Hitting Curves

Been reading on how Jack Nicklaus the ultimate golf tactician played shots according to the "percentages" and disected golf courses.

He said that he would try to aim left of the pin and cut the ball mostly into the pin in order to have the most margin for error.

How much "cut" do you reckon he played for? 5 yards? 10? 15?

He wrote the book in the 70's and 80's so do you think he would still advise this type of strategy? Or was it because the "old" ball curved more? Does anybody other than Corey Pavin and Tiger play like this anymore?

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket
How much "cut" do you reckon he played for? 5 yards? 10? 15?

?

I remember reading in some book, might have been Mark James's autobiography, that the author played with Nicklaus at the height of his powers. It was the author's recollection that usually Jack would cut it 3 or 4 yards right, but on bad slices he'd lose it 10 yards right - with his driver!!!!

Probably the intimidation factor talking.

Originally Posted by ChrisNZ I remember reading in some book, might have been Mark James's autobiography, that the author played with Nicklaus at the height of his powers. It was the author's recollection that usually Jack would cut it 3 or 4 yards right, but on bad slices he'd lose it 10 yards right - with his driver!!!!

Probably the intimidation factor talking.

I think Jack just PLAYED the golf course better than anybody ever has . . . Everybody was all geeked when Eldrick won the British Open so impressively by only hitting ONE DRIVER all week . . . and then Pavin follows up by winning hitting 160 yard knock-down slider 5 irons where the other cats are hitting 8 irons. That is the true BEAUTY of the game . . . strategy, shot making, and mental toughness.

The hell with all this bang it 350 yards and flip a lob wedge up there. Who freakin' cares??? Not me anyway.

Jack said he didn't really start winning at the Pro level until he figured out that golf was a PRECISION game not a brute force game.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket I think Jack just PLAYED the golf course better than anybody ever has . . . Everybody was all geeked when Eldrick won the British Open so impressively by only hitting ONE DRIVER all week . . . and then Pavin follows up by winning hitting 160 yard knock-down slider 5 irons where the other cats are hitting 8 irons. That is the true BEAUTY of the game . . . strategy, shot making, and mental toughness.

The hell with all this bang it 350 yards and flip a lob wedge up there. Who freakin' cares??? Not me anyway.

Jack said he didn't really start winning at the Pro level until he figured out that golf was a PRECISION game not a brute force game.

Hmmmmm....for me, I really enjoy smacking one long and straight or with a slight draw...hit a few last weekend....hit the driving range net 250 yards out on the fly...thanks Mr. Tomasello and Homer.

DG

Looking at all the key PGA stats for 2006 there is one stat (other than scoring average) that stands out -- Par 5 Birdie Leaders
The top three:
1 1 Vijay Singh
2 2 Tiger Woods
3 3 Phil Mickelson

I think it's a very valid strategy...100%.

Cause Jack didn't dink it either. He did play a power game.

But he just tried to make sure he missed right I think....i.e. aim left play for a 5 yard fade.....if it misses it will be a 10 yard fade or w/e....still in play......predictable so you can play for it.....fades sit on greens.....

Originally Posted by mb6606 Looking at all the key PGA stats for 2006 there is one stat (other than scoring average) that stands out -- Par 5 Birdie Leaders
The top three:
1 1 Vijay Singh
2 2 Tiger Woods
3 3 Phil Mickelson

And it probably looks about the same for 2007. However, par 3 stats are usually over par. To me that is an indication for the non-bombers to take some advantage with precision irons. Or what about par 4s, more of those than long and short holes.

My memory may fail mer here, but in the days of Palmer, Nicklaus, Player and Trevino they played their longer irons better than the present generation of pros, simply because on a par four they may play driver 5I, where today it is wok-skillet LW #3. So they needed to be good with a 5I on more occasions than only on tee from a par 3...., but I might be a delusional nostalgic.

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket I think Jack just PLAYED the golf course better than anybody ever has

Jack said he didn't really start winning at the Pro level until he figured out that golf was a PRECISION game not a brute force game.

Ya...there's that story about how Jack (as an amateur) played with Hogan in the US Open. (I think) After the tournament Hogan said Jack coulda won easily if he knew how to manage the course better.

I tried to find a link to some kind of article but can't remember where I saw this.

It was the 1960 US Open at Cherry Hills where Arnie came back from 7 shots to beat Hogan and Nicklaus. Hogan had a chance to win this won but spun his wedge on #17 into the water's edge and failed to get it up and down. Hogan and Nicklaus were paired together and he told the press that if the kid he played with ever learned to manage his game that we would be a world beater. Guess he was right!!

The toughest shot to hit is a straight ball. Your shot needs to be curving one way or another. Not big but something. My biggest problem is the "double cross" when I am playing poorly, when I'm playing well it's not how good my good shots are it's how good my bad shots are! Nicklaus hit high fades that truly moved very slightly. Quite impressive.

Do any of you Swingers produce FADES by employing Angled Hinging, or do you just adjust your Fix and Address alignments, and still use Horizontal Hinging?

Originally Posted by lagster Do any of you Swingers produce FADES by employing Angled Hinging, or do you just adjust your Fix and Address alignments, and still use Horizontal Hinging?

It depends on the shot,if i'm swinging a long iron or on a full -out shot,I'll adjust my alignments.
For less than full power i'll angle ,or even vertical, hinge.

Yoda:
Thanks for the warm welcome. I just relocated to Las Vegas from Omaha and I'm looking to connect with a TGM instructor or student of the game. I see John Reigger calls Henderson home but I know he is busy with his full time job. Anyone else in LV that you would recommend talking to to discuss the TGM?
Thanks,
Pat

I have never met John but know a few of his college team mates. JC Anderson, Trevor Dodds and Phil Jonas. Would like to meet him. Maybe at the LV Invitational. The golf world sure is small!

Originally Posted by 12 piece bucket Been reading on how Jack Nicklaus the ultimate golf tactician played shots according to the "percentages" and disected golf courses.

He said that he would try to aim left of the pin and cut the ball mostly into the pin in order to have the most margin for error.

How much "cut" do you reckon he played for? 5 yards? 10? 15?

He wrote the book in the 70's and 80's so do you think he would still advise this type of strategy? Or was it because the "old" ball curved more? Does anybody other than Corey Pavin and Tiger play like this anymore?

Without reading any more of the posts, I'll say Bubba Watson likes to work the ball. I've heard Tiger plays practice rounds with him just to watch his shot making.

Oops! I didn't realize that this thread had degenerated into a weinerfest...