How Do You Deal With Golf Stress?
by Ryan Ballengee on Jan 9, 2009 10:09 AM EST
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PrintSome people slam clubs. Almost everybody curses. Others string together non-sensical words to keep from cursing. Others drink heavily. We all have different ways of coping with the inherent stress of golf - the first drive, sinking the money putts, and executing difficult shots.
Well, you got any gum? That's what Wrigley asked me a couple of days ago.
A survey funded by Wrigley finds that many golfers seek out gum as a solution to get them focused on the round ahead and reduce golf stress.
The survey covered about 1000 people aged 21-34 that admitted chewing gum. Obviously that's not the gammet of golfers, but it's a decent sample for the ideas at play.
68% of those golfers surveyed said that they feel anxiety or stress before the round. That's not surprising except that 32% said they don't feel any kind of anxiety.
From a gum perspective, 69% of golfers said that chewing gum can help them focus before a round - particularly a competitive one.
I'm not much of a gum chewer. Usually, I scramble to the course, take five practice swings, and head to the first tee to meet whoever the other three people in my foursome are. By the time I get down there, I'm more concerned about finding a tee than finding the fairway.
But, do you get butterflies on the first tee? How do you cope with golf stress?
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Butterflies
I only get butterflies on the first tee when I’m playing with strangers and I’m worried that I might duff it and they’ll think I’m some schmoe. Then I realize that I am, in fact, some schmoe and the butterflies go away.
gum can help...
…I don’t do it consistantly – but sometimes I chew some gum because it is rhythmical. It can help me smooth things out when I’m jerking the club around. It’s also something you can take out frustrations on – cheaper than a driver or club, and you can just bite the gum and not hurt anything.
was this a quote ? “…about 1000 people aged 21-34 that admitted chewing gum…” “ADMITTED” ??? Is chewing gum something to be embarrased about or against the law ?
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
bad surveys
“admitted” carries that connotation of having something dragged out of someone, something embarrassing or illegal. You “admit” to having an affair, or driving drunk, or tripping up the stairs – and when you do, people usually say “that’s something you really shouldn’t tell in public.” (especially the tripping up the stairs) :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
bad Ryan
Ryan, you should know better than to use jargon by now. Some people don’t realize that a word can have more than one connotation, depending on the circumstances. I work in survey research, where “admit” is used for people who self-identify as having some characteristic or preference. One can also be admitted to a university. Does that have a negative connotation?
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
admit vs being admitted
not even close, D.
Clarity in writing is essential to understanding. Just because a word is misused by some undergrad student who is trying to impress his professor (speaking generally – not about RB’s post), then that misused word gets passed up or down the ladder and becomes WIDELY misused doesn’t make it correct. Words like “dis” and “disrespected” came out of poor English skills. “Gifting” and “efforting” are in that same catagory.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
you're right
To insure clarity in the future, an “eagle” is a type of bird, that is a mammal with the capability of flight. The term “eagle”, or its plural, should never be used to describe a football team, a group of rock ‘n roll musicians or a golf shot that goes into the hole in two strokes less than par. Per CG, no word can have more than one definition. Homonyms are hereby canceled. Damn, you’re powerful!
Mike, I’m sorry. You’ll have to change your screen name.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
down in flames again
I’ll just put this one down in the “L” column for you D. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Confession
I will confess to having butterflies on the first, second and third tees during competition. I will also “admit” to clenching my teeth while putting. Wonder if gum would help, or make it worse?
Average Golfer once told me, “It’s not about getting rid of the butterflies, but teaching them to fly in formation.” I’ll give the gum a try, but a beer sounds more promising.
by realwomengolf.com on Jan 10, 2009 1:38 PM EST reply actions
it's worth a try...
…it’s something that won’t hurt your swing…unless you’re thinking more about the gum than the game. :-) I’d be interested in hearing how you come out with the clenched teeth. I always hold the gum in my teeth, which seems like a clenching kind of thing.
Good luck with the butterflies. The only thing that ever helped me to get them “in formation” (great line) was to remind myself before heading to the first tee that they are going to be there and try to turn “nervous” energy into “enthusiastic” energy. In one of Harvey Penick’s “Little” books, he tell the story of one of his students who was playing a tournament. When they called her to the first tee, she said she “HAD” to go play. Mr Penick caught her hand and reminded her that she didn’t “HAVE” to go play, she GETS" to go play. Golf is fun – not life and death.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Wrigley poster child
I’m trying it! Just as soon as the snow melts. Actually I’m going to give it a try at the range first. I could be the next poster child for Wrigley.
As for “having” to play golf. No way. Never. Not me. I WANT to be there. In fact, one of the things that drew me to golf is that the game forces me to focus on the game and put the worries of the world away for few hours.
by realwomengolf.com on Jan 12, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions
OH !
Don’t wait until spring – Wrigley’s needs the sales now ! :-) Since you’re clenching your teeth when you putt, try it at home on the carpet. Then put some pressure on yourself – make 5 or 10 3 footers in a row – hit a spot on the wall across the room before you can have a glass of wine. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Wine Incentive
Now I’m looking at the game completely differently—as if my “wine” depended on it. If I use this strategy my game may seriously improve by spring. Especially if I apply it my refill policy as well. Sounds better than lifting weights.
We have about 3 inches of snow/freezing rain/ice mix. Ohio’s finest. As a former Minnesota figure skater I shouldn’t mind the stuff, but that was BFGolf.
by realwomengolf.com on Jan 12, 2009 12:49 PM EST reply actions
sw ohio
Here in sunny (not!) Southwest Ohio the dusting we got overnight is gone already. I’ve gotten in a few rounds this winter. I’d be miserable if I didn’t have access to a heated driving range.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
indoor net
Not sure how addicted you are to your practice, but a friend of mine, a PGA professional, got one of these “Net Return” things from a show sponsor (he does a weekly golf show down here). He said the thing really works. Hit the ball into the outlined area and the ball comes right back to you. It’s not cheap – but it works.
http://www.thenetreturn.com/golf.html
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
interesting
I’ve got a little chipping net I can set up in the yard. “Net Return” seems a little extravagant. This winter I’m most interested in “target shooting”. The range I go to has a pin at 90 yards. I’ve got four reasonable clubs I can hit to it, plus I can add in draws and fades. I’ve got a ways to go before I can do all that routinely, but just hitting into a net probably won’t help much.
Truth has a well-known liberal bias.
you're right...
…outdoors is always better unless you have $60K for a super high tech simulator – unless the balls are old and crappy.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
shouldn't that be...
…BG – Before Golf ? :-D
I grew up close to Akron. Ohio, at least that part of Ohio, always had great snow for sledding. * sigh * I miss it sometimes.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
yeah, yeah, yeah
I guess it should be BG Before Golf, but I think BFG sounded like BFD and it felt better!
Sledding is something that should be done only once a year. Good for next year’s Christmas cards.
by realwomengolf.com on Jan 12, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions
BFD ?
what’s BFD ?
how about GCE ? Golfing Common Era ? It’s the way all the hip archeologists are going these days :-)
I loved sledding – of course I was a kid and we had a GREAT hill next to the school.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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