The game, a structured activity, typically undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used for the purpose of education. In its purest form, a game is a creative avenue for escape, it provides a platform for its players to challenge and commit their concentration. In essence, the games we play are simply that, easy to play games, endeavors of unique intrigue and excitement, they provide us with an opportunity to escape the routine of everyday life and embark on a more personal discovery of our very self. Whilst this may sound some what deep and profound from the surface, lets not forget we are discussing something as simple and second nature as a game, only if one is to fully grasp the raw essence of its very existence then we must first realize its most precious place in the bigger game, the game so readily brand as life itself. While the depth of this focus could easily go on, the point of its worth will forever dive deeper, with mans need for the games we have created becoming ever more central to their long term happiness.
The game of golf has now lost its real title, its acceptance as a sport, one consisting of superior athletes each equipped with the athletic tone and muscular physique of a triathlete. Such metamorphic events have thrown us into a mega modern frenzy of research, theory, analysis and adversity. We have lost the point of the pastime, the sense of the word game alongside the notion of the word golf has all but lost its struggle to the power hungry world of sport. While the players within the game welcome the acceptance of golf as a sport, I have little reason to believe a healthy percentage have taken the time to realize what they have lost and what such a simple change in terminology actually means for the future. No longer is a talented golfer accepted as a prospect unless he or she lives to a strict and balanced lifestyle made up of fitness, nutrition, detailed swing analysis, psychology and analysis. Resting in the arms of the sport is a severe shift in creative priority, not a conscious action but one reflected by the mass appeal of the games first golfing athletes. Goodbye we salute to the flair hungry shot makers of the once seen games past, and welcome to the future age, priority programmed machine like monsters that now so readily surrender to the stress of competitive sport.
The fighting debate over the games founders will forever continue to excite and frustrate the many who surrender to its mystery. For myself, the only thing that really matters is why this great game was ever conceived and created in the first place. Simple, to escape, challenge and discover the boundless potential that lay within us all. Its sole purpose is fun, fun and games, mystery and adventure, the art of escape, the pure essence of the game is ultimately one of great beauty and should be cherished by all who choose to surrender to its mass appeal.
A game is a platform to escape, as in life itself, the game we all find ourselves submerged in daily, the key to maximizing its endless potential is an open mind for total enjoyment of whatever it has to throw at us.
Go play, escape, and don't forget you're there to be challenged so be sure you create.
./
Monday, 3 May 2010
Saturday, 17 April 2010
Gift from GOD.
A kid named Rodney, a boy on a board, a wally on wheels, a genius on the ground. The creative wizard that is named Rodney Mullen is a Skateboard magician in a league of his own. Born a child, Mr Mullen never felt any urgency to grow up, continuing his journey through life on a little board with four wheels his story is one of continued creative progression. Self expression and expanded capability lay at the core of his every move, his every inspirational motivation, the next trick becomes the next mark of minimum standard. The Skateboard king that is Rodney Mullen is and will surely remain the most innovative, forward thinking, creatively expressive individual known to the world of boards with wheels.
The signature bearing author of over 30 distinct tricks, he has single handedly invented the art, the creative discipline of physical expression with a board on four wheels. He is without doubt the worlds most gifted Skateboarder on earth today. A somewhat shy and casually reserved individual, Rodney is a fragile being, an almost damaged human inspiration. Upon opening to question, one would be lead to believe his talent is one born out of an almost autistic state of mind. Pushing himself to the limit of human possibility from the age of 8, he was warned many times of his fathers discomfort with his chosen pursuit, undeterred by such worry Rodney remained focused and fiercely dedicated to the boundless possibility he was faced with.
When forced to retreat to a more remote part of Florida when the family moved to a farm in 1979, it is now this vital stage in his development that he cites as his "most creative time", 1979 - 1980. Its was during this period that the young Rodney, faced only with a flat space to skate in the family garage, in total isolation from the inspirationally creative influences of a more urban, rugged landscape he would hone and master the blueprint for which all others would follow and continue to challenge for the rest of our time on earth.
I can't wait to wake up in the morning... A lot of times I can't sleep because I can't wait to try something new. How many people never really experience that feeling?
Rodney Mullen, 2003
A genius. A creative force. A child in a mans body. A unique human inspiration to boundless possibility. This guy is without doubt the most influential artist to of ever graced the creative discipline of Skateboarding.
Check him out, he's the man and couldn't give two hoots either way, just cares for one thing. He likes to skate, and skate real good is all he cares to do.
,/
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Just like........
TOMMY C.
A look of magic, a trick of laughter.
A man of simple motive, the late great Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper was two part comedian, one part magician, he gave no regard to class or race, all he cared to do was put a smile on a face.
The gift of a smile is without doubt a gift of a god. Born within us all though only shared by a few, the art of expressing one is owned by only you.
Individual lust for laughter.
Take the time to share in one.
Be a friend to yourself and express in one.
RIGHT NOW.
GO ON.
Ha HA hA ha!
./
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Winning & Losing, Existing in between.
The following piece shall briefly discuss the varying perceptions of winning, losing and the void of existence that lay in between. Unveiling the definition of winning and losing on a universal level then discussing how a life committed to either achieving one or avoiding the other will either make you or break you.
Life / the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
Winner / a person or thing that wins something.
Loser / a person or thing that loses or has lost something, esp. a game or contest.
Existence / any of a persons supposed current, future, or past lives on this earth.
So what is life to you?
To me life is all about ones self and subject. Subject being the first category we all fall into, LIFE. Embrace yourself and subject matter in search of the key to ones own happiness. Its the journey we all take, some consciously, some not, its the journey through our own lives in persuit of our own key happiness. This is it, do what makes you happy and you have successfully identified the key to life that so few ever come close to.
"Success is getting out of bed everyday and doing exactly what you want to do"
To many people, the gift of life is an entry fee to a competitive game of POWER, to some its mere SURVIVAL, to others its a LIVING HELL, to a few its a CREATIVE PROCESS, its EXPLORATION, of both self and subject, its an EDUCATION in everything. The point is, life really is whatever you want it to be, within reason, without bringing harm to those that seek their own motives around you, the beauty of life is the FREEDOM it presents.
./
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Simply about SURVIVAL.
Perspectives.
Having recently returned from a brief trip to South Africa where I accompanied a pupil of mine by the name of Darryn Lloyd. I was left with a vast array of deeply moving, thought shifting images. The purpose of our trip was a return to Darryn's homeland where he was competing on the Sunshine Tour for the most lucrative portion of their summer season.
Working on a budget, we were both forced to take slightly different routes into his home city of Durban. He decided to take the cheapest flight with Egypt Air, naturally connecting in Cairo before flying into Johannesburg and finally arriving in Durban courtesy of possibly the most relaxed air flight staff on the planet, Mango Air. Myself, having held onto my cash for slightly longer before diving in, was fortunate to find a road that would take me over such hairy destinations as Bagdad and Iran before touching down in what the Arabians call, the 'Gateway to the World'. Always eager to sample different airlines, my Emirates flight was one of splendid quality and relative comfort, (naturally I was slumming it with the 'eco class', a sign of my life score to date I guess!). It was my first experience of the Jewel in the desert, Dubai, possibly the fastest growing playground in the world. I had a painful eight hours to wander, wait, wonder and eventually wither before connecting in Dubai to Johannesburg at 5 am.
It was massive, I've been to a few of these places, Atlanta, Heathrow, LAX, Kennedy and as big as they are, none of them are shouting as loud as this place.
So what was it shouting?
SPEND, INVEST, SPEND, WEALTH, EAT, DRINK, SPEND, INVEST, ENJOY, RELAX, SPEND, SPEND, SPEND!
If this is the gateway to the world, Im not sure I want to go any further. If the first thing you see on the other side of the gate is lavish goods, high fashion and westernised consumerism then Im well and truely lost.
Or am I?
Its funny, it kind of sums the world up in as much as its just lavish expense. Plonk the best of everything in the desert, invite the wealthiest, most talented professionals of all walks of life, not forgetting some of the dumbest (celebrities) and see what happens. Thats right, the people will come and undoubtedly aspire all the same, each in search of a tiny piece of the icons they seek and continually follow with such misdirected passion.
Its a whole lotta B.S!
From what I can see, from my seat at the gate, there really isn't anything to explore and tap into here, nothing of any true worth anyway. Its just, as the modern documented world has so rapidly become, merely a lavish place to spend all evil on nothing but shit you really don't need and never find any happiness in.
But thats just it, western society has become all to engrossed in their search for happiness. Misdirected, lead astray, kidnapped and simply fooled into thinking the key to all happiness lay with expensive items of merchandise. Lavishly presented packages of comfort, good vibes with a fat price tag as used by the most fame hungry puppets on the planet.
So what is happiness?
What does it mean to you?
Happiness for me will probably mean nothing to you.
Whatever our individual perception of happiness is, lets all rest assured in finding it we have all experienced success. Success is the by product of happiness not vise versa. In a quest for happiness you will find your own level of success and appreciate your place in society and resulting influence on the people that populate your world. No matter how big or small that influence may appear to ones self, to influence a small part of life is to influence the entire spectrum of its potential.
How many people see it like this?
Lets take a look at the six most desired human needs.
1. CERTAINTY
2. VARIETY
3. SIGNIFICANCE
4. LOVE/ CONNECTION
5. GROWTH
6. CONTRIBUTION TO OTHERS
These elements are based on the conclusions of Anthony Robbins, the prolific motivational speaker and life coach from the United States. His conclusions suggest clearly the human elements Im sure all of us have felt consumed by at some point in our lives. Rightly positioned at the top of the list is CERTAINTY or CONTROL, we all seek it, as much as we all hate falling under it. We all wish we could see things for certain, the outcome of our endeavors, our investments or financial futures. Controlling forces are all around us, we are continually trying to escape them on a daily basis, weather at home from a loved one or in work and the societies that surround us, of course thats not forgetting the powers that be within our governments and law enforcement sectors. Life is unashamedly submerged in control.
From the moment we are born we know only life, but life is born and raised under the control and direction of the loved ones who decided to grace the planet with our presence.
What is a parent trying to control?
The safe guarding, healthy life and successful future of their child.
Its every parents dream, to see their little creation develop into a successful human being, one who needs for nothing more than the love and support of his family. But at the absolute core of each and everyone of us, parent and child, there lay the rawest human instinct of them all, SURVIVAL! Yes, at the very heart of us all is a very basic human will to survive. Our primary goal as humans is to gather a consistent supply of food and drink, followed closely by warm clothing and warm dry shelter. Its a pretty simple view of life but really this is all we really need to live long and happy lives.
SURVIVAL, its the most basic and essential human desire.
Which brings me back to first thing that jumped off this page and demanded your attention. The image at the top of the page shows two young boys on the side of a busy highway on a wet Monday morning in South Africa. Looking more like the Highlands of Scotland, our eleven hour journey was about four hours in when we passed through yet another township of which many children were playfully begging for food and outside interaction.
Right there, right at that moment the entire trip was thrown into a frenzy of clear cut perspective. Razor sharp were the teeth of this moment, it managed to cut straight through my soul, more than a wake up call, I suddenly felt a sense of higher purpose. As the journey continued we would pass through many a more densely populated town, each one bustling with action, so many people, so much to look at and nowhere to hide. I had never been so far from the comfort and security of my own home, I was in the wild and deeper than Id ever ventured before. Everywhere I looked, every new town we entered all you could see were people going about their everyday life, most were smiling, lots were laughing and naturally a great many were merely surviving. What I saw that day was a society at ease with itself, a massive array of individuals all sharing the same goal, each following the same daily ritual.
SURVIVAL. In their quest for daily survival not one of these people appeared frustrated or in anyway influenced by the other. The goal of the day was aim for tomorrow, then think about the next day, find some work, earn some money and find some food. Simple human instincts in their absolute rawest form.
Live to Survive and you succeed in finding simple highs of joyful happiness.
.
Thursday, 21 January 2010
Harry VEE.
A genius, a man who probably left us more than any other player in the games history. Unknown to many, the great gift Mr Vardon blessed the modern game with was not actually of his own experimentation. First invented by a champion Scottish amateur golfer by the name of Johnny Laidlay, it was however Vardon who first adopted it in his quest for golfing dominance.
What Harry Vardon adopted was a revolutionary new method of holding the golf club in search of that vital formation of the hands on the grip. This great man was the first to fully respect and appreciate the essential function of the hands as they rule the leadership over everything else in golf.
The hands are your only connection with the golf club and the golf club is what influences the golf ball. Which is why they say, Mr Vardon had complete mastery over his hands at all times. His grip was a major contribution to the progress of the game.
Complete mastery of the hands is complete control of the club face.
Don't think for one second this great man depended on his hands to 'save' a shot or ever find need to manipulate the club face with his hands anywhere in the downswing. Through a deep respect for a perfect hold on the golf club, Harry Vardon understood the hands would need to simply perform as efficiently as possible as they delivered the golf club through impact, which is why he desired absolutely no conscious thought to activate the hands as they reach their maximum speed at the bottom of the swing. A free wheeling golf club, one traveling without force created by himself would be much faster, more online and consistently effective than when consciously inflicted with the force of his own muscle.
In developing the Vardon Hold, (where by the last finger of the bottom hand on the grip simply overlaps the index finger of the top hand), Harry had created a connection with the golf club that promoted exquisite blending of both hands to form a balanced unit. When formed correctly they allowed the clubs handle to fit securely though without any need for tension across any point in the hands, wrists or forearms.
To this day the Vardon hold is still the most popular method of holding the golf club amongst Touring Professionals. Of the three principle methods, to label one better than the other would be pointless. It really is a matter of individual hand size, feel and personal preference as to what you are looking to achieve with the flight of your golf shots. As such a highly individual discipline that golf is, finding the most efficient hold is down to you, the best advice one could share though would have to be, stick with it and accept nothing short of perfect. The correct function in the hands as they connect with the golf club really is the most influential element of golf you will ever find yourself engaged in.
Take the time to master it and forever feel the benefit.
.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Saturday, 16 January 2010
Fundamentally Furyk.
"I never look at my swing on tape. When I need to fix errors, I go back to the fundamentals."
On first glance Jim Furyk could be easily mistaken as one of many journeyman Tour Pros. His walk, his talk, his unassuming presence on stage make him one of the most appealing nice guys on tour. But what stands this unsuspecting Super Star from his illustrious crowd of 21st Century challengers is one totally unique and quite awesomely effective reflex action. Trained, shaped, groomed and driven his entire life through the wisdom of a great father, Jim and Mike Furyk have single handedly paved a brick road of solid gold for all others to follow. With a golf swing like no other, one totally unique, individual to the man who owns it, the family Furyk are hard evidence that the art of ball control is not and will never be a sure fire black and white notion printed on a page or imprinted in the mind. For as long as human beings are born as they eventually die, as unique bodies, with totally individual tendencies, of vastly diverse views, opinions, beliefs and capabilities, never, and I repeat, never will the game of golf fall victim to one single method of golf swing technique.
As a former University of Arizona team member, Jim Furyk never owned much of a golf game. A regular high 70 low 80 shooter, Jim had a tough time adjusting to the demands of life as an aspiring PGA Tour Player. Clearly a naturally gifted talent, one built not on length but acute accuracy, he had the talent but did the swing fit? That was the question Jim Furyk was constantly faced with and no doubt left lying alone for many a waking hour in bed every night. From study of his early college scoring you are left asking one question;
What was going on in this dudes head?
With a swing all of his own, the kid from West Chester, Pennsylvania was about to encounter the kind of mental aggravation typically reserved for the socially inept. From pillar to post this young stars natural instincts were to be torn, tampered and down trodden to the point of near massacre. If it didn't look like a Tour Players Swing then how could it ever perform like one? From the very beginning of his college days, this future US Open Champion, with the swing once described with reference to an Octopus falling out of a tree, was about to begin the most rewarding three year training period of his career. Unlike anything he ever imagined it would be, Jim Furyks college grooming would fast become one of pure mental conditioning. Having to maintain a clear focus on the goal set before him whilst accepting all levels of critical swing punishment, self doubt and confidence damaging confusion. Which way to turn and how long before you can trust it?
Moving away from the natural instincts of his youth and raw talent that decided his future goals at the top of the game soon became a daily ritual for Jim. Pulled one way, then another, do I change, do I just go play, which way shall I play today?
This my reader, is the commonly polluted mindset of many an aspiring teenager with a bag full of talent. Fully ingrained with unique reflex actions commonly known as technique, the world is littered with potential greatness and potential boundary pushing revelations. Is it to bold a statement to express distaste and appall towards the many 'Swing Connoisseurs', the techno scientists that quite frankly don't fully appreciate what the greatest players of the past so readily did in their own quest for the only thing that mattered, 'Ball Control'. Before the day of still photography and video playback, these guys only had one thing on their minds, controlling the golf ball better than the next guy, if they did that then the good times would eventually roll, and roll, on and on and on. Never did they go in search of something else, a new swing or in vogue method of presenting the golf club to the golf ball. From the moment their first ball was struck, the Nelsons, Hogans, Sneads, Thompsons and Nicklaus's of our great pastime all struck upon one clear ideal. Each and every one of them pursued the game with an undeniable appreciation for the fundamentals of the address. Not always perfect and to a model, but always in sync and perfectly tuned to themselves as individuals. Through hard work and total dedication to the art of ball control the greatest of the greats had complete trust in their own golf swing. Put simply, they each owned their golf swing and as a result, had total trust in themselves and reflex actions even during the moments of intense pressure.
So as you can begin to see, a young Jim Furyk, torn apart for the sake of his natural look, his god given looping golf swing. As much as it was nearly the death of him, the resulting torment has ultimately instilled the level of mental toughness demanded of the situations his very own, eventually mature golf swing has so consistently presented before him. The cruel reality of the modern game so nearly destroyed the boundless possibility of a man who shall undoubtedly be remembered as a funny looking swinger capable of striking the ball straighter than most.
For me, I shall prefer to remember this man as a testament to the individual. A man so strong mentally he has managed to sustain and achieve with a natural reflex for delivery of the golf club like no one before him. Lets all take a lesson from the Furyk's and seek nothing more than a total respect and understanding for all that truely matters in the art of ball control. Golfers everywhere should take note of the four key elements of great ball striking that Jim holds closest to the heart of his game.
GRIP./ Because the hands have the greatest influence over the club face.
ALIGNMENT./ The body lines have the greatest influence over the direction of the swing and ball.
BALL POSITION./ Has the greatest influence over the correct angle of approach into the golf ball.
DISTANCE CONTROL./ Controlling the rhythm of his swing enables total control of swing speed.
He swears by them, so should you.
There really is nothing else at the heart of a great swing other than a winning ATTITUDE. Engage in the process and submerge yourself in the understanding of these four basic elements and I guarantee you are well on your way to being the golfer you have always strived to be.
Enjoy the triP.
./
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Sterile Laboratory.
Evolution?
So what's changed?
Exactly, what has changed, apart from the huge amount of cash, advertising, TV ratings, endorsements, corporate entertainment and manufacturers price battles, nothing has changed. Yes thats right, we still do and always will, play the game of golf with one single goal in mind, to successfully control our golf ball around 18 holes of a golf course in as few amount of strokes as possible.
Thats the game.
Ball in hole!
If we take a trip back to the 1930's and 40's, we find ourselves apart of something much more appealing than the modern cash farm we are currently faced with today. Back in the day, when the game was still seen as a game, the element of skill was all in the hands of the most creatively expressive individual. It came down to the guy who had the most nerve, the player who had the most open mindset to enable his reflex actions to fully unfold into the ball flight demanded of the most challenging golf shots. The greatest players of our past, namely; Byron Nelson, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus to name just a small few, each had the inner trust, the unshakable belief to execute golf shots of the highest order during the most intense, tournament pressure situations. They all had reflex actions they could depend on, a golf swing made of unique body movements, individual levels of rhythm and swing speed. They each had sole possession of their own golf swing, they knew exactly how it was going to perform in different conditions, course types and tournament situations without ever doubting the way, shape or form of its function. Mr Nelson never cared a hoot as to how his major winning swing looked, he had one goal, to win as many golf tournaments as he could. To achieve his goal he realized the great importance of ball control and accomplishing such would ultimately define him as the player we all respect and the achievements we all admire so much to this day.
The great players of the past were, without question, the most creative generation of golfers this great game has ever been blessed with. Ok, so we could argue, there are many elements of the game that have been developed and modified tremendously over the past 60 years. The golf courses have undoubtably been lengthened considerably, but only to accommodate such extreme developments in club and ball technology. Players of today are much stronger, more physically in tune and able to compete and practice for much longer periods without showing signs of either mental or physical fatigue. They have the best of everything, the best coaches, trainers, nutritionists, psychologists and management teams, the mass involvement surrounding the modern player is quite frankly astounding.
Break it all down and see what you find, split it all into groups and employ an expert to lead and direct each element. So I ask, 'how deep did Byron, Walter, Ben and Bobby dive in their own efforts to master their unique ability to perform so skillfully at this game?' How did they adopt such awareness of their own natural ability and remain in such control of it for so long throughout such successful careers?
Without the help of a world class teacher, physical training regime or intense psychological self assessment, they all achieved their success and place in the games history through honest hard work and complete dedication. They had little knowledge of the golf swings many technical possibilities, caring for one thing, ball control. Ball control on every stroke, one after the other, the golf ball, when struck by a legend of the past was a pure and simple artistic stroke of skill. It was a combination of all things human, from physical condition, strength, speed and mental preparation, to the inner most powerful elements of touch, feel and sense of direction and distance. The very essence of such raw skill is what made the players of our past such great champions. The result of tireless dedication, each one spent his own personal turmoil of experimentation before striking upon the golden ticket. Mr Byron Nelson in particular, along with every other player of his generation, had to completely retrain his reflex actions to accommodate the introduction of the new Steel shafts of the early 1930's. Such diligent intelligence has rarely been seen or demanded since, with so many of the worlds leading players now pampered by every man and his cheque book its hard to see such a trend ever disappearing. Gone have the days when a Tournament Player heads off to the range to dig in the dirt as Hogan so profoundly expressed it, in search of his own answers regarding his golf swing. Modern players have clearly become addicts to the many damaging dealers or scientists that so regularilly frequent the tournament stage week in week out. Keen to push their own spin on playing the game and achieving their goals, the modern golf instructor, (more commonly known as the swing guru), the psychologist, nutritionist and many other hangers on have created a mass dependency on their services. The result of which has left many a talented player looking to seriously contend, now believing they must follow suit and do as the next guy does. Follow the modern trend to the great beyond, where everyone does the same thing and achieves the same goals. Facing a future with little chance of ever learning anything about their own natural reflex actions and highly acute sense of instinctive judgement. The modern day Tour Player never comes to fully own their own golf swing, never really coming to grips with the vital elements that shape and create the talent they aquired so naturally as a kid.
When following the stars of the PGA and European Tours, I find it enormously unsettling to see such a 'Sterile Laboratory' of clearly talented individuals. By this, I can see little inspiration and need for modern players to actually create great golf shots, execute highly skilled reactions to the target or develop new shots and varying ball flights. Only a select few appear to have the strength and expressive freedom in character to set about destroying this view. Taking the games emphasis back to what makes every pure strike so addictively satisfying is what lay at the heart of my own teaching. To be a SHOT MAKER is to be a Tournament Standard Player, one worthy of his or her place competing at the highest level, in search of the games most celebrated honors.
The modern game is lacking the shot makers from which it was originally born and fully embraced from the 30's through to 60's, the creative mould that gave us such boundless shot making potential is now caught between two punishing words; POSITION and POWER! In search of an easier means of achieving success on a golf course, the leading club manufacturers have expressed their own creative freedom on the grandest of scales. Left to design, develop, enhance and destroy, these money hungry monsters have all but changed the purpose of the game. Advances in technology has increased average hitting lengths from the Tee, increased the chances of a pure strike for your average player and attempted to limit the rate of spin on golf balls all in an effort to provide golfers with more control, distance and overall enjoyment of the game.
All this viewer can say is, has the stroke average of the leading players improved over the past 60 years?
The lowest recorded stroke average in 1939 was a highly impressive Byron Nelson with 68.70.
Tiger Woods has just completed his 2009 season with a stroke average of 68.84.
So as you can see, with the largest of technological advancements and excessive instructional segmentation we have actually seen the Stroke Average of the worlds very best golfers get worse! The clear cut result of such progressive off course developments has undoubtably produced nothing more than a closing of the gap between the good and really good Tournament Players. The many advancements of all areas within the game has all been born out of one sole purpose, to make us all better golfers. On the grandest of scales, looking at the big picture, yes golfers everywhere have truely benefited, but the facts remain to be seen at the very top of the game.
Why haven't the very best progressed?
Did Byron push the boundaries of play to its absolute limit?
I don't believe for a second we have seen the very best a man can get. Yes its fair to say Tiger will be remembered as the greatest player we have ever witnessed, with his record setting year in 2000, his all time low Stroke Average of 68.17 will surely take some beating. But, I have little doubt that day will come, although, if current trends remain and modern ideals in the world of play and coaching remain so sterile and utterly lifeless in its contempt, then Im afraid the day we see a 67 point something could be at least another 60 years down a long and winding fairway.
./
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Land of the Giants.
Jack set the standard for which a Tiger was set to follow.
18 Major titles.
Will the Tiger surpass the Bear?
To become the greatest?
What is it to be the greatest?
Great golfer?
Great human?
True gentleman?
Tick all the boxes?
Is it to late for Tiger?
Will the world forgive and forget?
The greatest is a model for all others to follow.
Is Tiger an acceptable role model?
I guess only time will tell.
But will time allow.
Tiger Woods now faces the biggest challenge of his life.
Repairing the damage he has now caused.
In saving his marrage will the world forgive?
Will the game allow?
./
./
Monday, 14 December 2009
Trigonometry.
Whether by conscious action or nervous reaction, we all have a trigger to our swing.
A slight twitch or small adjustment to a possibly unomfortable position in the address.
Its a natural tendency that all swings are ignited on.
A search for comfort, a desire to control.
It’s the trigger to that eventual bang.
This article shall aim to highlight the equally destructive and potentially powerful qualities of this essential tendancy. Two of the games greatest, both Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones each exemplified the potential power of a well rehearsed, exquisitely timed and perfectly executed movement or waggle before they proceeded to swing. Both had positive triggers. Through practice, patience, awareness and understanding, they had ultimately developed the bridge that connects the set-up with the swing.
“The function of the waggle and the movement of the body preceding the actual beginning of the backswing is to avoid or destroy tension in the position from which the swing is to make it’s start.”
Bobby Jones.
It’s the tragically overlooked, most common element to all the great swings of the past.
It is, as Ben Hogan so perfectly described it. “Instrumental in helping the golfer make the transition from setting up the ball to starting the swing.”
Whether you realise it or not, you already have a trigger.
So have you ever asked the question; ‘What starts your swing?’
What’s your trigger?
Is it having a positive or negative impact on your golf swing?
Before you read on, take some time to digest the following train of thought regarding the essence of the golf swing and the art of shaping it to control your golf ball.
The toughest part of coaching this game is explaining and ultimately convincing a player how the commonly seen ‘basic’ positions of the set-up totally influence the resulting shape of the swing. Very few players actually position themselves correctly before they make their swing, so resulting in a series of reflex actions that form to create a golf swing full of compensatory moves and resulting feelings. As a teacher of this great game one is forever moving his pupils into the correct address position to best create a reflex action of simple non compensatory movements. When correctly positioned in the address, and before they even attempt to ignite their golf swing, the pupil will typically react with a sudden twitch, shuffle or series of destructive actions that ultimately places them in a more comfortable position in which to make a swing. Ninety percent of the time this common reaction to a sound set-up can be seen in the hands or feet. More commonly in the hands its the position and pressure of the hands on the golf club that have the greatest influence over everything that occurs there after. The application of a great hold on the golf club can be a long and painful journey, but rest assured the short term pain is more than worth the long term gain. In the beginning its only natural to feel horrendously unnatural, which further highlights the great importance of the hands as the most sensitive element to the swing.
“Your eyes commit your mind and body to the target, your hands feel the club, and your feet feel the ground
Bob Toski.
So when we talk about positive and negative triggers we are simply referring to the effect the trigger has on your address position and resulting swing. Ones first goal as a teacher is to identify the location of your trigger then determine whether or not it is effecting your swing with a positive or negative effect? But first we must work towards shaping ourselves into the most efficient address position for you the individual. We are not building an address position from a precise model, the entire process of teaching this game is a matter of shaping, we simply shape the individual into a position at address that will have the desired effect on the club face as it connects with the ball through impact. We are only ever concerned with the point of impact as this is the moment of absolute truth in golf.
Address the ball to produce a neutral ball flight, one free of excessive side pin in favour of the desired backspin demanded of a straight ball flight.
The art of this game is to react to a target by striking a ball towards it with a club.
It’s a game of reactions.
As we react to the shot before us by first selecting the most effective ball flight.
Then we address the ball in a position that shapes the swing to create the shot desired.
The act of swinging the golf club is simply a reaction that is controlled or shaped by the positions created in the set-up.
In creating the perfect neutral set-up for the individual, at first the position will feel awkward, uncomfortable and sometimes so strange you may think, how on earth am I expected to make a swing from here. When this is the feeling at address we all resort to our trigger, in an effort to gain comfort and ignite a reaction you make a small adjustment. Sometimes this adjustment is so small, so slight, it readily goes unseen.
Spotting the trigger requires a pair of trained eyes, feel free to mail me some video footage as I would love to analyse and highlight your trigger.
As soon as your trigger has been identified, the next job is either eradicating the negative or simply turning that negative into an effective positive. This may take the shape of either a waggle of the club, a kick of the right knee, a slight turning of the head, there are a number of possibilities. The ultimate goal here is to finalise your preparation to swing without damaging the great work you have done with your address to the ball.
Ben Hogan first became aware of the crucial importance of the waggle when he observed the advantage that Johnny Revolta gained by using it for short shots around the green. Mr Hogan studied the waggle as he did every element of his swing, with exquisite detail and unmatched dedication. He was to make the waggle his own and develop a formula for applying it to his full repertoire of shot making. Not happy with one single, easily repeatable movement before every shot, Hogan believed the waggle should vary depending on the type of shot to be played. A more aggressive, low flighted shot into a stiff breeze would demand a much lower more penetrating ball flight so might require a much snappier, aggressive waggle. When faced with a much higher, soft landing shot, the waggle would possibly become much slower. More in key with the pace of swing required to creatively execute the shot before him.
The great Mr Hogan was a true perfectionist, he never left any stone unturned which is why he developed such a key function for his trigger. Whatever he did naturally, he replaced it with a positive alternative, his waggle became an integral part of every shot by injecting the desired rhythm, flair and initial speed into his target reaction.
So next time you take a golf lesson, question your teacher to look closely and see if he can identify your trigger. Im not saying every golfer has one, but sometimes these little infidelities can ruin a good address position and live on without attention. The result is a tireless effort to rectify the issue within the swing, remember, the game is about reacting to a target from a desired shot shaping position, if the ball isn’t responding as desired then theres a good chance that blasted trigger is shooting you down.
./
Friday, 4 December 2009
Anton / Talent V's Attitude.
Talent is an immeasurable element of human nature. At the very top level of any sport its really quite irrelevant and somewhat over shouted about. I mean, to be a top flight Touring Professional its a given, they all have supreme talent. Only what separates the best from the rest is without doubt the shape, strength and force of ones mental attitude towards everything that goes with it. Not just in golf but in all walks and evolving situations in life, its all about how one perceives and ultimately reacts to this that makes them the person, man, golfer or human they are today.
Anton Haig is without question a hugely talented individual, a strong player with boundless yards off the Tee and a presence of such strength one can't help but expect to see him encounter one of the most awesome of golfing adventures. Still only 23, his first victory on the European Tour came in 2007 when he won the Johnnie Walker Classic to secure his European Tour Card. Its fair to say its been an adventure from then on, well off the golf course anyway, though I'm afraid on the course the powerful youngster has battled tirelessly with little hope of finding the form that brought him that first win in 07. Quite clearly an extremely procurable character, evident last year at the start of the 2009 season whilst playing in the Joburg Open he decided to play bare foot, that's right! NO SHOES! He's either been reading 'Sam Snead on Golf', felt he needed to be a touch more grounded, or just wanted to feel in touch with the earth on a kind of new age eco warrior kind of wave. Then again I guess his shoes probably just didn't fit him anymore, I mean he's a big guy, bigger than an Els and leaner than a Goose.
So what is it with this guy?
What gives him the right to do whatever he pleases with the talent he has to play golf?
That's just it, Talent, for as long as he can remember I would guarantee all he has ever heard is how hugely talented he is. Over the course of the first 20 years of this dudes life, everything he did with a golf club would of been the easiest thing in the world. His ability to play golf would of centered totally around the essence of SCORING, dropping that ball into the hole, CONTROLLING THE BALL around the course with ease, grace and no doubt a touch or brawn to boot! His clearly evident mass of raw talent has carried him swiftly to the top flight of the game.
So what's happening to Anton Haig?
Lets start from the top of the spiral, his massive win in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket shot this sensation to the top of the potential South African greats list and with it came cash, endorsements, fame and that invincible feeling of supremacy. Life never tasted as good, though I'm afraid never been as sweet since, well, on the golf course that is. Away from the game Anton has become known more for his infamously excessive habit for partying, and boy does this dude know how to party. I recollect one story shared by a Sunshine Tour Player who claimed Mr Haig once spent three weeks at a European Tour event, arriving a week before and leaving a week after. Had this been Tiger Woods you wouldn't be surprised to read such preparation strategy, so on first reading you could be fooled into thinking Mr Haig was following suit and preparing like a pro. In the space of three weeks the total figure in question amounted to approx. 32,000 and he missed the cut! That's right his bar bill for that week in Spain was a staggering 32,000 Euros, how on earth he ever figured he would perform to any kind of level is beyond this viewer.
He, like so many hugely talented individuals appear to pay the price for their gift with a fragile state of self awareness. This trade off for talent can sometimes be to the detriment of hard work and dedication. Where by those less gifted individuals more limited in talent are forced to work much harder, more committed to pushing themselves from the word go and so continuing their careers well into their latter years. Those seemingly born with an exceptional ability to perform well at this game or any sport with less effort in their early years could argue to having greater difficulty achieving to their fullest potential. They can fall victim to their own talent, never having to work hard at ones game as a youngster can prove to be a players biggest hurdle when they are faced with a slump or loss of direction. As an effortlessly impressive junior, Master Haig no doubt cruised through the ranks of Club, Provincial and National Champion with relative ease before quickly discovering the self belief to achieve at the highest level of Professional Golf. To of achieved so much, so soon and with such ease brings its sometimes painful pitfalls. Most notably in the form of expectation, which in turn brings pressure, that vitally potent ingredient that all high achievers must love and constantly strive to taste. The problem with talent is its inconsistent nature and the level of pressure stacked with it, one mans worry can be another mans bliss. How we perceive various situations is a matter of individual self awareness and the confidence one has in his own ability to handle that situation, that's the very nature of pressure. So as you can see, ones talent has a big influence over ones ability to handle various levels of pressure. For Anton, with so much talent and so much awareness of that talent so young in his career is it possible to accept his biggest issues today are merely a matter I realizing just how much he has achieved on mere talent alone? Is it time to now start working, ignoring the hangers on, the locals, the aspiring Antons that line the ropes each week?
I would say it is.
Its time to move in favor of a more single minded approach to actually maximizing the potential of his talent before its lost to the vortex of his own emotion. Its time he, like so many of the worlds up and coming talented players of the world, realise the very essence of talent is what keeps them in the game long enough to even consider life as a professional. Talent is the equalling force that levels the playing field and completes the bubble that is Professional Golf, but what makes the best so much better than the rest from week to week is the complex tapestry of MENTAL ATTITUDE.
Tiger Woods talent is what brings him into line with every other competitor the world over, Anton Haig included, but what separates them both is Tigers level of preparation and the level of belief this creates. Talent does not separate them, it challenges them both to compete against one another, the desire to overcome, to destroy and conquer is what so few modern players actually possess.
TALENT is the seed from which potential greatness is born.
ATTITUDE is the source from which that greatness is realised.
.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Human after ALL!!!
Greatness is without doubt the most responsible duty of them all. A superstar performer or legendary figure so closely pursued with the utmost scrutiny of the public eye. Constantly admired for their incredible feats of skill, talent, drive, focus and unshakable commitment to being the best they can be. It goes without saying, such a gift should be cherished, respected and ultimately utilised to the greatest possible effect. Such a position is not graced upon individuals of unique character and mental discipline lightly, it is the result of tireless commitment and true dedication to their maximizing of the human form to its fullest potential.
Greatness is born within us all, only but a few are fortunate enough to ever discover the talent and passion required to fully unlock such greatness. For those that have, we must all commend and savour their achievements, lets honor the Sporting Stars of generations come and generations gone with a deep respect for the level of hard work, sweat and sacrifice exposed by everyone of them.
As a respected Golf Instructor and dedicated purist of the game I feel incredibly honored to be apart of a world sport that currently plays host to the Greatest Sportsman on the planet and arguably the Greatest Golfer the World has ever seen. There really can't of been any better time to be a golfer, though hand me a ticket and I'd chop my right arm off for a trip back to the 50's, 60's or 70's. I wouldn't want to stay there after seeing what I now have but damn would it be cool to pick up on the crisp sounding strike of a Hogan long iron. Class like that doesn't pass through all that often which is why its such a privilege sharing the golfing platform with the genius of Tiger Woods.
Genius?
Exceptional intellectual or creative power or other natural ability.
The bench mark of a generation, respected and remembered by the world as a model of excellence capable of inspiring generations to come. These unique figures are basically seen as perfect human beings, sometimes so far removed from the public that support and follow them that these individuals become prisoners in their own self centered world of invincibility. Tiger Woods reached that milestone, in his pursuit of greatness and 18+ Major Championships he has sacrificed more than most people will ever fully appreciate or even care to. As a result of his achievements I'm afraid all the world has come to see is a figure of absolute superstar proportion, almost god like.
So how incredible is the Tiger?
The past two years has proved without question what lies at the heart of the great one and I can safely say its all human. Yes that's right folks, he has urges, instincts, desires and even temptations into sin like every single one of us. Know one can deny, its human nature, we all have a devil within us, a naughty little voice that thrives on the risk and excitement of breaking certain rules every now and then. Tiger is no different, he's come an awful long way on his journey through life and committed every last ounce of his life to remaining focused on the mission he first pinned to his bedroom wall as a 10 year old boy. Such a single minded pursuit doesn't come without sacrifice, giving up ones youth and the childhood intrigue that allows us all the time to fully explore not just the endless possibilities of everything around us but the unlimited fun and games on offer on the way is a more than high price to pay. A figure of sporting excellence such as Tiger has never dated girls for long, short, rocky or smooth periods of time, as he developed into the man we see today all he has ever really known is the game. Any room for experimentation, adventure and intrigue has unfortunately spread no further than a ball and stick, all he's ever known is excellence and reaching the highest standards ever known to man.
Just as Mr Woods had reached the point of dislike with this writer, he decides to get a little sloppy with his 'Sexting' and carelessly blows his mischievous manner straight into the public radar! A suspected mistress conveniently follows himself and Mother down under whilst he shows up for a rare appearance in the Australian Masters. I might add he won the event in typical Tiger fashion with a week of errant drives survived by exceptional flashes of genius into and around the greens of a half baked Sandbelt Masterpiece. All in all this week has been a good one for the Tiger Woods fan base in my mind as its just reopened for business! As much as I hate the fact his family must be experiencing a horrendous amount of pain and intrusive media attention right now, this whole episode has revealed the human side of the Tiger and brought him back down to earth with an almighty crash. But lets not worry about him, he's made his bed and now its time he laid in it!
So what of these other women?
Im really not concerned with their details, stories, encounters or tempting looks of seduction, the bottom line is our God like figure of Golfing Supremacy is not a gift from God, he's not apart of a super human race or time traveller sent back to push the course of the game on. He is in fact just another dude, he has urges and occasionally submits to temptation.
Submittable to temptation or pursuit of desire?
The most powerful trait of any top athlete is a commitment to attaining the prize, seeing something and wanting it is the spark that ignites the desire that sets these individuals on that path to attainment.
Tiger Woods is without doubt the greatest sportsman living today and should be constantly admired as a model of sporting excellence, a hero, an idol, a source of inspiration for millions of young people across the world. He should not be hounded by the media and destroyed as a man away from the game, its the game that makes Tiger Woods, without it he's just another guy fighting the human instinct of sinful temptation. Take him out of the game and you give him acceptance of the common man who acts sinful, with deception and mischief, because such is everywhere. Leave Tiger in the game and you have a man of great naievity in thinking such a public figure of such magnitude is really so immortal he could actually explore other women and encounter situations of great deception without paying any price. He has clearly lost track of his position and role as a figure head for so many concerns. His once invincible image of perfection has now been destroyed and Im afraid his now uncertain public persona lay in the balance of his now sleazy, love rat reputation.
So the genius of Tiger has finally produced signs of breaking, but what else? Could this be the beginning of something much worse? Is Tiger beginning to show the true strain of supreme athleticism, is the temptation so readily thrown before our highest earning sports stars of today proving to much? Is he losing his drive, is he slowing up through boredom, has the great one simply burnt out or is he just bored of winning?
Only time will tell.
Tiger Woods could put so much more back into the game and spread the great gift of the game to a far bigger audience than he already does. The man is a boy at heart, never fully exploring ones childhood and the youthful sense of adventure and mischief can be a regrettably sorry mistake on a persons latter life reflections and possible midlife antics.
Taking responsibility for ones unsuccessful actions and accepting it is the act of a successful man.
Anything is possible, man or machine, we are all the same, born as we shall all die, with nothing. What one does with their time is what makes one the Man.
./
Friday, 20 November 2009
Peter Thompson.
Even Emotion.
A gentleman, a golfer, a champion, an individual, a father and a husband. This guy is no ordinary one, far from just another golfer of our past, Peter Thompson is a unique mind of titanic human proportions. This is the man who successfully laid claim to five Open Championship victories, four of which came before he reached his 28th birthday. Three of these were consecutive wins and between 1952 and 1958 he would finish no worse than 2nd on his beloved links. Thompson's Open statistics really are mighty impressive, between his first Open in 1951 and 1971 he was only outside the top 10 on 3 occasions when even then he was no worse than 24th.
A truely remarkable record from a true legend of the game.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Master it and play!
"Master the instrument, master the music, then forget all that shit and play".
Charlie Parker.
One Goal/ endless possibilities.
For over 500 years the game of golf has been played with one single goal, to strike a small ball into a hole in as few amount of strokes as possible.
That's it!
Nothing more, nothing less.
During this period we have seen, read and experienced many varying styles and methods of achieving this single goal. Much has been written and preached, expressed and practiced in an effort to solve the greatest challenge this single goal has to offer. With each and every passing of a generation, the games single standing goal remains the same. Get the ball in the hole in fewer strokes than the next dude and you win! Every new challenger to the podium of dominance has presented a fresh new method or style of combat with which to over power the game. With each new passing of greatness remains another intriguing insight into the potential of the human form as an exponent of control with a ball and stick in search of one single goal.
Thats right, point A to B in as few amount of strokes as possible.
Basically master the use of your sticks, master the control of your golf ball then forget all that shit and just play.
It worked for Charlie Parker in re-shaping, pushing forward, destroying boundaries and inspiring the next generation of talented Jazz musicians with the excitement of the potential future of his beloved art form.
My passion is creative thought and progressive outcomes.
The game of golf; Art or Science?
I once asked my friend and mentor John Jacob's the same question.
'Paul, I believe the game is both an art and science'.
Un-doubtably the game of golf contains elements of both, not just because everything we see and do is apart of science but the pure physics applied to the effective conditions created at impact and the resulting outcome in ball flight. Not to mention the great detail of the human form, biomechanics, psychology and so on.
So why art?
Its a need to create that inspires the use of the word typically associated with the opinionated world of the arts. As free, boundless and expressively creative as the world of art is, it very rarely has the freedom to overspill into the world of sports. You see, when analyzing some of the greatest performances in sporting history you can not leave without asking the question;
'How much of that was art over science?
Naturally science has gained superior momentum over the course of our life as it shall continue, which is why it readily takes pride of place as the most powerful source of reference in the search for progression and greater human advancement in our chosen sports. Science can be measured, recorded and interpreted by all, its a standardized form of understanding. It provides the masses with a more digestable form of reference that can be more easily interpreted and used to progress further.
BUT!
What about the art?
Every element of success, weather its in sport, business, love or just life, the key ingredient is always the creative one. The spontaneous, outside the box, new forms, wild new waze on pearly white moon lit daze. The things we haven't seen or heard before, the matters of thought, the levels of intrigue, expressing the inner most depths of your own self through the platform before you. Weather that platforms a court, a pitch, a course or a board room white board, the endless opportunity to create something special is always within and around us.
Every great performance in sport has and always will contain incredible levels of creative expression, its what separates the best from the rest and the greats from the greatest. A level of creative prowess totally unique to them and completely out of reach of those around them.
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.
Science does not allow for mistakes, its very purpose is to record and document in an effort to control and influence so to eliminate such mistakes in a drive for perfection. Art is ones perception of its subject, its anything you want it to be, you the individual have free rein to see whatever you desire.
Hit it in the trees, find it, play it.
Hit it in the trees and think shit! What the hell happened there, I must of spun out of it early again. Now Im screwed behind this bloody tree, could my day possible get any worse?
Id say yes it could, with a scientific mindset and narrow minded view of the canvas before you not a lot else can come of it.
The artist is:
Free to make mistakes.
Free to explore the course.
Free of doubt.
Free of worry.
Free of anxiety.
Free to be whatever they choose to be.
Free to be themselves.
Free to express.
Free to be individual.
Free to choose.
Free to be as good as they can possibly be.
Stand over your next shot with the freedom of an artist and you have the potential to create beautiful golf shots.
./
Monday, 26 October 2009
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
MADLib
Speech by name.
Expressive by nature.
Otis Jackson Jr, aka MADLIB (Mind Altering Demented Lessons in Beats)
A musical genius of modern day music.
Famous for his rap and vast production talents this is a guy who never stops creating new sounds of beat breaking vibes, soul searching melodies and space traveling sheets of musical exploration.
He's simply a musical animal.
.
STREET Smart..........!!!!!!!!!!!
The future stars of the games next generation aren't going to be found in some upper class country club or national elite squad team. No! The future of the game is born out of the street and boundless possibilities the urban landscape has to offer. With such a vast expanse of creative space to express themselves this concrete course will cultivate the most exciting wave of talent the game has ever seen. From both a mental and physical standpoint this fresh new breed will bring elements of life's struggle, the street life instincts for survival but most importantly these success hungry expressionists will inject life and color.
With the endless possibilities every bustling city has to offer, we have before us the greatest platform for escape of mind, freedom of soul and attitude for greatness. If we can get into the big city, target the deprived, inspire the fighters and throw a line into the struggle we can channel and shape the many kids that seek to challenge their own self worth. Give them a real golf club, a soft ball and a target to shape it to and I guarantee we have ourselves the rawest new beginnings and quite possibly the games future alternative to the now seeked golfing machine.
Its a long shot, hell what chance do we have in handing a street kid a weapon and a ball?
Maybe not straight forward, but what new direction is?
If we can sow the seed the fruits will ripen!
FREEDOM TO EXPLORE.
./
Harvey.
Mr Penick wrote his mind in a little red book.
And it was probably the most important book he ever scribbled in.
Full of thoughts, ideals, feelings and beliefs this book is a testament to the life of a passionate practitioner. A man so totally consumed by his art and craft for human shaping he will probably never be surpassed as a true golfing genius. His life in the game is a testament to the raw art that is human shaping through the medium of golf. His references to the finer talents of the artistic world and the graceful analogies of artists holding fine musical instruments and tools of great expression provide a clear understanding of the great mans appreciation for the game as an art form.
He considered the hands as the most vital fundamental of them all and described the best hands on the golf club as a pure work of art. He handled every fresh pair as a sculptor handles every mold of clay, like its set in stone for as long as thy shall perform with flair and instinctive expression. He undoubtedly had a deep appreciation for the heart of all golf swings. He said if you have a bad grip you don't want a good swing. With a bad grip you have to make unattractive adjustments in your swing to hit the ball squarely. A great looking swing with a poor grip would knock many a ball out of bounds.
Mr Harvey Penick ultimately stood for one thing, simplicity. He was a master of spoon feeding the pupil with only the most appropriate and relevant information for the individual before him. He knew people because people were his life, his achievements through those that seeked his wisdom is unprecedented. He never conducted lessons of more than one pupil as he believed the temptation of others to grasp unnecessary information of no relevance to themselves was to risky. Working with one pupil is as pure as the teaching art form gets, developing and shaping that players unique strengths and key tendencies is the ultimate road to self sufficient greatness.
Harvey is a legend, he is remembered in my teachings as he is pursued in my dreams.
./
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