A Round In The Mind

For years Major James Nesmith had dreamt of improving his golf game - and after much searching he finally developed a unique method for success.

Major Nesmith was your average weekend golfer with a handicap of 18. Then suddenly, for seven years, he completely quit the game. Never touched a club. Never set foot on a course.

It was during this break from the game that his new technique for success was born. In fact, when he returned to the fairways after his golfing hiatus he shot an astonishing 4 over par round of golf! He had cut 14 shots off his handicap without having touched a club. Amazing.

On top of not having played for seven years, his physical condition had also deteriorated drastically during this time. What was Major Nesmith's big secret? Mental Rehearsal.

You see, James Nesmith had been captured and imprisoned during the Vietnam War for those seven years. His living quarters had been a cage that had measured 5ft wide x 6ft long.

Throughout the entire time he was captured he saw almost no one and spoke to almost no-one. He had no physical activity.

For the first few months he simply hoped and prayed for his release. He then remembered what he had been taught in the army in the event of capture - occupy the mind or risk losing your sanity and subsequently your life. This was when he became GOOD at golf!

In his mind he selected his home golf course and every day he played a full 18 holes. His imagination experienced everything to the very last detail. Before he arrived at the course he imagined himself dressed in his favourite golfing attire.

He smelled the fragrance of the trees and the freshly cut grass. Each day brought different weather conditions - wind, rain and sun. He heard the singing birds and scampering of squirrels. The layout of the course became totally real.

He felt the grip of the club in his hands. He practiced the smoothness of his downswing and the ease of his follow through on each shot. He would watch the ball arc in flight, land in the middle of the fairway and roll out to an exact spot he had selected.

All this was played out in his mind.

Every day he was in no hurry. He had nowhere to go. So in his mind he took every physical step to get to the ball, as if he was on the course itself. It took him just as long in imaginary time to play 18 holes, as it would have taken in reality. No detail was omitted. Not once did he miss a shot, never a hook or a slice, never a putt.

7 days a week. 4 hours a day. 18 holes. 7 years. 14 shots off his handicap.

A Game Changer says...

Mental rehearsal is used to strengthen or improve our behavioural performance, the way we think and our internal states.

The more multi-sensory we can make the mental rehearsal, the more effective it will be.

Mental rehearsal is a vital element to improving performance in sport. Champions have often won competitions many times in their head, long before they have competed in them. It is a key illustration of how the mind affects the body.

The way we internally represent an experience has a direct effect on our muscle response. Research has shown that when we mentally rehearse a skill, we actually fire off exactly the same neurology as if we were actually carrying out the experience.

Mental rehearsal can be used for controlling nerves, increasing energy, motivation & confidence and practising skills. It is not only a successful tool for sport but for business as well.