Marginal gains...

[Tiger]

Sir Dave Brailsford. British Cycling. Loads of gold medals and a Tour de France. If you haven't heard about marginal gains (like washing your hands properly or taking a pillow with you when you travel) where were you all Summer?

Anyway, yesterday I took the time to think about my choice of tee and realised that in actual fact my tee of choice was wrong (pride pro length blue ones) and actually I would be better off (and so would the crown of my driver) if I switched to yellow pride pro lengths or pink castles.

I know it's not the same as the marginal gains thing but I'm wondering if there are other things I could do... Already thought following on from Gibbo's thread about club cleaning that one of those Region3 water brushes would be a good investment, and I am terrible at keeping myself hydrated so a bottle holder on my trolley would be a good idea.

So what else do you think is worth considering...

 

[pbrown7582]

Along with the water take a flapjack or mars bar out for the back 9.

 

[CMAC]

So what else do you think is worth considering...

...not overthinking...........

 

[USER1999]

Changing ball after every hole?

Works for the pro's.

 

[tsped83]

I think you're on to something here Tiger, marginal gains are important, especially in a game like golf where routine and equipment play a big part. For me, I like to have the same things in the bag every round, then there are no what if? excuses after I walk off 18. For example, all year I have been hitting the same balls, same glove, same tees etc. Then there are other smaller things to consider, like the posts above, always make sure you carry plenty of water, some kind of food, cleaning brush, towel etc.

I'm a bit OCD at times but if I know my bag is fully prepared before I go out, the only thing to blame for a poor round is me and my ropey swing. And streaky putting. And fluffed chips. And the wind. And the temperature. And the socks I'm wearing......etc

 

[Biggleswade Blue]

I think golf attracts some of us who are a bit OCD.

And for us high handicappers, it is especially easy to think that the big improvement will come from the "better" driver/new shoes/performance tees/lucky pants, where actually the improvements will come from the practice/lessons/hours in the gym.

 

[Tiger]

...not overthinking...........

Interesting comment but what I'm trying to do is reduce thinking on the course. Having the right tee means push it in and hit the ball at the moment the blue line is no use so I'm manually adjusting tee height. Rather than remembering to have a drink if the bottles right there I'll do it anyway. If I can make all the things I need to do easy/automatic than all I will be thinking about on the course is my target as everything else will be routine...

As an aside I think this is even more important for me because of my MS. Too many things to worry about and my brain gets tired very quickly. It's like driving. I passed my test after my diagnosis. Short distances are fine but the further I drive the tougher it gets

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Anyway, yesterday I took the time to think about my choice of tee and realised that in actual fact my tee of choice was wrong (pride pro length blue ones) and actually I would be better off (and so would the crown of my driver) if I switched to yellow pride pro lengths or pink castles.

Can't you just push it in a bit further?

Said the actress to the bishop etc etc

 

[One Planer]

I use one length tee for all shots from driver down, I, as Strangely says, push the tee into the turf a little further. When it breaks, which it will, use the broken ones for irons.

I've also ditched the headcover from my irons. I know it's not really a faff, but I just prefer to pull the iron out of the bag and hit the ball.

The plus side of this is I get a few character adding clatter marks on my irons :thup:

 

[Tiger]

I use one length tee for all shots from driver down, I, as Strangely says, push the tee into the turf a little further. When it breaks, which it will, use the broken ones for irons.

I've also ditched the headcover from my irons. I know it's not really a faff, but I just prefer to pull the iron out of the bag and hit the ball.

The plus side of this is I get a few character adding clatter marks on my irons :thup:

I also ditched my iron head covers which was a good move!!! In terms of pushing it in further (ooh er) yes I can but then I have to check its at the right height. So I'll continue to use short/broken tees for everything else but want a tee for my driver that I just push in till the colour vanishes underground.

PS it's worth mentioning I have just run out of blue tees!

 

[pokerjoke]

Sir Dave Brailsford. British Cycling. Loads of gold medals and a Tour de France. If you haven't heard about marginal gains (like washing your hands properly or taking a pillow with you when you travel) where were you all Summer?

Anyway, yesterday I took the time to think about my choice of tee and realised that in actual fact my tee of choice was wrong (pride pro length blue ones) and actually I would be better off (and so would the crown of my driver) if I switched to yellow pride pro lengths or pink castles.

I know it's not the same as the marginal gains thing but I'm wondering if there are other things I could do... Already thought following on from Gibbo's thread about club cleaning that one of those Region3 water brushes would be a good investment, and I am terrible at keeping myself hydrated so a bottle holder on my trolley would be a good idea.

So what else do you think is worth considering...

I watched that programme with great interest,it was quite eye opening to what they
were doing to make everyone comfortable[like being at home].
So how about you Tiger being are little experimentel mouse.
This weekend Friday go to bed early before ten,get up at 6-6.30 a full 8 hours,you can get
too much sleep you know.
A good hearty breakfast,down to the club early for a thorough warm up.
See how you get on.
Saturday,go to bed late after MOTD,get up later and have a small bowl of cereals.
Down the club just before tee off,no warm up.
See how you get on.

 

[bladeplayer]

I've also ditched the headcover from my irons. I know it's not really a faff, but I just prefer to pull the iron out of the bag and hit the ball.

:

I now take the cover off the driver & putter , ok its only a G5 but saves a lot of fooling around .. it started one day in the rain, the head cover got wet & the grips on the irons were getting wet as i took them out , found it handy & at start of every round now I take off the putter & driver covers //

Possibly not an option for ye with the new & expensive clubs tho

 

[CMAC]

I now take the cover off the driver & putter , ok its only a G5 but saves a lot of fooling around .. it started one day in the rain, the head cover got wet & the grips on the irons were getting wet as i took them out , found it handy & at start of every round now I take off the putter & driver covers //

Possibly not an option for ye with the new & expensive clubs tho

I still wince at the day years ago when my Driver head got a small nick in it as the cover was off when I was putting an iron back in, never again, I like my clubs to be pristine and shiny no matter how old they are.

 

[Alex1975]

Not reading the whole post right now as I am in and out but off hand... Nuts or dried fruit for energy. New spikes on your shoes. Glove that is tight on your hand and grips well. Clean grips on your clubs.

 

[Tiger]

I watched that programme with great interest,it was quite eye opening to what they
were doing to make everyone comfortable[like being at home].
So how about you Tiger being are little experimentel mouse.
This weekend Friday go to bed early before ten,get up at 6-6.30 a full 8 hours,you can get
too much sleep you know.
A good hearty breakfast,down to the club early for a thorough warm up.
See how you get on.
Saturday,go to bed late after MOTD,get up later and have a small bowl of cereals.
Down the club just before tee off,no warm up.
See how you get on.

LMAO!!!! You forgot to mention that I should drink eight cans of Stella and have a kebab on Saturday night :rofl:

 

[Snelly]

actually the improvements will come from the practice/lessons/hours in the gym.

In the gym? I often see talk of gyms and fitness (nutrition too) on his forum and it is total nonsense.

For those of you that think you need to be in great shape to be a good golfer, might I suggest that you have another look at the Masters.

The gym bunny and health food fanatic Cabrera seemed to do okay!

 

[Biggleswade Blue]

In the gym? I often see talk of gyms and fitness (nutrition too) on his forum and it is total nonsense.

For those of you that think you need to be in great shape to be a good golfer, might I suggest that you have another look at the Masters.

The gym bunny and health food fanatic Cabrera seemed to do okay!

I thought he was a picture of good health and athleticism. Though I wasn't watching in wide view.

 

[Curls]

After the Olympics I watched an interview with this guy and thought I'm sure it applies to golf - at every level.

What you're talking about is preparation, which is obviously a big part of playing well. Or is it? Actually I'm not sure it is. Have you ever had a big comp coming up and practiced hard, got all your gear out the night before, got a good nights sleep, good breakfast and then hit the club early to do a good warm up only to go out and tank it? I'm sure most folk on here have. Have you ever had one too many beverages the night before rolled down to the club, couple of practice swings and proceeded to play a great round? I know I have!

I think having everything you need in your bag is important for piece of mind, enough tees, balls, rain gear all that sort of thing, because if conditions call for it you might need something and if you don't have it you've shot yourself in the foot and you'll be mad at yourself, which in turn will lead to poor golf. So in that sense, yes, get everything you can together. The cyclists had the best of everything, and then went looking for something a little better. In the end that lead to a frame of mind where they believed everything that could have been done, was done, and it was down to their talent (honed by unfathomable amounts of practice). What is far more important is having the right frame of mind, some get that from relentless rituals and others get it by having a pint before teeing off.

When do you play your best golf? Social round in the evening, spin up at the weekend, medal, stableford or match play? Individually or fourball/foursomes? With folk you know or folk you don't, 2 3 or 4 players in a group, with low guys or a mix? Identifying when and where you play your best golf might lead to some clues as to what makes you tick. Yes have everything in your bag and be happy with it, if there's a club in there you're half afraid of hitting cos it only goes right every other time take it out, better to go with 12 clubs you can hit than 14 with 2 that land you in it more often than not.

I'm really interested in what makes us tick, I know I am a better golfer in a matchplay situation and can scrap together scores to match the other guy in ways I can't seem to replicate when there's no one to play against. This is my challenge for the year ahead, to take that frame of mind to medal golf. What I do know is that I'm happy with everything in my bag, from the clubs to the all the same balls to the pink and red castle tees I always have in my pocket alongside my little brush, ball marker and pitch tool. That never varies. Its just one less thing to think about. I think that's valuable, distractions can cost you and if they can be removed, do it. But really think about how you play your best, that might just trigger something.

 

[duncan mackie]

LMAO!!!! You forgot to mention that I should drink eight cans of Stella and have a kebab on Saturday night :rofl:

restricting intake like this would certainly be an interesting alternative to a good night out...

as to Snelly's comment on Cabrera - I am happy to bet that he's got the sort of 'fitness' of a farmer rather than a gym bunny; I've 4 boys in their 20's and whilst 3 have spent a fair amount of time in gyms over the years, and 1 lives in them still, whilst they have the physical looks of the gym bunnies (and are very strong) they can't compete with the other who works as a plasterer when the chips are down!

 

[Val]

Dont use a blue tee hitting near water or a white tee where you can drive OB