How does this work?

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Date: 01 Sep 2006 02:12:59
From: Colin Wilson
Subject: How does this work?

I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was
13.4 and on the verge of going out to 14.

I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting
thin, duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.

Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score
on each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an
8 handicap.

We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18
holes. My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the
back. It was my second best round ever.

I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time
this year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100
thoughts about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident
about my technique.

What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.

--
Cheers
Colin Wilson
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 04 Sep 2006 12:05:59
From: The_Professor
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Colin Wilson wrote:

snip...

Nice round!

I suspect it's a combination of psychological and physical factors. On
the physical side, you had it that day. On the psychological side, you
weren't expecting to have such a good round, and appreciated it a lot
more...just let it happen rather than expecting it to happen.

Date: 04 Sep 2006 11:58:08
From:
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Colin Wilson wrote:
> I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
> the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
> 97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was
> 13.4 and on the verge of going out to 14.
>
> I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting
> thin, duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.
>
> Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score
> on each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an
> 8 handicap.
>
> We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18
> holes. My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the
> back. It was my second best round ever.
>
> I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time
> this year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100
> thoughts about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident
> about my technique.
>
> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.
>
> --
> Cheers
> Colin Wilson
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
> Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

Good for you Colin,
In MHO all those thoughts equal a sup par execution. My best days
involve the least thought.my best this year was an 82. Your 73 must
have been really special. I bet the beer tasted colder and the food
tasted better. whatch out for your next round though, it could be a
doozy.

Date: 03 Sep 2006 04:30:54
From: AKA Gray Asphalt
Subject: Re: How does this work?

"Colin Wilson" <nowhere@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:LGMJg.21142$rP1.3134@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
>the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
>97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was 13.4
>and on the verge of going out to 14.
>
> I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting thin,
> duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.
>
> Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score on
> each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an 8
> handicap.
>
> We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18 holes.
> My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the back. It
> was my second best round ever.
>
> I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time this
> year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100 thoughts
> about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident about my
> technique.
>
> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.
>
> --
> Cheers
> Colin Wilson
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
> Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
> ------------------------------------------------------------------

Being able to fathom ... I think you're referring to rocket science where
there are actually laws of physics that govern the outcome of events. In
golf it's something else. Apparently Tiger Woods is the only one who knows.
Haney probably pays him to take lessons.

Date: 02 Sep 2006 09:17:52
From: david s-a
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Colin Wilson wrote:

>
> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.
>

Probably back to your playing/fighting weight as it was before the great
walk.

....ask Craig Parry all about it!

cheers
david

Date: 01 Sep 2006 21:11:54
From: Crispin Roche
Subject: Re: How does this work?

On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:12:59 GMT, Colin Wilson <nowhere@nospam.com >
wrote:

>I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
>the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
>97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was
>13.4 and on the verge of going out to 14.
>
>I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting
>thin, duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.
>
>Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score
>on each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an
>8 handicap.
>
>We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18
>holes. My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the
>back. It was my second best round ever.
>
>I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time
>this year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100
>thoughts about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident
>about my technique.
>
>What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.

Its probably just two words "battling" and "confident".

Like yourself I've been suffering, albeit from not such an elevated
level" a long time downturn in form and it just seemed at the time
that everything was hard and nothing worked. Then about a two weeks
ago I seemed to sort out my putting and since then I have felt that no
matter what I hit and can get out of any problem on the green. Lo and
behold believing that one thing everything has led to the rest of my
game beginning to click into place.

Crispin Roche

Date: 01 Sep 2006 09:46:02
From: pete z
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Date: 01 Sep 2006 12:42:55
From: Carbon
Subject: Re: How does this work?

On Fri, 01 Sep 2006 02:12:59 +0000, Colin Wilson wrote:

> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.

No idea, but I've learned to just enjoy it. Especially when I realized
that 74 or whatever was often followed by a 90.

Date: 01 Sep 2006 04:15:32
From: EdSmithers
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Bob Cotter wrote:

> I think much of it has to do with knowing that screwing up will be okay
> as long as my partner is playing well. I know, too, that I can take some
> risks when I have seen his shot on the hole.

I think this is very true.

A similar situation occurs for me when my wife and I play together, I'm
never worried about winning or losing (I always lose), and I always
play my best with her. But most of the other people I play with are
about the same level as me or not quite as good, and so then I feel as
if I'm expected to win. Then I tighten up, swing too fast, and bounce
the ball off of every tree and rake on the course.

But when I suspect I'm going to get beat anyway, I relax and my play is
far better than normal. It's a good lesson for me, and I'm trying to
take that mindset to all of my play.

Ed

Date: 01 Sep 2006 18:19:42
From: Bob Cotter
Subject: Re: How does this work?

In article <1157109332.856927.163830@74g2000cwt.googlegroups.com >,
"EdSmithers" <spirosdarlotts@yahoo.com > wrote:

> A similar situation occurs for me when my wife and I play together, I'm
> never worried about winning or losing (I always lose), and I always
> play my best with her.

Interesting observation. My wife and I played as a two-some this
afternoon and my play was poor. I suspected it was because I have had
some back problems since moving some school equipment earlier this week,
but her opinion was that she was giving me little competition and that
she thinks I play better with the my buddies.

I don't know... haven't really had time to process that.

Cheers... Bob

--
If replying by email, please remove the removes.
Visit my home course at <http://www.sunshinecoastgolf.com >

Date: 01 Sep 2006 05:28:19
From: S MCFARLANE
Subject: Re: How does this work?

"Colin Wilson" <nowhere@nospam.com > wrote in message
news:LGMJg.21142$rP1.3134@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
>I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
>the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
>97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was 13.4
>and on the verge of going out to 14.
>
> I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting thin,
> duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.
>
> Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score on
> each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an 8
> handicap.
>
> We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18 holes.
> My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the back. It
> was my second best round ever.
>
> I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time this
> year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100 thoughts
> about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident about my
> technique.
>
> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.
>

I think it's due to not stressing so much because of the format. In other
words, being a best-ball it 'doesn't count'.

I've never struck the ball better than when I haven't played at all for a
year or two (atrophy of the short game more than makes up for this as far as
score goes!). This is because I have no expectations of playing well in the
first place, and I can't remember how I'm supposed to swing the stick in any
case. Therefore I have no choice but to do what really good players
(Nicklaus, Els, etc, etc.) have advised all along: you can't think about the
swing and do it well at the same time, so don't try!

When I'm in golf mode and hell-bent on getting my handicap to 0, I simply
can't stop thinking swing mechanics out on the course. The feel that this
creates is like a machine that's working but on the verge of falling apart.
When I haven't played for a while and don't think mechanics at all, the feel
is more like a river. The shots just flow, and I'm astounded that I was
responsible for them. I have no idea at all where they come from! All I
really know is how to make them go away: start analyzing what I'm doing
mechanically to create such nice shots so I can think about _that_ on every
swing.

Congrats on an excellent round!

Scott

Date: 01 Sep 2006 06:34:26
From: Colin Wilson
Subject: Re: How does this work?

S MCFARLANE wrote:

> I think it's due to not stressing so much because of the format. In other
> words, being a best-ball it 'doesn't count'.

I'm not sure about that. Sometimes in a best-ball format, you can get
slack because you think your partner can overcome your own deficiencies.

I found myself concentrating very hard, particularly as the round went
on and it because apparent that my partner wasn't having such a great
day. I remember Rotella's maxim of "conservative strategy, cocky swing"
and that's how I purposely played. Too often in a four-ball you can take
too much risk based on the idea of your partner as "back-up". There is
nothing worse for your combined score than both of you "failing" on the
same hole.

An example: the only hole we got into trouble on was the 16th, a dogleg
left par-4 of 366m (402y) and Index 2 on the card. There is a water
hazard (dry and grassy) beyond the dogleg. I hit a drive leftwards which
caught a tree and finished short of the dogleg on a severe downslope. My
second wedge shot was a bit thin from being well below my feet, and
instead of laying up, ran into the hazard. My partner's drive had hit a
tree right and then we couldn't find his ball. He had to go back and hit
another, eventually scoring a 7 (net 6). My third from long grass inside
the hazard was short, my next shot ran through the green. However, I
managed to get up and down for a 6 (net 5) from a difficult position. I
am sure if I wasn't stressing a little bit, I would have just accepted
not getting up and down and taken my partner's net 6.

Fortunately, I birdied the par-5 17th for a net 3. A par on the last
more than recovered the one stroke lost on the 16th.

I haven't felt that level of intensity for a long time, and I'm hoping
it can carry on into the matchplay event I'm in tomorrow.

--
Cheers
Colin Wilson
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 31 Aug 2006 20:20:09
From: Bob Cotter
Subject: Re: How does this work?

In article <LGMJg.21142$rP1.3134@news-server.bigpond.net.au >,
Colin Wilson <nowhere@nospam.com > wrote:

> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.

I find that some of my best games come when I am playing the same
format. Our men's club does a two man best net a few times each season.

Last night was one of those nights and I had a birdie net eagle (par 4)
and a birdie net double eagle (#1 handicap hole, a par 5), which
contributed to our third place finish.

I think much of it has to do with knowing that screwing up will be okay
as long as my partner is playing well. I know, too, that I can take some
risks when I have seen his shot on the hole.

At least, that's my story <g >.

Cheers... Bob

--
If replying by email, please remove the removes.
Visit my home course at <http://www.sunshinecoastgolf.com >

Date: 31 Aug 2006 22:40:35
From: Tom K
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Date: 31 Aug 2006 19:12:37
From: long&left
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Colin Wilson wrote:
> I have not broken 80 since May 5th. I have had four rounds in the 90s in
> the last two months. My last six rounds have been 84, 84, 86, 89, 99 and
> 97. This time last year my handicap was 9.0, before yesterday it was
> 13.4 and on the verge of going out to 14.
>
> I have been battling an awful swing, hitting fat, shanking, hitting
> thin, duffing chips, totally lacking coordination.
>
> Then yesterday I played in a four-ball best-ball stroke (best net score
> on each hole after subtracting any handicap strokes). My partner was an
> 8 handicap.
>
> We won the event with a net 57. My score was taken on 15 of the 18
> holes. My own score was a 73, with a par 35 on the front and 38 on the
> back. It was my second best round ever.
>
> I have never hit the ball much better. I think it was the first time
> this year where I've been able to just hit the ball without about 100
> thoughts about my swing going through my mind. I actually felt confident
> about my technique.
>
> What makes the difference? I can't fathom it.
>

sandbagger!
:)

nice round Colin!
Dave
ps: I heard a second hand story about an Aussie golfer who shot his age
at 59 in a pro tournament...have you heard about that?

Date: 01 Sep 2006 02:37:44
From: Colin Wilson
Subject: Re: How does this work?

long&left wrote:

> sandbagger!
> :)

Our Singles Handicap Matchplay starts tomorrow. If I was a real
sandbagger, I'd have played like crap and got my handicap out to 13.5 (14).

> nice round Colin!

Thanks. No one was more surprised than me.

> ps: I heard a second hand story about an Aussie golfer who shot his age
> at 59 in a pro tournament...have you heard about that?

No. There are a lot of small pro-ams here on easy courses though.

--
Cheers
Colin Wilson
------------------------------------------------------------------
Trentham Golf Club: http://www.trenthamgolf.com
Barnbougle Dunes: http://publishing.kyneton.net.au/barnbougle
------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: 01 Sep 2006 07:08:50
From: long&left
Subject: Re: How does this work?

Colin Wilson wrote:
> long&left wrote:
>
>> sandbagger!
>> :)
>
>
> Our Singles Handicap Matchplay starts tomorrow. If I was a real
> sandbagger, I'd have played like crap and got my handicap out to 13.5 (14).
>
yeah, I know, but it seems that anyone who plays well is labeled a
sandbagger these days :)

>> nice round Colin!
>
>
> Thanks. No one was more surprised than me.
>
>> ps: I heard a second hand story about an Aussie golfer who shot his
>> age at 59 in a pro tournament...have you heard about that?
>
>
> No. There are a lot of small pro-ams here on easy courses though.
>

although I was told it was an Aussie Pro, I assume it's the Pro
mentioned in the Golfworld (9/1/06 issue) who is from Pennsylvania. Roy
Vucinich shot a 59 in the first round of the Tri State PGA's Christopher
J. Seretti Memorial Classic near Pittsburg, PA to become what is thought
to be the first Pro to shoot their age during official PGA tournament play.
Dave

Date: 01 Sep 2006 00:05:05
From: Loudon Briggs
Subject: Re: How does this work?

long&left <nospam@diespammers.com > wrote:

(CLIP)
>
>
>although I was told it was an Aussie Pro, I assume it's the Pro
>mentioned in the Golfworld (9/1/06 issue) who is from Pennsylvania. Roy
>Vucinich shot a 59 in the first round of the Tri State PGA's Christopher
>J. Seretti Memorial Classic near Pittsburg, PA to become what is thought
>to be the first Pro to shoot their age during official PGA tournament play.
>Dave

Vucinich may have been the youngest but he wasn't the first... Sam
Snead did it twice in the '79 Quad Cities Open. I think he was 67
years old at the time.
--

Loudon R. Briggs larebe@bbz.net Phoenix, AZ

"How Can You Not Like A Game Where It's Okay To
Get Teed Off, Tote A Six-Iron, Shoot Birdies,
and If You're Under Par It's A Great Day!"

(from "Frank & Ernest" by Bob Thaves -- used with permission)