Hitting Curves
 

Been reading on how Jack Nicklaus the ultimate golf tactician played shots according to the "percentages" and disected golf courses.

He said that he would try to aim left of the pin and cut the ball mostly into the pin in order to have the most margin for error.

How much "cut" do you reckon he played for? 5 yards? 10? 15?

He wrote the book in the 70's and 80's so do you think he would still advise this type of strategy? Or was it because the "old" ball curved more? Does anybody other than Corey Pavin and Tiger play like this anymore?

I remember reading in some book, might have been Mark James's autobiography, that the author played with Nicklaus at the height of his powers. It was the author's recollection that usually Jack would cut it 3 or 4 yards right, but on bad slices he'd lose it 10 yards right - with his driver!!!!

Probably the intimidation factor talking.

I think Jack just PLAYED the golf course better than anybody ever has . . . Everybody was all geeked when Eldrick won the British Open so impressively by only hitting ONE DRIVER all week . . . and then Pavin follows up by winning hitting 160 yard knock-down slider 5 irons where the other cats are hitting 8 irons. That is the true BEAUTY of the game . . . strategy, shot making, and mental toughness.

The hell with all this bang it 350 yards and flip a lob wedge up there. Who freakin' cares??? Not me anyway.

Jack said he didn't really start winning at the Pro level until he figured out that golf was a PRECISION game not a brute force game.

Hmmmmm....for me, I really enjoy smacking one long and straight or with a slight draw...hit a few last weekend....hit the driving range net 250 yards out on the fly...thanks Mr. Tomasello and Homer. :)

DG

Looking at all the key PGA stats for 2006 there is one stat (other than scoring average) that stands out -- Par 5 Birdie Leaders
The top three:
1 1 Vijay Singh
2 2 Tiger Woods
3 3 Phil Mickelson

I think it's a very valid strategy...100%.

Cause Jack didn't dink it either. He did play a power game.

But he just tried to make sure he missed right I think....i.e. aim left play for a 5 yard fade.....if it misses it will be a 10 yard fade or w/e....still in play......predictable so you can play for it.....fades sit on greens.....

Ya...there's that story about how Jack (as an amateur) played with Hogan in the US Open. (I think) After the tournament Hogan said Jack coulda won easily if he knew how to manage the course better.

I tried to find a link to some kind of article but can't remember where I saw this.

The toughest shot to hit is a straight ball. Your shot needs to be curving one way or another. Not big but something. My biggest problem is the "double cross" when I am playing poorly, when I'm playing well it's not how good my good shots are it's how good my bad shots are! Nicklaus hit high fades that truly moved very slightly. Quite impressive.

Welcome Patrick O'Hara!
 

Welcome aboard, Patrick. And thanks for this first post. Keep'em coming!

P.S. Patrick O'Hara has been a PGA professional for 22 years and is currently general manager of the Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort. Visit their website at http://www.lvpaiutegolf.com.

Swinger-Fades
 

Do any of you Swingers produce FADES by employing Angled Hinging, or do you just adjust your Fix and Address alignments, and still use Horizontal Hinging?