My Little Experiment: Trying the ‘Novak’ Mindset on the Golf Course
Alright, so I had this kind of funny idea the other day. I was watching some tennis highlights, specifically Novak Djokovic. You know, the guy’s an absolute machine mentally. Doesn’t seem to get rattled, just grinds it out. And I was thinking about my own golf game, which, let’s be honest, can be a bit up and down. Mostly down when things go sideways.
So, I thought, what if I tried to bring a bit of that Novak intensity, that focus, to my golf practice? Not his tennis skills, obviously, but that mental toughness. Could I be a ‘Novak golfer’ in spirit?
Getting Started
First thing I did was head to the driving range. Didn’t want to try this experiment during a proper round with buddies yet. Too much pressure, and honestly, might look a bit weird. The goal wasn’t to suddenly hit perfect shots, but to manage my reaction to the bad ones and really concentrate before each swing.
The Process
Here’s what I actually tried to do:
- Pre-Shot Routine: Really slow down. Usually, I just step up and whack it. This time, I tried taking a couple of deep breaths, visualizing the shot (even if it was just a 7-iron on the range), and trying to clear my head of everything else. Like blocking out the noise, just like Novak seems to do before a big point.
- Handling Bad Shots: This was the tough part. My usual reaction to a shank or a duff is… well, not pretty. Muttering, maybe a frustrated club tap. This time, I actively tried to just accept it. Okay, bad shot. Take a breath. Analyze maybe one thing that went wrong, then immediately forget it and focus on the next ball. No lingering anger.
- Staying Present: Tried hard not to think about the last terrible shot or worry about the next one. Just focus entirely on the current ball, the current swing. Easier said than done, believe me.
How It Went Down
Well, it was interesting. The slowing down part felt unnatural at first. I felt impatient. But after a few shots, taking those breaths did seem to calm me down a bit. I wasn’t rushing.
Did I hit the ball better? Honestly, not dramatically. Maybe slightly more consistent because I wasn’t swinging out of frustration as much. The biggest difference was internal. When I hit a truly awful shot (and there were plenty), I forced myself through the ‘accept and move on’ process. I didn’t feel calm inside initially, it was definitely forced. But I didn’t let it spiral like I usually do, where one bad shot leads to three more because I’m fuming.
The Outcome?
It’s tiring! Maintaining that level of deliberate focus and emotional control, even just for a bucket of balls, takes a lot of mental energy. Way more than just casually hitting balls. I have a newfound respect for athletes like Djokovic who do this under immense pressure for hours.
I wouldn’t say I turned into a golf robot overnight. But it was a useful exercise. It showed me how much my mental state does affect my game, even just in practice. Forcing myself to stick to a routine and manage frustration, even artificially at first, did seem to prevent those total meltdowns.
Will I keep doing it? Maybe bits and pieces. The deep breath before swinging is probably a keeper. Actively trying not to get mad after a bad shot is something I’ll keep working on, even if it’s hard. It’s a long road, but it felt like a small step in a different direction. Definitely something to think about next time I’m out on the course.
