How to Use Variety to Maintain Interest

by Dr. Richard C. Myers

WWW.THINKANDREACHPAR.COM

When you use the same muscles all the time in the same fashion, fatigue results. With fatigue there comes a loss of interest. This creates more fatigue. This is also true if we use the same thought pattern repeatedly. If we vary our physical and psychological approach to the game, interest can be maintained at a high level.

You can play at strange or unknown courses to have variety or by playing with a different group. Working on your problem shots and trying different approaches can help keep you from getting bored. Some of the shots you could try are: short trap shots, high trap shots, shots from the rough, shots with a restricted backswing, etc. A good way of developing confidence is to practice shots that you fear or that are very difficult for you.

Variety can be added by practicing with someone else. Competing against a friend can cause stimulation and desire.

Overall, it is generally not a good idea to plan to practice with others. It is hard enough to get your own self to practice. In addition, you may acquire the habit of wanting to practice with someone else. The difficulties that crop up is better to have the habit of enjoying practicing by yourself.

Trying different things of any kind is conductive to increasing interest. This experimentation can be done on the spur of the while on the practice tee. You can also do it in advance. One thing that I have done is practice in my mind. If you develop certain ideas about a stroke, you can try them out in your mind first. Thinking about your method of play can very easily eliminate mistakes before you get to the golf course. This has happened to me many times. 

See it in your mind before you go to the course. 
Play it over and over, and when you get to the course, 
you make a perfect play.

Believe me, it works.