Do Muscles Remember?

So, what is meant by the term muscle memory as this seems to be such an important element in honing a great golf swing. There’s no such thing as a perfect golf swing that a golfer can repeat on every shot or we would be seeing scores in the 50’s on a regular basis. I see and no doubt you do golfers at the driving range hitting ball after ball with well over 95% not focusing on specific swing refinements or practicing with purpose. It’s a waste of time, money and effort but the driving range is making a tidy profit, thank you! 

 

Various neuroscientific research has taken place over the years on the issue of muscle memory and whether or not it can be achieved. Well due to our ancestors the pre-historic man repetition was not very useful when using a spear or knife to catch dinner or do battle with dinosaurs or another tribe. So, the modern human being’s physiological and psychological structure eliminates the idea of developing perfect muscle memory e.g. a study in 2010 at Standford University researchers Shenoy, Churchland and Afshar confirmed this theory after carrying out extensive research, among others. On the other side of the coin Depak Chopra MD in his book Quantum Healing confirms that every cell throughout the body is bathed in neuro-transmitters! 

 

So, what really is muscle memory – from my perspective I believe it’s purely the physical process obtained through practicing to swing the golf club and the muscles become use to the physical movement more easily. So when called upon to swing the golf club your muscles will perform the action with relative ease. Coupled with minimum stress and anxiety through mental toughness training that allows a free-flowing muscle movement. As our bodies are changing daily (i.e. our organs, skin, skeleton are rebuilding themselves constantly) we cannot repeat the golf swing exactly the same every time we step out on to the golf course. So even if there is a slight element of muscle memory its lost due to the ever-changing body structure. Another factor is that the golf course and weather are going to be different from one day to the next – in fact it changes for those teeing it up in morning to those who tee up after lunch! 

 

So how does this help the amateur and professional golfer – well the important thing to remember is that to make a free-flowing golf swing then all forms of stress and anxiety need to be minimised if not eliminated from the mind and body. You can do this by: 

 

• Being physically fit through regular exercise and nutrition 

• Using the two-box routine every time you execute your golf swing, thus building up your self-confidence and managing your stress and anxiety levels 

• Accept that you’re not going to make a perfect swing on every shot – but you do the very best that you can on that particular swing 

• Stop beating yourself up every time you hit an imperfect shot – remember golf is a game of consistent inconsistences! 

• And just enjoy the game with golf nuts like you and me, fresh air and exercise 

 

 

Hopefully you’re beginning to find my blog articles of interest and have started getting you thinking about the importance of the ‘mind game’? Make contact if you have any questions or disagree with what I’ve said, ok. 

 

Please forward to your golfing buddies and make contact if you have any questions or require some mind coaching sessions? 

 

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