Crosby's 52 yarder

[wist43]

From the perspective of repeatability... is it just me, or does that ball seem to move right, then left, then??? who knows???

What kind of spin must he be imparting on that ball??? is it his follow thru, the holding???

As a pretty damn good golfer (5 handicap or better - when I play consistently - mid 80's on a bad day, or a, "oh what the hell... I'll have another beer day )... I can impart spin one way or the other when I'm going well, but am clueless as to which way it will go when the stars are not aligned.

That is the confusion and lack of confidence Crosby seems to be struggling with... "which way will it go"???

On some of his misses of late... the holds were clean, and the ball seemed to be cleanly struck... it's in his head - much like golf.

Given my state of mind, I'm as likely to shoot a 74, as I am a 94... it's in my head, just as it seems to be in his head... and, given we are in the playoffs, we need him to be right.

Any psychotic golfers out there understand??? lol...

I play to an 18. The mechanics of a golf swing and kicking are very similar. The mental aspect is also very close.

Crosby was having a problem with his plant. The field goal kicker should have his plant foot exactly parallel with the ball. On the chippy he missed in Pitt, Crosby planted at least 6 inches ahead of the ball. It was a soggy field, and he rushed and slid his plant foot ahead. That creeps into your brain and he is just now coming out of it. His kicks are 'waffling' bc he's punching the ball. He's striking the ball too square instead of drawing it slightly. A good FG man hits the ball with a slight draw, just like a good drive in golf.

If we ever play each other, my handicap may balloon to a 22, you will have to give me 17 strokes or 9 a side, which ever you feel more comfortable with.

Hopefully we can play some day

Have a baby on the way though... have a sneaking hunch, golf is going on the back burner for a while

As for Crosby's mechanics... I've never studied FG kicking mechanics, but I'd imagine it's similar to a golf swing; but, just as it is true that there is more than one way to swing a golf club, I'd imagine every kicker has their indivdual nuances.

In the end... as has been posited, most of it is in his head.

[Cheesehead Craig]

The smile on his face afterwards told the whole story. He needed that kick.

The FG was made by plenty, it didn't just make it over.

I think making the kick was a relief for him, thus the smile, but even relief doesn't mean the kid's not mentally tough. It just means that kick going through meant a little more to him. Yeah, he needed the kick, I agree. But needing the kick and his mental toughness aren't but remotely related.

I wasn't going with the mental toughness angle, just that he had been feeling the heat from the media and hit a very tough kick. I also agree that the smile was from relief.

[Smidgeon]

The smile on his face afterwards told the whole story. He needed that kick.

The FG was made by plenty, it didn't just make it over.

I think making the kick was a relief for him, thus the smile, but even relief doesn't mean the kid's not mentally tough. It just means that kick going through meant a little more to him. Yeah, he needed the kick, I agree. But needing the kick and his mental toughness aren't but remotely related.

I wasn't going with the mental toughness angle, just that he had been feeling the heat from the media and hit a very tough kick. I also agree that the smile was from relief.

Sweet. Glad we agree. I didn't remember who was harping on his lack of mental toughness and who wasn't.