TV GOLF COMMENTATORS

[lagster]

One of the golf commentators recently quoted Fred couples as saying..."I don't know squat... and I wish I knew less." "Every time I try something, it doesn't work." I thought this was an interesting comment from a former world's #1.

The commentators went on to say that if you do get into the golf swing... you better know a lot. Otherwise, it's better to know very little.

I kind of see what they are saying, but also somewhat disagree. There have been many, many great players that probably would have a hard time writing two paragraphs about their swing. They do know enough, however, to make their game work for them.

Another commentator was analyzing the swing of Curtis Strange. He said the reason Curtis was hitting hooks was because he was not retaining the cup in the left wrist on the downswing that he had at the Top, but instead was allowing the left wrist to flatten on the way down.

Well... I don't know about that one. Ben Hogan made a similar move, but hit slight fades. Lee Trevino and Bruce Lietzke also fade the ball from a flat left wrist position on the downswing... maybe even a little arched.

Curtis said it himself... where the hooks were coming from..."I get flippy."
I think the flattening of the left wrist is probably not the problem.. What do you think?

[EdZ]

That commentator thinks you want a cup in the left wrist retained through impact - for Curtis? who has a fairly weak grip? Someone like Azinger 'may' get away with it, but the handle better still be ahead of the clubhead!

How did they get their job?


As for Couples, I can certainly understand the 'less is more' approach, but you need some luck, natural skill, or some key knowledge before you can get there, at least most people do.

[Martee]

TV commentators IMO are like opening up a golf magazine and reading the 100 word or less tip on cure anything and everything.

There seems to be a consistent basis of knowledge (not qualifying it) that exist amongst most. They apply it. None of them to my knowledge are golf instructors, or if they are they probably can't afford to quite their commentating job, they would strave.

Curtis has a weak grip? If he had a strong grip, then cupped wrist at the top. If he is having a weak grip and cupped at the top, might want to see the position he is in at the top, right arm, right wrist bend, etc. If the right wrist is good, then his right elbow is way off plane. His comment of getting flippy could be accurate in his understanding of his swing. Unless a golfer demonstrates what he means, I have found that quite often what a golfer thinks he is doing, what he says he is doing and what he demostrates, well it usually turns out to be three different things.

[dss]

Those who can...do.
Those who can't do...teach.
Those who can't teach...teach teachers!

I've watched John Daly at two clinics- he doesn't have a clue how he does what he does...he can just DO IT. On Tour, that's all that matters.

[6bmike]

Those who can...do.
Those who can't do...teach.
Those who can't teach...teach teachers!

Not around here. We are lucky to have "..do" and "...teach."

[Fred Brattain]

The great Walter Hagen, the only person other than Nicklaus to have won more majors than Tiger Woods was once approached by a lady who was trying to be VERY snotty. She said, "You have to be pretty stupid to play that game." His response was, "No, ma'am you don't, but it helps."

I think the point here is that there comes a time as a player where the ONLY thing that matters is whether or not you trust your swing. It matters less what you do with a club than that you do it EVERY time, and that you know when you have done it right and when you have done it wrong.

There is a huge tendency in this country to fail to separate the golf swing from golf. They are SEPARATE games when played at the highest level. If you go to the range, you are supposed to play golf swing, work on things, etc. When you get to the course, the ONLY thing that matters is getting the ball in the hole in the fewest number of strokes. Golf is not a game of intellect, it is a game of feel. We do drills to develop the neuronal patterns required to repeat a motion under pressure. All Couples was saying is that he plays GOLF not GOLF SWING, and that is appropriate for all of us when we are on the course.

The Golf course is not the place to work on your swing, it is the place to PLAY THE GAME.

Merry XMAS everyone,

Fred


ps, most of the people they hire as "experts" for TV commentary don't know any more than most of the teachers out there who can only teach ONE way of hitting a ball. "If you don't do it the way that I do it, it can't possibly work." is a crock, provided you take care of the very basics, otherwise Trevino (one of the best ball strikers of all time) would not have ever won a tournament.

[birdie_man]

I think Carey Mumford has the best mental game stuff.

Goal: Automatic (no conscious thought)

....distract conscious thought w/ Clear Key.

It works...

[hue]

One of the golf commentators recently quoted Fred couples as saying..."I don't know squat... and I wish I knew less." "Every time I try something, it doesn't work." What do you think?

I think Couples is getting at what Ben Doyle talks about when he says


"Conscious thought anoys Sub-Conscious thought."

[galopin]

I think Couples is getting at what Ben Doyle talks about when he says


"Conscious thought anoys Sub-Conscious thought."

For those of you who have the book, read the first paragraph in 14-0. There you can find the sentence which inspired the quote (maybe Ben got it verbatim from Homer anyway?):

It [the Incubator] is a mysterious subconscious process that conscious thought only annoys. The egg always just lies there until the chick--not you--chips it open. So never try to hurry the Incubater [sic]. When all is ready, the Computer will process it. Just remember to turn it over--in your mind--regularly.

[Matt]

I think Couples is getting at what Ben Doyle talks about when he says


"Conscious thought anoys Sub-Conscious thought."

The best thing you can do is employ conscious thought to restrict non-conscious thought. That is the essence of Carey's teachings. But if you try to keep your mind "clear" or you attempt to "think of nothing", then your non-conscious will more often than not disrupt your stroke.