'Belief', the secret to succeeding on the course!
Psychologist Albert Bandura has defined self-efficacy as “one’s belief in one’s ability to succeed in a specific situation or accomplish a task”!
A golfer’s sense of self-efficacy can play a major role in how he/she approaches goals, and challenges! It is one thing to set goals but it is quite another to persevere against the setbacks that get in the way of achieving those goals! According to Bandura’s theory, people with high self-efficacy...that is, those who believe they can perform well...are more likely to view an obstacle as a challenge to overcome rather than a hurdle to be avoided! People with strong self-efficacy anticipate successful outcomes. Golfers confident in their games and their abilities will anticipate and visualize successful shots!
One of the most important ways the mind influences performance on the golf course is by creating the beliefs that guide human behavior and one of the most influential traits a player can develop is the belief in their ability to hit the golf shots required to shoot scores they want to shoot when it matters most! There’s no question that the general belief in yourself is a top requirement for playing good golf. There have been many players who have have all of the physical qualities necessary to win but lack the confidence and true belief in themselves to do so. An inner certainty about one’s ability is a players primary weapon as it is the strongest defense against the enormous pressures the game imposes - especially when a player is in a position to win! When it comes to playing golf well when it matters most it is far better to be self-assured rather than self-aware!
Keys to Success in 2020, Let's Go!
With the beautiful weather here in western New York yesterday I found myself thinking more and more about the upcoming season! I have done so much research on great players, both past and present, and the common denominator’s that are involved in becoming a great player! Not only do they embrace the mamba mentality when it comes to their physical development but maybe even more importantly - their mental development as well. At The Elite Junior Academy and Lusardi Golf Performance Center we often talk about patience, dedication, repetition, and time when it comes to achieving our goals. That’s why it is important to understand progressive mastery. as research has shown there are steps to progressive mastery:
1. Determine a skill that you want to master
2. Set specific goals on your path to developing that skill
3. Attach high levels of emotion and meaning to your journey and your results
4. Identify the factors critical to success and develop your strength in those areas and work on your weaknesses with equal effort
5. Visualize and clearly imagine what success and failure look like to you
6. Play challenging practice habits developed by coaches or through careful thought
7. Measure your progress and get outside feedback
8. Socialize your learning and efforts by practicing or competing with others
9. Continue setting SMART goals so that you keep improving
10. Show others what you were learning
Is 10 principles of progressive mastery are a version of what is often called “deliberate practice” a term coined by sports psychologist Anders Ericsson!
The process can sometimes be filled with struggle. Those who honor the struggle and embrace the challenge will have no regrets on the journey of chasing their dreams!
My Journey as a Golf Professional
Hard to believe that I am entering my 21st year as a PGA professional. My journey as a golf professional has taken me across the country and back again. From Rochester, NY to Big Rapids, Michigan, to Huntsville, Alabama, to Orlando, Florida to Scottsdale, Arizona to San Diego, California to Boston, Massachusetts and finally back home to Rochester! I have been fortunate to have worked at so many wonderful golf facilities on that road but the best part of the golf business is the people you meet along the way. So many of those people have been such a positive influence on who I am both as a coach and as a person. My coaching career started at Bristol Harbour where I began as the head golf professional. I met three brothers between the ages of 8 and 14 who happened to be members of the club. They were “part of the woodwork” and we spent so much time together on the golf course that I became part of the family. One went on to play golf at Notre Dame as a 4 year number 1 player and all are still wonderful lifelong friends. It remains one of the best coaching experiences of my life.
Our number one goal at The Elite Junior Academy is to help others achieve their goals! While writing this I went back and researched some of my notes from great coaches and found this:
“We will do more for others than for ourselves and in doing something for others we find our reason for courage and our cause for excellence”!
The number one job of any coach is to inspire young people to believe in themselves maybe even more than they thought possible. To chase their dreams and their goals with all their might - to be relentless in their pursuit - no matter the result! Being the best version of one’s own self is a process. A process with no shortcuts that is filled with ups and downs. I started the Elite Junior Academy with the hopes of inspiring young people to work hard every day, to practice the behaviors that will make them proud of who they are and who they want be as they grow! It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of a team that helps young people achieve their goals...because that’s what it takes ..a team!
You are in control of two things always…your attitude and your effort! Give 100% to both each and every day and I promise you will have no regrets as you will have achieved something extraordinary! While the journey will challenge you I hope that as you look back you will be able to say that you never gave up and you achieved more than you ever thought possible!
