Knee Pains and Cattle Prods

I blew out my right knee a few weeks ago during a church softball game. It still aches, and I can't run on it at all. Going up stairs is something I keep to a minimum. I played golf on it last week.

I had actually hoped to play while it was still tender. I have a long history of knee problems. This same knee has failed during basketball games, on slippery surfaces, and occasionally for little reason at all. It originally required surgery after I walked into a parked car in my own driveway.

Through all this I have learned something important. When it hurts, I play very good golf. It forces me to swing ...I suppose the best word would be 'calmly'. We all talk about rhythm and tempo, but rarely do anything about changing the way we use it. I am as guilty of this as anyone. Experience has taught me that there is nothing like severe pain to modify your behavior.

The relationship between my knee pain and good golf dawned on me when I registered one of the best rounds I've ever played on the day before my original arthroscopy. I could barely walk, but my surgeon had forbidden golf of any kind for a month. I was going to play one more round. Heck, if the thing was to be surgically repaired I might as well. I had to swing so carefully that I felt I wouldn't hit the ball 50 yards. That turned out not to be the case and I enjoyed one of the best ball striking rounds I have ever had.

I hit the ball well last week too. Unfortunately, I have yet to stumble upon a physical pain or malady that has a positive effect on my putting. In the past, keen minds have suggested that a lobotomy might help. I have rejected that advice. I was looking for something more along the lines of a chronic ailment. I am open to suggestions. I will warn you that considering the general state of my putting, the stuffy nose, bad head cold type of thing isn't gonna cut it.

I always thought a cattle prod might be an effective teaching tool...

Go To Page: 1

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic