Dominating opponents
 

One of the most undeveloped skills golfers need is the ability to dominate an opponent phychologically. In most sports you can usually beat someone of similar game just by altering their mood to your advantage. Tiger Woods is a master of this IMO.

Whilst the ethics can be debated, there is many way to trigger a negative influence on your opponents game. This ranges from schoolboy stuff like looking down at your opponents ball on the way to your own to the more subtle such as intently watching your opponent balanced on one hand with your club with a glaze of impatience.

Sometimes just letting an opponent have the feeling that your trying to put him off will make him try too hard just to 'show you'. Sometimes this will have completely the adverse effect where he sharpens up his game.

Heres a list of good things to try against your playing partners...lol

- say 'good shot' when you hit one before thats better.
- Always show an appearance of a level head with eyes that show determination and focus(unless club throwing and swearing vigorously after a reasonable shot disturbs the opponent) - any time you do talk - seem distracted and looking at the target...
- Never give a positive without giving a negative... ie "Its a good shot but I don't think it was a well controlled stroke"... the exception is when he's playing poorly and frustration is setting in - then give compliments unsparingly (that REALLY bugs people).
- Be a mechanics snob - their mechanics always suck...always give innane tips of correct things they already do..make them think that you think he's a complete idiot that knows nothing.
- When possible try and invade your opponents space as they make their strokes.
- Always try to be in their field of vision when they make a putt.
- Practice celebrate winning so you can go OTT with it looking like it is natural to you

Its all about trying to find the persons weak spot and then triggering it.

There is lots more - lets see what fun we can have coming up with more :)

What is so subtle about Tiger's approach- he focuses on his game...stays in his zone...feds off others trying to get close and beats the snot out of his opponents. His skills are on a different level than others...for him that is all that is required to create the mental edge. Nicklaus and Hogan employed the same technique.

When he's in a final pairing on sundays, not too many of his partners make a charge and push him. This is a pretty big advantage wouldn't you say....

Tiger Woods is playing THE game not A game. Its just another part of his edge.

That's true.....he controls everything that's within his control.....or at least manages it.

Playing THE game.

There's nothing that can't be improved upon.....and Eldrick knows this.

...

Although he does play games with a micophone in hand sometimes. (IMO)

Smart tho.

Psychology
 

Whether deliberate or not- I've seen Tiger and other players start walking to the next tee before the other player finishes his short putt. Looked rude to me. But could be just the way it's done on the PGA, could be subconscious, conscious - I don't know but certainly caught my eye at times. From all the sports that I have played - it's not how I would play the game and if you have to use that to win then it's not worth winning- I'll let the other guy try the games I just want to beat him "straight up"- so I'll just worry about keeping him out of my garden (mind) and not worry about getting in his.

Starting to get cold up there Birdie Man?:pumpkin:

Ya now that you say it I've seen that too.

Personally, I would call him on it right to his face.

(very enthusiastic, genuine-sounding voice) "Hey Tiger man what's the rush?........can you hold on for a few seconds please?"

:)

There is absolutely no way you can let him feel like he can get away with doing that to you.

I think I can relate to that. Why compromise yourself....your integrity....

...

BTW Mr. O.....yes it is getting mighty cold up here....

I did get some golf in today....it was around 3 or 4 degrees outside (w/e that is Farenheit)...pretty chilly.....but do-able if you dress for it.

Most people cannot understand...!

:);)

The mind
 

Instead of the opponents, I would dominate my mind.

I was at the range last week; it was cold but I didn't think it was terrible. After I was about 1/2 way done, noticed there was some white stuff blowing about! That's pretty early in the year for snow here in Indiana.

More on topic...suckering some southern boy to come play golf up north this time of year seems like a good way to get a leg up. Although, I saw that video of Yoda busting his driver on a pretty cold day, so I think I'd target somebody besides him :)

Tour Protocol
 

Mike O,

I've been reading through the Mental Game forum to see what's already been discussed. There's some great info in here. I'll post when I think I can add something.

Tour protocol says to stay with the group, only moving when the putt left is all but unmissable. There is no excuse for disturbing another player. What might disturb a particular player is very subjective. Of particular concern is signalling to the crowd that its ok to move by moving yourself. A major responsibility of the tour caddie is to make sure that the gallery does not distract his player.

I can't speak to what you saw, but I have seen Tiger and Steve help with crowd control while his opponent readied to putt. Unfortunately, courtesy is not one of the skill sets that land one on the Tour. There is a fair amount of peer pressure to behave.

Dominating while remaining a sportsman. It's really about competing. Answer with your clubs. Never back off. I don't see any defense for trying to put another player off his game other than frustrating him by making shots at critical times. You never know how your opponent might react to gamemanship. Guys have tried it with Tiger pre-round in the press and have been buried. You might awaken a player who had written himself off.

HB

Henny.... thank you. Isn't that what the game is about? Don't we love the game, partially because it has a bit more integrity than most other games? Don't we all want to behave like we've graduated high school? Why would I ever want to delibrately do something that would annoy another player?

One of the great joys I've gotten from high level competition (state am. sen. am stuff) is the association with other good and much better players. I golf my ball, they golf theirs ... the best man wins... afterwards we have dinner.. the next year I see the same faces and we genuinely enjoy seeing and playing with each other.... why would I want to behave like a 4 yr. old and ruin that? ....anyone who would delibrately try to annoy another person in a feeble attempt to win....would look inadequate and foolish and needs some help.