I was lucky enough to caddie at the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale for a friend of mine who made it through local qualifying. I was on the range and saw Garcia, Jimenez, Stenson plus a bunch of other top players hit balls but the best ball striker I saw was Greg Norman. I've watched Tiger at the 2005 Open at St Andrews and obviously he stripes it. I've also been to many Scottish Opens when it was at Loch Lomond and saw guys like Poulter, again great ball striker but nothing I've ever seen was like Greg Norman.

Who is the best ball striker you have seen in person?

Saw the title without seeing the content and instantly thought of Greg Norman also. I saw Tiger in 99 and man, the sound off his club and trajectory was just different to everyone. Hard to split both and like them for different reasons. Good topic OP.

Saw the title without seeing the content and instantly thought of Greg Norman also. I saw Tiger in 99 and man, the sound off his club and trajectory was just different to everyone. Hard to split both and like them for different reasons. Good topic OP.

I remember watching Tiger hit a drive and like you say the sound it makes is like nothing else. The ball probably moved about a foot through the air, striped right down the middle.

Hal Sutton

Myself....

haha, Tiger was pretty good. Although last year I was on the range at Bay Hill and Lucas Glover stood out to me, just his rhythm the ball leapt off his club face. Played with Rob Oppenheim a few times, watched him fire 63-62, both of those rounds were absolutely outstanding.

Tried to post a video apparently it didn't work

I've never seen anything close to that level. I played with a fringe D2 guy once that put up a 71 on a relatively easy course...that's the best I've seen in person

Tiger! - but the young Rory and Westwood were pretty good in my book at the PGA at Hazeltine that Tiger lost. Spent time out in practice rounds and on the range watching a variety of players. Those stood out at the time.

Edit: and was thinking about this after breakfast, I remember sitting on a range near KC on a hot late afternoon watching Monte put on a ball striking clinic with a 2 iron I will not forget.

Johnny Miller and Moe Norman

Moe beside me on the range

Johnny at the Canadian Open and in a lesson

Sergio a couple of years ago in Crans-Montana.

In regards to non tour guys: there is a guy at my club. He used to play for the belgium national team. +4 hcp. Incredible ballstriking, too.

Freddie Couples

a couple of years ago i've attended the event in crans-montana. they where all there. rory, jimenez, kaymer, casey. but the one who stood out was raphael jacquelin. the sound when he hit the ball with his irons and his ballflight where unique.

Tiger. Watched him on the range in prime position, right behind him, fairly close.

He shaped the ball every way, changed trajectories. Ball went far with such little effort.

A very good friend’s daughter plays on the LPGA Tour. Phenomenal ball striker. A small dime size mark on the sweet spot on her irons.

DL III back in his early Tour days.

I followed Nick Price years ago. I'm not sure of the event, it was either the GGO or the Kemper. He shot 30 on the front 9, and never made a long putt. I talked with his caddie after the round, and he said he hits it like that all the time. Now that I think of it, it was the Kemper one of the first years at Avenel.

Haven't seen too too many tour players in person but I'd have to say Bernhard Langer. Followed him for 18 and he hit it so straight it got boring after a while.

Seen most all of the best, nobody even close to Moe Norman.....I watched that guy hit probably 2,000 balls combined in a few sessions in Palm Coast, Florida. It was ridiculous!...

I tell you what, watched a skins game up here years ago and Ray Floyd was more impressive than Couples

Was a few feet behind Johnny Miller on the range at Preston Trails in '74. He and Jerry Heard were playing a call shot game. JM never missed one. Most impressive I've ever seen.

Ben Hogan

I've seen Rory, Fowler, Rose, Els, Rahm, Westwood, Montgomerie, Garcia etc over the years in person but the most impressive for me was Hideki Matsuyama last year. What a swing to see in person. Pure athleticism and purest ball-striking.

Johnny Miller and Moe Norman

 

Moe beside me on the range

 

Johnny at the Canadian Open and in a lesson

I was going through pictures the other day and found some of me and Moe. That was a special experience and that's saying something given some of the players I was lucky enough to hang out with years ago.

I went to the GHO or whatever it’s called today 25 years ago or so, so whoever I was watching there. I remember watching Scott Verplanck on the range but wasn’t paying close enough attention to his hitting

When I was in high school a few years later, I played on the golf team with a kid who went on to play in a US Am and D1 golf at Univ of Florida and man could he hit. He was really the first great ball striker I took notice of because I was so close to it.

I’ve followed Tom Watson up close on a few occasions. I just love the tempo, and confidence in which he plays.

Visualize shot

Pull club

Quick waggle

Hit shot, always pure and crisp

Walk quickly to ball

No messing around

I’ve watched Trevino up close but he was out of contention and just seemed to be trying to get it in the house. But it was like the ball was on a string and he was in full control of it. Not huge impressive power but pure control.

Not sure if anyone mentioned Scott Hoch. Pure.

Ben Hogan

Winner winner chicken dinner.

Would you mind expanding on your answer?

Thanks.

I got to caddie in US Senior Open in late 90's and stood right behind Mr. Palmer for an hour and watched him hit balls. The amazing part was David Graham was giving him some advice and he would stripe one and do a little dance afterward. I watched Gary Player send his caddie out 100 yards and lay a towel down. He then hit 10 balls and all of them hit the towel when they landed. I also worked at a club in Akron, OH and lived next door to Firestone. The head pro where I worked was friends with David Frost and he used to come to our practice range and hit balls instead of practicing at the Stone. Amazing ball striker for sure.

When I worked part-time at Bay Hill in the early 90's, it was routine to see Norman, Price, Allem, and Frost show up. That was a stripe show on the range warming up, for sure....

Johnny Miller and Moe Norman

 

Moe beside me on the range

 

Johnny at the Canadian Open and in a lesson

Best I've played with were a couple tour winners and a proam round with Art Sellinger of long drive fame.

Up close and in person playing would have to be Steve Stricker. From behind the ropes, Tiger.