This is Exactly Why We Yell Fore in Golf
February 24, 2008
Golf Virgin, why do people yell fore in golf? - Fred in Springfield, MO
I want you to do something, right now imagine that you and a couple good buddies are out on a beautiful spring day, enjoying a great, relaxing game of golf and having what seems to be a really good time. All of a sudden, a golf ball comes whizzing out of the ether and smacks the absolute %#$# out of your friend standing just two feet from you. You stand there in shock at the oddity you have witnessed.
Your mouth drops open in disbelief at the hollow sound of a golf ball cracking off of your friends skull and the utter look of bewilderment on his face. You don’t know whether you should laugh hysterically or act in your friends best interest and seek medical attention. However, you quickly figure out that this is not the best time for humor as your friend starts convulsing and begins having a seizure. A full-on Grand Mal seizure…
This all happened because some joyless person a hundred yards back didn’t yell fore in golf and warn you and your pals of an incoming ball . You and your comrade try to hold your poor buddy down as he shakes incessantly and while waiting for a Care Flight helicopter, you begin to realize the utility of simply yelling ahead to your fellow golfers with a healthy “fore!!!” that something tiny, white and mean is on a hell-bent trajectory back towards earth.
But then again, the strangest things can happen on the golf course. It’s almost like a magnet which draws people onto this green platform so they can be judged by the “golf gods” if they are worthy of leaving the game unharmed. Refer back to my post about golf, lightning and karma and you will understand what I mean.
So Fred, there you have it, this is exactly the reason why you yell fore in golf. Think about that the next time you mess up a shot and see that ball of yours arching in the sky towards a group of hapless people enjoying the perfect spring day.
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The Mental Side of Golf
February 24, 2008
You brought up “performance fear” and I have to admit that when I know that someone is watching, it’s just nerve racking and I continually slip up and make really stupid mistakes. But when I’m out there by myself on the course or driving range late at night, everything flows naturally. Would you give me some pointers on the mental side of golf? - Dave in Memphis, TN
Dave, good for you that you’ve recognized you need improvement on the mental aspect of golf and that you really want to get over this block towards playing consistently. The most important thing you can do to have the best possible chance of success is to focus your will and and intention exactly on what you want to make happen. In essence, golf is mental, it’s that simple. Here’s a mind shattering thought. What if the entire scope of what we experience as “reality” was just a mental image of our own creation and that this image is constantly projected before us as the result of each consecutive thought?
Now if we were able to grasp that simple concept we would realize that we have the control to make happen what ever we so choose and bring into the definite experience of what we call “reality” our hopes and dreams. All by simply focusing on bringing these goals in line with our will and intention. Have you noticed that when you have done something new for the first time, you got it perfectly right without even trying? You simply did the task, whatever it was and you were successful at it.
Yet when you tried to repeat it, no matter how many times you did it. It never approached the ease and grace that you performed this task with on the first time. You know why? Because of the simple fact that you were trying and thus you were attached to the end result. The bizarre thing about bringing your goals into this strange term called “reality” is by having the burning will and intention to make these goals happen but at the same time not becoming entangled in the desire for your intended end result. Sounds contradictory doesn’t it?
To put it simply, you directly experience exactly what you focus on because it is what you truly want to make happen. How could it be otherwise? If your complete attention is upon other people watching you and then you follow up with: “I’m probably going to miss this shot and look like a total freaking spaz while doing it.” or “Wow, all these people looking at me, what if I slice, hook or shank this shot and everyone sees??
If you just take a step back, focus on your goal while simply doing it and without regard of the outcome, you will be amazed at the end result because you will have achieved what you intended to do… all without being attached. However, if you focus on screwing up then guess what, more than likely you will miss the shot and fulfill your own fear which then becomes a negative self-fulfilling prophesy. Ever listen to someone say “Oh that good thing will probably never happen to me or I would like for this to work out but I bet it won’t?” Basically these people are talking themselves out of exactly what they want. Horrible isn’t it?
Honestly, it is truly up to you what you focus your will upon. Your mind will give you many times over exactly what you choose to plant inside it. If you plant success and are sincere, then strangely enough success will follow. If you plant fear and negativity, you will get back exactly what you give. Now, the next time you are about to take that shot or make a putt… relax… imagine in your minds eye exactly what you want to happen and say the hell with it and simply do it.
If it doesn’t work out the first time DO NOT give up, keep honing and refining your will and intention. Constantly keep in mind to not be attached to the result and you know what? You just might surprise yourself and truly improve your mental game in golf and playing in general.
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Should I Wear Gloves for Golf?
February 23, 2008
Hi I need a little help, I just started playing golf recently and I’ve noticed that its really difficult for me to relax when I hold the club and after going to the driving range lately I’ve got some pretty bad blisters. I was wondering if should I go out and buy some gloves for golf? - Andrew in Stillwater, OK
4 words Andrew… Release The Death Grip. You are not Darth Vader and you are not out on a mission to conquer and destroy. This is a game and you’re supposed to enjoy it. Not suffer afterwards. As far as you needing some gloves for golf… Until you can settle down on your G.I. Joe, Kung-Fu grip practice that you have going on, I highly suggest it.
I think I remember an old pro say that you should hold the club like a baby bird, tight enough to keep it from escaping, but not so tight that you would kill the little thing.
After you have properly trained your hands on what they should do when you hold the club, the best thing I can say is let them do it. I mean it’s not that difficult come to think of it, you should be used to it by now with all the other practice that you’ve had before, right? In turn, when you have a good grip you are able to keep other bad things from happening and creeping into your game such as hook’s and slices, etc.
Also, an overly tight grip will do nothing but drag your game down and frustrate you when you’re supposed to be having a great time smacking a bucket of balls down range or plugging away at 18 separate holes. So do you, Andrew, need gloves for golf so you can grip golf clubs better without blisters. Yes… yes you do. Go out and buy some. Do it now.
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How Many Dimples are There on a Golf Ball?
February 21, 2008
So Golf Virgin, could you guess off the top of your head how many dimples are there on a golf ball? - Josh from Nantucket, MA
Sitting around looking at your balls again wondering why they are the way they are, karma maybe? But seriously, you’re putting me to the flame huh? I would have to say that how many dimples are there on a golf ball varies between 300 - 500 depending on who designed it.
For all of you people out there who love your golf trivia consider this. The record holder was a ball that had 1,070 dimples. Also, all brands except for 1 have even-numbered dimples and the only odd-numbered ball on market has a strange total of 333 dimples.
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What Golf Ball Types should a New Player Buy
February 20, 2008
Golf Virgin, Hey what type of golf balls do you recommend I use? - Dawson in Kansas City, KS
Truly, buying top of the line golf balls can get expensive, especially as a beginner. A common experience one may have is knocking your golf balls, accidentally, into a pond or losing them deep in a bush. So what to do about choosing the perfect set of golf balls for your new hobby? Well, not a whole lot really.
Honesty, save your money and for now spend a lot of time and I really do mean a lot at the driving range. Putting out a few bucks into some ball buckets will be worth the time invested in the long run and you will save yourself a great deal of cash by smacking away at a range ball. Secondly, if you are of the more adventurous type, used golf balls are the way to go. One word of caution though, stay away from used golf balls with any clear signs of defect such as cuts in the cover, bulges or discoloration etc.
It’s not the most sought after way of improving your game but really, who cares and these 2 golf ball types are far easier on the pocketbook. So get out there on the range and put those dirty golf balls where they belong.
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Increasing Your Hole-in-One-Odds
February 19, 2008
Golf Virgin I have just started playing golf and it has definitely sparked my interest and I want to know from your perspective if is it possible to consistently hit a hole in one? - Mike in Tampa, FL
Well… you had to ask that question didn’t you? I will say this. Anything is possible if you have the right golfing equipment. Such as a proper golf club set as well as golf balls and golf tees. But, this is entirely up to the individual and if this person is able to focus on their intention on what they want to accomplish while at the same time being able to follow through with the proper mindset.
If you can do this then you are well on your way of turning your vision of increasing your hole in one odds into a reality time and time again. Besides getting a hole in one is just… well fun. It also depends on a lot of things like the course itself and there are some holes that are well with in driving range for a good golfer to have a shot at pulling off the coveted hole in one. There are also many holes that are just far to long for a pro much less a virgin golfer to ever make in a single stroke.
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