My Weekly Obsession

By Ashley Mayo

March 28, 2013

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Photo By: Getty Images

Photo By: AFP/Getty Images

March 29

MeditationMy teammates and I used to meditate all the time. Our golf coach at the University of Virginia would ask us to sit in silence for at least 20 minutes a day, dismissing all thoughts and focusing only on the present moment. This training is critical for keeping your cool on the golf course. Once you start thinking about that double bogey you made on the second hole or about the island green that's coming up, it's nearly impossible to execute the current shot. Being able to focus only on the present moment breeds instant calm and confidence. But meditation isn't a monolithic practice. My co-worker, Pete, has just started performing the typical form of meditation -- sitting in silence for a fixed period of time -- but I've opted instead to meditate while running and swimming. I focus only on the current step and the current stroke, and it's helped me cover long distances. A seven-mile run just doesn't intimidate me anymore, and bogeys don't bother me. Start meditating off the course so that you can focus on the present moment on the course.

Photo By: Getty Images

March 15

Compression socksIf you're a walker (as you should be), chances are you've experienced tightness or soreness in your legs after a long round. Five hours of walking, climbing and swinging is taxing, even for those of us who are in shape. That's why wearing compression socks make sense. Designed to enhance blood circulation, compression socks delay the onset of fatigue and the breakdown of muscles. Even better, wearing tight socks for five hours is surprisingly comfortable. I recently wore 110% Play Harder's Flat Out Sox($65) during three running sessions, and also kept them on for five consecutive hours while walking around Manhattan. Not only did I forget they were on, but the annoyingly-tight muscles in my calves didn't yell at me after my runs. What a relief.

March 08

RdioMusic helps me focus. When I'm writing, I listen to music. When I run, I rely on music. When I'm hitting golf balls for hours on the driving range by myself, I need music. That's why I've become obsessed with Rdio, a service that my friend and fellow golf nut, Tom, convinced me to pay for. After I downloaded the app and signed up for a free one-week trial, I instantly gained access to more than 18 million songs. Rdio let me listen to entire albums, radio stations (based on an artist), and something it calls a "Heavy Rotation," which is a collection of recommended albums. The three coolest things about Rdio, however, are that I can follow friends and bands, I can sync music to my phone for off-line listening, and I can both create playlists and subscribe to other people's playlists. I've compiled three playlists, for example, that golfers can listen to on the range, green and in the gym. After that one-week free trial, paying $10 a month for this amazing service seemed like a steal.

February 22

Smart hydrationWhether you're playing golf on a hot, humid day or on a chilly, windy day, most of us underestimate the importance of proper hydration for maintaining physical strength and mental focus. As we've said many times before, sports drinks can be a waste of money. (Related article: Fitness Friday: Are Sports Drinks a Sham?) But if you, like me, find it difficult to drink enough plain water, Nuun tabletswill help. Each tablet is sweetened with Stevia, so it has zero grams of sugar, less than eight calories, and several essential electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium. If you're not crazy about consuming so many electrolytes, try Nuun's new All Day tablets, which instead offer a mix of A, B, C, D and E vitamins. For the past couple of years, I've kept a pack of Nuun tablets in my gym bag and I'm relying on them as I train for my first Half Ironman. Now I'll keep a pack of Nuun All Day in my golf bag.

February 15

Yardages, every way you want 'emCharles Darwin once said, "It is not the strongest that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." And SkyCaddie is changing. They understand that some golfers don't want to download courses onto their GPS devices, and that other golfers aren't interested in knowing how far they are from every single point of every single green. That's why, along with their stable of products that read yardages to every target imaginable, they're launching a "Sport Series" of four stripped-down GPS devices that each come preloaded with 30,000 courses, offer yardages to the front, middle and back of the green, and cost less than $200. The SkyCaddie Watch ($199) also has an odometer, a calorie counter, five alarms, a stopwatch and more. The compact SkyCaddie Gimme ($169) has a high-resolution, 2.2-inch screen that displays large numbers. The SkyCaddie Aire ($129) is about the size of an iPod Nano and can clip onto your belt or bag. And the SkyCaddie Voice ($150) audibly offers the yardage to the middle of the green when you tap it once and to the front and back when you tap it twice. Best of all, these yardages are based on SkyCaddie's unmatched database of maps. (The products will be available at the end of March.)

February 1

Form-fitting outerwearIt's tough to find a rain jacket that fits well but doesn't restrict the golf swing. Too often we have to choose between style and function. Or do we? Lots of new styles offer some sort of adjustment element that allows you to tailor the jacket to your body. The Kelly Gore-Tex Jacket($450), part of Sunice's new Hurricane collection, offers a simple and highly effective solution to the form-fitting-without-constricting dilemma. An elastic band woven within the back panel of the jacket cinches just enough fabric around the waist to remove bulk without restricting movement. The men's version of the jacket has elastic bands around the waist. So the next time you're looking for a new rain jacket, pay attention to its tailoring option. It's a minor detail that makes a huge difference in comfort and style.

January 18

SnowboardingGolf is something I train for year-round, even when there's snow on the ground. Colder temperatures just means I have to get more creative. This year, I've used snowboarding as a way to build my golf muscles. You see, when I board down a slope, I essentially assume my golf posture the entire time: legs shoulder-width apart; knees flexed; weight centered. To make sure I get the most out of snowboarding, I train my core, quads/hamstrings and balance when I'm not on the mountain. Strengthening these areas is also essential to improving your golf swing. Fitness Editor Ron Kaspriske has written about how squats, deadlifts and glute bridgescan strengthen your quads and hamstrings, about how these 16 core exercises can make you a better golfer, and about how balance is a key element in a good swing. So go shred some powder this winter. Just be sure to wear wrist guards.

Photo By: Getty Images

January 4

Process GoalsNew Years resolutions almost always fail. That's because too many of them focus on something that's unreasonable to achieve. So I've instead embraced Dr. Bob Rotella's theory of "process goals,"which make me focus on mini goals that'll help me attain my ultimate resolution. For example, instead of hoping to break par in 2013, I'll concentrate on trusting myself on every swing, being decisive and committed, focusing on each shot as it comes, etc. By thinking about these precise process goals, I'll have a much better chance of realizing the big kahuna...breaking par. So let's toast to a 2013 full of many process goals. (BTW: This theory of "process goals" also works well off the course.)

Photo By: Getty Images

December 14

Music-fueled sessionsTunes are an integral part of my fitness and practice routines. Without them, my mind wanders and my energy wanes. But the only thing worse than silent sessions are headphones that won't stay put or earbuds that distort otherwise-pleasant sounds. Enter, Bose's SIE2i sport headphones($149.95). Specifically created for exercise, these earbuds, which come in three sizes, are covered with a hydrophobic cloth that repel moisture. I've been using mine every day for more than three months, and they've never fallen out. Additionally, the headphones have Bose's iconic technology that accentuates a song's wide range of tones. Tunes literally sound better when I'm working out. If you're still looking for that perfect gift, these will please any golfer.

December 07

Personalized ball markingsThere are plenty of ways to express yourself on the golf course. Wearing a white belt implies you like to take fashion risks; using a tiny golf bag means you like to walk; and carrying a set of the latest equipment means you value technology. Now, there's an easy way to display your personality on your golf ball. Tin Cupis essentially a stencil you can snap onto any golf ball, allowing you to stamp it with your favorite design. There are more than 100 markings, including 30 college symbols (like the University of Virginia, shown) and unique designs like a four-leaf clover, a mustache and a snowflake. They cost about $20 (making them the perfect stocking stuffer), and you can buy them on the company's website and at many big box and green grass retailers. If you don't like any of the company's designs, you can customize your own marking. Go ahead, express yourself.

November 23

Bikram yogaIt's that special time of year when most of us trade our clubs and spikes for skis and boots. I refuse, however, to completely ignore my golf game just because courses are closed. Wintertime is, for me, the ideal time to train my mental game, and I've been doing so recently by taking Bikram yoga classes. These 90-minute sessions, which are comprised of the same succession of 26 positions, are not only physically demanding, but they train me to balance bursts of intense concentration with periods of relaxing meditation. This ebb and flow mimics a typical round of golf, when I must focus over any given shot, then relax as I approach the next shot. Namaste to that.

Photo By: Getty Images

November 16

Icing and massagingMassage is an important part of any strength and conditioning routine. If you suffer from post-round soreness, you'd likely benefit from a series of deep-tissue massages. But that's pricey, which is why foam rolling has become so popular among golfers and other athletes. (Wait, you don't foam roll? You need to start.) For those of you who have a chronic and painful condition (IT band syndrome, sore calves, plantar fasciitis, etc), however, Trigger Point's Cold Roller($110) could be even better than a foam roller. The steel cylinder is filled with gel and, after you stick it in the freezer for a few hours, combines the benefits of ice with self-massage, numbing then relieving muscles. It's a juiced up version of a foam roller. Au revoir, annoying aches.

November 9

Shipping golf clubsTraveling with golf clubs adds a layer of grief to an already-cumbersome endeavor. But it's a necessary evil, right? Not really. My avid-golfer friends have been raving about Ship Sticks, a company that reliably delivers your clubs straight to the golf course (or anywhere)."I literally had them shipped from my club," says golfer Rob Kneip. "Then I landed in St. Louis, went to the pro shop and there they were. After I played my round, I put the clubs back in the box, slapped on a return label, flew back home and they were back at my club."Since Ship Sticks, which officially launched in February, has partnered with major carriers, hassle-free delivery doesn't necessarily cost more than an airline's baggage fees. "It literally cost the same as checking the bag," says Rob.That's it, I'm obsessed.

November 2

Heated outerwearIt's November, which means golfers in many parts of the country have to wear at least two layers. But what about, say, Northeasterners who might have to pile on three or four layers? Adding bulk destroys fluidity in the golf swing. That's why I'm excited about Mobile Warming's new collection of heated, waterproof vests and jackets($160-200). Available for men and women, the pieces are made with light, four-way stretch fabric and have a rechargable 7.4-volt lithium battery that adjusts two internal chest panels to four heat settings (from 90 to 130 degrees). The USGA-approved garments are also stylish and comfy. Win-win.

October 26

Believing in miraclesFeeling lucky has legitimate advantages. In one study led by social psychologist Lysann Damisch, half of the subjects were given a regular golf ball and the other half of them were given a "lucky" golf ball. The people with the "lucky" ball made 35 percent more putts than those with the regular ball. (The same researcher has found that people perform better on cognitive tests when they hold lucky charms.)So there you have it -- you can, to a certain extent, manufacture your own good fortune. Making yourself feel lucky can positively impact your performance. Next time you're in a bind, rely on Al Michaels' famous call when the U.S. men's hockey team defeated the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics: "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

October 19

Solar-powered battery chargersMy iPhone has become an important piece of golf equipment. I use it to drive to the course, to take (and share) pictures while I'm playing, and to track stats that I review after my round. But my battery life doesn't always keep up. Enter, solar-powered battery chargers. My favorite is EnerPlex($70), since it's thin, light and flexible. It charges while it hangs on my bag at the beginning of my round, and I stick my phone in it when my battery reaches almost-dead levels. Just like that, I can continue snapping and tracking. Magic.(EnerPlex will release a new case for the Samsung Galaxy SIII in November and they're currently designing a case for the iPhone 5.)

October 12

Golf HoodiesGolf shouldn't be the stodgy, buttoned-up sport our grandparents once played. So I get excited when I see companies offer golf clothing inspired by what people wear on the street. Enter, the hoodie. Companies like Callaway, Nike and Puma are offering Fall hoodies for men and women (I just bought Puma's Full Zip Hoodie), and they're just as effective at a private course as they are at your local coffee shop. Double duty fashion, for the win.

October 5

Stand Up PaddleboardingThanks to celebrities like Jennifer Aniston and Marissa Miller, stand up paddleboarding is one of the fast-growing water activities out there. A combination of paddling and surfing, I tried SUP for the first time after the New Year and got hooked last month when I found a local spot that offers inexpensive lessons. SUP offers a full-body workout that's just perfect for golfers who are sick of the gym. While standing in a golf-stance position, I've learned how to use my whole body, especially my core, to get the most out of every stroke. Even Davis Love III is into it -- he gave all twelve players on his Ryder Cup team a limited-edition paddleboard.

Photo By: Getty Images

September 28

Over-The-Knee SocksOne trend I've been spotting everywhere is over-the-knee socks. And while I've seen a few women on the LPGA Tour wear them throughout the years, Paula Creamer is one of the first to embrace them as a fashion statement. She attracted plenty of attention when she showed up in these candy-striped socks at the Women's British Open, and she made me want to buy a pair of my own. I'm not daring enough to begin with stripes, but now that chilly air is blanketing the northeast, I'll soon pair my solid-color socks with a short, basic skort and saddle shoes. Can't wait.

Photo By: AFP/Getty Images

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My Weekly Obsession

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March 29

March 15

March 08

February 22

February 15

February 1

January 18

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December 14

December 07

November 23

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