T-Time Podcast // Ep. 11: Every Shot Must Have a Purpose with Lynn Marriott & Pia Nilsson
Today on the show, Tori is delighted to have the VISION54 ladies: Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson, two internationally recognized and highly acclaimed golf instructors. As co-founders of VISION54, a breakthrough program and golf school based at Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale, Lynn and Pia have established themselves as some of the best in the business. During the show, they will discuss the principles of their program and the idea that golf is much more than a physical challenge. This is the focus of their book, Every Shot Must Have a Purpose: How GOLF54 Can Make You a Better Player, that the Book Club is reading for February. The book is an easy read for avid golfers of all levels and provides valuable insights and lessons to enhance the reader's game.
How did VISION54 Begin?
VISION54 is a golf coaching and training company founded by Lynn Marriott and Pia Nilsson. The name VISION54 represents their focus on exploring golfers' possibilities and limitations. Pia started her journey as a player and turned to coach after observing the other factors contributing to better golf performance beyond just technique and fitness. Lynn was a college golfer and became a golf teacher, but she realized that traditional golf education only focused on technique and didn't always result in better golf performance. Both Lynn and Pia realized that golf skills are both technical but also human and non-technical. They started a golf school for elite and regular golfers to help them play better by focusing on these non-technical skills. They offer books, remote training, and on-course training programs accessible to golfers of all levels.
Are professional golfers doing certain things better than amateurs as far as the mindset is concerned?
Professional golfers have an advantage over amateurs regarding their mindset on the course. They have a wider range of shots in their repertoire and are better equipped to make decisions based on what they trust. This is not just because of their skill level but also because they have developed a better understanding of the mental side of the game.
Great players in the history of golf have always performed certain mental tasks, but only recently have these tasks become more explicit and trainable. This training may be a new awareness for professional golfers, while for amateurs, it may still be a learning process. However, even better golfers have a more developed sense of how to make decisions they trust and have more awareness of the game's mental aspects. Regardless of skill level, all golfers can benefit from paying more attention to their memory and how they react to shots.
Concepts of the Book:
1. Think Small, Play Big
The first concept of the book is "Think Small, Play Big". It is about balancing big dreams with actionable steps. The dream needs to be big and compelling, with a lot of energy, but to make it a reality, and smaller goals must be set and acted upon. Golfers should dare to dream big and imagine what is possible, then focus on taking control of the steps that will get them there. Having a big vision and breaking it down into smaller, controllable steps has proven to be effective for many golfers.
2. Anger Makes Us Stupid
The concept of “Anger Makes us Stupid” in the book is based on recent findings in neuroscience. The idea behind it is that when we experience negative emotions, particularly amplified ones like anger, it affects a specific part of our brain called cortical inhibition. This means that the prefrontal cortex, a crucial part of our brain, is inhibited, and we cannot access it. This leads to a lack of perspective and coordination and even visual acuity. Unfortunately, when we are in this state, we often say and do things that we later regret. This is because our decision-making and critical thinking skills are diminished. We become, in a way, stupid due to the emotional spiral brought on by anger. This concept highlights the importance of managing our emotions and understanding their impact on our cognitive abilities. By recognizing this, we can work to control our emotions and avoid letting them get the best of us, even in high-pressure situations like golf.
3. Make Practice Real
“Make Practice Real" is the third concept in Pia and Lynn's book. They argue that to improve in golf, or any activity, practice must simulate real-life conditions rather than sticking to a routine of using the same club and target. This includes changing up clubs, targets, and mindset during practice to adapt to the variability of the sport and improve one's ability to react to different scenarios. This, also, means that in order to improve your game on the course, you must play on the course! This means getting off the range and playing a round or two a week. Making practice as close to real life as possible is crucial for seeing the greatest improvement as one improves at what they practice.
Three Different Types of Practices
There are three types of golf practices: maintenance, performance, and future practice.
- Maintenance practice is about keeping your golf game in good form and avoiding slipping into bad habits. This could be as simple as checking your posture and tempo regularly.
- Performance practice is about practicing golf as it is played on the course. This could include hitting different drivers while imagining being on different holes or putting on the green to see how many shots you make in a row.
- Future practice is about learning new shots, making swing changes, or practicing something that you might not be able to use immediately. This practice is essential for improving your game in the long run and might require more time and dedication.
4. Make Pressure Your Friend
“Make Pressure Your Friend" is the final concept in the book. The authors address the pressure that all golfers, at every level, experience and the change that comes with it. Rather than ignoring or trying to ignore the pressure, Pia and Lynn encourage golfers to be curious about their reaction to pressure and to frame it as arousal rather than anxiety. Some golfers perform better under pressure and need a certain level of arousal This concept applies not just to golf but to any activity where competition is involved. Pia and Lynn note that competition and striving for excellence are natural human instincts. The definition of competition can vary, with some women finding competition in teamwork and striving for excellence rather than beating others.
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Lynn Marriott:
Pia Nilsson:
VISION54 Website | Every Shot Must Have a Purpose Book
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