Best driver .............ever

[dpb5031]

I dont think there's much doubt about his top-end speed. Certainly not super-human, but definitely would be one of the very fastest swingers in the current game with modern equipment for sure.

IMO, the thing that made him such a great driver was that he had tremendous control and could place the ball as needed with a combo of distance (when required) and accuracy as well as anyone, using strategy to dissect the course like a chess game. Bomb & gouge didn't really exist in that era as the ball and equipment didnt lend itself to that style. Jack did what he had to do, with what he had to do it with, better than anyone ever has with the big stick.

[lowheel]

I completely agree with what youre saying. Im sure a multitude of those factors you name came into play to get some of those #s but he was a monster off the tee regardless with that rare blend of power and control. i wish technology existed to measure such things but we have some video like the one above that shows his abilities. I always argue with people that tiger was longer as an amateur than tiger was as a pro. Hard to prove but the eye test and swing speed says yes.

[lowheel]

Took off the sweater because he smelled blood. Mighty lash right there. Sanders really blew that one..

[lowheel]

If i recall, Dan Jenkins wrote that the 65 masters was unique because it was playing firm and fast and nicklaus was manhandling it alot like tiger did in 97. he had wedges into par 4s and short irons in to par 5s. They claimed he hit i think on saturday when he shot 64 i believe 6-7 drives of 340+. Bobby Jones made his famous comments at that point and was getting reports from scorekeepers about his prodigious drives. I think Gary Player confirmed alot of this when he spoke about Jack having a wedge into 18 and a 8 iron into 15 in interviews which he said was "crazy". With those clubs and that ball its super impressive regardless of how firm or downwind etc.... its like when tiger hit a drive in the us amateur, i think the one at pumpkin ridge it was like 360 yards and the commentators were like well it is downwind and firm then immediately hit another one 340 on the next hole going the other way lol. power is power. hope you had a great christmas my good man. wishing you and yours all the best in the new year. hope youre all healed up and hitting them out there nice and straight!

[DFS PFD]

I don't doubt that at all, wish I had been alive to experience it! As much as I love Tiger, I can't argue Jack's domination of his era and example after example of exceptional power!

[stingerfade]

The 18th at st Andrews is not uphill in fact I think it’s a touch downhill from my recollection playing there

[dcfas]

Haven’t read all eight pages, but... no love for my man Freddie Funk? Dude split fairways with eyes closed for years, probably still does. Maybe not long, but frozen rope accuracy.

[mizuno player]

Lots of guys over the years I would gladly have their driver game.

The person I enjoyed the most and would take over all is Duval's ( obviously it was a short window). Start slightly left and fall right. Every time. And fairly long too.

[mahonie]

I’ve walked it a couple of times...definitely felt uphill to me.

[stingerfade]

I walked it twice but it was 10 years ago. I don’t recall it being uphill at least enough to make me think it was so If so super subtle. It’s not like the course has massive elevation changes anywhere

[gvogel]

It's flat, but the green is elevated.

[stingerfade]

It’s elevated in relation to the valley of sin but I think that’s because the valley is lower than rest of fairway? I mean the course is relatively flat elevation wise while never giving you a flat lie which is what is so awesome about it :)

[dpb5031]

The more I think of it, it has to be Jack. More wins than all but a few, and the most majors of anyone. All that with just an average wedge game and by elite Tour standards a below average chipping/pitching game.

[Man_O_War]

a lot of players drove that green . he probably carried it 240 with the rest roll. that's how much roll you will get on a baked links course. Also that is how Augusta used to play...firm and fast. There were others who were longer. He made putts more than most is why he won so much. There's a story about Jim Dent making Nicklaus feel like Corey Pavin. At the end of day he was a winner. a champion, no one can deny that.

[LICC]

Who else drove that green?

[bodhi555]

It's definitely uphill - not massively so, but enough to take the edge off the roll out you get with a driver. I played TOC twice a week for 5 years, and struggled to get anywhere near driving 18 - but I was over by the 17th tee a couple of times after teeing off the 1st...

[Ashley Schaeffer]

The answer depends on the answer to another question: What is the highest swing speed of any current elite player? Take that number, add 5, and that was Nicklaus' swing speed. I can't prove it, but I don't have to.

[DFS PFD]

Seems low to me, I was thinking at least 10 mph. It is Jack after all.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

Good point. A lot of people forget that he had to do it with inferior equipment like persimmon and balata. Also, there were no fitness trailers back then; mostly eating cinnamon and frittata; midnight snacks of Top Ramen and horchata. Give him a modern driver, a chef, a Peloton, and Voilà - 70 yards.

[lowheel]

im glad youre still doing the same shtick! happy new year!

[lowheel]

Dan Pohl for a few years before getting hurt was as good as it gets.long and straight. Darn near won a masters.Wrecked his back in short order. he was the original jb holmes.

 

[tiderider]

you are correct ...

 

no love for ff as the greatest driver ever ...

 

 

[dpb5031]

Super-accurate but REALLY short. The top 20% in driving distance could probably fly 3 wood past his drives. It's a subjective discussion, but one would have to think you'd need the combo of distance & accuracy with the big stick as well as the ability to pull it off in the clutch to be considered the GOAT.

[Hawkeye77]

It's uphill, but still seems pretty flat. The adjoining road makes it easier to see and if you look at some camera angles back before the bridge and looking up towards the hole and buildings you can see the elevation better. I wouldn't call the green "elevated" if that is to mean built up in any artificial way (but maybe some earth was moved back in the day but really, really don't think so although Old Tom did rebuild it) - doesn't look "elevated" at all, lol.

Here's a view that gives an idea of the little bit of uphill from a ways out.

[Hawkeye77]

Re the 18th, even the Valley of Sin is more subtle in a photograph than in person, and it's daunting, but it's part of the terrain as you can kind of see where it may be above, yet devilishly hidden, but this is a better view.

[Ashley Schaeffer]

That is a really cool picture!

[dpb5031]

 

Sadly I have not been, but my daughter's college team played there, Carnoustie, and some others ?. I insisted she get the obligatory photo on the Swilken bridge though.

(appears slightly uphill, but who cares?)

[Ashley Schaeffer]

What a moment! Very cool.

[LICC]

And remember Jack drove past the back of the green. Awesome power

[Hawkeye77]

Indeed!