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Do you play with anyone who plays mind games? My father inlaw is brutal. he does things like undoes the velro on his glove when you are at address, or whispers behind you just loud enough to hear. he also asks you odd questions about your swing just to make you think about it. I rarely let it bother me but it can be annoying

Last Saturday my regular golf partner couldn't play so I showed up as a solo. One of the two guys who I was matched up with and had just met 5 minutes earlier said, "what the heck is that thing" as I addressed my first drive on #1 tee. He was referring to my Brush Tee which I've been using for a few weeks. I stepped away from the ball and went through my pre-shot routine before hitting it straight down the middle. That really felt good. Three strokes later I had my par.

Although it didn't effect my results on #1, I thought about his untimely comment as I pushed that strange looking Brush Tee into the ground for the next few holes. At the end of the day I can say I enjoyed playing with these two but it could have gone down hill from the comments at the start. Was this fellow trying to get in my head or was he just not very considerate? We as golfers are a sensitive bunch when it comes to comments or distractions. I'm just glad this didn't effect what ended up as a good day on the course.

Jeff

Ask your playing partner (aka competition) how they make such pure contact with the club that far across the line at the top.

I have a great match play trick for you. Next time you are in a tight match with someone, offer to buy them a snickers bar and a mountain dew. They will be difficult to handle for about 4 or 5 holes but when they crash from their sugar high you can coast to the house.

Ripping the glove velcro & whispering when you're hitting goes beyond gamesmanship , IMO...that's just poor sportsmanship. The odd questions are within the bounds I suppose.

I play with a couple of brother-in-laws in my 4 some. The both have 10-12 years on me and one of them likes to get behind my line, in my peripheral vision, even on putts. It took me the better part of our 1st season playing together to ask him to move, me being younger trying to be respectful & all. He still does it ocassionally, but now I just tell him to move his

Dante,

I agree w/ WASMANKG... that behavior goes way beyound the gamesmanship boundries...

I do play with an elderly gentlemen (70 yrs young w/a 3 handicap). he enjoys in what I call Jedi Mind Tricks... he makes comments to me like, man you really hit it far (only when it is offline) or when I have a desive downhill/ uphill putt, he will mention speed to someone in the group, so that i can hear him... I really enjoy playing with him and over the years, its the Jedi Mind Tricks that I really enjoy...

Its a test of FOCUS!!!!

I get some of that from these guys too, b_squared. One will tell me hey you really nailed that one as it sails 50 yards off line or when I blade one over the green(that's my favorite). He does it without a hint that he's kidding either. Devious but all in fun and like you say "Its a test of FOCUS" and my temper too

Waz,

thats one of the great aspects to this CRA - Z game we all love. Btw, they are never "Kidding"

my brother will ask me if I breath in or out on my back swing- tries to make me think about that as i stand there. I have my own mind games how ever so it is even. After he hits a poor tee shot I will tell him it was his best swing all day

I never liked or appreciated "mind games." I think most people who try that stuff don't have enough confidence in their games to compete without using them.

We have a "brother team" in our league, and one of them constantly annoys his opponent during a match. Remarks like "I think your ball is in front of the markers" when you're teeing off. After you step away, check and tell him the ball is OK, he'll smile and say "only kidding buddy, lighten up!" He's moved behind me as I've stood over a putt to begin my stroke, he might interrupt you in the middle of the match with "hey, do you mind if I count the clubs in your bag, it looks kind of full."

Are these mind games or just plain poor sportsmanship?

Standing behind you when you putt is a breach of etiquette and poor sportsmanship. The rest is just gamesmanship, but I wouldn't take kindly to it from strangers.

I tend to be very very courtious, always say nice shot, or hang on when it's a bad one. I generally cheer for my competitors to perform well. This tends to put them off a bit, especially if they have not played with me. coming down the wire I tend to be more silent, it has worked for me before in many situations. The opposite always plays negatively & will make your competitor angry which usually gives him fuel to beat you.

I find it annoying when people stand directly behind me to watch my swing and ball flight. I've learned to block it out now. Every now and then someone I get paired up with does this. Also people driving by with carts while someone is teeing off or putting can get distracting. I've started taping some rounds, I usually don't play well when I film or mid-round joining up with another two-some. It breaks my rhythm. When playing skins and I'm out of the hole, I think I let up a bit or get too aggresive costing strokes.

Energy drinks during a round aren't good. An hour before is ok, and eating an energy bar during a round is ok.

I tell them to move. Anyone in standing in your peripheral vision, behind your line of flight, is committing a breach of etiquette wherever it is ...on the green, tee... anywhere. It drives me nuts and now I just tell them. I knew it was a breach on the green but I wasn't certain otherwise, so I looked it up on the USGA website and it's considered an etiquette faux pas anywhere. I get kidded about it when guys try to spot for me, but I tell them to move a couple of steps in toward my back side where I can't see them.

When I go back home to Texas, my Dad and Uncle and my brother-in-law play a few rounds. My Dad and Uncle are very good players, but when we get together they go NUTS on each other. My Uncle will wait until my Dad is at the top of his back swing and he cranks out a LOUD fart and it always leads to shank. My Dad will then talk during my Uncles putts and 50% of the time it works. While I agree that this kind of behavior does not belong on a golf course, with us it is Tradition, and SO FUNNY.