Life — May 22, 1931 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a contest announcement disguised as satirical commentary on golf. The cartoon depicts a frustrated golfer—appearing to be an "average" or everyman type based on the caption—surrounded by golf equipment and a new ball labeled "That New Ball." The golfer's thought bubble reads "Oh! You're drivin' me crazy! What did you do to your?" while another speech bubble identifies him as "The Average Golfer." The satire critiques golf ball marketing claims. The sign reads "Less distance, more normalized putts," mocking manufacturers' competitive advertising about ball performance improvements. The joke suggests that despite marketing hype, equipment changes don't actually help the typical golfer. The page invites readers to suggest a caption title, offering Spalding matched irons as the prize. Entries were due by June 1, 1931.