bandman

Technique verses equipment…

I have had one heck of a bad week and decided yesterday I needed to escape from the house for 30-minutes or so. I went to the driving range with my 3-wood and my driver. Nothing is better to make you feel good than pounding a few balls and then scraping your knuckles on the ground like an ape. (If you are a long driver you understand that statement.)

I had not been to the golf course in quite a while, and when I started hitting the ball it went about 150-yards. I heard snickers from the high school kids behind me. I stepped back and worked out my swing, trying to get some muscle memory going, and stepped back up to the ball and took an easy swing and it went about 220-yards. Within about 5-7 minutes I was driving the ball about 270-yards. I turned around, didn’t say a word, and stared at the high school kid behind me as his legs now shook as he struggled to out drive the old man he had laughed at 5-minutes earlier.

The young man knew I why I was staring him down, but he never said a word. He tried harder and harder to hit the ball longer, now struggling with his drive because he was no longer focused on his swing.

He walked over and asked: “Hey Dude, what kid of driver is that you’re using?” I told him my name isn't Dude, and then I showed him my Calloway Biggest Big Bertha (about 10-years old) and he said to his friends; “If I had that driver I could hit them that far too!”

I asked him what kind of driver he had? It was a clone of a big company that he had bought at Sam’s Club. I asked him how much money he had in his wallet and he pulled out about $50.00 (a lot for a high school kid).

I told him he could have 5 swings with my club, and then I would take 5 swings with his club. I told him that using his club I would out drive his longest drive at least 3 times. His cash against mine… I reached into my wallet and pulled out a $100 bill. I then asked the guy in the next tee box to hold our cash – he smiled and took the money – he had seen me an a friend of mine do this before. He also knew I couldn't lose because I was the long drive champion at my club a few years ago. It was a pretty safe bet!

The kid used my driver and put a couple of long drives about 200 yards. He said: “Give me the money – you can’t beat that using my driver.” He then said something about using the money to go buy a new driver like mine; little did he know that it hasn’t been made in several years, and it is very old technology compared with the great clubs made today.

I picked up his driver and out drove his longest drive 5 out of 5 balls, flying his longest drive twice! I reached over picked up the money and shook his hand, giving him back his cash and said – "Go get some lessons, and stop focusing on your equipment." I picked up my clubs, didn't say another word, and went back home feeling pretty good about myself! My day had just gotten a lot better!

I probably should have put this post in one of the equipment forums. Why? Because to many trumpet players spend time looking for a magical trumpet, or a magical mouthpiece, instead of spending that time working on proper technique on the equipment we currently own.

My wife asked me when I got home if I wanted to get some new clubs – I intend on playing a few rounds this summer – I really love golf. My answer was; “When my game is better than my clubs, I’ll buy new equipment and go on the PGA Tour.”

What does this post have to do with playing the trumpet? If you have to ask that question you are probably spending too much time and money looking for that magical horn or magical mouthpiece!

Solar Bell

DAVE!

I LIKE THAT!!!

-cw-