The Mental Game that is Golf

Certainly golf is more interesting to play when there are others to compete against. But unlike other sports, golf is 60 percent mental, 40 percent physical. Of course it helps to be in good physical shape, but this is not a game of brute force. There are those who play with a caddy, who helps with the selection of club and provides advice on the lie of the ball. Somewhat akin to how a catcher advises a pitcher in baseball, but it is still up to the player to provide the play.

Golfers spend four to five hours, literally knocking a small ball around challenging terrain. Being successful means being able to interpret the lie of the ball, pick the right club, and swing with accuracy. Driving the ball down the fairway is very different from pitching it out of a sand trap. It takes iron concentration and steely focus on the swing to get it right. You might see the pros swinging perfectly on www.direct.tv sports specials, but this sport is not as it easy as it looks.

Players like Tiger Woods or John Daly make the swing look effortless and easy, when it is anything but. Developing a consistent swing is achieved through muscle memory and constant practicve. It’s just about impossible to walk up to the tee and drive a ball 300 yards on the first go out. The reality is, it takes years to get a swing as good as the professionals. Next time a game of golf on the TV, watch the players for their elegance and grace when driving the ball while keeping in mind what it took for them to gain that ease.

Understanding how to use a Set of Golf Clubs

Tee for the first hole at The Links at Spanish...

Image via Wikipedia

The golf club is the tool for playing the game. Woods, putters, wedges, irons, chippers, all are found in the golf bag despite their industrial sounding names. Each style of club performs a distinct function, propelling the ball in a manner of ways. The experienced golfer understands their use and knows which one is appropriate for certain settings. One style is used to drive the ball as far as possible, and another gets the ball out of the sand trap without sending it too far out.

  • The woods are the biggest tool in the kit. This is the club that will get the ball out the farthest, especially on a par four or five. There is a main wood known as the driver, which is the club that is used the most at the tee. Nowadays woods can be made from iron and composites, meaning that the wood may not technically be a wood.
  • Irons come into play once the ball is on the fairway or in the rough. They do not drive the ball as far, which is ideal for getting the ball closer and onto the green. They are also effective for getting the ball out of bad lies as they have an angled face. This allows the player to put some loft onto the ball while not digging a hole.
  • The putter is the final piece, getting the ball into the hole. These tend to be made from iron and have no angle. Sometimes the shafts are set in the middle instead of being on an angle. A flat face is needed to gently send the ball to pin.