Let me begin by saying I am not a pro. This was my first pro event and my observations are little more than first impressions.
While watching Mr. Gay on the range, I was struck by his relatively small size and how his tempo seemed relaxed and yet the ball lept into the air with power and precision. His swing seemed very controlled and compact.
Aronomink is a hilly course and as Mr. Molder and the whole field discovered, the rough was more than formidable! Let me explain. If your ball ran off the wide fairways about a foot, it would disappear from site and we were standing within 10 yards of the ball, sometimes. Why would the tee shot leave the fairway?
Accuracy off the tee was crucial at Aronimink. The hills and banking of the fairways would gladly throw a drive in any number disastrous positions.
Mr. Gay seemed to measure each tee shot to it's landing spot while Mr. Molder seemed to often be in the rough or even outside the ropes compared to Mr. Gay.
Mr. Gay's "stroke" just seemed more well, professional. His set-up, alignment, routine, slight forward lean to begin his backswing (yes, maybe because of the hills). In comparison, Mr. Molder hardly seemed settled before beginning his stroke.
Mr. Molder's GIR rating for the tourny was 63.89% slightly higher than Mr. Gay's 61.11% but in driving accuracy, Mr. Gay was almost 70% whereas Mr. Molder's driving accuracy was exactly 50%. Our sense while watching the two players was that Mr. Gay plays a game that would allow him to compete every time he enters a tournament.
I think at any course but the longest, Mr. Gay would wear his competitors out.
Patrick
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Last edited by innercityteacher : 07-07-2010 at 11:37 AM.
That mirrors what Jerry and I thought last year at the PGA. You look up and down the practice tee and nobody is moving off the ball, A tour range is a perfect place to watch Homer Kelley's "TRIPOD" in action. Brian Gay stayed as centered as anybody, if not even more so. What a wonderful action to mimic for consistancy...
Kevin
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
Let me begin by saying I am not a pro. This was my first pro event and my observations are little more than first impressions.
While watching Mr. Gay on the range, I was struck by his relatively small size and how his tempo seemed relaxed and yet the ball lept into the air with power and precision. His swing seemed very controlled and compact.
Aronimink is a hilly course and as Mr. Molder and the whole field discovered, the rough was more than formidable! Let me explain. If your ball ran off the wide fairways about a foot, it would disappear from site and we were standing within 10 yards of the ball, sometimes. Why would the tee shot leave the fairway?
Accuracy off the tee was crucial at Aronimink. The hills and banking of the fairways would gladly throw a drive in any number disastrous positions.
Mr. Gay seemed to measure each tee shot to it's landing spot while Mr. Molder seemed to often be in the rough or even outside the ropes compared to Mr. Gay.
Mr. Gay's "stroke" just seemed more well, professional. His set-up, alignment, routine, slight forward lean to begin his backswing (yes, maybe because of the hills). In comparison, Mr. Molder hardly seemed settled before beginning his stroke.
Mr. Molder's GIR rating for the tourny was 63.89% sloghtly higher than Mr. Gay's 61.11% but in driving accuracy, Mr. Gay was almost 70% whereas Mr. Molder's driving accuracy was exactly 50%. Our sense while watching the two players was that Mr. Gay plays a game that would allow him to compete every time he enters a tournament.
I think at any course but the longest, Mr. Gay would wear his competitors out.
Patrick
__________________
I could be wrong. I have been before, and will be again.
City,
Your account of the tournament and Mr. Gay's approach to the game brought shivers. Very well stated. It could well be my wife turned the AC into new realm with this hot, muggy weather.
By the way, after a recent bout with Kevin over range balls, he pointed out my continuance of the dreaded slide. I now mentally button hook my shirt button (sternum) to the ball, then pull the elastic up (not back) as I turn and accelerate through the ball. It worked Monday.
Originally Posted by KevCarter
Great observations City!
That mirrors what Jerry and I thought last year at the PGA. You look up and down the practice tee and nobody is moving off the ball, A tour range is a perfect place to watch Homer Kelley's "TRIPOD" in action. Brian Gay stayed as centered as anybody, if not even more so. What a wonderful action to mimic for consistancy...
I'm loving your style of writing teach, tell us more!
__________________ The student senses his teacher’s steadfast belief and quiet resolve: “This is doable. It is doable by you. The pathway is there. All you need is determination and time.” And together, they make it happen.
Mr. Gay's approach to golfing on a Sunday with money on the line.
Originally Posted by JerryG
City,
Your account of the tournament and Mr. Gay's approach to the game brought shivers. Very well stated. It could well be my wife turned the AC into new realm with this hot, muggy weather.
By the way, after a recent bout with Kevin over range balls, he pointed out my continuance of the dreaded slide. I now mentally button hook my shirt button (sternum) to the ball, then pull the elastic up (not back) as I turn and accelerate through the ball. It worked Monday.
I think Mr. Gay is more of a swinger in TGM parlance. But comparing his swing to a long languid swing like Tommy Armour would be a study in contrasts in the extreme.
On Sunday, I thought I could see the Extensor Action of Mr. Gay keep his Power Package compact and bristling with an efficiency that belied his slight form and short, fluid movements back and through. Mr. Gay might use a takeaway lag but it is so slight that it was hard to see or perhaps his forward drift actually might set the lag. I don't know but Lynn and Brian do.
My point is that his compact swing "beasted" the ball like Godzilla in downtown Tokyo on Saturday night! It was so damn efficient and powerful that I actually thought Mr. Gay should have dialed a couple of approach shots back a bit due to the heat and hardness of the conditions. I say this realizing that I have not one clue of insight compared to Mr. Gay of what was correct competing professionally.
I felt as if Mr. Gay could control his landing spots for the ball to a 99% certainty. It was amazing to compare his level of simplicity and control of his strike to Mr. Molder who is very talented. Two different schools of instruction!
I am glad to know TGM as a result and will learn more. More to come, later about this Sunday I'm writing about.
Patrick
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Why Efficiency matters at Aronmink or any top competition.
Originally Posted by innercityteacher
I think Mr. Gay is more of a swinger in TGM parlance. But comparing his swing to a long languid swing like Tommy Armour would be a study in contrasts in the extreme.
On Sunday, I thought I could see the Extensor Action of Mr. Gay keep his Power Package compact and bristling with an efficiency that belied his slight form and short, fluid movements back and through. Mr. Gay might use a takeaway lag but it is so slight that it was hard to see or perhaps his forward drift actually might set the lag. I don't know but Lynn and Brian do.
My point is that his compact swing "beasted" the ball like Godzilla in downtown Tokyo on Saturday night! It was so damn efficient and powerful that I actually thought Mr. Gay should have dialed a couple of approach shots back a bit due to the heat and hardness of the conditions. I say this realizing that I have not one clue of insight compared to Mr. Gay of what was correct competing professionally.
I felt as if Mr. Gay could control his landing spots for the ball to a 99% certainty. It was amazing to compare his level of simplicity and control of his strike to Mr. Molder who is very talented. Two different schools of instruction!
I am glad to know TGM as a result and will learn more. More to come, later about this Sunday I'm writing about.
Patrick
Aronomink is a very hilly course and like most golf courses, someone with a twinkle in their eye has designed the course to make a point or two regarding golf skills.
As we watched Mr. Gay prepare his strike, you could see how the course design conspired to challenge his attempt at par. A short par 3, number 8 begins with a tee almost 10 floors in height! Even if you hit a wedge at 60 degrees and managed to clear the water, the bounce of the ball would send your shot to the shaved area of the green where the ball would collect. In the collection area, you could put like at St. Andrew's or chip as your skills allow. But, keeping the ball below those shaved areas demands the utmost skill!
Mr. Gay's power and precision were tested on number 8! His putter rescued his par on that hole.
Patrick
__________________
HP, grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change, the courage to change what I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Progress and not perfection is the goal every day!
Hybrid Mode
