Rest and Reset
To follow up on Kyle’s article from last week about rest and recovery, I just want to say “yes!” Golf has become a sport that we are accustomed to seeing played almost year round, certainly at the highest level you can always find a tournament on TV. But this does not mean that individuals should be training and playing the game without periods of rest. Kyle explained some great reasons for that and ways to take advantage of periods of rest. Let’s look at a couple more.
When we look at our 5 Elements of Success we consider desire to be the driving force behind performance and improvement. Without desire there is rarely any success or enjoyment in the game of golf. Taking the time to step away and relax can allow for some organic periods of reflection that bring clarity to your ‘why’ in the game. Coming back after a rest period can have you energized and ready to perform at your best.
Kyle mentioned Rory McIlroy taking several weeks off during the off season, but another example is Scottie Scheffler this year taking four weeks off after the RBC heritage in April. What did Scottie do when he came back to compete? He had seven top 5 finishes in a row! Here is what he said: “I was just trying to relax and get a little practice in and pretty much just rest,” Scheffler said. “I got pretty tired after the Masters, and that’s pretty typical of a major. They kind of wear you down. It was good just to get a little mental rest.”
It is essential for an athlete to perform at the highest level that he/she be well rested and have plenty of inner drive to face the challenges of competition. Periodic breaks from the rigors of training and competing can go a long way to get you there. Take the time to get away and see what kinds of thoughts come up as you reflect on how you have performed as of late and revisit your goals for the rest of the year and into next year. Sometimes this process can be even more fruitful than practice.
