I was having breakfast this morning in a restaurant with a golfer I used to play with quite often. But this Saturday was the first time in over 5 months that we played a round. This golfer had not been able to play because he was experiencing sharp and severe stabbing pains in his upper right arm and into the shoulder. He could not lift his arms and club in the backswing without the pain and was forced to quit playing. He has a 5 speed transmission in his car and often, even shifting gears, was quite painful. He came out now and then and watched us play and tried to swing but every time the pain shot up his arm into the shoulder. He couldn't even get the club up past his belt. If he did get to the top of his backswing, hitting the ball was even worse as his right arm stretched out fully at impact. He basically had reached the conclusion his golf career was over. He is only 53 years old. At breakfast he asked me a question that blew me away, but luckily I had a real good answer.
This golfer, for the past year or so when he was playing and fighting through the pain, had a horrible game. He hit too many really bad shots, chunks to thins, and blocks to hooks, and was shooting scores that made him want to throw up and then quit. But this Saturday morning, the first time he played and had swung and hit a ball in over 5 months, he hit it awesome, beginning right from the first tee, piping one right down the middle — without hitting any practice balls on the range. He got out of his car, went to the putting green, then to the 1st tee and nailed it down the middle. It was pretty much the same for the whole front nine, finishing 2 over par — and we played from the championship tees.
He was diagnosed with tendinitis and was told that he would likely never play golf without pain, even using the PPGS, which he does quite well. You see this player is a former +2 handicap and has won many amateur tournaments and for the short time he was in the PGA Apprentice program, won the Georgia Section Assistant's Match Play championship.
Not being able to play and somewhat accepting the fact that he might never play gain at all was really putting this golfer into a depressed state. It also was affecting his outlook on all his activities because golf was so important and a major part of his life. This really bothered and scared me. I knew I had to do something to help him recover and play again, especially because this golfer is my younger brother Ken.
I spoke to my chiropractor, Dr. Chris Ehlich, about Ken's condition. He couldn't make promises but was sure he could help him. I reminded Dr. Chris that a few years ago I had the same problem in both arms . It made even driving my car difficult. I put up with it until I had trouble swinging. Between DR. Ehlich and some massage therapy my arms are ok and I am free from the pain.
Well, it took a lot of convincing, almost to the point I had to tie Ken up and drag him down to Dr. Ehlich for the X-rays and check up. What I did to force the issue is I paid for the check-up and one full series of treatments and told Ken if he didn't go, I would be real peeved for two reasons. First, he wasn't making an effort to try and help himself. Second, Dr. Ehlich would not refund me the payment, so, he better go.
After his examination Dr. Ehlich told Ken his neck and spine were quite messed up and it would take some doing to get him OK. He not only would have to have 3 visits a week for adjustments, but would also have a routine of exercises and stretches to do daily. Ken and Dr. Ehlich hit it off well as Doc is a golfer, a student of mine, and plays to a 1 to 3 handicap. Doc keeps my back and body in shape and I keep his swing and golf game in shape. I like that arrangement and so does he.
Well, now to Ken's big question. Ken asked me why, after over 5 months of not touching and swinging a club except for some putting, did he hit is so well. He added, in fact, that he hit it better than probably anything in the past 10 years in terms of solid and straight. He added that his short game was also excellent (Ken has always been a wizard around the green and can putt the dimples off the ball) without any practice. Ken said that the arm stung a little on the first drive and for swings on the first and second hole but by the third hole he was basically pain free for the rest of the front nine, which is where the round ended when the rain started pouring down.
My answer was that when he realized the chiropractic treatments were working so well and that he could play again, sometime last week, when he swung a club in the back yard, he started thinking about his swing and playing. I asked him if he was thinking about his swing and even swinging in his mind all week to which I got an affirmative reply.
The mind is a powerful thing, and it is amazing what we can accomplish just using our mind to do some serious thought and contemplation. Ken's good ball striking and short game and putting happened because he practiced in his mind, remembering the feelings of his swing, pitches and chips and putts. Those feelings were there on Saturday just as good as if he hit balls on the range. I heard Hale Irwin answer a question early this year regarding his back bothering him and how did he practice enough to stay fine tuned. He said he practiced more in his mind than on the range. Ken experienced the power of practicing in his mind this Saturday morning.
You don't have to be on a range, beating balls, sweating bullets and getting blisters to get better. Practicing in your mind can also improve your swing and game. Try it, I'll bet you will be surprised by how well it works.
The Surge!