September 18, 2018 10:12 pm

Are You Prepared for the 2018 Ryder Cup?

Every two years, the golfing world stops and turns its attention to one of the oldest rivalries in sport. The world’s best American and European players face off in the Ryder Cup, this year (as it alternates home course advantage) being held at the Albatros Course at Le Golf National in France.

Two years ago, the United States claimed victory in the stadium-like atmosphere of Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota and they’re out to defend their title against a young and hungry European side. Personally, the Ryder Cup is my second favorite tournament to watch, right behind the World Cup. There’s something about the cordiality of golf mashing up against the intensity of team competition that really creates an atmosphere like no other. The energy, the pressure, and the mania behind the Ryder cup solidify it as one of the world’s most fun-to-watch spectacles of sport.

On this episode of Playing with Science, we prepare for the 2018 Ryder Cup as our intrepid hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly welcome The Good Professor himself, John Eric Goff, to discuss the Albatros Course, and what the players can expect, from a scientific point of view.

Find out why John thinks that driving off the tee might be the biggest challenge. We discuss whether this course suits a power player or finesse player, and how the grass differentiates from courses in the United States. You’ll find out more about the mechanics of hitting a golf ball straight. Learn how fast a golf ball comes off of the club head, and how much club head speed has evolved over time. John also tells us how a golf ball reacts when exposed to the “smash effect” or “smash factor.”

We also sit down with Dr. Gregg Steinberg, author of The Mental Rules for Golf, “hailed by Golf Digest as world’s best performance psychologist,” to help investigate what goes on inside the mind of an athlete during the Ryder Cup. Gregg tells us how to mentally prepare for and play in a tournament like the Ryder Cup. You’ll hear about mastering “emotional toughness,” and Gregg explains some of the methods he uses when training with athletes. You’ll also find out why pre-shot routines are helpful for focus. All that, plus Gregg shares his thoughts on why Phil was his favorite player during the last Ryder Cup, and we hear what made Tiger stand out amongst the rest during his prime.

Please join us tomorrow night for Golf’s 2018 Ryder Cup: Physics & Psychology at the Albatros right here on our website, as well as on our Playing with Science channels on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, SoundCloud, Stitcher, and TuneIn. If you’re an All-Access subscriber, you can watch or listen to this episode ad-free.

That’s it for now. Keep Looking Up!
–Ian Mullen