Coffee

Probably setting myself up for a fair bit of ridicule here but...

After a very disappointing performance at Trevose last week 84 & 91 (37 & 36 putts respectively) I decided I had to do something about my putting. I DO believe somewhere inside I'm a good putter. Reading unfamiliar greens can contribute to a less than great putting stat but not much (for my handicap I expect to average 31/32 putts per round). I did notice on a few occasions last week a "where the hell did that come from" twitch causing some horrendous misses. So...looked into the potential reasons for involuntary muscle twitching last week. Lo and behold...caffeine!! Now I'm a 21 cups a week kind of guy so I thought...try it!! So...I've had 4 cups of this week and 2 of them were on the Monday before I did the research.

First on course outing today for my virtually caffeine free body and not only was I just 30 putts, I felt like every putt went where I wanted it, yes there were some misreads but there were NO twitchy strokes. Not sure how I'm going to wake myself up in the mornings but I think I'll be persevering with the Camomile tea

JAS,
I drink about twice the amount you do, all strong stuff. Think that might be affecting my putting? Never thought about it actually, but feel it's (giving up coffee) a sacrifice I couldn't possib;ly make!
Seriously, tried a fat grip for the first time on Thursday morning (after three early morning jolts) and that seemed to help a lot. Made some nice medium (5 - 15 footers) putts and only really missed a couple inside that. Much cleaner strike on the ball.

I could never put worth a d*mn, and I never drink coffee. Probably a grand total of 1 cup in my 50 something years.

I do like the occasional Crown and Coke though!

Don't get me wrong there may be nothing in it at all and I certainly wouldn't call it on the basis of one round, lets see how the theory stands up in a medal today and 2 rounds next week. Got to be said tho I do miss the morning "jolt".

I'm actually going to try the gym this morning, nothing crazy just 10-15 mins cardio (cross trainer) to get the blood flowing and have a good stretch and see what that does (I did feel a bit sluggish yesterday).

Love the smell of coffee but can't drink it, makes me feel sick and twitchy , not a good feeling. Drink plenty of tea which supposedly has more caffeine but doesn't have the same effect. Never got that.
Another reason not to drink coffee is coffee breath, not pleasant.

JAS wrote:"where the hell did that come from" twitch causing some horrendous misses.

Oh JAS - you must be past the age limit. Welcome to the world of the...........................'YIPS'

Sorry mate - the only thing you can do is -

Diggers wrote:Love the smell of coffee but can't drink it, makes me feel sick and twitchy , not a good feeling. Drink plenty of tea which supposedly has more caffeine but doesn't have the same effect. Never got that.
Another reason not to drink coffee is coffee breath, not pleasant.

An old myth. Raw tea leaves have more coffeine per unit weight that coffee beans, but once brewed, coffee has significantly more.

Jury's still out due to a crap round yesterday, opened with a 3putt quadruple bogey so head was wasted right from the off (to be fair the 3putt was mainly because i ripped the 1st putt 10 foot past in a bit of a temper) greens weren't in great condition either. Never had another 3putt and to be honest I didn't have 1 single "twitchy" putt. Was'nt bang on for pace but every putt started off on my chosen line. So....I think there may be something in it so I'll persevere for at least another weekend.

are you sure you're not just knackered after getting up to go to the gym at 6am as a warm up for the golf?

Definitely not Barragan, normally I take at least about a dozen shots into my warm up before I clear stiffness and begin to find the groove. Sunday I was right on it, felt bright, alert and loose and even the early warm up swings were fluid, a few bunker shots, flops, chip & runs on the practise area and I felt great, same on the putting green, all smooth and flowing.

To be honest all of that together sent expectation soaring high so when I then went and blocked my opening drive into the trees....Crrrashhhh!!

i lost my second shot on saturday - absolute killer. went on to lose another two over the round. don't think i've lost that many balls all season in medals let alone in one round. unfortunately our medal was cancelled, otherwise i might have been a little less sloppy! 4bbb semi this afternoon - after a few solid rounds, saturday's score has dipped my confidence a bit

If it came to a choice between golf and my beloved kenyan coffee ... no brainer!

I don't tend to touch tea or coffee, so when I do occasionally have a coffee before golf I can't half feel it. Zoom.

Bizarrely, early round putting seems to be better than later on when it wears off. Although my misses tend to be frustratingly short later on when caffeine is wearing off...

I think it is a bit of a double edged sword roller. There is a small benefit to be drawn from a slightly heightened state of alertness but consumed to excess the twitchy putting comes in.

Similarly with booze, a light tipple aids relaxation but excess destroys concentration.

Coffee is life. Golf just drives you to an early grave!

Mate of mine had a couple of cans of cider on the course last week. His swing is all about timing and even after 1 can his ball striking became horrific. All very funny (and fortunately it was for him too).

Nicotine also used to send my game into a swift decline when I smoked. As I didn't smoke many a day I didn't have one on the course until about halfway. Sent my internals haywire and the ball everywhere.

Fortunately it's easier to give up smoking than give up golf!

Cant believe Im reading this(whilst drinking tea).has the potential to be a classic thread.Never touch the stuff.Alcohol during the round usually causes trouble.
And we also know That Roller's wife is only 4 foot tall.

I played in the 'last blast' comp at my away club on the 31 dec last year. Paired with some young guys early 20s: a +1, Scratch and 4 handicapper. The +1 drank nothing but coke, and shot -6. the 4 had a few beers and nr'd. the scratch went about 3/4 of the way down a bottle of vodka and was level standing on the last tee (before blocking it miles right and giving up). astonishing!

Dyna - ha ha - fairly sure I haven't mentioned my wife anywhere. Can't be certain of course, but the fact I don't have a wife helps.

That said, the girlfriend is short!

Never touch booze on the course generally, but when the handicap's been utterly demolished way before the turn it is hugely tempting.

Barra - I'm impressed with anyone that can stand level after that much vodka, I'd be stumbling around. (dum dum, tish) BTW - what was your tipple/performance for that last blast?

Roller you definitely said that your 'missus is frustratingly short'
Mind she has spoken about you in a similar way

Guilty as charged.

Twice!!!

i don't really drink - so it was pretty much the same carp as normal..
don't mind the odd whisky now and then or an occasional bottle of beer with a nice meal in, but that's about that for me. probably about 1 unit a month on average

Crikey - thought at least 8 units a day modding this would be par!