Simplest game on Tour

[playar32]

For those in the know, who has what would be deemed the "simplest" game on tour. Meaning, maybe they can only hit one type of shot, or they don't have every short game shot but they play very consistent.

 

My two thoughts/examples of this topic:

1) Maybe it doesn't show up in the stats. For example, Sergio was known for a long time (and still) as a great ball striker, but apparently he's always firing at pins, so his GIR stats don't reflect his ability.

2) I use to take lessons from a guy who worked with Brett Wetterich. He said that Brett was exceptional at driving, flop shots and putting, but marginal at everything else. (He did lead the Masters for two rounds though).

 

The question is who is surviving on tour with the least amount of ability/shots.

[BrianMcG]

Bruce Lietzke. Only ever hit a fade. He once said, "If I have to hit a wedge off the tee and a 3 wood for a second shot in order to play my fade, I'll do it. "

[gvogel]

Francisco Molinari looks like he has a pretty simple game to me. Drive it straight, hit the green, putt - next hole repeat.

[Ferguson]

Hale Irwin had a very simple approach to playing and winning.

[leerob3]

I'm sure there's many but I would say Charlie Hoffman, nice simple action.

[playar32]

Bruce Lietzke. Only ever hit a fade. He once said, "If I have to hit a wedge off the tee and a 3 wood for a second shot in order to play my fade, I'll do it. "

 

Reminds me of Butch Harmon telling a story about his father Claude when Claude was just starting out.

 

Claude was stuck behind a tree, shot called for a 5 yard fade, or a ~50 draw. Claude couldn't hit a fade at that point, so he went with the draw, made birdie.

[ThinkingPlus]

It can't be DJ; that would be too much of a coincidence.

[jonsnow]

Bryson DeChambeau, now that they took his compass away.

[Noke]

Kenny Perry comes to mind.

[Booker]

Lehman

pretty well works a trap draw with everything. I followed him a couple rounds in Calgary and I saw the same 15yrd draw every shot outside 80yrds.

[cardoustie]

Sam Snead

[Cwebb]

Kenny Perry and Mark Calcavechia

[2putttom]

Jordan Speith

[Chef23]

Bruce Lietzke. Only ever hit a fade. He once said, "If I have to hit a wedge off the tee and a 3 wood for a second shot in order to play my fade, I'll do it. "

 

I was going to say Lietzke as well. Apparently he never practiced either I read about his caddie putting a banana in his driver head cover when he was taking a few weeks off and it was still there when he showed up at the next tournament.

[RichieHunt]

Most players on Tour hit one type of shot almost all of the time. There's not a lot of working it, particularly these days as the ball spins less and it's more difficult to curve it. I mean, you don't see Rory hitting many fades unless he hits a bad drive and has to get around the woods.

 

As far as ability, I would vote for Ben Crane. I'm not saying he's completely untalented, but he's made more money and won far more times than players with far more incredible talent and athleticism. His mentality out on the course is something to aspire to. He has a quality sense of urgency without being impatient and irrational and can take poor play in stride while having a great sense of believing in himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[playar32]

Most players on Tour hit one type of shot almost all of the time. There's not a lot of working it, particularly these days as the ball spins less and it's more difficult to curve it. I mean, you don't see Rory hitting many fades unless he hits a bad drive and has to get around the woods.

 

As far as ability, I would vote for Ben Crane. I'm not saying he's completely untalented, but he's made more money and won far more times than players with far more incredible talent and athleticism. His mentality out on the course is something to aspire to. He has a quality sense of urgency without being impatient and irrational and can take poor play in stride while having a great sense of believing in himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

 

Thanks Richie, this is the insight I was looking for.

 

I kinda balance this question with with my thought of, "could a PGA touring pro play it safe and shoot par everytime?" or "Do pros have bad days like I have bad days?" (meaning, they just cant find the club face that day, or they have to hit it in 5sq ft box, so anything slighlty off is bad?) Meaning, taking conservative plays on the tee, aiming for the middle of the green, and two putting. I know that basically every 1/10 of shot matters, and I know that Jack's strategy when he played was to fire at the middle of the greens (he said a lot of pins were in the middle).

[Ghostwedge]

Wonder if todayʻs players even practice hitting it the "9 wayʻs" on the range ?

Need some insight....

[puttfordoux]

KJ Choi to me has a rhythmic swing that seems very consistent. He has mentioned he learned to play golf from Nicklaus' 'Golf My Way' book.

 

Also, having watched Steve Stricker on the range with his irons hitting the same slight draw over and over again...the guy is a machine.

[straightshot7]

Bubba. He grew up hitting wiffle balls in Bagdad, Florida and he tries to hit a straight ball every time because of it.

 

 

[ram01002]

Brian Gay ... plays his brand, never deviates

[Valtiel]

Makes me think of Zach Johnson. Short, compact quick swing and sees everything right to left.

[Santiago Golf]

Ryan Moore

 

End thread

[LYG]

Cristie Kerr.

 

She's the female version of Steve Stricker re: plain vanilla swings that really work.

[bbedell]

For those in the know, who has what would be deemed the "simplest" game on tour. Meaning, maybe they can only hit one type of shot, or they don't have every short game shot but they play very consistent.

 

My two thoughts/examples of this topic:

1) Maybe it doesn't show up in the stats. For example, Sergio was known for a long time (and still) as a great ball striker, but apparently he's always firing at pins, so his GIR stats don't reflect his ability.

2) I use to take lessons from a guy who worked with Brett Wetterich. He said that Brett was exceptional at driving, flop shots and putting, but marginal at everything else. (He did lead the Masters for two rounds though).

 

The question is who is surviving on tour with the least amount of ability/shots.

 

Kooooooooch. Cut cut cut cut....putt putt putt putt...pay me.

[iBanesto]

Francesco Molinari.

 

Simple swing with machine like precision.

[Sean2]

I ‘d say Stricker.

[iBanesto]

How about Jack Nicklaus? If you're talking about consistency.

 

Fade was his go to shot and he didn't have the best short game out there.

 

[BottleCap]

It's the guys with a flatter swing. The guys that look more upright like Phil and Bubba put it all over the place

[playar32]

How about Jack Nicklaus? If you're talking about consistency.

 

Fade was his go to shot and he didn't have the best short game out there.

 

 

Jack definitely kept it simple, but I feel most people in his era did. You could get away with not having every part of the game sharp.

 

I was thinking more of a modern guy, because if you really think simple, probably the guys who invented golf had the simplest game. I just didn't want to go that far back.

[smashdn]

JB Holmes. I can't recall ever seeing a ball of his intentionally moving right to left.