synchronyresearch study
Dr. Debbie Crews was awarded a grant from Golf Magazine and named their Researcher of the Year for her neurological study on choking while putting. This study was featured-and successfully tested-on NBC's Dateline and brought to light some fascinating discoveries.
Debbie's research revealed that the optimal performance state occurs when the (logical, verbal, mechanical) left side of the brain is balanced-in synchrony-with the (creative, visual, target oriented) right side.
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When golfers are in pressure-filled situations, they have a propensity to step out of their routine and simply think too much about their stroke (or a myriad of other things including the score, the gallery, the last putt missed, etc.) causing the analytical left side of the brain to over-activate and become out-of-sync with the visual, right side.
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In short, successful performance tends to occur when the two sides are synchronized, while choking tends to occur when the left and right hemispheres of the brain are not working together.
In another televised event, acting legend Alan Alda brought a camera crew to ASU and filmed a putting competition he had with LPGA Tour Champion, Tina Tombs. Alan had a clear disadvantage, having never played golf nor any mechanical preparation whatsoever prior to the contest. Debbie simply employed two simple brain-balancing exercises to promote synchrony with the actor to promote an optimal mental state preceding the competition. Against all odds, Alda ended up considerably defeating Tombs.
Dr. Crews conducted a study for seeitgolf, featuring variously skilled golfers ranging from the novice up to tour pro. The subjects were hooked up to electrodes and their brain activity was monitored while putting, before watching the seeitgolf film featuring Aaron Baddeley, then after. The EEG results revealed, across the board, that by simply watching the film the subjects' brains adjusted from an imbalanced state to a more balanced state.
Before
After
Research has long supported the claim that the brain doesn't know the difference between what is real and what is imagined. The research conducted by Crews not only reaffirms that research but supports the notion that, by merely watching the seeitgolf film, the golfer can "practice" being in that optimal performance state much like practicing any other physical component of the game.
