that Buddhist monks and psychologists have always recommended to manage stress and anxiety. With time, you will learn to look at things from the right perspective (both on and off the green), accepting failures and wrong hits to move forward with peace of mind. Don’t forget that for most of us, all of this is a beautiful game... we must have fun while we are playing it. Let’s leave our frustrations at the office.
Being able to stay focused in the midst of confusion, to feel strong and confident, to be able to trust in a better future and to remain present without getting anxious. These are the abilities that a golfer must have to be able to face any competition head-on and overcome any challenge. They are also useful off the green to overcome the difficult moments in our lives, and they are indispensable especially in these months overshadowed by the COVID-19 emergency. While waiting for everything to get back to normal, you can think about your perfect outfit for your days at the golf club.
Because, indeed, once you have strengthened your mind and trained your body, you need to take care of your style...and Chervò's Chic&Tech clothing is the ideal choice for doing so. The new FW 2020/2021 collection and all our finest pieces are waiting for you on our website. “Mens sana in corpore sano”, they say. But why not make it a treat for the eyes too.
