Do the pros talk to their opponents ball?

[Sandman600]

... and why do we do this?

Not your most exciting question but I just wondering if anyone has heard a pro shout out something in good way to their playing partners ball but yet they're still trying to beat them?

I have a habbit of doing this like when my playing partner hits a bad shot I shout something like "kick out" or " get down" or "go baby" and yet in the back of my mind I thinking go OB or get in the trap or water or something.

I know I'm not the only on here that does this. Or am I? ;)

[mcputter]

Yes, I've heard pros say something in a good way as their competitors ball is on it's way and I'm sure they're always trying to beat them. However, there's no way to know if they're secretly rooting for the ball to do something bad. I always want my competitors to play well and for me to play even better. If you're thinking you want your opponents ball to do something bad, I'd suggest you just keep quiet when the balls in motion rather than be a phony about it. Just compliment your opponent after they hit a good shot and get on with the business of hitting a better shot yourself.

[ZombieDave]

I was playing in a 4BBB matchplay last week, and one of our opponents hit a ball that was heading into the rough. My partner was shouting "stay there ball, stay there" before it got to the rough, but the guy who played the shot started shouting "Go! GO!" as he wanted it to clear the rough. So my partner apologised to him for giving the ball bad instructions, and started shouting "GO! GO!".

 

Like it makes a difference.

[Bartok]

The exact same thing happened to me last night in a match play. I think I have seen some pro do it. Mostly in events like a skins game when the atmosphere is more relax and they have mics on. Some other times I have the feeling that some are simply ignoring each other like if they don't even exist...

 

Now my big question is why do we even talk to the ball? Unless we have some power over objects or asking a higher power to act on our behalf it won't change anything. I still do it anyways and sometimes laugh at my own self...

[mcputter]

The only time I get upset with someone talking to my ball is when I hit a putt that looks good, then someone says 'Go in' or worse 'That's in', then it lips out. If the guy's a friend I'll half-jokingly tell him to keep his mouth off my ball.

[Sandman600]

Yes, I've heard pros say something in a good way as their competitors ball is on it's way and I'm sure they're always trying to beat them. However, there's no way to know if they're secretly rooting for the ball to do something bad. I always want my competitors to play well and for me to play even better. If you're thinking you want your opponents ball to do something bad, I'd suggest you just keep quiet when the balls in motion rather than be a phony about it. Just compliment your opponent after they hit a good shot and get on with the business of hitting a better shot yourself.

 

 

Lesson learned but I dont actually want opponent to end up with a bad shot I was just referring to to competive nature of the game. I ALWAYS complimant my partner when they score well, I just saying we all play to win right? and I'm sure super bionic thoughts will actually make my opponents ball go in a hazard right? ;)

[sharkiesj]

The only time I get upset with someone talking to my ball is when I hit a putt that looks good, then someone says 'Go in' or worse 'That's in', then it lips out. If the guy's a friend I'll half-jokingly tell him to keep his mouth off my ball.

 

 

This is why I've stopped talking to playing partners' balls. I used to, but don't anymore. I only say something now after the ball has stopped moving. If it ends up in a bad spot, a soft little, "wow, hard luck bra" usually doesn't offend anyone.

[hoganfan924]

Some guys get really pissed when you talk to their ball. When in doubt, keep a lid on it.

[dciman1]

Oh like like someone talking to my ball and something unlucky happens would changed the out come. Whatever

[DemolitionMan]

I don't know where it started, but talking to your own ball in mid flight obviously has no bearing on the outcome, you are not even talking to your ball, you are simply saying out loud what is going through your head as an immediate reaction to your shot. You can get a feel or sense of what was wrong right after the shot, or as the ball is at its apex, and immediately your mind has that 'oh sh*t' moment, some people just don't keep it inside.

 

As for talking to someone else's ball it's just a way to courteous and root for your playing group which could come from a variety of reasons. And sure, sometimes, it's not meant to be courteous, but we won't go into what it is like playing with a jerkoff.

 

Generally, I don't talk to someone else's ball unless it is as joke and I am on good enough terms with the person that they will accept it as a joke and laugh too. Such as, after a really bad putt, yelling out 'go in'.

 

I did find myself talking to another guy's shot the other day when paired up with a total stranger who was one of the slowest players ever. It was more like BEGGING for his ball not to go in yet another hazard, tall grass, weeds, tree, etc...because the round was already slow enough. I guess that was courteous ;)

[deeviant]

I always sneak over when no one is within earshot and whisper to my playing partners bags. I tell them how my irons, and balls are soooo much better and they should just give the game up because even if my irons falter my balls know where the hole is. It psyches them out. They lose faith in their ability to play with my awesome equipment after that.

 

I actually felt a little dirty after typing that. My mind, the gutter, and all that.... ;)

[Dill Pickleson]

ive heard boo weekley do it a few times in a positive way, cant remember who he was playing with

[scotton]

This is why I've stopped talking to playing partners' balls. I used to, but don't anymore. I only say something now after the ball has stopped moving. If it ends up in a bad spot, a soft little, "wow, hard luck bra" usually doesn't offend anyone.

 

I think "wow, hard luck bra" would offend me immensely. Just kidding. I don't think I would ever hear the term "bra" in that context on any course I play on with regularity. I do know a guy that calls everyone "pods", like short for partner. About the 3rd time I hear "nice shot, pods" I'm ready to take up tennis. Jeff, I you are reading this, I mean you, pods.

 

The trick isn't talking to the balls, it's finding balls willing to listen to you.

[Dizz]

That drives me nuts, I never talk to another players ball. I know if I just pulled one towards OB and some guy I was playing with was talking to my ball then I'd know he didnt mean it. Now if its a good friend then its fine but even then I still dont talk to friends balls...actually I dont talk to my own ball.

[phil75070]

The other day, I hit a drive and as it hit ground I started giving it hand signals, first to bounce left, then to "sit". The other guys in the group made fun of me until I explained that I knew the ball was too far away to hear me, and the hand signals were in case it happened to be looking back for directions.

[jva]

In my experience golf isnt fun unless I get heckled or heckle my partners. When we are putting I will always say on a short birdie tap in. " I cant wait to see ur face when you miss" lol It really got a friend of mine upset cuz he lipped out around the hole and I lipped around the hole and in. I beat him by one stroke and got $20. As I walk over to my cart my friend is pickin up his ball and throws it at my head really hard as Im walkin towards the cart. I ducked and busted out laughing. Its how golf is. Were still good friends.