Thinking too hard can put you off your putt

[Melvyn Morrow]

The following article appeared in The Daily Mail today and I thought I would share it with you.

In reading the above article it would appear that using aids and thinking how to do it rather than the time honoured method of looking and playing as most of us traditional golfers play seems to give some golfers a disadvantage. So Tom H am I yet again wrong or will you at last give me some credit for having a true and honest opinion.

It also may well speed up the game of golf if we stop thinking about things like where is the Range Finder, then using them and working out that we are 146 yards 1 ft 3.5 inch away from the flag, then think about it again as we put the Range Finder down, then take the shot. So Tom, you have been warned – not by me but by a Professor that golfers who think too much can damage their game. 

It would appear that the traditionalists are one up with this report.

Melvyn

[Anthony Gray]

  Captian my Captian,

  Spot On!!!!!


  Anthony

[JESII]

Ever hear of "Paralysis by Analysis"?


However, surely some degree of thought must be involved or else we'd just shoot off wherever we felt...so what is the absolute precise amount of thought to be put into a golf shot?

[Tom Huckaby]

Melvyn:

I feel no need to argue with you any more.  You remain completely clueless about the world outside of your shores, and that is actually a good thing, for you.  But the fact you see that article as putting you one up - and the fact that you see me as some rival in this - says more than I could possibly say in return.  You have so far missed the point, and misjudged me, that there is absolutely no hope for you, or for any meaningful discussion between us.

All the best,

Tom Huckaby

[Anthony Gray]

  Theta waves are the way to go. Theta waves produce the "in the zone" affect. As Fletch says "It's all ball bearings".

  Anthony

[Brent Hutto]

Nevermind.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom

I am clueless about the world outside of my shores.

That is the typical arrogant comment that makes the world dislike Americans. It portrays a nation of ignorant self opinionated people who believe that they know better and are superior to those they have to share this planet with.

Lucky for me I have many American friends and can see from this site alone that that is not true. But then we all have the know-alls in our own Nations who prefer to make statements rather than convey it’s their opinions.

I am far from perfect but ‘clueless about the world outside of your shores’ is an unjust comment and clearly shows that you have not read my post on GCA.com. Just for your information my golf is not constrained to GB&I, but spreads across the world from Africa, Asia, South America, Caribbean but alas not Australia or North America. So I do have experience and some knowledge about golf.

I do not take offence at your comments but feel sorry for you – we all do have a right to an opinion and point of view, including you.

Melvyn

[Chris Kane]

Is this the study Darren Kilfara participated in during his year at the university?

[Tom Huckaby]

Melvyn:

My statement was too harsh and assumed too much.

So apologies, let me rephrase it:  you are clueless about golf here in the United States of America.

And I stand by that.  Your constant POUNDING AWAY at this issue, telling us all how we don't play the game correctly, how we don't abide by the spririt of the game, all the while not having one ounce of experience with the realities we face over here...

THAT is the height of arrogance.

My god also, you calling ANYONE self-opinionated, believing they know better and are superior.... well if there has ever been a better example of the pot calling the kettle black, I have certainly never seen it.

Melvyn, YOU called me out.  You continue to know little about me, and put thoughts and actions upon me that I do not have, making no attempt to understand anything.  I have TRIED to understand you.  I have bent over backwards to see your side of these things, and believe me I can see it.

Just give it a rest, will you?  Why in God's name did you feel the need to call me out on this?  To bring up this tired issue AGAIN? Have you not pounded it to death already?

My friend, I very much respect your opinions.  I do feel you have a lot to offer here.  I very much respect your lineage.

But you simply have to give this a rest.  For our good, and yours.  Your good opinions are so drowned out in your obssession with this....

So I do mean the best.  Hopefully we can come to terms.  But today's post - redredging this up after all this time - made me feel it was impossible.

TH

[Andy Troeger]

Melvyn,
I can see Tom's argument here.

Not to mention that overthinking (which is what the article you posted appears to be about) has NOTHING to do with using aids and range finders and all of the things you are so against. It has to do with "feel" players versus "technique" players which is a totally different topic.

You have the right to your opinions--allow others the right to disagree with you! 

[Anthony Gray]

  Fellow gentelmen golfers and connoisseurs of design,

  Melvyn was being playful. He put  and after his comments.

  Anthony

[Andy Troeger]

Anthony,
What happened to those smilies in Melvyn's second post?

[Tom Huckaby]

Anthony:

I appreciate being called a gentleman golfer, but I am no connoissuer of design.

And while I also appreciate the use of emoticons - far more than most, I dare say - they do not excuse all statements...especially when an issue so previously pounded to death is brought back to life.. and particularly when one is singled out.

TH

[Anthony Gray]

  I think his initial intent was playful. But it turned into something else.
I would love to buy all of us drinks right about now.

   Anthony

[Tom Huckaby]

  I think his initial intent was playful. But it turned into something else.
I would love to buy all of us drinks right about now.

   Anthony

It is very odd to be playful about an issue so previously rancorous and pounded to death.  One also could do so without singling out anyone... particularly the one person who apparently had been willing to discuss this with you on a rational level.

But I will always accept free drinks.

TH

[Anthony Gray]

  Tom H,

  I beg to differ!!!!! Anyone who defends PB as a ten is a true connoisseur of golf design. And at the KP the first one is on me!!!! It would be an honor. I'll be buying a bunch for Mom enyway. Did you see her picture on the KP thread?

  Anthony

[Tom Huckaby]

  Tom H,

  I beg to differ!!!!! Anyone who defends PB as a ten is a true connoisseur of golf design. And at the KP the first one is on me!!!! It would be an honor. I'll be buying a bunch for Mom enyway. Did you see her picture on the KP thread?

  Anthony

Connoisseur of golf courses and how much joy they can bring in the playing, maybe.  Connoisseur of design, no way.
And yes, that was an interesting photo.

TH

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tom

Let’s get something straight here once and for all

GCA.com is a Discussion site open to golfing topics.  For ages on this site no one seems to care about the segmentation of golf. The American game vs. the world, well I was concerned enough to point out that golf did not originate in this form nor was it exported to you in this manner.

I put my opinion forward with some honest and serious statements, but thinking it was a discussion site I expected a debate. But what I got from a bunch of protectionist was way beyond reason. Other friends read the replies and said that you would have thought that I had attached the American flag and Nation instead of put forward my OPINIONS.

No I am not guilty of anything and certainly not on a discussion group. If anyone is guilty of anything, then I am for trying to debate issues that are not just close to my heart but many others who love the game with its traditions and of course the WALKING aspect of the game. That is something that many including your fellow countrymen also agree with.

Perhaps I was a might strong in promoting my beliefs and opinions in the early stages – put that down to passion not aggression, but for far too long very little was being said in support of the real game of golf.  I say what I feel, I try not to insult people if I can help it, but on this site alone some of you have ganged up against me and tried to take the proverbial piss.

Yet I have always said from the beginning that we all have the right to freedom of speech and we should use it. You of course have every right to disagree and submit alternative views. Because in your opinion the topic is dead does not mean it is. 

You say Rancorous pounded to death, so you feel it is time to change the subject, well that’s your opinion, why get involved or respond. That’s your choice but because you are not interested does not give you the right to try to shut up others who are, that conveys a form of censorship. To you and others who are not interested the best way to kill the topic is not to post.

When I try to inject a few humours comments to lift the debate the immediate response is one of indignation. You want your cake and eat.

As you do not like my comment, topics then don’t read them, if enough do not like my point of view ask Ran & Ben to remove me. But do not believe that you will silence me or have you been so caught up with the fight with the communists that you know invoke their methods to silence others who you don’t agree with or consider your critics.

I have no problem with you disagreeing but don’t talk though your ass about me being clueless about golf.

I wish you all the best in your game which ever way you feel the need to play it.

Melvyn       

[PCCraig]

Tom

Let’s get something straight here once and for all

GCA.com is a Discussion site open to golfing topics.  For ages on this site no one seems to care about the segmentation of golf. The American game vs. the world, well I was concerned enough to point out that golf did not originate in this form nor was it exported to you in this manner.

I put my opinion forward with some honest and serious statements, but thinking it was a discussion site I expected a debate. But what I got from a bunch of protectionist was way beyond reason. Other friends read the replies and said that you would have thought that I had attached the American flag and Nation instead of put forward my OPINIONS.

No I am not guilty of anything and certainly not on a discussion group. If anyone is guilty of anything, then I am for trying to debate issues that are not just close to my heart but many others who love the game with its traditions and of course the WALKING aspect of the game. That is something that many including your fellow countrymen also agree with.

Perhaps I was a might strong in promoting my beliefs and opinions in the early stages – put that down to passion not aggression, but for far too long very little was being said in support of the real game of golf.  I say what I feel, I try not to insult people if I can help it, but on this site alone some of you have ganged up against me and tried to take the proverbial piss.

Yet I have always said from the beginning that we all have the right to freedom of speech and we should use it. You of course have every right to disagree and submit alternative views. Because in your opinion the topic is dead does not mean it is. 

You say Rancorous pounded to death, so you feel it is time to change the subject, well that’s your opinion, why get involved or respond. That’s your choice but because you are not interested does not give you the right to try to shut up others who are, that conveys a form of censorship. To you and others who are not interested the best way to kill the topic is not to post.

When I try to inject a few humours comments to lift the debate the immediate response is one of indignation. You want your cake and eat.

As you do not like my comment, topics then don’t read them, if enough do not like my point of view ask Ran & Ben to remove me. But do not believe that you will silence me or have you been so caught up with the fight with the communists that you know invoke their methods to silence others who you don’t agree with or consider your critics.

I have no problem with you disagreeing but don’t talk though your ass about me being clueless about golf.

I wish you all the best in your game which ever way you feel the need to play it.

Melvyn       

Melvyn-

I agree with Tom H in that if you have never even been to the States before and seen first hand what you dislike about Golf here vs. your beloved Old Tom/Scotland/"pure" golf you should probably cool it.

Again, it could work both ways...we could always start a thread stating that Old Tom and Young Tom used rangefinders and fluffed their lies. 

[Tom Huckaby]

Melyvn:

First of all, I never said you were clueless about golf.  I said you were clueless about AMERICAN golf.  And you prove that time and time again.  I will not back down from that.

But more to the point, and you know, it is difficult to talk out of one's ass, but I shall try.....

YOU singled me out.  Need I quote from the initial topic?  I would not have responded if you had not singled me out, as I do believe you have beaten this topic to a death the worst criminals do not deserve.  That doesn't mean the topic is dead; what it means is this:

WE GET YOUR OPINIONS ALREADY!  YOU DON'T HAVE TO POUND US OVER THE HEAD WITH THEM TIME AND TIME AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN!

As for the rest, it's again nothing more than you have also said countless times before.  

And of course you are entitled to your opinions - you just tend to fail to listen to and accept those of others, if not outright ridicule them.

So today, I became fed up.  In the past I have tried to discuss these things with you honestly and in good faith.  But my friend, there comes a time when beating one's head against the wall starts to hurt.  And that time for me has come.

SO, it's easy:  don't single me out about this.  I feel no need to discuss it with you; I know what you will say before you say it.  On top of that, you do have me very misjudged, as you seem to think I am the world's largest espouser of the use of carts or artificial aids or the like... all I have ever said is more to the tune that there is a time for everything in this game, and live and let live.  That doesn't seem to be enough for you.  You also have absolutely no clue how I choose to play the game.

Fair enough.

I have no wish to censor you.  I have a wish however that your worthwhile opinions and contributions - of which there are many, I truly believe - do not continue to be drowned out in the cacophony of beating this one issue to death.

But if you don't care about that, well then no longer will I.

Thomas Huckaby

[Melvyn Morrow]

Pat

“Again, it could work both ways...we could always start a thread stating that Old Tom and Young Tom used rangefinders and fluffed their lies”.

Please do, I’m sure I will see the funny side.



Tom

Clearly you missed my sense of humour and so I will not make a point of mentioning you again. As for the article I thought it might be of interest as it was not written by me. It has a very interesting subject which I will not go into as you have already made you position very clear.


Melvyn

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom

Clearly you missed my sense of humour and so I will not make a point of mentioning you again. As for the article I thought it might be of interest as it was not written by me. It has a very interesting subject which I will not go into as you have already made you position very clear.


Melvyn

Excellent.  Now if you could only give up the hammer of expressing your opinion on this 8 out of every 10 posts you make, with one other ridiculing those who have the temerity to see things any other way, and the final one of great substance, we will really get somewhere.  Here's hoping you can turn those numbers to the inverse.

And I do say that with a smile.

TH

[C. Squier]

Wait a second.  The study hypothesizes that the golfers suffered from verbal overshadowing.  Which by definition needs verbal communication to affect the process.  This proves NOTHING about using a rangefinder, cart or whatever else Melvyn dislikes, unless you talk to the object.  What it COULD show is that using a caddy and discussing how to play a shot may negatively affect it's outcome. 

There could actually be a decent topic somewhere in this mess.  I think the article may shed some light on how match play suits one golfer more than the next because of one's ability to forget what happened on the previous hole.  Or how stroke play train wrecks can occur over the last few holes when faced with the prospects of a great round. 

But to be clear, verbal overshadowing has NOTHING to do with yardage aids.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Clint

The article was a serious topic and worth looking into. As for my comment re aids it was tongue in cheek which went over the heads of must but not all.

As for the article it refers to putting, so I would not expect an electronic aid, but it would not surprise me to find some may consider using them on the Greens.

On a serious note the main point I feel is that the natural combination of the human mind working without distraction is superior to the in-depth process. Many say one should go on your first instinct and I think this study goes someway to proving that point.

As for aids, my impression relates to the need to break ones train of thought to set up and use the aids, breaking that first instinct reaction.

Melvyn 

[Kalen Braley]

Clint,

I too found this interesting how distance aids and otherwise were implied in this thread.  The scope of the article clearly states this is the case for putting only, which I would agree with.  Other than trying to keep my head over the ball, I can't think of any other technical thoughts or aids I use in trying to make a putt....its all feel.

Trying to size up iron shots and/or tee shots, and make a good swing is a completely different animal, at least for me...