Quotes on the Mental Game

photo credit: star5112  “Of all games, golf exposes fraud and self-delusion most efficiently.” = Jim McClean (one of GOLF DIGEST’S top 100 teachers).  “Let your attitude determine your golf game.  Don’t let your golf game determine your attitude.” = Davis Love Jr.  “The correlation between thinking well and making successful shots is not 100 percent.  But the correlation between bad thinking and unsuccessful shots is much higher.” = Dr. Bob Rotella.  “A leading difficulty with the average player is that he totally misunderstands what is meant by concentration.  He may think that he is concentrating hard when he is just merely worrying.” = Robert Trent Jones (world famous course designer).

Trivia Question:  Who was the first golfer to have four rounds under par in a U.S. Open?     Answer in reverse:  daenS maS 

When to Press

photo credit: Smabs Sputzer   Calling a press (increased bet in a Nassau match) can make you money.  Here’s how:  1)  Clarify the betting procedure on the first tee, such as an automatic press when two holes down.  2)  Agree whether the recipients of the press can decline it.  3)  Always begin a press on a hole where you’re receiving  a handicap stroke.  If you are giving shots, never press.  4)  If you are a good player, press on par 3’s.      5)  If you are playing a four-ball (best ball) match, always consult with your partner before pressing.  6)  When trailing late in a Nassau, ask to press for the eighteen-hole match at the same time you press the nine hole bet.

Take Charge

photo credit: SearchNetMedia   Control the match by taking control of your opponent’s play.  There is an old saying,”the game of golf is played between your ears” and nothing could be more true.  Since golfers tend to be more reactive than pro-active, its quite simple to get control of the match at hand.  Try the following:  1)  Take charge on the first tee by showing him the ball your playing, tell everyone that YOU will keep score and ask your opponents the order of play. . . show them who’s boss!  2)  Always make them putt out no matter what the distance to the cup.  3)  Control the pace of play especially if you begin to fall back in the match.  Tiger Woods uses this tactic very successful to rattle his opponents.

A “Flyer” Lie

photo credit: star5112   Your ball’s lie influences 3 things: 1)   Club selection.  2)  How you set up to the ball.  3)  The kind of shot you play. 

Pay special attention to how your ball is buried in the rough.  A “flyer” lie is when your ball is partially buried in the grass.  Its called a “flyer” lie because grass will get in between the clubface and the ball at impact.  The is that the ball will have less backspin and fly farther than normal.  It will also roll farther once it hits the green. 

The way to play this type of shot:  A)  Choose a club that is one less than normal.  B)  Aim slightly left, open the clubface and stand a little closer to the ball.

“Scoring on Par 3s” by Tom Watson

photo credit: Tillers1   “On uphill par 3s people tend to miss to the right because they hang  back on their right side in an effort to hit the ball higher.”

“The solution is to keep the shoulders more level at impact by making sure you transfer your weight to your left side on the downswing the same way you would on a normal shot.  The clubface will square up for better contact and accuracy.  Your weight should go mainly to your right heel at the top of the swing and to your left heel at impact.”

Tom Watson finished 2nd in the 2009 Open Championship and ranks among the greatest players in the game of golf.  He plays the Champions tour and is a contributor to GOLF DIGEST magazine.

Beating Par 3s

photo credit: star5112   How to avoid big numbers on par 3s:  A)  Use one club longer to elevated greens.  B)  Don’t try to squeeze more distance from your tee shot.  C)  If in the rough, take a practice swing to check the amount of resistance to your clubhead.  D)  Set your wrists faster on the backswing when you’re playing out of the rough.  E)  If you have a down hill lie on the fringe, it’s often smarter to putt than to chip.  F)  On a short, uphill chip shot, make the clubhead follow the slope down on the backswing and up on the finish.  G)  When on the fringe, odds of success favor putting the ball over chip shot.

No “Thanks” Given

photo credit: cliff1066   The Fed Ex Cup was a debacle.  During the last portion of Sunday’s round, the commentators were going back and forth with all of the different scenario’s over who the winner might be ( ”if so and so came in 8th,” or ”what if so and so tied for 3rd etc?)  It was a pathetic attempt by Johnny Miller and crew to add some excitement to a very confused venue.

What was even worse was the interviews of the two winners, Mickelson and Woods.  Gone are the days when the winner would thank the sponsors and course management.  Mickelson, (won $3M) and Woods (won $10M) have a serious love affair going with themselves.  The words “thank you,” don’t seem to be part of their vocabulary.

Staying Focused

photo credit: bilderheld   Golfers tend to be finicky creatures, they can be bothered by objects in their peripheral vision, sounds, or shadows.  The real problem is that they are really worried about hitting a bad shot instead of focusing on the target and their pre-shot routine.

Every golfer is faced with distractions which are a very normal part of the game.  Viewing them as a challenge, instead of a problem will make them less bothersome.  Realizing that the world is not a perfect place is a good start.

Try to focus your attention on the job at hand, the golf shot.  When walking to your ball, you should be considering factors such as wind direction, distance from target, lie, type of shot you intend to play, what club to use.  Bottom line: stay focused!

Old & New Club Comparison

photo credit: 23dingenvoormusea   What follows are old/new club comparisons:  PLAY CLUB – driver. . . BRASSIE - 2 wood. . . SPOON - 3 wood. . . BAFFY - 4 wood. . . CLEEK - 1 iron. . . MID-IRON – 2 iron. . . MID-MASHIE – 3 iron. . . MASHIE IRON – 4 iron. . . MASHIE – 5 iron. . . SPADE MASHIE – 6 iron. . . MASHIE NIBLICK – 7 iron. . . PITCHING NIBLIC – 8 iron. . . NIBLICK – 9 iron. . . JIGGER – wedge. . . BAFFING SPOON – lob wedge. . . PUTTER – flat stick/putter.

The differences in clubs between then and now, were major with the biggest breakthrough in going from steel shafts to graphite.

Ancient Equipment

photo credit: suvodeb   In the beginning, golf clubs were shaped like hockey sticks.  The shafts were long and the heads were skinny and bowed.  The general shape was concave, which made it easier to lift the ball from ruts and high grass.

Hugh Williams was a Scottish clubmaker and a master craftsmen who made clubs from 1812 until his death in 1856.  He used thorn, apple and pear wood in his clubheads, and ash in the shafts.  Finally he discovered hickory, a far superior shaft material.

The club set consisted of the “play club” (today’s driver).  Back then, the golfer didn’t drive toward the target he “played upon it.”  They used “spoons” (long-mid-short) which were shaped like spoons.  A “baffing spoon,” was today’s lob-wedge. (to “baff” was to contact the ground just before hitting the ball).

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