If you have played even one or two rounds of golf, you’ve been there. One bad shot turns into two, self-compassion turns into self-criticism, and your once calm, slow pace—mentally and physically—is now traveling at the speed of light. As the fight-or-flight response activates, everything becomes more rapid: heart rate, breath rate, walking pace, thoughts, and yes, even your swing. As your pace accelerates, unfortunately, so does your score.
It makes sense. When things go poorly, you either want to get it back on track as quickly as possible or escape even faster.
This is not unique to golf—human brains are wired to prioritize safety when they sense a threat. The quickest path to “safety” is avoidance. Unfortunately, our brains cannot distinguish between a physical threat (i.e, the lion chasing you) and an emotional threat (i.e., embarrassment, disappointment, discomfort). Whereas speeding up would actually protect you from physical threats, it often exacerbates emotional pain and scorecard peril.
So, next time you are on the course and one poor shot turns into two, notice the rapidity of your heart rate, breath, and unproductive thinking and Obey the Speed Limit. Consciously walk slower, inhale and exhale more slowly, even waggle slower. As your breathing, thinking, and routine decrease in tempo, your brain recognizes that “we are not in actual danger” and immediately you regain control of your round. Bad shots happen—spirals don’t have to. If you decelerate, you are not just managing your game, you are mastering your mind.