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.
The best I have ever witnessed as far as an entire round was my old teacher Wayne Defrancesco while caddying for him in an Open qualifier. 7200 yards or so, he hit 16 greens - other 2 were on the fringe...including the stick on a par 3 from 240. Amazing.
As far as on tour - I agree. Freddie seems to hit every shot so pure...and Vijay is as good as it gets. Els was pretty damn impressive too. The straightest I have seen is Furyk.
Hmmm...who else. I never saw Trevino but everyone raves about him and of course Clampett as well.
I've seen personally on the Tee of a Tour event, worked with, and/or played with: that means within 5 Clublengths and Not behind the ropes!!!
1. Mac O'Grady
2. Grant Waite
3. Tiger Woods
4. Keith Clearwater
5. Neal Lancaster
6. Charles Howell
7. Steve Elkington
8. Elliot Gealy - Hooters Tour...
9. Mike Bennett - Mac O'Grady Disciple...Teaches Elk and Shark!
10.Bobby Clampett
Clue: 8 of 10 have either TGM and or MORAD connections!!!
Annika
Christian Ceavar (sp?) around '88 at John Susko Memorial Tourney
Watson at Olympic in 87 2nd round
Calc at Olympic in 87 practice round
Norman at Augusta 96, before he lost it
Tiger at Pebble
Jamie Hullet at Kingsmill 2005 (needs to learn how to putt!)
Ted Fort at OCN 2005
Lynn Blake at OCN 2005
Trevino
Nicklaus
I'd like to see David Alford in person, on tape he looks like he should be on anyones list of great strikers
Also, many folks that aren't famous, but are great strikers. A guy named 'petey' from Harding Park/SF area. Someone I suspect could have been JC Andersen (about 4 years ago, but I didn't note his name at the time).
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Tiger...I think?
Charles Howell - Leadbetter....BUT his coach at OSU - Mike Holder is a huge TGM guy....knows his stuff wonder why he was one of if not the best golf coaches in NCAA history....I don't know if Holder had any influence on Howell when He was there at OSU...My List was strictly guys I've seen up close and personal..Of course of seen others on the Tee and inside the ropes but they were my top ten...
Surprisingly my Top Five Disappointments
1. Migel Angel Jimenez...I was working with Neal Lancaster the last year of the Michelob in Williamsburg....I was standing in front of Neal and I heard this clankin, chunkin,thinin, toein, all over the place ...saw a HUGE ponytail and a stache....Turned backed to Neal wondering who in the he77 is that ...His reply.."Ryder Cupper!!!"
2. Nick Faldo....I'm inside the ropes at the 1999 US Open with Keith Clearwater...Pinehurst N0.2 hole #5 and Faldo is right there...I could've spit on him...but I like him to much...anyway He strikes it and it sounded like his impact was like a feather-filled pillow....well later on in the day I watched him on the range when Keith wasnt paying attention and he's hitting "no where" for a guy of such size... very little compresion...very sweepy!!! So I was let down ...I expected more out of the former #1 in the world
3. Curtis Strange...Met him at Williamsburg...Very nice guy...swing looked nice...NO POP...I'm wondering how did this guy win 2 US Opens...then he started hitting "pancake flop shots" with a Vokey 260.04 with the .04 ground completely off to what looked like a -.04...and these balls are landing like he's tossing flapjacks on the practice green off of hardpan...Now I know why...he's not afraid to miss!!!Anywhere
4. Pat McGowan - He's a personal friend and former student of 4 years......Rookie of the Year on the PGA Tour fresh out of BYU...I still cannot figure out how he lasted on tour as many years as he did...but get him on and around the green he is the "Master of the Vertical Hinge"!!!
5. David Branshaw....A high school friend ...college teammate...former mini-tour comrade...current Nationwide Tour Championship...a returning to the PGA TOUR for a second time...worked with David during his first year tried to get his "mess more on plane and to quiet down an over active pivot"..."He decided that it was way to much to change now since he was playing week to week....Now that I look back I understand...but from my friends out on the Tour they told me he was lookin for something ...anything to get him through week to week...His action in high school was pure....College very solid ...on tour...action not very good ...BUT 15 years on the mini-tours taught him ...that the intangibles combined with great putting, good iron play, and a steady driver is more important than a pretty swing...Good Luck David...Me and My family always pull for you..keep it up!!!
So my Top Ten best...and my Top Five Disappointments
Have been to tour events, but one of the purest ball strikers I have seen was Tom Tomasello. Of course, nothing was on the line as he struck balls into the net.
At the Open at St George's I worked as a spotter for ABC . I walked round with Freddy Couples , Tiger Woods, Garcia, VJ and saw all the big name players on the practice range. The best ball striker I saw there was Mathew Goggin. There was something about his ball flight that was more impressive than any of the players I saw. His short game amd putting was very poor. The only other players that impressed me as great ball strikers there were Chad Campbell and Couples. Tiger did not impress me as a ball striker . He hit it well when he hit it well but his bad shots were wild.
I have seen many good ones in person.
On the range, around 1994 or '95... I stood right beside DAVID DUVAL while he pured balls... and talked to me at the same time.
I watched NICK PRICE practice at Greenleaf... when I was there for a few days in around 1987. He was(is) very impressive!
MILLER BARBER was a suprisingly good ball striker. I saw him go through his whole bag on the range(1976)... and appeared to pure every ball. The action was(is) unusual, but the ball flight, and sound was very good.
ORVILLE MOODY could really strike the ball...had trouble with putting.
Of the more recent guys... DAVIS LOVE is very impressive at times.
PROBABLY THE PUREST LOOKING DRIVE I EVER SAW WAS STRUCK BY LEE TREVINO.
THE BEST ROUND I EVER SAW WAS A 64 BY GARY PLAYER.
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