interesting fact i just learned

[surefire]

[quote name='HeadonaStick' timestamp='1289066436' post='2777555']


There is also no evidence that we learn quicker when we are younger, but we often do not have to "unlearn" anything. We are predisposed to learn certain things younger, like languages, but that is a narrow advantage and the advantage diminishes before 5 years old.

[/quote]

There actually are some studies on this with evidence suggesting it is true, in both rats and humans. I remember one was by Oxford University, but I can't remember the full details or title of it. The basis around them is to do with the chemicals in the brain. I think one of these (which is more abundant in the young) insulates neural pathways, making signals stronger (i.e the stronger a signal is the better something is learned).
The other is to do with unused synapses (junctions) in the brain, in younger people there are more of these and so they get used up as we learn new skills, an older person has to reuse previously used synapses.

Back to the real point though, I would like to point out I don't believe golfers peak at 18-20 or even necessarily in their twenties. I was going to cite the example of Senor Jiminez, but someone has beaten me to this!

[HeadonaStick]

[quote name='surefire' timestamp='1289076453' post='2777742']
[quote name='HeadonaStick' timestamp='1289066436' post='2777555']


There is also no evidence that we learn quicker when we are younger, but we often do not have to "unlearn" anything. We are predisposed to learn certain things younger, like languages, but that is a narrow advantage and the advantage diminishes before 5 years old.

[/quote]

There actually are some studies on this with evidence suggesting it is true, in both rats and humans. I remember one was by Oxford University, but I can't remember the full details or title of it. The basis around them is to do with the chemicals in the brain. I think one of these (which is more abundant in the young) insulates neural pathways, making signals stronger (i.e the stronger a signal is the better something is learned).
The other is to do with unused synapses (junctions) in the brain, in younger people there are more of these and so they get used up as we learn new skills, an older person has to reuse previously used synapses.

Back to the real point though, I would like to point out I don't believe golfers peak at 18-20 or even necessarily in their twenties. I was going to cite the example of Senor Jiminez, but someone has beaten me to this!
[/quote]
Yes, you are correct, but that ability is gone before we reach puberty. By the time we are 10± our brain is actually disposing of unused synapses. Prior to that, we are like sponges. However, it isn't as if we have no spare synaptic material as we get older. Even post puberty we use less than half of our brain capacity.

There is also evidence that the myelin sheath around our nerves changes as we age. Most evidence that I have seen suggests this effects our ability to perform physical activity, not to learn new material.

If you really have access to material that contradicts this I'd be very interested to see it.

[Jordan J. Caron]

[quote name='cheeser' timestamp='1288986283' post='2776331']
Tiger was not at his peak at age 18-20. If you want to call 2000 his best year, he was more like 24-25 years of age. I'd even venture to say that he may have another year like 2000 in him still.
[/quote]

I don't know if that was his peak but he did have an amazing year. How you can call one year his peak. '05 to '07 was a great stretch and what I think was his peak. The last three years haven't been great for him and I highly doubt he see him have even close to another year like in 2000. They're a lot of guys who have stepped up their games in the last 2 years who are no longer afraid of Tiger.

[puttingmatt]

[quote name='golf playa' timestamp='1289053739' post='2777306']
[quote name='kemau' timestamp='1289012440' post='2776946']


ummm no agassi is not a great example.....dude hated tennis his entire career

""I play tennis for a living even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion and always have." So writes Andre Agassi in his new autobiography, Open"
[/quote]

ok, then you tell me why the majority of tennis players out there aren't in the mid thirties?
[/quote]

Agassi retired from competetive Tennis at age 36, after playing Wimbleton !! Tennis is far more physical than golf.
I still believe that Tiger at 34 years old, is at his prime, Right Now !! Both physically and mentally !!!

[Sticks]

Look at Ernie Els at 41, padraig harrington (39), jim furyk (40) and the list goes on. Of course there are young guns, but golf is a game you could play competitively through your mid 40's on the main tour. And in fact, I'd say most golfers are better at 32 than they are at 22.

[swbyps]

[quote name='golf playa' timestamp='1288985707' post='2776315']
well in health today i learned that guys have a certain mental and physical and practical peak around age 18-20. if i am remembering correctly, around that age was when tiger was also at his career peak.

i just learned that this is because as an adolescence, we use a different part of our brain. one that takes more risks, that overpowers us with joy, that helps us see solution that would take and adult weeks to think of.

so those wondering about tiger's peak ( i remember golf digest or something had an article about this) it is impossible even come close to that peak. even though golf requires experience, just as important or even more is joy and reasoning. the ability to keep spirits up and to foresee the actual risk and reward.
[/quote]

I know one thing...I sure as hell couldnt drink as much beer when I was 21 as I can now at 43! If I had some great ability to "see solutions" back then, you would think that with all those incidents of throwing up it shouldnt have taken so many years for that different part of my brain to figure that out.

[Smoothduffer]

[quote name='golf playa' timestamp='1289053739' post='2777306']
[quote name='kemau' timestamp='1289012440' post='2776946']


ummm no agassi is not a great example.....dude hated tennis his entire career

""I play tennis for a living even though I hate tennis, hate it with a dark and secret passion and always have." So writes Andre Agassi in his new autobiography, Open"
[/quote]

ok, then you tell me why the majority of tennis players out there aren't in the mid thirties?
[/quote]


Tennis is not like any other sport cause they start professionally at like 15 - 17 and by the time they are 25 they are on their way out and mid 30's.......There are very few tennis players that make it to their mid 30's cause their bodies cant physically keep up with the kids in their teens. I think at 18-20 years of age your body might be at its athletic peak but, the mind can only be at a peak when it has had enough experience. I think the only sport that is possible in would be tennis, which is why that analogy works for your argument but no other sport would.I still cant figure out how you can say tiger had his peak before he won his majors....i dont get that at all.

[enyce92104]

I'm excited you're learning and thinking about what they're telling you. My theory was that understanding the brain area used in logical decision making can be used to explain or justify an act but someone really shouldn't do stupid stuff as Tiger has (speaking of risk here). We all have a logic block, some people are just better at ignoring it. Physically the body does deteriorate the closer you get to 30. I am 31 and WISH for my 20's back. Tiger's brain I would imagine is a bit different from normal. I once learned that great artists, atheltes, heck great people have different brain phyisiology at the synapse level, that is where the nerves fire and produce your response. Tiger will be back and get better; I honestly think he can will the mental issues away now that he's got a big chunk of unknown off his brain. As far as that knee keeping up... That's what I'd be worrying about.

[quote name='golf playa' timestamp='1289001594' post='2776706']
[quote name='Skaffa77' timestamp='1288989790' post='2776444']
Hmm...maybe you should enroll in a different health class or re-think the theories you're developing.

Based on my own experiences, I would say that people in that age bracket (18-22) have the "invincibility" mentality which causes youth to take stupid risks that provide little reward. For example, surfing on the top of a moving car on a dare or jumping out of a 3rd story window to avoid an MIP. Sounds like good risk and reward foresight to me.

I definitely don't know about youth keeping the spirits up. If anything I see youth stress out about stupid things or act like it's end of the world if they lose...without the foresight to realizing that there are more important things in life.

The highlighted part of your statement (quoted above) is something I've rarely seen. Youth tends to think that their experience or perspective is something others fail to understand and that adults have no idea. The irony is that the older you get, the smarter your father was...
[/quote]

it wasn't so much as a class as much as a documentary.

anyway, what you're saying is true to a good extent. we use a different part of our brain. adults used the part about the eyes, behind the forehead, while teenagers use the part directly behind the eye. (proven through a cat scan, i think that's what they're called)

as i said to someone else, this different way of thinking can be used for good or for stupid activities.
we could used it to make an amazing theory
or just use it to do even stupider stuff.

in regard to keeping spirits up. the maximum amount of happiness able to feel is at a peak, but that doesn't mean we will reach it.
[/quote]

[The Bearcat]

look guys, hes gonna peak at age 69!