By Greta N, Anderson, Ph.D
Experiencing major nerve damage in my right hand forced me to let go of my athletic ambitions, but I gained so much more…
Throughout my lifetime, the one consistency that has been there from the very beginning was me identifying as an athlete. From being the fastest kid in the neighborhood to making my high school varsity tennis team before I ever attended a day of high school, I’ve always loved sport.
The only time I’ve taken a respite from sports activity was while in graduate school. The demands on my time combined with my desire for efficient completion of my dissertation so much so that for the first time since I could remember, I wasn’t training or prepping for some type of competitive event. (Of course, doctoral candidacy comes with its own set of competitive challenges, but that’s another story for another day!)
Once I’d completed my Ph.D. and my professional career was underway, I was able to find my way back home to sports. My passion for tennis was renewed and so it wasn’t long until I was competing at the national level again. Moreover, I’d fallen in love with coaching by this time – particularly those just finding their way to the game.
As the years rolled by, I became much more interested in a sport I’d begun playing during my youth – golf. My skills and knowledge of the game quickly became a valuable asset as my career advanced. Interestingly, as my interest and passion for golf grew, so did my interest in helping others learn the game.
At this point, I’m playing great tennis and getting good traction on the National circuit. Training hard and realizing steady improvement, I noticed one day that my right arm was feeling a little funny. And even as things began to literally fall out of my grasp, I didn’t see the signs. After all, I’d been involved in competitive sports for 30+ years and had evaded injury. A few days off and I’d be fine.
The next morning I awakened to the most numb, tingly sensation you can possibly imagine. It was as if someone was constantly kicking my funny bone. That was enough to scare me into placing a few calls to find a good specialist and making an appointment for the very near future.
Things change rapidly when you wake up and your hand is purple, limp and screaming with pain. Deep purple. I could hardly move it. I was terrified.
It was determined that a virtual perfect storm of nerve problems had occurred within my right hand and wrist. Experts agreed that the only way to salvage any functionality and dexterity was surgery. Now.
Just like that, my days of effortlessly swinging racquets and clubs seemed to be gone. After all, so much of an effective swing revolves around strong flexible wrists.
After months of healing and therapy, I was given the green light to resume intense physical activity. However, the loss in strength and flexion combined with rigid scar tissue to make my tennis game a shadow of what it once was. So, I decided to be grateful for all that it had given me, and hang up the racquets.
Golf. That was a different story. After lots of practice, my game was coming back and I was able to shoot reasonably respectable scores. With my eyes now focused on earning my LPGA credential, I had renewed focus. That is until a follow-up visit with the surgeon in which he said, “Greta, you only have two hands. I’ve repaired one, but if you keep aggravating those nerves, the damage will be worse.”
So I had a choice to make – let go of the way I’d learned, practiced and successfully played for decades (right-handed), or start all over again. I chose the latter.
To effectively let it go, I knew I’d need a complete reset. I scrapped every artifact of my life as a successful right-hand golfer, including all my clubs and trophies! Alongside my Dad, I went to the golf shop and got fitted for a brand new set of left-handed beginner clubs.
My journey to relearn golf from the other side of the ball was humbling, frustrating, scary and so much more. I felt like giving up many times, especially until I found a teacher who also believed I could become good enough to earn my LPGA credential. (You’d be surprised to know how many didn’t!)
Of course, I would never have chosen to experience this type of injury. However, I believe that going through this entire process has helped me to realize my calling as an educator. I’m empathetic to the nuances of every learner – the highs, lows, and everything between. I’ve walked in their shoes, which is not something that I could’ve truthfully said before my injuries. As my clients know, my motto is: You’re perfect exactly how you arrive. There’s a golf swing for everybody. Every. Body.
Once in a while, my right wrist will be a bit stiff and sore. It’s usually after a long day of teaching golf students at my academy. So, the discomfort I feel is no big deal. It reminds me of what I lost, but more importantly, of what I’ve gained in terms of fulfilling my calling.
Greta N. Anderson, Ph.D. is a thought-leader, strategist, educator and LPGA Class A golf teaching professional. She is the founder and principal of a golf instruction practice based in Atlanta, GA that focuses on the development of Emerging Golfers. As an instructor and coach, she implements measurable strategies for development, goal setting and furthering the skills needed to attain success in golf and life.
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