Review of Michael Anthony's Mental Keys

It is not often that one finds someone like Michael Anthony who was happy to supply me with a complimentary copy of his book and CD, Michael Anthony's Mental Keys (updated July 2007). Michael quite rightly has confidence in his product and faith in the human race.
The book and CD arrived as promised and I tore open the package with gusto, not only to review it but also because I believe I can improve my own mental game. What a pleasant surprise. The book was a small paperback and looked simple enough.
I had absolutely no difficulty in reading through it in a couple of hours (and I am not a fast reader). It was easy to understand and had very practical ideas on how to overcome the mental blocks we all face on the golf course, and indeed life.
Michael talks of our past experience being our "tape". By this he means the brain records everything we do and uses this information to react accordingly when we find ourselves in the same or similar position. So he says if your tape is programed a certain way you will react in a predetermined manner because you have previously told your brain that is the way you are comfortable reacting.
Let's take a look at my situation. Whilst reading this book I couldn't help thinking of myself standing on the notorious 18th tee at Peninsula Golf club where I just KNOW I am going to make a bogey at best and probably something much worse. Well with a thought based on an outcome like that how can I possibly play the hole well.
What Michael teaches us to do is to concentrate on the process and not the outcome. Many of our bad golf shots come from being worried about the outcome, something that has not yet occurred and which only becomes a fact if it happens. This could be anything from the fear of going out of bounds, into water, into a hazard, losing the match or losing the bet. These are all things that haven't happened yet. He teaches one to stay focused on the process, to play in the zone.
If your mechanics are correct, your alignment is right and the club that you have selected is the right one, then simply go through the process and you have a fairly good chance of being successful. The resultant shot then becomes a fact and the information gleaned from this result is stored in your tape. If it is a good shot pat yourself on the back and let your tape know this should be recorded. If the shot doesn't come out as you intended Michael Anthony explains how to analyze the feedback and use it to improve your game for the very next shot or for some time in the future. He teaches us that anger and frustration simply get stored in our tape for future use and this is a negative emotion. Rather acknowledge the anger or frustration, analyze why you feel this way and move on.
If the weather is foul, the wind is blowing, your opponent is playing well or there is something else that you have no control over, this is simply a fact and part of the game of golf. It is the same for everyone.
How often do we go to the range and have terrible shots? Probably very few and this is because we are not concerned about the outcome. If the ball hooks or slices badly, or you top it, it doesn't matter because it counts for nothing. Yet as soon as we get on to the course our whole mental approach changes and we start to worry about the outcome, an event that may not even happen, and so our muscles tense up. In Mental Keys Michael teaches us how to overcome this fear of a possible event. Michael refers to the famous "glass half full or glass half empty" scenario and says we should always play with our glass half full. Expect and embrace success.
The book is backed up, I think brilliantly, with a CD. The first part of the CD should be listened to the night before or just prior to a game of golf. It is very easily listening and reminds one of the "4 Step Process" which Michael refers to throughout his book. Armed with this information fresh in your mind you can confidently go through the process and enjoy your golf.
On completion of your round the second half of the CD should be listened to either on your way home or later that night. The second half of the tape teaches us how to look back and benefit from the day's play.
The real beauty of Michael Anthony's The Mental Keys is that it is not just a one off read but more a reference manual which if referred to regularly will continue to improve your game and drop your scores. Whether you aspire to be the best golfer in the world, win your club championship, win your weekly match or just play better golf Michael's Mental Keys is a must.
It will also help you in your day to day life.
Ask any of Michael's clients, some of whom have won world championship events and Olympic Golds.
I highly recommend Michael Anthony's Mental Keys for any level of golfer.