full swing long hesitation

Question
I am a senior golfer Ihave played off sixteen in recent years. However I have developed a long hesitation at the top of my backswing to the extent that I can't start down. I begin to feel nauseous and when I eventually get to the ball anything can happen. I have had to consider giving up the game after 50 years in love with it.
Any comments or advice please.
John

Answer
Hello John

The first thing I'd suggest is get a physical evaluation (sports medicine, chiropractor, physical therapist, etc.) to make sure that there is nothing going on physiologically - there are a number of physical things that could result in a feeling of nausea, perhaps exacerbated with a twisting motion.

If physically everything is fine, the next step is to write down when this started.  Where did it start, who were you playing with, what was going on it your life at the time. Evaluate that, it can be really helpful.

Next are strategies.  Here is something that could help.  Get ready to start your swing, and start counting backwards from 37 by threes when you start your swing.  Count 37 - 34 - 31 - 28 - etc.  This is a way of short-circuiting the mental loop of worrying about what will happen when you swing.  Another option is to have someone stand in back of you and count (backwards by threes so it's harder to keep track of).  It doesn't really matter what the numbers are, what's important is that you focus on them.  This can break the connection between what happens and what your mind worries about COULD happen.

Let me know how this works.  We can tweak this or add something if necessary.  I've helped lots of people overcome these types of problems, these tools work.

David

David Kenward, The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com
Win the Mental Game: Perform better under pressure in any sport