15th Club in Golf

Pre-Shot Routine: Do You Have One?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 7 Comments

Golf is a game of exciting opportunities! It is the only sport that requires a meticulous process to result in a near perfect swing; hoping for spectacular results; with a plethora of opportunities to make a mistake. Golf is awesome!

Through the years, I have learned on lesson over and over again: a pre-shot routine is critical to consistent golf!

There are an infinite number of variations to the pre-shot routine. Most are unique, but there is one I noticed that most professional golfers use; it is the waggle before they hit their driver. You know, that 3 seconds before starting your swing when you wag the club head at the ball. It is the last indicator for a player that it is time to hit the ball long and straight.

Recently, I asked the question if you had a waggle before striking your driver. Here is what the masses said:

I did receive an interesting response from one of the #golfchat attendees. (#golfchat happens on Twitter every Tuesday night at 8pm EST. If you are interest in golf, it is worth your while to check it out) From the sounds of things, she took the waggle a bit too seriously. She said that:

Obviously, the intent of the waggle is to calm all aspects of thought and movement before striking the ball. It is a visual and mental cue for players that it is time to perform their perfect swing. I have tried the waggle, but found it too distracting; so I am in the minority given the results of my poll.

Regardless, having a pre-shot routine is very important to a consistent golfer. It is something that most professionals perform before striking the ball. Chances are that if the élite players are using the waggle in their pre-shot routine, it is worth a try. What do you think?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Three Rules in Golf Everyone Should Know

/ The Grateful Golfer / 10 Comments

The rules of golf are a reoccurring theme at The Grateful Golfer. They are important to the integrity of the game, but more importantly for those aspiring players who want to compete in tournaments. This video below by Golf Monthly is brilliant. It explains three simple rules that will save you strokes in the long run!

The three important points that resonate with me are:

  1. actually saying the words “provisional ball”;
  2. when dropping the ball, it can roll outside two club lengths as long as it goes no closer to the hole; and
  3. when taking free relief, it must be full relief.

Did you know these rules and do you apply them properly?

What caught your attention about these three important rules?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Adopt the Foot Wedge in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments
Caddie, hand me my foot wedge!

Caddie, hand me my foot wedge!

The foot wedge is the most used shot in golf! There is little question that every golfer has used this shot outside competition to speed up play or to improve their lie. Most, if not all players, don’t count the foot wedge because it is not considered cheating; it is just improving their enjoyment on the links.

The concept of a foot wedge is nothing new! Many great players have attributed the foot wedge to their success and consider it an essential part of their game. Here is what a few sites are saying:

  • “Golf slang for the 15th club every golfer takes onto the golf course. Used to secretly tap your ball out of a fairway divot when no one is watching!” (Leaderboard.com)

  • “Foot wedge” is a slang term for a “club” that helps a golfer cheat his way out of trouble. Specifically, “foot wedge” is what a golfer uses when he kicks his ball or nudges the ball into a better position for the next stroke. He used his foot to improve his lie – hence, “foot wedge.” (About.com)

  • “When a golfer cheats his way out of trouble using a club, it is in slang called foot wedge. Foot wedge, is specifically speaking a condition when a golfer kicks his ball or probably nudges the ball in a slightly convenient position for the next shot.” (Buzzle.com)

The foot wedge, not to be confused with a “hand wedge’ or a sandwich, is very popular. It is so popular, there are lessons on how to execute a perfect foot wedge. Here is my favorite:

  1. Scan your surroundings for other players.
  2. Place foot to obscure current ball location from onlookers.
  3. Rotate foot edge so it is perpendicular to your target.
  4. Gently slide your foot wedge to push ball.
  5. Cough audibly during shot and mutter something about winter rules.
  6. Proceed with game. (wikihow.com)

If the golf industry is trying to make the game more fun, then it is time to legally adopt the the foot wedge. It is time to allow players one foot wedge per hole! Why not, it will only make the game more fun!

Alright, I will stop! Right about now everyone is thinking I have gone over the bend. Actually, the intent of this article is to provide a bit of parody for all the recent suggestions on how to make golf more fun. There is no question that golf continues to evolve and it is important to attract young players to the game. However, I would suggest that most people will make the game fun anyway without trying to change the rules of the game.

Golf is the game of kings! It is meant to teach honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Is it difficult to learn? Most people would say yes! However, the sense of accomplishment from hitting that perfect shot is really worth the challenges to learn the game.

I was taught golf at an early age. My father was the first to put a club in my hand and for that I will always be eternally grateful. Golf has the potential to bring out the best in everyone if people would only give it a chance.

I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!