On-course superstitions

If the wheels start to fall off, then it clearly is the ball's fault, and it needs to go into "time out" back in the bag for the rest of the day to get its attitude adjusted.

Every time I hit a green in regulation, I make sure not to get a birdie. It must be intentional, right?

 Tees. When I hose a drive I throw that tee away

I never hit a new ball off the first tee, but it's not due to superstition. It is a proven scientific fact that new balls have unstable positrons when used off the first tee which cause wildly erratic ball flight.

Repair tool & tees go in the right pocket, ball mark in the left. No exceptions.

I use to get superstitious with certain meals when it came to competition.  Like if I had a certain food for dinner the night before a tournament or breakfast the morning of and played well then there was a good chance I'd try to eat the same kinds of meals.  If I played bad then obviously I would change what I had eaten.  Another thing, and I still do it, is keep my ball marker in the same pocket if I'm putting well.  If I make a few bad strokes in a row, I'll switch pockets.  Silly lol

I have to use a broken tee on par 3's even if I have a couple shorties in my pocket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsyuk 

I have to use a broken tee on par 3's even if I have a couple shorties in my pocket.

Ha, me too! I'll also carry that broken tee around all day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetsknicks1 

Repair tool & tees go in the right pocket, ball mark in the left. No exceptions.

Me too, but like others have also said, not a superstition.  It's a pain in the ass to try and retrieve anything from a pocket with a glove on, so tees go in the right pocket.  And I hate fumbling through the tees trying to find a stupid coin, so they go in the left pocket.  Not a superstition, but just for fun and to be quirky, I have a couple of 5 Rupee coins from India that I use as markers, as well as a kick-ass TST limited edition that rotates in as well.

No real superstitions though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wisguy 

I've been using a 1943 steel penny as a ball mark (sticks to my magnetic hat brim ball mark holder) and since I started using it, my putting and chipping have been noticeably better. ........................................ Of course, the fact that at about the same time, I started weekly practicing my short game for 75 minutes during my kid's First Tee lessons might have a bit more to do with it.... ............................................. Speaking of ball markers, I don't understand using something larger than a penny, not something as big as a dollar coin. And certainly not as big as the freakin' fist-sized Franklin Mint-like collector's antique coins some of the pros claim to use as ball markers. Something that sits up a full 3-4mm off the green is going to knock off course any ball that strikes it - might as well not use a marker in the first place. What is the rule on someone using a ridiculously large and thick ball marker - can you require that player to use something smaller that won't send your ball off at a 45* angle if you hit it? I don't suppose there's any relief from such an interference with a putt, is there? Although I'm sure it's mortifyingly uncool, those super thin plastic markers with the spike on the bottom make the most sense to me since they don't interfere with a ball rolling over them. I'd use them, but for the fact that the magnetic hat ball marker is so much more convenient than having to dig in my pocket through a couple of balls, tees, ball mark repair tool, pencil, etc.... to find a ball marker. ....................... I always look for broken tees on par-3s too - it almost seems wasteful not to recycle an old half tee or risk cutting a perfectly good new one in half. This has bothered a couple of people with whom I've played over the years and not because I'm wasting time hunting for a tee instead of keeping pace of play (which I don't - I'll pull a new one out of my pocket if I don't spot a broken one in a few seconds). I've had two people literally try to force new tees on me on shorter holes, they were so bothered by me using old broken ones. I guess that, in and of itself, must be a form of superstition.

I like a larger heavy coin so I can find it in my pocket quickly. I also keep a couple dimes in with my tees in case I'm marking roughly on someone's line of putt,. If I'm marking more or less directly on their line I ask them which way they want it moved. If I'm not on their line they can suffer. Just like I have to do when paired with people sporting ugly clothing or ridiculous golf swings. I just look away as often as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by k-troop 

 

I do the same, but it's more OCD than superstition.  I never keep anything in my left pocket, because trying to pull something out of your pocket with a glove on is just madness.  I can't clutter my pockets, either:  2 tees, 1 pitchfork, 1 ball mark, and the ball that I'm playing with--no spares (because that would be admitting the possibility that I could have to re-tee). 

I am also OCD on the glove in the left and everything else in the right. I have my divot tool, my ball marker, 5 tees (always), and 1 ball in my right pocket.