Best Ballstriker

[lagster]

Who is the best BALLSTRIKER YOU have ever SEEN, (excluding YOURSELF)? This question was recently asked to a well known tour player. He thought... then gave two names. V.J. and Freddy. I think in his case, the question was actually the best he had played with, but we will go with SEEN.

After we get a list, maybe we can try to figure out WHY these guys, or gals strike it so well.

[hardpan]

1964, tweleve yrs old...Sam Snead and Gary Player played an 18 hole exhibition at my home course...my dad was the clubpro but I'd never seen or heard a ball hit like Snead...trajectory was perfect, a little draw with the old balata and wood...Snead shot 65 and made no putts, Player a smooth 66...these guys had never seen this little west texas track before...amazing...the next yr we had Palmer and Nicklaus...wasn't the same although Nicklaus hit long irons higher than I could even imagine.... which didn't help in that dust storm we were having ...Palmer 76, Nicklaus 74...

Seen many of the greats through the years but Snead was something else...so solid/smoooth

[lagster]

The list so far...

Vijay Singh
Fred Couples
Tom Weiskopf
Lee Trevino
Wayne DeFrancesco
Ben Hogan
Mac O'Grady
Tiger Woods
Keith Clearwater
Neal Lancaster
Charles Howell III
Steve Elkington
Elliot Gealy
Mike Bennett
Bobby Clampett
Annika Sorenstam
Christian Cleaver
Tom Watson
Mark Calcaveccia
Greg Norman
Ernie Els
Jamie Hallet
Ted Fort
Lynn Blake
Jack Nicklaus
Tom Tomasello
Matthew Goggin
Nick Price
Miller Barber
Orville Moody
Davis Love
Padraig Harrington
Johnny Miller
Byron Nelson
David Toms
Tom Bartlett
Sam Snead
Gary Player
Chip Beck

Several of these were mentioned more than once. Lee Trevino, I believe has been mentioned the most so far.

[lagster]

The list so far...

Vijay Singh
Fred Couples
Tom Weiskopf
Lee Trevino
Wayne DeFrancesco
Ben Hogan
Mac O'Grady
Tiger Woods
Keith Clearwater
Neal Lancaster
Charles Howell III
Steve Elkington
Elliot Gealy
Mike Bennett
Bobby Clampett
Annika Sorenstam
Christian Cleaver
Tom Watson
Mark Calcaveccia
Greg Norman
Ernie Els
Jamie Hallet
Ted Fort
Lynn Blake
Jack Nicklaus
Tom Tomasello
Matthew Goggin
Nick Price
Miller Barber
Orville Moody
Davis Love
Padraig Harrington
Johnny Miller
Byron Nelson
David Toms
Tom Bartlett
Sam Snead
Gary Player
Chip Beck

Several of these were mentioned more than once. Lee Trevino, I believe has been mentioned the most so far.

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OK... add Jay Haas, Bruce Lietzke, George Knudson, Mickey Wright, and Moe Norman.

What are the SAMENESSES in these players?

[bantamben1]

i actually looked at all the stats once from players from the last twenty years and lietzke kept popping up. his ballstriking stats was always very high. and the cool thing was he never practiced what a lucky fellow

[tongzilla]

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

OK... add Jay Haas, Bruce Lietzke, George Knudson, Mickey Wright, and Moe Norman.

What are the SAMENESSES in these players?

They all have 24 Components!

[lagster]

They all have 24 Components!

.................................................. ..............

24 COMPONENTS... and most, if not all, have BALANCE, are on PLANE, at least through around release point(9-2-9)to separation, and have CLUBHEAD LAG to some extent.

Anything else?

[phillygolf]

The list so far...

Vijay Singh
Fred Couples
Tom Weiskopf
Lee Trevino
Wayne DeFrancesco
Ben Hogan
Mac O'Grady
Tiger Woods
Keith Clearwater
Neal Lancaster
Charles Howell III
Steve Elkington
Elliot Gealy
Mike Bennett
Bobby Clampett
Annika Sorenstam
Christian Cleaver
Tom Watson
Mark Calcaveccia
Greg Norman
Ernie Els
Jamie Hallet
Ted Fort
Lynn Blake
Jack Nicklaus
Tom Tomasello
Matthew Goggin
Nick Price
Miller Barber
Orville Moody
Davis Love
Padraig Harrington
Johnny Miller
Byron Nelson
David Toms
Tom Bartlett
Sam Snead
Gary Player
Chip Beck

Several of these were mentioned more than once. Lee Trevino, I believe has been mentioned the most so far.

Nice job compiling the list Lagster!!!

I'd like to hear from some of the...uh hum...older folks. Those that have seen both Trevino and Hogan. I only have tape and have not had the privelege to see either live. Anyone?

[EdZ]

Haas and Lietzke had their long careers because of their ability to hit the sweet spot every day for over 40 years each.
Hogan is #1. Knudson and Micky Wright and Moe Norman should get some votes.

I sure wish I had seen them in person! (which was why I didn't include them in my list)

Jamie Hullet (not Hallet) - LPGA player - VJ if you ever get the chance, your mastery of putting is very much needed in her case!

As to what they have in common...

Balance, Plane - and a good Grip for the motion they make.

[lagster]

Nice job compiling the list Lagster!!!

I'd like to hear from some of the...uh hum...older folks. Those that have seen both Trevino and Hogan. I only have tape and have not had the privelege to see either live. Anyone?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've seen Trevino several times. All on the Senior Tour.
I saw him hit a drive that was as straight as an arrow, fairly low, and fairly long. He goes through that little routine... then that ball tears out of there. I know a former tour player that used to play practice rounds with Trevino. He said he was by far the best ball striker.

I know a tour player from the 50's and 60's that played with Hogan. He said the SOUND he produced from striking the ball was quite unique. Snead did not like to play with him, because his tempo(Hogan's) bothered Sam.