Would You Like to Play Unlimited Golf?

I've been asked to write a series of articles for Want Better Golf. It's a great blog that all golfers should consider following. The article below is the second for Want Better Golf.

Would You Like to Play Unlimited Golf?

Sir Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 minute mile on 6 May 1954, completing the full length in 3:59.4! What an incredible feat. In all the recorded history of human life and specifically track and field competition, never before had a single human being EVER ran a sub-4 minute mile. This was a truly “inspiring” – that’s in interesting word – accomplishment!

His record, one would think, must have survived for many, many years. It would be easy to think that perhaps he is still the only person to run a sub-4 minute mile. It is not so.

On 21 June 1954 Bannister’s arch rival, John Landy, ran the mile in 3:58.0. The feat was next accomplished in 1957, and again in 1958 and 1962. In fact, a simple search of the Internet has revealed at least 17 new world records since Bannister’s mark, accomplished by some 12 or so runners.

But how can this be? If the sub-4 minute mile was so incredibly difficult, if no one had accomplished the feat for the entire history of humankind, right up until 6 May 1954, how can it be that more than a dozen athletes have since met the challenge?

The answer, once again, in some ways, is found in the mind.

We’ve previously highlighted the power of the mind in your golf game, how you shape your shots and outcomes with your mind and your thoughts. Well, you also limit your golf accomplishments with your mind!

Golfers love to label themselves. More often than not we do so on or before the first tee! “I’m a fourteen.” “I usually finish up around bogey golf or so.” “My handicap is 27.” The list goes on and on, and we all do it, over and over again.

Even if we don’t announce our label to our playing partners, we still label ourselves in our thoughts. That label, that number, our handicap, sits in our thoughts constantly.

Here’s the thing. Why did it take so long to run the first sub-4 minute mile? Because no one believed it was possible. Bannister smashed that belief in 1954 and all of a sudden runners around the globe realized that their belief was incorrect, that the sub-4 minute mile was in fact possible. Wow! And then look what happened. The flood gates opened!

Do you believe you’re a 14, or 12, or 35, or 50? That number, whatever it is, is limiting your golf game! If you believe it’s (relatively) impossible for you to shoot below a certain number, then the chances of you doing so are close to zero. Your belief is like a wall that you simply cannot scale.

Stop limiting your golf game. Believe that anything is possible. Or, at the very least, deduct five or ten strokes from your label. If you think of yourself as a 25, start thinking and talking about yourself as a 20, or a 15 handicap. You’ll be amazed at the results!

And as you do so, make it a great day! For yes, you do have the power to do so!