Robotic Players Vs. Emotional Players

[TRAPI]

Which one do you consider yourself?

I just read this article in Yahoo! Sports:

Anyone watching any golf the past few weeks surely has seen the commercial with a short clip of Deion Sanders asking Camillo Villegas why golfers show no emotion. The simple answer to that is golf doesn't require emotion. In fact, more often that not, a golfer is better off not showing emotion. What good does adrenaline do for a golfer? You get too pumped up and suddenly the yardage on your 3-iron isn't what it was on the range.

If one need any proof of this theory, just look at the best golfers in the world. Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Adam Scott, these players are like robots out there. Sure, I left off Mickelson and Furyk, both tend to show emotion, but for every Mickelson there are players such as Goosen and Els. Robotic players outnumber emotional players.

Add to the list this week's winner, K.J. Choi. Choi is the prototypical machine on the golf course. A two-time winner this season, Choi often resembles a robot on the golf course. His moves are perfectly measured, he never shows emotion, heck, he even walks like a robot. Choi is just one more example to further the case that emotion plays no part in a professional golfer's success.

What kind of player do you consider yourself? Which one do you think is best?

[Shaitan]

Emotion is good to an extent, it can give you confidence and extra power, as long as you can control it, but it also provides no confidence and no ideas when it isn't working. I try to be as robotic as possible but sometimes emotions spill out - I work on breathing exercises when I'm like that to bring me back into my "golfing state"

[villa]

TRAPI, that guy in your avatar is the epitomy of an emotional golfer. Chris DiMarco is also a good example and Lee Trevino is another great that wore his heart on his sleeve. Despite what the article says, I actually think that Tiger is a hugely emotional guy on the course. Golf was not really a sport where we saw guys punching the air when they made a putt until Tiger came along. If you want to see true emotion and adrenaline then watch any of Tigers early major wins. I once read an interview with Earl Woods saying that Tiger used to purposely try and raise his adrenaline levels because he actually found it helped him.

 

There are robotic or mechanical players on tour (or grinders) but I think some of the examples given have been confused with calmness. I would never call Retief and Ernie unemotional, I just think they're calm. Freddie Couples didn't show a lot of emotion but i'd never call him unemotional either.

 

I don't know where I fit in really. I've never been one to clench my fist when I hole a putt but at the same time, i'm always trying to have a laugh on the course. I think because I don't really play competitive golf anymore, I don't get caught up in the emotion of it all. Golf should be fun for most of us.

[TRAPI]

You are darn right...Seve was really an emotional player! I wish he would get back to a competitive level on the Champions Tour...

 

I personally think that showing up your emotions until a certain extent is good and can help your game. I do think too that when your game is not working and you are and emotional guy it will certainly affect you more.

 

I agree that Tiger was a very emotional player during his first years, but he certainly has calm down a lot since then. Sometimes it is even difficult to see a smile in his face during a round.

 

Still I think that what you consider calm is what they consider being robotic on that article. Those guys can be emotional and not show it in the course (they are calm or behaving robotical).

 

There is no doubt that golf should be a game to enjoy and have fun...I consider myself an emotional player (maybe too much) - as when I am playing bad you can really notice it on my face and when playing well extasis and nerves of knowing I might lower my handicap ruin the round as well! I wish I could be more calm in such situations...probably my score would get better then!

 

Cheers!

[villa]

I know this is a terrible stereotype but I think that Nationality also plays a big part in people's emotions.

 

GENERALIZATION ALERT! The South American and Mediterranean guys seems to be more emotional than most, whereas the Central European guys seem more stern and focussed.

 

The South African guys seem pretty laid back (except for Rory Sabbatini but from what I understand, he doesn't fit in well with the rest of the Springboks).

 

The Aussies always have a confident attitude going into everything and they have a genuine belief (not to be confused with arrogance (sometimes)) that they can win every week.

 

The American guys seem to vary massively from player to player because of the enormity of the country and the diverse mix of original nationalities.

[dulce]

I think it has more to do with personality. Both Helen Alfredsson and Annika Sorenstam are Swedish. When Alfredsson is interviewed, she's talkative and outgoing and on the course, she talks to the ball and has lots of body animation. Annika is notoriously shy and quiet and on the course, she seems to be emotionless but if you look at her eyes and body language, she's like a cat that's getting ready to pounce -- the body is still but every muscle and every part of its being is focused on the prey.

 

Tiger has learned to channel his emotion like the cat focused on its prey.

 

My regular foursome is my husband and two guys from his work. One of the guys was a chess grandmaster before he was 16 (I mention that to show how much this guy loves competition). The chess guy and I both thrive on competition (much more than my husband and the other guy from his work) but when it's down to the end of a close match, the chess guy will get quieter and I'll become more animated. He's more of an introvert and I'm much more extroverted. The guys always find it amusing that I oftentimes hit the ball better if I'm caught up talking about something and pause only long enough to actually hit the ball. Even with learning the golf swing, we approach it differently. He's very much into the mechanics and analysis of the swing. I prefer instructors who can give me imagery and feel for the swing.

 

And it isn't just a gender issue. Look at Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros -- the ultimate mechanic and the ultimate magician. Both played in different ways that maximized their individual talent. In a way it's a shame that the mechanical, analytical golf has become the gold standard to the detriment of the emotional, feel type player such as an Arnold Palmer.