The book "Inner Game of Golf" by Tim Gallwey explores the mental side of golf and presents a compelling study that we all have a "instructional, analytical, drill sergeant" side of our brain, and oppositely, a creative "just let me have play, have fun" side of the brain. Self 1 and Self 2. Self 1 issues a never-ending list of "do instructions" such as "keep your left arm straight, bend your knees some, keep your head down, keep your head behind the ball, rotate, don't stand up". We all have our lists, and the lists go on and on, or worse, the list is often amended from one hole to the next. Then by the 14th hole there could be a third set of instructions. But in the 2 seconds it takes to swing a club, how can we possibly follow all these "instructions"?
Basically Self 1 is highly instructional. untrusting, over-bearing, scolding, cautious. Self 2 is relaxed, fun loving, creative. Self 1 will not give up control except in certain situations. For example, how many times have we heard the story about a guy who took a lesson and said he was hitting the ball better than ever? Then a week later he's playing worse and blamed the instructor? I believe during the lesson Self 1 "allowed" the instructor to take control of the swing, but as soon as the lesson was over, Self 1 retook control and ruined everything the guy learned with over-instruction, doubt, caution, etc. Another example is how many times has anyone hit someone else's club GREAT, then they buy the same club and it doesn't pan out? Well, when we borrowed the club to try it out, Self 1 checked-out because it didn't care about that particular shot because "it didn't matter", thus, Self 2 was allowed to have fun hitting a new club.
Has anyone ever practiced on the putting green and put a majority of balls near the hole, or made a lot of putts? We're all excited about putting well on the course. Then on 1st green you leave the first putt 10 feet short. The next putt blows by the hole. You miss a 3 footer for par. What happened? In my opinion Self 2 is allowed to have fun on the practice green because Self 1 knows those putts "don't count". But on the course Self 2 is kicked out by Self 1. Thus all the weird putts, apprehension, tension, etc.
I suggest reading Gallwey's book because he talks about how to minimize or ignore the aggressive, over-controlling Self 1. I personally read the book, about the first 3 chapters to start, and the next day I shot 32 on the front nine of a course I normally shot 40 or so. Then after the front 9, I shot 4 over because my Self 1 started to question "why" I was playing so well...what was I doing? Self 1 didn't like being left out...LOL. I think a lot of folks including myself overlook the impact our brains have on learning and playing golf. Self 1 doesn't trust, wants to over instruct 24/7. Self 2 is trusting, wants to play, doesn't care about results.
All I can say is my best rounds have been instruction-free. Some call it being "in the zone" or "playing out of one's mind". The zone or playing out of one's mind is, in my opinion, when the instructional side of the brain is ignored...just play...allow one's self to swing the club without instruction. Some of my best shots were when I wasn't thinking about much of anything.
Excellent book review, recommendation, and personal testimonial, @GolfLivesMatter ! I'm guessing many of us can relate to various iterations of this "multiple personality disorder" on the golf course. Leave Self 1 at the range and enjoy your round with Self 2!!