What's your player profile?

Regardless of skill or ability to execute, almost all golfers fit into one of these profiles. A professional or a hacker could very well fit the same profile - it's about attitude toward the game and what you are trying to do. Most golfers profile likely changes over their time playing, and in some cases my change round-to-round or even hole-to-hole.

(I assigned the 'animal' names to the profiles myself, so forgive me if the animal doesn't exactly match).

Rabbit - this is the golfer who just steps up and hits the ball then goes to find it and hits it again. The key to this profile is not overthinking the game. I've also heard this referred to as 'Caveman Golf' - meaning "See ball; hit ball; find ball". This profile can apply to just about any golfer, no matter how good or bad they are. They often play fast (hence the name 'rabbit') and have an easy-going, carefree attitude about the game and just enjoy being there. New golfers sometimes fit into this category, but also many very good golfers.

Turtle - this is the golfer who's just trying to hit the ball in fairway and on green, not worrying about distance or ball placement necessarily. These golfers are the 'steady' type players who may score well but seldom take chances or do anything spectacular. A lot of older golfers and woman who do not hit the ball long, but always seem to be in fairway fall under this, but there are also good golfers (Fred Funk and Annika Sorenstam might fall under this profile). The name in this case doesn't mean they are slow (I just couldn't think of another 'steady' animal).

Fox - methodical player who is contantly thinking their way around the course, carefully considering each shot. They differ from the 'Turtle' in that they are more concerned with placement of their ball and factors such as wind, slope, etc. They are sometimes slower golfers. They do not take a lot of chances on the golf course as they just don't think it's worth it. Professionally, there are a lot of these kind of players. They are the players who tend to fall into the second half of money list - they make lots of money, but seldom win or contend. These are also the type of players who are often stressed out on course and bad luck/breaks/bounces can cause their games to fall apart. They often hit irons/hybrids/woods off tee and lay-up most of the time, hit to safe spots and avoid trouble. They also tend to be good short game players.

Wolverine - these are the players that are constantly attacking, looking for something spectacular. They are almost as concerned with great stories as they are with their score (see movie "Tin Cup"). These players are often happy, fun people to be around and aren't as frustrated by bad luck as the Fox. Phil Mickelson might fall into this category (as would a number of other professional players). When these players are 'on' they can be great; when they are 'off' they can be horrible - very little in between. Laying up is not an option.

Tiger - this player is constantly stalking the course, waiting on the chance to 'pounce'. Of course Tiger Woods would fall into this group as would a fair percentage of successful professional golfers (those who win routinely). These playes are willing to take what the course gives them, laying up or hitting to safe places when necessary, but when they get an opportunity they attack. For the average golfer, this is what most of us wish we could be, but we do not have the skills to attack with success. Often our attacks end badly. The Tiger always seems to understand when is the right time to attack and how. They also handle the stress and bad luck/breaks/bounces well because they accept success and failure are both properties of this style.

My style would probably be somewhere between the Fox and the Turtle. I try to think my way around the course, but I'm still more concerned with getting the ball in fairway and on the green. When I was younger I was definitely a Wolverine just because I was more worried about hitting that one great shot than my score. Now my score is more important than how I got there. I'm trying to become more of a Tiger, but just don't feel I am quite good enough to execute those 'attack' shots, as they usually end up as big numbers on my scorecard.

So, which profile do you think fits you? Are there profiles I have left out? I tried to keep them general enough that almost all golfers would fit into at least one of these categories.

Im definately a Wolverine.Its my downfall,taking on shots that have little chance of success,but for me thats the fun of golf and boy do I enjoy that pint in the 19th after Ive hit a 4 wood 200 yards round an oak tree ,over 3 bunkers and the pond in front of the green to set up a birdie!
Only happens now and again but hey when your lying in your bed you dont dream of laying up do you ?

I'm a fox/turtle hybrid too, maybe with emphasis on the fox (that's how I voted). Used to be a wolverine... took a while but I finally smarted up.

I'm not a slow player however... I do my thinking before it's my turn to play... and I've been playing long enough that a lot of the thinking stuff is done more or less subconsciously now.

I can identify with certain aspects of each of the first 4, but if I had to pick one I would probably say I'm a turtle.

Definitely, wolverine. When I hit the course, it's to have fun and that means being in constant attack mode, trying to go as low as I can. If I can hit driver 14 times a round, I will.

I think that I am a Fox/Tiger cross ... I love to think myself around a course, "where can I score best from on this hole" then I attack that shot. I try to think myself into a position that allows me to attack, with the lowest percentage of failure.

I'm a cross between rabbit and fox. I tend to play pretty fast and don't take much time on the ball (rabbit), but I spend a lot of mental energy on planning the shot during my walk up to the ball - I don't ride (fox).

Executing my plans are the real issue and I do tend to be hard on myself when I miss badly - another fox trait.

I'm a Tiger. Me and my buds were starting to make our own "league" and I wasn't playing good nor bad while one of the kids was doing pretty good. Heading into the 7th hole (9 holes) I was down by 4 strokes. I birdied 7 while he parred. 8th... Par 3, found the green on tee shot and perfectly executed a lag putt that almost went in from around 50 feet. He struggled and missed a 4 footer for bogey. 9th hole... I was one down and we both struggled. Yet I tied him up making double, and he made a sad triple missing another short one. So we had an up-and-down competition on the putting green where we tied our first 4 times, but I pulled away on the 5th.

i'd say i'm 3/4 turtle and 1/4 tiger.

def a tiger

Id say im a tiger at least thats how i try to play.

I definitely fit the rabbit category. Unga bunga!

Tiger. My general attitude toward any game is "wait for it....wait for it....there it is! ATTACK!"

Problem is that I'm also the poster child for ADD and I...oh sweet, a chicken!...what were we talking about? Oh, so anyway, I'll often get bored waiting for it and I go Wolverine trying to MAKE it when it isn't there.

After that I usually go Fish (should have been an option for me) and spend a lot of time sinking golf balls which causes me to go semi Foxish and I get stressed out and the rest of the round falls all to heck.

All this usually happens by the middle of the first hole.

Wolverine fits me fairly well. My handicap is definately a reflection of this profile. I have a tendency to go for it, knowing that it isn't going to happen. Sometimes things go great and I'll shoot around 80, next day things turn sour and I shoot around 90. I am trying to be more like the turtle, but my agressiveness breaks through on at least 3-5 holes and kills my score.

I wouldn't change from being a Wolverine, it's too much fun. Plus, Arnold Palmer was all Wolverine and he did okay.

I would say I used to be a fox because I would get stressed out on the course and bad luck/breaks/bounces would cause my game to fall apart. Right now I'm trying to be more like a turtle, playing it safe and laying up when ever possible. Keeping the ball in the fairway is more important to me than making a spectacular shot right now.


Mike

I'm a wolverine, no questions asked. I aim at flags no matter how far out I am. Even with 3 wood, I'm aiming straight at the pin. I'll always pick the risky shot that looks cool over the high percentage shot. 60 footer from the fringe? The putter stays in the bag. I'll try to carry it 58 feet with my 64 degree wedge and have it dance around the pin. I'm almost sure I could be a + handicap if I played smarter, but it's just not my personality. The only benefit to my style of play is that when I actually NEED to hit a flop shot or crazy spinner I have no trouble with it because I get so much practise on those shots.

I'm going to go with golden retriever. Big ears, big feet, chasing a ball around like a moron without a coherent thought in my head, but having a great time.