Lag/TM…I’d like to hear your thoughts on the swing of Mateo Manessero. I’ve attached a link to a swing sequence in Golf Digest.
golfdigest.com/golf-instruct … ro#slide=2
This article says he’s trying to do some things to hit the ball farther/higher (e.g. releasing his hands), but my untrained eye sees some good “hitting” protocols…flattened shaft at transition, supporting right arm at impact, clubhead after impact turned to the left instead of “thrown” to the right.
Thanks in advance…
From memory, it seems it looked better to me a year or two ago. Not sure what he is working on. If he is just trying to hit it farther… that might have other consequences. It’s a good golf swing though. I don’t see any big problems… but I think he could tighten up his rotation a bit.
Anyone got the ‘Tournament of champions’ on tv? Truely shocking ball striking on display. I know the wind is blowing but only had it on 5 mins and Snedeker has duffed it out of a fairway bunker 40yrds short and a chap called wilson has just smashed it right over the green, hit the grandstand and ricoche’ed right back across the green 20 yards down the fairway. 
Commentators are calling it pot luck & a putting contest…
I was watching for about 5 mins, then fell asleep
Steve
jrich99 and I played Seven Canyons in Sedona today. It was a first look at the course for me. Designed by Tom Weiskopf.
I thought it was a wonderful course… every tee shot looked like a bowling alley. I must have hit 1 iron 5 or 6 times off the tees.
This would be the absolute opposite of playing Kapalua in the PGA Event. Dustin drove a par 4 that was over 400 yards.
I drove a par 4 with a 2 wood that was 305. Dustin hit driver on every hole… I would have loved to have seen him try to do that at this course. It would be a lot of reloading for sure. I find the PGA events an absolute bore to watch.
I wish the tour would play courses where the pros have to hit the ball laser straight. The course we played today was much more of a professional test in my opinion. It reminded me a lot of the courses I played on the Australian Tour. You were either in play or dead. The pros should be tested more than the amateurs.
Golf needs a new pro tour desperately.
Long Term study on driving accuracy and how that relates to PGA Tour earnings.
While this study goes through 2006, I can only imagine the trend has continued downward.
Not surprising there.
After seeing Tiger pick up another win this week and regain #1 in the world, I’ve been thinking a lot about how technology has impacted his career. My first instinct, along with everyone else, is to think that the changes have done nothing but harm to Tiger. By leveling the playing field through the driver and (to some extent) the ball, lesser players have more of a chance to compete. In a field of 140 players, maybe 30 or 40 would have a legitimate chance of winning in the persimmon and blade era. Those outside of the top 40 players could still, on occasion, get hot and win, but most of the time they simply couldn’t compete against the top guys. In the modern game, though, a much larger percentage of the field is a factor every week. With less demanded of the players in terms of precision, winning becomes more about making lots of putts and getting a few fortuitous breaks on bad shots. This would harm the top players, who otherwise would have a bigger advantage over the mediocre players. Technology has homogenized the competition by bringing the bottom of the field closer to the top and minimizing the edge held by the best ball strikers. Call it redistribution of shot quality.
On the other hand though, I would argue that in a way, Tiger has benefited from the changes too. The driver and ball advances, in tandem with the venues chosen for tour events, have also homogenized the type of player who can win. With so little of a premium being placed on accuracy off the tee or from the fairway, anyone who hits it long has an enormous advantage. Short but precise hitters with great shotmaking ability are not rewarded by the modern game. For a player of below average length, excellent putting skills are needed in order to succeed in the modern game (Luke Donald). There’s not really any room for a Knudson or Hogan type who hits it perfect week in and week out but isn’t super long and is an average putter.
In any other era, the top handful of players all had distinct styles of play and, to some extent, physical characteristics. Hogan, Nelson, and Snead were all dominant forces in the 40’s and 50’s, but each had a different build and different approach to the game. Nicklaus and Trevino were very different from each other, but both succeeded at the highest level. Faldo and Norman were the same way. Today, these sorts of matchups are much more infrequent on tour. Sure, there are exceptions, but generally speaking, winners on tour now all hit it long and putt well. They don’t necessarily hit lots of greens, and rarely do they hit lots of fairways. It’s hard to imagine a young Corey Pavin faring well out there right now.
In this sense, the homogenization of golf has benefited Tiger to some degree. He’s got the right build to compete, hits it a long way, and putts well. Those attributes, combined with his experience and confidence, go a long way. For the most part, his only challenges are from the guys that fit the mold of long hitter and good putter. He doesn’t have to compete with the array of playing styles that could thrive on tour at one time. If he can be the best in a couple of key areas, he can dominate. There isn’t much downside to being a little wild off the tee if only distance is highly rewarded. If the courses were set up to reward distance and accuracy, he’d be in a much tougher position. If he sacrificed distance to gain accuracy, he’d compete better against the more accurate hitters, but give up an advantage to longer hitters. Likewise, if he gave up some accuracy in order to gain distance, he could keep up with the longer hitters, but would give an advantage to shorter but straighter hitters. Situations like these would force more players to improve their technique in order to maximize both distance and accuracy. The lack of these pressures to improve on tour today could help to explain the degradation of technique in the modern game.
Ideally, tournament golf would provide a fair test for all playing styles. Short hitters and long hitters could compete more fairly on a properly set up course. Unfortunately, the current tour schedule is set up to favor the Bubba Watsons and exclude the next generation of ball strikers.
This is all just speculative, but I think that a case could be made that the modern game has lessened the gap between average players (at the tour level) and the top players, but it has also eliminated certain playing styles from the competition. This homogenization of the playing field in terms of ability and approach to the game makes it much less satisfying to follow for those who are aware of what they’re missing out on.
14-year-old Tianlang Guan issued a one-stroke penalty for slow play in second round of Masters. The referee was none other than John Paramour. Last time a slow-play penalty was issued the kid wasn’t even born. Now he’s flirting with the cutline.
What do you think, fair or not?
Yes it’s fair. He got plenty of warnings and did not heed them. Why do you say ‘None other than John Paramor.’?
I didn’t think it was fair at all. Where’s the recent precedent? You’re going to penalize a 14-year-old, his first time at Augusta, for slow play? I would say ok to that if there was evidence of recent crackdowns on slow play, and in majors, but there is none, it’s a joke.
I hate slow play more than anyone, but to call out Guan wasn’t right. He couldn’t have been the only one out of position. Wind was swirling all day, and most were having trouble pulling clubs. He was slow on his approaches, questioned his caddy maybe a bit much, but he pulled the trigger on the greens. The second round was averaging 5:30.
Now, if this incident does somehow catalyze a movement to crack down on slow play on the Tours, then Tianlang Guan will become even more famous. To his credit, he accepted the decision and will move on.
So the time lord John Paramor decides once again to make it all about himself. It was a drive-by shooting.
I think Guan made the cut, so it’s all moot, but it’s not…
While it is a thrill for a 14 year old and his family to have made the cut… I think is shows how the game has been dumbed down. It used to take years if not decades to really master golf. Three years ago this kid was 11. He’s not even in high school. In the persimmon and balata era, this would not likely be possible at The Masters. The event was aptly titled “The Masters” because it required the form of a master player. I don’t believe the age of 14 can offer one the proper skill set development to the level of making the weekend at Augusta had the event stayed the true masterful test it once was. Maybe I am wrong, but I doubt it.
Yes, John, I certainly agree. The game has left us. It’s gone.
Guan was hitting hybrids like they were mid to short irons into some of those greens and tucking them close. I think we’ve seen the future at the Masters and it’s not pretty.
Strangely, I wonder if he knows he rides a crest of modernism in gear and thinking that continues to bulldoze the glorious history of golf. He probably doesn’t. Hybrids, belly putters, Lefty with his three, 3-woods in the bag for different spin rates, conditions, etc. It’s like a demo day out there.
Guan was smart (or cynical) to sidle up to Ben Crenshaw for short game help, the stronger part of his game.
Lag’s quote “I can’t think of a better swing model for taller players than George Archer”
Should taller players model the entire swing of Archer? Archer has steep shoulders which is one of the things that you are always against?
Hope
I think the important thing is what the shoulders do AFTER the strike there - as in George Archer. Most people will stop the shoulders and wing the arms. The key is to keep moving the left shoulder as far and as fast as you can AWAY from the target line after the strike- this keeps the pivot moving and outracing the want to throw the hands and arms away from the core.
I wouldnt say George is 100% a ‘great ballstriker’ or wasn’t known for that part of the game - but for his height and what he does as far as laying the shaft down and pinning the arms and hands in tight to the core into and through impact he is an excellent study for the taller golfer.
I’m sure he has no idea… he is 14! He was born after the arrival of titanium frying pans. This has nothing to do with him being handed clubs by his loving parents and supported by them through junior events and such.
What he has accomplished comparatively speaking against his age peers is more than commendable. The game now is what it is… and very few nowadays know better.
This is a domino effect of failing institutions. Any of them could just say… whoa!.. enough here… The USGA… the R and A, The PGA Tour, The Masters tournament committee. Jack, Arnie, Gary… all talk about the issues.
Why not do something about it? I feel like I am closer to doing something about it than they are… which is absurd.
What gets me every year now with The Masters is all the “Tradition like no other”. It’s brainwashing. Tradition is about keeping things the same. Grandma’s cookie recipe. You don’t mess with it. The Masters, as far as the golf goes… has broken just about every tradition from tee to green there is. They sugar coat it with Azaleas, Magnolias, Butler cabin, a Green Jacket, price of a grilled cheese.
If they kept it real, they would change their slogan to … “IBM, pushing golf into the future”. Get rid of the piano and guitar music and replace it with a modern rapper like Nikki M.
They have lengthened the course 500 yards and it still plays shorter than it ever has. So now it just gets pushed forward by hype, talented publicists. It’s a business… I get that… but I would be lying if I didn’t miss seeing Masters golf played even somewhat traditionally.
No country for weak swings.
I like Cabrera’s posture at address–the rounded shoulders, relaxed spine, tucked tailbone. Adam Scott has changed to a more rounded shoulder address as well. Cabrera’s approach shot into 18 in the final round yesterday at the Masters was brilliant. After he hit it, he looked like a bear stalking its prey, big, powerful intent. Same with his iron tee shot on 10 in the playoff–bludgeoned. If it was possible, he looked like he was swinging harder coming down the stretch and in the playoff.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkHCQC2og4Q[/youtube]
Great footwork…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXKs_UR-wGo[/youtube]
I really enjoy watching Angel play. Especially the way he’s able to swing so hard at it with the driver, it always looks to me that when Tiger really goes hard at the driver he kind of stands up through the shot and gets blocked with his body and has to use his hands to square the face, but Angel seems to rotate through the ball very well even when he swings hard at it, and seems to swing without any thoughts or fear. This is something i always focus on when im playing and have to hit a driver on a narrow hole with trouble on it, in the past i would try to swing easier and just get it in play, but ive had more success when i just pick a target and swing hard without any fear.
When I watch him… I can see he would be a great persimmon player also. His swing looks like it came right out of the 50’s or 60’s. Love how he just ripped an iron off the tee with a draw on #10. Good strategy to get to hit first into the green and put the pressure on. Scott replied with a great shot… no credit taken away from him. He deserved the win.
It was fun to see two quality ball strikers playing in The Masters gunning for the title, rather than a couple of guys falling apart coming down the stretch… or spraying their drives into the trees.
As far as Cabrera… well… he knows he has to birdie 18. Perfect drive… then steps up to his iron shot, takes one look and fires it in there 3 feet. Nothing more needs to be said really.
He nearly birdied the last 6 holes he played.
I suppose his real strength is more playing off sidehill lies, elevation changes, etc… more adverse conditions than the typical TPC PGA Tour layouts.
My prediction that Cabrera would beat Snedeker in the final round and that we would have another first time major winner both came true… luck? or a side job as a Vegas odds maker 
