| The Biathlon is a Winter Olympic sport that | | | | on making a golf shot under the critical gaze of |
| combines cross-country skiing with target | | | | the other golfers. |
| shooting. It is a very difficult sport to compete in | | | | Use This Relaxation Technique in Your Pre-Shot |
| at a high level because it requires the athlete to | | | | Routine |
| immediately transition between the high cardio, big | | | | Every golfer, regardless of their absolute skill level, |
| muscle intensity of cross-country skiing and the | | | | will execute every shot better, play more |
| slow breathing, small muscle control of target | | | | consistently hole to hole, and lower their score if |
| shooting. The skiers must race over courses | | | | they develop and practice a pre-shot routine that |
| about 12 miles long stopping several times to | | | | flushes everything from their mind, visualizes the |
| shoot at tiny targets 50 metres (160 feet) away. | | | | golf shot they want to make, and relaxes the |
| What makes it even more difficult is that the | | | | tension of the muscle group they will be using on |
| shooting phases all take place in front of | | | | this particular swing. |
| spectators, cameras, and the other competitors. | | | | That sounds like a lot to do before every swing |
| Everybody who gets a little stage fright on the | | | | or every putt but we are really only talking about |
| first tee can relate to that. | | | | eight seconds or so. Start from behind your ball |
| Relaxed Shooters Hit More Targets | | | | and while looking down range visualize the ball |
| A study performed at the Swedish Winter Sports | | | | flight that you want while swinging the club in the |
| Research Center shows that biathletes' shooting | | | | long or short motion that you will need to make |
| performance is improved with a technique called | | | | the shot. Step up to the ball. Lay down your club |
| advanced tension release. The researchers divided | | | | and square the face to the target line. Align your |
| a group of elite level biatheletes in half. Over a 10 | | | | feet and body to the club face with the proper |
| week period both groups followed the normal, | | | | ball position for the club. Inhale and exhale or do |
| rigorous training schedule but one group also | | | | whatever other mental and neurological signal you |
| learned how to apply advanced tension release. | | | | use to signal your body that you are starting the |
| The group that learned the relaxation technique | | | | swing - and let it rip. |
| clearly outperformed the control group. They held | | | | If You Don't Use It You Don't Own It |
| their rifles steadier and hit their targets with much | | | | Learning to instantly relax in one second and |
| smaller shot groupings. | | | | prepping the muscle group you will be using for a |
| Golfing is nowhere near as rigorous as | | | | golf swing in the next second requires some |
| cross-country skiing but golfers who perform well | | | | practice. The best part is that you can practice |
| must make dozens of transitions between using | | | | your relaxation technique and pre-shot routine |
| their big muscles on the tee and fairways and | | | | anywhere and at anytime without even having a |
| their small control muscles while putting and | | | | club in your hand. In fact, that is the only way |
| chipping from around the greens. Golfers must | | | | you can make your routine portable and usable in |
| also make the immediate transition between | | | | any situation. |
| socializing with their playing partners and focusing | | | | |