Regarding the database you talked about: Carry, release.
Let's say a tournament would be staged including all players on tour. Each player gets to hit full iron shots from the same spot on the fairway while attempting to do nothing but carry all his balls to the same spot. There is no wind.
What results would you expect to see regarding length & direction?
If they used PW's?
If they used 8-irons?
If they used 6-irons?
If they used 4-irons?
Example of the type of answers I am looking for:
- The winner would hit 90% of the PW's within 3 feet in length and 6 feet wide
- The average player would hit 70% of his 8 irons within a 20 feet diameter circle
etc
Or you may have some other way you can indicate how accurate the tour players are.
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When James Durham recorded 94 at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1767, he set a course record that lasted 86 years. Golf: A curious sport whose object is to put a very small ball in a very small hole with implements ill desiged for the purpose - Sir Winston Churchill
You've said quite a bit on ball flight already. What I'd like to know is:
1. As a good player, and as someone whose been around the tour, are there particular ballflights that work better in certain situations (besides the low wedges you mentioned earlier), and on tour setups in general?
2. Also, you always hear that the fade is "the preferred shot" for tour players and better players. Is that really the case? Is there much difference between a tour fade and a tour draw (ones that don't move a great deal), in yardage, spin and trajectory?
You've said quite a bit on ball flight already. What I'd like to know is:
1. As a good player, and as someone whose been around the tour, are there particular ballflights that work better in certain situations (besides the low wedges you mentioned earlier), and on tour setups in general?
2. Also, you always hear that the fade is "the preferred shot" for tour players and better players. Is that really the case? Is there much difference between a tour fade and a tour draw (ones that don't move a great deal), in yardage, spin and trajectory?
Bigwill,
2. Not much difference between the two. Most guys don,t curve it very much anyway. I'd say the tour mixture would be about even.
1. Absolutely. When the tour gets the course just how it wants it. When the greens go to a color I call purple (it's beyond brown), and the greens are so firm the first hop goes as high as a flagstick, The ability to hit the ball high with alot of spin rules the day. The guys that have that ability also tend to hit it really far.
When it is soft, the high launch--high spin guys can struggle to manage backspin. It is very difficult to get at back pins.
Then, you have the wind. You might think they all knock it down, or only the low hitters do well. Really it is the mixture of solid striking and great short game. They do tend to knock down the short irons, which are the hardest to control in a breeze.
So the ideal player is long with medium to high flight, with a great short game, and can't miss putting. You knew that already. The rest of the guys have to play that much better as a percentage of their abilities (get the most out of their games).
How do you get good at reading lies and reading greens? Does that plum bobbing stuff work?
Do pros line up perfect every time? Or do you have to watch their alignment?
What tourney treats the caddies best?
Do you think Duval will every get it back?
Do you ever get tired of goofballs asking you questions?
Bucket,
You get good at reading lies by paying attention and taking notes. When you have the eight iron shot I talked about before (160) except it's in a light, dry, bermuda rough -- you tend to notice when the crowd behind the green raises their heads as the ball sails over then into the grandstand. That ball must have jumped. To prevent this occurance, you hit balls from all kinds of lies during the practice rounds and note how they react.
I worked for a young player I didn't know at Pinehurst 05. During the practice rounds I'd get him to pull a club from the rough, hit it, notice, and then try one or two other clubs just to see what they would do. It probably wore him out, but I needed to know. I usually think less club goes farther from rough, but I can hit jumpers with the best of them
Some guys don't hit jumpers, some do. Smaller heads with smaller grooves go through the rough better, but can be unpredictable. Really bit aggressive grooves grab the grass and make the ball go short. Some can't hit more than a six iron from any kind of rough. I worked for one of the best from the rough. Like the saying goes, "Not my first rodeo." The guys good from trouble are the guys who hit it into trouble alot.
When my man hits a shot, I have an expectation about where it will land. If it does something else, I'll think about it until I figure it out. I might have to ask how he hit it. Was there a gust? Has the wind shifted? Sometimes you just screw it up. I want to be clear so I know how to file it in the data bank. It might confuse you later if don't resolve the issue. Some players want to be involved in that conversation. Others, who are into "staying in the present," just want to let it go. Either way, I need to know.
Reading greens. I've always been good. I guess I have a good sense of what level looks like. I try to imagine where the water would go. That's a good trick--look at your greens when it's pouring down rain.
No--plumbbobbing does not work. Just don't tell all those great putters that do it. Makes no sense to me.
Pros do not line up well all the time. They do pretty well when they walk into the shot, but can get off hitting from the same spot on the range. Some struggle more than others. I would never line up a player in a tournament round. I don't think it should be allowed. I don't ever see them change the player anyway. I could say, "That looks good" just as well from the side of the tee where I'm supposed to stand. You do have to look in a practice round, but that's often the swing as a whole.
Best i've ever been treated was in Mexico this year. Steaks, grilled grouper, etc. all week long.
I hope Duval makes it back. He's my favorite that I have not worked for. I think that he will win again but not rise to the highest level.
How do you get good at reading lies and reading greens? Does that plum bobbing stuff work?
Do pros line up perfect every time? Or do you have to watch their alignment?
What tourney treats the caddies best?
Do you think Duval will every get it back?
Do you ever get tired of goofballs asking you questions?
Bucket
Hen and I have worked together for the last ten years and he has been kind enough to tell me to chime in if I felt like it
By the way, you do ask a lot of questions
My guy does not hit "jumpers" so I do not have to worry about them, but I do have to watch his allignment - he tends to get "shut"
I believe the big bank from your area (Wa) treats us the best
I chart greens -grid them 5X5 and then use a level to find the fall line in each square. Then I roll balls to check my notes. That's one of the reasons I'm called 'Overkill' However, I believe putting is really all about speed and feel.
I chart greens -grid them 5X5 and then use a level to find the fall line in each square. Then I roll balls to check my notes. That's one of the reasons I'm called 'Overkill' However, I believe putting is really all about speed and feel.
Wow! That's wild! How long does it take to do that?
Sorry for all the questions but this stuff is great!
Grilled grouper can't be beat . . . make you slap your mama . . . only better eatin' fish is catfish.
I hear the bank tourney is great. You like the golf course too? According to the press the pros love it. Some big ole cribs on that course . . . where does all the money come from?
Hybrid Mode
