HAS YOUR GOLF SWING EVER GONE ON VACATION AND LEFT YOU AT HOME?

HAS YOUR GOLF SWING EVER GONE ON VACATION AND LEFT YOU AT HOME?

A few years ago, mine did. It seemed that no matter what I did, every iron shot I hit, no matter which club I used, went the same distance! I went to our Pro and asked if he could watch me “try” to hit a few balls and get me straightened out.

After a few shots, he said "tempo" and left me standing on the range pondering tempo as headed back to the clubhouse. In a little bit, he returned with two labels that said "TEMPO". "Your tempo is all out of whack, he said...stick these on the toe of your shoes; when you look down at your feet during setup, you will be reminded to think tempo".

To my amazement, those simple labels worked…my swing returned. Those shoes still have the label on them and I am still reminded to think “tempo”.

One of the many challenges most of us golfers face is having too many swing thoughts. When we are going through our pre-shot routine we have so many thoughts rolling around in our mind by the time we strike at the ball we have no idea what the heck is going to happen! And it seems that the negative thoughts intimidate all other thoughts.  So wipe out your, Don't screw this up", or "don't go in the pond"...you know what I mean.  Have positive thoughts, don't even think about the pond or screwing up.  Pick your target, address the ball, checking your alignment and pick out a blade of grass or something out in front of you that aligns with your target and hit over it.  Step back, take a couple of practice sings while looking downrange at your intended target, keep your mind quiet, address the ball and take one last look at your target and swing. 

The important thing out of all of this is a quiet mind and positive thoughts.  The "the evil golf devil" will get in your head and it is not easy to get him out.  Don't let that happen.  Find a way to ignore him and stay positive.  Here are some professionals talking about their swing thoughts.

Scruffy and Pals is a group of cartoon characters each with unique personalities and share their views and comments on the various aspects of golf.  I created the characters based on people I have met during my life. But the images are not meant to look like them.

Like most people who love the game of golf, I am afflicted with the challenge of repeating the perfect swing and having that indescribable instant feeling of gratification that follows the perfect shot.  If you’ve had that feeling...you know what I am talking about.  Sadly the feeling of “golf euphoria” is rare, at least, for me, it is.  So, knowing I am more apt to have an imperfect shot, I figured it would be kind of important for me to be able to positively identify my golf ball as I went traipsing through the weeds, wading creeks, braving the woods, and fighting the brambles in search of the non-euphoric shot.

Most golfers use a pen or Sharpie to put their initials, make a dot or draw a circle around the number or brand name.  Some are a little more imaginative like my pal David.  He marks his ball with a nose that has a mustache under it; my wife draws a smiley face with curly hair to identify her ball.  Having some artistic skills and being just a little different than most folks, I figured if I’m gonna mark my ball, it’ll be something besides a dang dot or circle.  I figured if everyone uses a dot or circle, how the heck do they know which ball is theirs?  And really, how much talent does it take to put a dot on a golf ball?

David had a name for his ball...which I thought was a little strange when he first told me.  He puts a lot of spin on his ball so, he named his ball “Dizz”.  Not to be outdone, I started drawing cartoon characters on each of my golf balls and named my ball “Scruffy”.  Why Scruffy?  Because my golf balls were usually all scruffed up from ricocheting off tree trunks, bouncing off golf cart paths or any other inanimate object that happened to be in the line of flight. 

Now I didn’t just draw a little stick looking character, I drew each one differently and dressed them in colorful golf attire.  I assume you are a golfer...otherwise why would you be reading my blog?  Do you talk to your golf ball?  I do and to give it a name like Dizz or Scruffy, well it just personalizes the conversation and I think it makes the ball listen better if you know what I mean.

My golfing pals and other golfers started noticing and asking questions about Scruffy?  A few even asked if I would draw some characters on a sleeve of balls for them to give to a friend or relative.  I was honored to do so and my wife designed a custom Scruffy sleeve, personalized with a greeting for the recipients.  Eventually, it became obvious there was a real interest in my golf balls and my wife and daughter urged me to consider starting a business with Scruffy.

If I were to do that, I figured Scruffy would need some buddies...some golfing pals.  So, I drew a couple of characters and called them Knothead and Hoss.  That is where the name Scruffy & Pals originated...we would start a series of characters; Scruffy would be the main man and he would introduce his golfing pals.  Each pal would have a unique personality that would evolve through their commentary, tips, and opinions on specific golf-related subjects.

We would brand the pals by having their likeness of the characters I draw, reproduced on golf balls, towels, hats, shirts and all sorts of golf paraphernalia.  We started with Scruffy, Knothead, and Hoss on golf balls...and soon realized if their personalities were not being properly communicated to the consumer, they were just three “cute” little guys on golf balls.  Their personalities would sell them if consumers could find an attraction to themselves or someone they know for a specific character...and by liking that pal’s personality, they would adopt them as their mascot, so to speak, and buy golf clothing, equipment and related merchandise displaying the character’s image.

Communicating their personalities to the consumer became the biggest challenge.  We built a website, thinking [hoping] - “build it and they will come”.  A website is like being a grain of sand on the beach, trying to attract passersby to notice you, stoop down, pick you up and explain what a wonderful, perfectly a made grain of sand you are.  And in addition to that...we wanted to attract golfers... which just multiplies the odds.