Pepsi, Coors and and my backswing.

[InTheTwenties]

Argh!! Seems to me that a small noise like a can of Coors opening, or a hiss of CO2 coming from a Pepsi bottle should not cause me to shank or top the ball.

Well it does. Human concentration being so fickle.

Anyone have any tips on how to inoculate against swing distractions? I was thinking of playing with ear plugs, or use my ipod to play some Mozart or death metal.

Sincerely,
The Shank Master

[CarlSpackler]

Practice at a noisy range to get used to it. This part of Ohio is overpopulated with idiots who like to go to ranges and get rowdy. Several that I go to have batting cages too, so there is the constant sound of aluminum bats popping while I hit. A few weeks back, someone in my group apologized for talking during my swing and I honestly didn't even notice.

[whip_it_out]

I don't usually heaar things during my swing, cars even, but in a tournament earlier someone hit a drive like 500 yards away, and I could see the twitch in my backswing. I hit the ball way thin, and yards and 70 yards right.

[CG031]

Practice at a noisy range to get used to it.

Get used to it. Practicing at a public driving range where people are talking, talking, yelling, etc. next to you will help you just get over the problem.

I used to have a similar problem when I first picked up the game a few years back. Here's an interesting story I will share with you all: This was until in one of my golf matches 2 seasons ago, a kid from the other team was hitting a greenside bunker shot. The #7 green (the green he was hitting his shot to) is right next to where you tee off on the #6 (where I was hitting my drive). He was a scratch golfer and the best player on the other team. He hit it a little fat out of the sand, and in the middle of my backswing screamed "You f***ing p*ssy!" That kind of threw me off, and I topped it. We had this really big kid on our team, a 6'5" 230 lbs senior, who was also the Capt. of the football team. He was playing in the group of the kid hitting the greenside bunker shot next to me who hit it a touch heavy and screamed the profanity. He went over to him and straightened this kid from the other team out. He got in his face, literally grabbed him by the shirt, and said "If you ever scream profanity while someone is teeing off again, you will not have arms to finish this match." My friend/teammate went way over the top, but the kid on the other team was a complete dbag who had no care in the world for others teeing off. This quickly got me over being distracted, because I figured if I could make contact with someone SCREAMING next to me, I shouldn't be distracted by small things anymore.

[CarlSpackler]

Get used to it. Practicing at a public driving range where people are talking, talking, yelling, etc. next to you will help you just get over the problem.

That was my point actually, to go to a noisy practice facility to become accustomed to noise. I am, however, still distracted by the cart girl approaching at a rapid pace over rough terrain. I don't know how to get over that one.

[billm408]

I was about 14 when I started to beat my dad and his weekend duffer buddies. One of their fun little games was to throw stuff at me during address... tees, ball markers, etc..

While it pissed me off at the time, I learned to shut everything out. You could start a chain saw behind me now and I wouldn't hear it. good luck.

[Titleist Man]

Play the craziest most distracting music on your ipod and play it loud(not unhealthy loud but not a whisper). Then go play a few rounds with the same music going. Finally go play and you will notice nothing at least thats what happened to me i mean people have screamed in my backswing and i dont even care anymore. Good Luck

[Titleist Man]

That was my point actually, to go to a noisy practice facility to become accustomed to noise. I am, however, still distracted by the cart girl approaching at a rapid pace over rough terrain. I don't know how to get over that one.

That used to not bother me but now whenever it happens an image comes into my head of my huge cousin pulling it 80* and hitting the windshield on the cart girls cart.

[Smith285]

play with guys who won't open a beer can during your backswing

[Smarf]

Play the craziest most distracting music on your ipod and play it loud(not unhealthy loud but not a whisper). Then go play a few rounds with the same music going. Finally go play and you will notice nothing at least thats what happened to me i mean people have screamed in my backswing and i dont even care anymore. Good Luck

Even better, record your own MP3's of random loud noises with no set pattern and put the iPod on shuffle. I bet one of that politician guy that went Bleaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, would be great.

I haven't really noticed any distraction problems. I also play pool in a league and I'm constantly shooting with distractions. I'm sure that built up some kind of zoning out thing in me.

[ScottRempel]

That was my point actually, to go to a noisy practice facility to become accustomed to noise. I am, however, still distracted by the cart girl approaching at a rapid pace over rough terrain. I don't know how to get over that one.

Well, following the theme of this thread, I think it would only make sense that you surround yourself with scantily clad women that are jumping on a trampoline. Do this several times and after that you should be able to zone out any cart girl.

[CarlSpackler]

Well, following the theme of this thread, I think it would only make sense that you surround yourself with scantily clad women that are jumping on a trampoline. Do this several times and after that you should be able to zone out any cart girl.

Sounds like a plan to me.