Rickie back to steel

[thammons]

1 hour ago, FOOTJOY16 said:

Maybe he should go back to a Titleist ball too.. he hasn't been the same since.. just a thought

This is 100% the problem, in my opinion. He didn’t change much besides new driver models and he changed irons when new models came out every 2 years. He’s been searching and tinkering ever since the ball change and keeps looking for the right spin numbers. He has no consistency anymore and he used to be one of the most consistent on tour. He played C-Tapers with the Titleist ball and I don’t recall him ever changing anything. He hit the ball plenty far enough, even when he went to 43.5” with driver and using the Titleist ball. I’m not saying it’s the best ball for everyone but the timing of the change coincides with his struggles perfectly. 
 

OGWR stats:

2017: Finished year 7th, 23 events 2 MC

2018: Finished year 11th, 23 events 3 MC

2019: Finished year 23rd, 20 events 3 MC

2020: Currently 39th, 15 events 6 MC

 

39th is still VERY respectable but his decline has been steady since the ball switch and he has 2 seasons under his belt with it I believe.

[YMark]

2 hours ago, FOOTJOY16 said:

Maybe he should go back to a Titleist ball too.. he hasn't been the same since.. just a thought

 

12 minutes ago, thammons said:

This is 100% the problem, in my opinion. He didn’t change much besides new driver models and he changed irons when new models came out every 2 years. He’s been searching and tinkering ever since the ball change and keeps looking for the right spin numbers. He has no consistency anymore and he used to be one of the most consistent on tour. He played C-Tapers with the Titleist ball and I don’t recall him ever changing anything. He hit the ball plenty far enough, even when he went to 43.5” with driver and using the Titleist ball. I’m not saying it’s the best ball for everyone but the timing of the change coincides with his struggles perfectly. 

You might be on to something. Didn't he also change swing coaches in the last 2 years? Fowler is falling off the same cliff Jordan is but at least is seems Jordan is working harder and playing in a lot more tournaments.

 

Edited September 24, 2020 by YMark

[drbonesvt]

While not swinging the putter at 120 mph 

 

I will admit there is a difference btw scotty / titleist trumpet stepless shaft vs the old ysc true temper 

[thammons]

9 hours ago, YMark said:

 

You might be on to something. Didn't he also change swing coaches in the last 2 years? Fowler is falling off the same cliff Jordan is but at least is seems Jordan is working harder and playing in a lot more tournaments.

 

I think you’re right. He was with Butch full time but I think Butch stopped teaching full time but I may be wrong.

[QuigleyDU]

12 hours ago, YMark said:

 

You might be on to something. Didn't he also change swing coaches in the last 2 years? Fowler is falling off the same cliff Jordan is but at least is seems Jordan is working harder and playing in a lot more tournaments.

 

I think Rickie plays more than just about anyone other than Sung J. 

[ckay]

22 hours ago, YMark said:

 

You might be on to something. Didn't he also change swing coaches in the last 2 years? Fowler is falling off the same cliff Jordan is but at least is seems Jordan is working harder and playing in a lot more tournaments.

 

Rickie fell in love and got married. That’s what happened. 

[karstens_ghost]

I remember this discussion a while back about drivers.

 

Yes, they feel different. Are they better? Well, it depends on whether you don't want deflection. Clearly some players like a consistent deflection. I don't. For me, it shows up in the 10' putt not being as far offline. It's resulting in my putting being as good as it's ever been. I also think it matters more to players who take a short backstroke.

 

It's not snake oil. I still play steel in my irons because I like it. I like the feel of it. But for putting, for me, the dispersion numbers do not lie.

[MCoz]

Ricky's issues have nothing to do with the ball change. If anything it has saved him a few shots in what may be considered a "decline". 

he has been playing with swing things.  First off he has never been really consistent. He has had his ups and downs. In the end he has never won anywhere near what has been expected of him overall by many of the "experts". I could go into several swing and club issues, but in the end he has had round 3 and/or 4 issues. This speaks to the right mental makeup for weekends. None of this is really equipment related.  Besides Matthew Wolff is playing the "Ricky" ball and it has been pretty forward in the two Majors conducted the past two months getting major screen time in the golf coverages. Ricky has a vast collection of people rooting for him continuously. 

So we shall see, in the end it will have more to do with his confidence and his Gut in bringing him more more to the fore!.

 

[Kylekoz17]

On 9/25/2020 at 2:12 AM, MCoz said:

Ricky's issues have nothing to do with the ball change. If anything it has saved him a few shots in what may be considered a "decline". 

he has been playing with swing things.  First off he has never been really consistent. He has had his ups and downs. In the end he has never won anywhere near what has been expected of him overall by many of the "experts". I could go into several swing and club issues, but in the end he has had round 3 and/or 4 issues. This speaks to the right mental makeup for weekends. None of this is really equipment related.  Besides Matthew Wolff is playing the "Ricky" ball and it has been pretty forward in the two Majors conducted the past two months getting major screen time in the golf coverages. Ricky has a vast collection of people rooting for him continuously. 

So we shall see, in the end it will have more to do with his confidence and his Gut in bringing him more more to the fore!.

 

This.  He’s made a bunch of swing changes this year.  All for the better in my opinion and it should get progressively better as he refines and ingrains it.  Lol at thinking it’s the ball

[lakecowboy]

10 hours ago, Kylekoz17 said:

This.  He’s made a bunch of swing changes this year.  All for the better in my opinion and it should get progressively better as he refines and ingrains it.  Lol at thinking it’s the ball

This is WRX.  It's always the ball or clubs fault, and everyone always needs the latest and greatest.

[grm24]

On 9/24/2020 at 11:19 AM, QuigleyDU said:

I think Rickie plays more than just about anyone other than Sung J. 

Not even close to being true. Last two seasons of the current OWGR rankings Sung J. has played in 72 events. The most in all of professional golf. 7 more events than Patrick Reed who is second. Rickie has played 44 events in the same time frame. 75+ players have played more than Fowler over the last two seasons. 

 

 

[liveagua]

On 9/19/2020 at 10:52 AM, The Mad Bomber said:

I'm going to go on record as saying that those high stability putter shafts are gimmicky. I'm not anti-technology or anything, I just think that it's a stretch to say they have any measurable difference.

They actually work better on long putts, where there is more deflection and we all miss the center. 

[Santiago Golf]

The stability shaft isn't going to make a big difference for a 10 or higher handicap ... it isn't going to help you control speed nor is it going to correct a face that is point 6 inches or more left or right of your target at impact. 

 

Now if you near scratch or better, then it will help you a little bit ... but it isn't going to make a 5 shot difference 

 

Golfers who are better putter often have shorter first putts. Therefore they are hitting better approach shots & better short game shots.