Tiger Hurts Back Stopping Swing, "Good to Go"

[Clambake]

I'm not so surprised that one can get muscle spasms or twinges by stopping a downswing.    It can happen doing even fairly non-physical activities - I once had a back spasm while getting into my car in the garage, and I was literally stuck there for thirty minutes sitting in the seat with one foot in and one foot still outside.    My bigger question is why is a simple camera click from 20 or more feet away bothering him so much in the first place?

From the earliest age Tiger was trained to ignore distractions by his dad who would cough, shake keys, drop a club, move his shadow, and even talk or let out a yell while Tiger was swinging.   He has played for years on Tour with the buzz of crowds moving around - if anyone has been in person to a PGA event you know that there is always a lot of crowd rustling noise and movement.   I would think he would be a lot better at tuning out the distractions than to be so bothered as to stop a downswing, especially in a pro-am.       For all the talk about Tiger's physical ailments, putting problems, etc. is it really just that he isn't able to concentrate like he once was able to do?

[brocks]

For all the talk about Tiger's physical ailments, putting problems, etc. is it really just that he isn't able to concentrate like he once was able to do?

He's always had rabbit ears when it comes to camera clicks, and I've never understood it. There are a lot of events where birds make very loud and raucous noises at unpredictable times, or they have holes near roads or tracks with cars or trains honking their horns, etc., and he doesn't get upset over that. Not to mention the tales of his father deliberately making noises during his swing when he was a kid, to make him immune to distractions. My theory is, he just hates the press, so he laughs it off when a bird makes a noise, but is infuriated when a photographer does it. Or maybe he thinks sports journalists should have more brains than a bird.

[brocks]

By the way, do photographers still use 50's style cameras? Don't they have digital cameras now, that can be set to not make any noise?

[stealthduffer]

I think that these are digital cameras but most professional photographers use a SLR version.  Believe that would still involve the opening of a shutter - though I could be wrong about that.

[newtogolf]

Most sports photographers use digital SLR's so they still do have a mechanical shutter that makes a noise when a picture is taken.  Sony has a shutterless DSLR but for now the majority still make a noise.  Digital point and shoot cameras don't have a mechanical shutter and instead use an electronic noise to replace the shutter sound to let the person know the image was captured which can be turned off.

Originally Posted by brocks

By the way, do photographers still use 50's style cameras? Don't they have digital cameras now, that can be set to not make any noise?

[Zeph]

My theory is, he just hates the press, so he laughs it off when a bird makes a noise, but is infuriated when a photographer does it. Or maybe he thinks sports journalists should have more brains than a bird.

Should we not assume sports journalists got more brains than birds? You can't control the bird, but there are rules on how the journalists are supposed to behave. Honestly, I don't see why they have to shoot pictures that close to the swing. Take one of his finish position if you have to.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Zeph

You can't control the bird, but there are rules on how the journalists are supposed to behave. Honestly, I don't see why they have to shoot pictures that close to the swing. Take one of his finish position if you have to.

Because photos of just after impact are compelling and dynamic.

Just sayin'. :)

[brocks]

Because photos of just after impact are compelling and dynamic.

Well, yeah, they are. [URL=http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/240081/width/511/height/400][IMG]http://thesandtrap.com/image/id/240081/width/511/height/400[/IMG][/URL]

[iacas]

Originally Posted by brocks

Well, yeah, they are.

Glad you agree.

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/memorial_2k9_training_jesper_parnevik.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/jonathan_byrd_wedge_divot_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_kj_choi_follow_through.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/kj_choi_clinic_swing_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_bunker_blast.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_ted_purdy_driving.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/memorial_2k9_training_stuart_appleby.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/memorial_2k9_training_jim_furyk.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/charles_howell_iii_from_rough_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/ian_poulter_hitting_from_bunker_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/matt_kuchar_driving_off_10_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/memorial_2k9_training_steve_flesch.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_tiger_woods_friday_nine_approach.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_tiger_woods_fairway_haney.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/stewart_cink_proam_wedge_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_mark_wilson_driving.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_camilo_villegas_follow_through.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/geoff_ogilvy_255_5iron_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/brandt_snedeker_bunker_blast_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/justin_rose_18_tee_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_fredrik_jacobson_driving.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/paul_casey_clinic_swing_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_sergio_garcia_downswing.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_tiger_woods_friday_driving_first.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_tiger_woods_friday_wedge.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_kenny_perry_driving.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/2k7_memorial_johan_edfors_downswing.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/paul_casey_proam_2k8_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/adam_scott_2006_memorial.jpg

http://thesandtrap.com/b/imgs/pga/brett_wetterich_2006_memorial.jpg(

(telephoto lenses come in handy, particularly during practice rounds)

[brocks]

That's a very impressive portfolio. Seriously. What kind of camera?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by brocks

That's a very impressive portfolio. Seriously. What kind of camera?

5D, 5D Mark II. Not exactly on topic though, so if we could please get back, great.

I think I saw on Golf Central or something they showed Tiger and mentioned his back. He seemed "okay" but maybe not totally 100%. Soreness might not limit his actual capabilities - it might just be sore.

[brocks]

I think I saw on Golf Central or something they showed Tiger and mentioned his back. He seemed "okay" but maybe not totally 100%. Soreness might not limit his actual capabilities - it might just be sore.

Neither his back nor his Achilles tendon seemed to be an issue today. But the difference this year is that his being 100% today doesn't mean a damn thing about tomorrow. The Achilles problem last week came out of nowhere; he claims to have no idea what caused it, said he did a normal warmup in the gym before going on the range, and it just started stiffening up for no discernible reason. The back spasm at least had a discernible cause, but AFAIK he's stopped in mid-swing dozens of times, and never had it happen before.

[jhwmusic]

Oh come on...he has been doing this for years...that is a completely ridiculous statement.    How amazing it is that he is focused enough to be able to stop it is what we should be talking about.  I can't even stop myself from swinging when my club catches the turf on my backswing let alone on the way down.  Remember when he stopped his swing at the masters when a bird flew by.  If you missed it, watch the video.  Was he in denial here too?  Even his playing partner in the red shirt shook his head like "How the F#$k did he do that?"

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Tiger is in complete and total denial.  A cameraman snaps a picture during your backswing and it causes a twinge that makes you drop to your knees?  Seriously?  Tiger is done.  I'll honestly be surprised if he even finishes The Masters.

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by jhwmusic

Oh come on...he has been doing this for years...that is a completely ridiculous statement.    How amazing it is that he is focused enough to be able to stop it is what we should be talking about.

Yup.  And, he is really the only one I've ever seen do it (on the downswing at least).

Originally Posted by brocks

He's always had rabbit ears when it comes to camera clicks, and I've never understood it. There are a lot of events where birds make very loud and raucous noises at unpredictable times, or they have holes near roads or tracks with cars or trains honking their horns, etc., and he doesn't get upset over that. Not to mention the tales of his father deliberately making noises during his swing when he was a kid, to make him immune to distractions.

My theory is, he just hates the press, so he laughs it off when a bird makes a noise, but is infuriated when a photographer does it. Or maybe he thinks sports journalists should have more brains than a bird.

But I agree with brocks that it doesn't make sense.  I was always under the impression that these high level athletes were so focused when competing that they wouldn't even hear the clicks, or wouldn't let it affect them.  Maybe you're right and he is just pissed off, and talented enough to stop his swing, and embarrass the guy/girl.

[jhwmusic]

Originally Posted by Golfingdad

Yup.  And, he is really the only one I've ever seen do it (on the downswing at least).

But I agree with brocks that it doesn't make sense.  I was always under the impression that these high level athletes were so focused when competing that they wouldn't even hear the clicks, or wouldn't let it affect them.  Maybe you're right and he is just pissed off, and talented enough to stop his swing, and embarrass the guy/girl.

I agree with Brocks as well...it shouldn't bother him that much.  Which is why I made the comment earlier in the thread about how he should have had those Navy Seals firing guns and grenades off so that the cameras wouldn't bother him as much.   Or he should just practice with recordings of cameras going off at random

[iacas]

Originally Posted by jhwmusic

Oh come on...he has been doing this for years...that is a completely ridiculous statement.    How amazing it is that he is focused enough to be able to stop it is what we should be talking about.  I can't even stop myself from swinging when my club catches the turf on my backswing let alone on the way down.  Remember when he stopped his swing at the masters when a bird flew by.  If you missed it, watch the video.  Was he in denial here too?  Even his playing partner in the red shirt shook his head like "How the F#$k did he do that?"

I once sprained my neck turning my head to look at my driveway as I backed out of my car. My neck was sore for days.

I've turned my head several times in my life, but that one time, it was much, much worse.

Maybe he'll stop doing it this way and will adopt the Kevin Na style of aborting his stroke (which wouldn't be unwise).

[bunkerputt]

Originally Posted by iacas

I once sprained my neck turning my head to look at my driveway as I backed out of my car. My neck was sore for days.

I've turned my head several times in my life, but that one time, it was much, much worse.

Maybe he'll stop doing it this way and will adopt the Kevin Na style of aborting his stroke (which wouldn't be unwise).

I once threw out my back reaching for a chess piece.  No joke.  Out for a week.

Usually when injuries happen like this, the muscles are already inujured and the body is just waiting to see if it needs to step in and say, "That's enough of that."  I'd done a lot of weightlifting and yardwork, wasn't properly hydrated etc. the day before.

Is it really that hard to stop a swing like Tiger is doing?  After all, shouldn't we be starting the downswing in a controlled way and exploding at the bottom?  It seems like you could either explode into the ball or explode the path way out to the right and miss the ball like Tiger did.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by bunkerputt

Usually when injuries happen like this, the muscles are already inujured and the body is just waiting to see if it needs to step in and say, "That's enough of that."  I'd done a lot of weightlifting and yardwork, wasn't properly hydrated etc. the day before.

I think this speaks to my injury this past Monday.  I was starting my workout with some simple box jumps (very low impact...just kinda getting started) before I went into my normal routine of leg & lower back strengthening, and I ended up straining my lower back (I just resumed cardio activity today by getting on the elliptical machine).

My only explanation is that I've been at the driving range or actually on the golf course every day for the past 8 weeks, save for maybe 4-6 days.  I also work out 6 days a week, taking Sunday off.  I think my lower back muscles were just ready to go.

Brandon