Golf Quirks

[MonarchGolf2010]

Reading a few posts in a few different threads got me thinking.  I have seen some pretty interesting quirks over my years playing golf.  Some that come to mind are eating grass, saucer chipping, cross-handed chipping, hitching the pants, or having happy feet before a shot.

What are some quirks that you may have, or that one of your playing partners have? And, why do you have this quirk?

I'll start with some of mine.  I go through a few gyrations that seem as waggles to me, but sometimes my buddies poke fun.  I also tend to have happy feet and "two-step" while settling in to the shot.  Finally, my putting routine varies to whatever feels right.  I sometimes make rehearsal strokes, sometimes I just step up and fire.  Just whatever feels right.

Let's hear what quirks YOU have.

[Strike One]

I don't know if this qualifies for a quirk, but I like to hunt for lost balls. I enjoy going down into a creek, or off in the woods to collect balls. Maybe I never got over Easter egg hunts as a kid. I have tons of balls, and certainly don't need any more, but I can't help it. I'll come home all scratched up and bloody from scrounging through blackberry bushes, and the wife just shakes her head.

[JetFan1983]

I have a super quirky dynamic stretching routine that I always do before playing or hitting balls. It takes about five minutes, but I've gotten some looks from other golfers while doing it -- I'm not as bad as Miguel Angel Jimenez, but I'm up there.

I stretch this way because it really loosens me up and I don't like to static stretch until the round is over.

I also tend to practice with a camera a lot, and I don't see very many others doing that. That's pretty normal for this community though.

[Paradox]

about the only thing I do is pull my left sleeve up so it doesn't feel restricting.  Comes from my baseball days when I would be at bat.

[turtleback]

I won't tee off on a par 3 with a full tee.  I have to find a broken one somewhere on the teeing ground.

[Audaxi]

  turtleback said:

Originally Posted by turtleback

I won't tee off on a par 3 with a full tee.  I have to find a broken one somewhere on the teeing ground.

Same with me. It just feels like a waste of a tee if you do that, and it's almost become a mental thing where I physically cannot hit a good shot with a full tee on a par 3.

[ditchparrot19]

  Audaxi said:

Originally Posted by Audaxi

Same with me. It just feels like a waste of a tee if you do that, and it's almost become a mental thing where I physically cannot hit a good shot with a full tee on a par 3.

Yeah, I have that one, too. I'd sooner just drop the ball on the ground than use a full tee on a 3-par. There have been times when I've walked 20 or 30 yards in front of a tee box to find a broken one.

[Beachcomber]

I have a mild form of OCD... When I find something that works... I tend to stick with it.

Like having a Starbucks Venti Pike on the drive to the course... I have to have it (daily - playing golf or not).  Then on about the 4th hole, I'll open up a Gatorade or a Smart Water.  Then move to one of a few foods that I typically carry... Apple, Banana and or a Protein Bar.

Since I bought a Bugle tee earlier this year... I have to use it on all holes where I use the driver.  Unless of course there is potential of losing it in a nearby hazard or forced carry over brush where it would become difficult to retrieve the tee.  My playing partners always know I'm going to do this.  One of my buddies calls it my 'shot glass'.  Because the tee does look a little odd.

Regarding my swing... The only thing that people have commented on is my 'Stack and Tilt' swing pattern - and my flared feet.  One guy said I looked like a clown. Hhahahah  I told him I'll keep looking like a clown as long as I keep taking his skins money.

[mvmac]

Erik makes fun of me for what he calls my "touretts".  I can only see it when I see video like the one below.  I kind of tap or bounce the club at address.  SF bay area native and tour player Arron Oberholser does something very similar, so I'm good with it

[Teamanglerx]

I mark my ball with a blue sharpie and only a blue sharpie.

[Grumpter]

Have you ever seen Snoopy do his happy dance? It's where his feet are off the ground and flopping to a beat of their own. I have a guy who did this on every drive but always seemed to be 3 yards further than me. Drove me nuts but a nice guy.

[jetsknicks1]

My buddies make fun of me for two things. When I get my feet set at address, I tend to kinda bounce up & down without my feet leaving the ground, until I feel comfortable. Some of my buddies also call me "Chef Boyardee" because I have a semi annoying habit whan I hit a bad shot or miss an easy putt to say "Boyohboyohboyohboy" Under my breath.

[Valleygolfer]

  Strike One said:

I don't know if this qualifies for a quirk, but I like to hunt for lost balls. I enjoy going down into a creek, or off in the woods to collect balls. Maybe I never got over Easter egg hunts as a kid. I have tons of balls, and certainly don't need any more, but I can't help it. I'll come home all scratched up and bloody from scrounging through blackberry bushes, and the wife just shakes her head.

Please make sure I get a tee time right before you. I guess mine would be that I talk to much on the golf course or that I have a snail's pace back swing.

[SloverUT]

I definitely have happy feet.  My brother and boss both make fun of me for it all the time.  I think I learned it from watching my father.

But I also am like the OP when it comes to putting.  Sometimes I will line it up, take practice swing, then fire.   And others I will just get over it and fire.

[ScT1]

My feet tend to waggle when I waggle the club.

I never ground the driver behind the ball and tee. It hovers.

Once saw a crazy quirk in someone I joined up with for a round. During his backswing, he'd lift his left foot off the ground, then stomp it back down on the downswing. It freaked me out at first, but I realized he did that as his way to make sure he got his weight to the left side. He hit the ball pretty well overall and I don't think hit a ball fat the whole day on a full swing.

[dak4n6]

Before every putt I kind of flap or wiggle my left arm out in front of my body before putting my left hand on the grip cause I feel like it hitches up my sleeve a little. I didn't even know I did this until my son pointed it out to me once (and of course I putted like crap the rest of that round).

[divot dave]

  Teamanglerx said:

Originally Posted by Teamanglerx

I mark my ball with a blue sharpie and only a blue sharpie.

"the pen is blue, the pen is blue! the GODDAMN PEN IS BLUE!!!" Jim Carey from Liar Liar...

Sorry, couldn't help but think of that.

[divot dave]

I'm still learning the feel for aiming shots... so in the mean time, I resort to pointing, something my golfing buddies and apparently Michael Breed don't hesitate to mock me about.

http://www.golfchannel.com/media/the-golf-fix-michael-and-holly-alignment/