Interesting comparison between Pros and Us

GreeBo

Us V Them

I'm always surprised when I see how low their FIR and GIR can get, really shows the value of a tidy short game.
Also the tipping point for when they make 50% of their putts compared to us
9foot for them, 3feet for us :eek:

PARlance

Can't argue with any of the stats bar the one that says we amateurs overestimate our drives.....

mag

good article.
one interesting thing i saw recently was harrington mentioning that the average club fairways are too tight. he said that on the uspga the average fairway width is 40 yards. not a very exhaustive survey ill admit, but i checked the index1 at my club (a 440 yd p4) and the fairway is 20 yards wide at the landing zone. the firs & consequently girs (because youre hitting from the short stuff) has to be skewed by this... although no doubt the gap is from 100yds in.

davo10

Geebo I played in a couple of pro-ams in the US where I got to play with/see up close some PGA players and the difference between them and the best amateurs is astonishing. The way they hit the ball, the sound it makes when the connect, the way they can shape the ball high, low, fade, draw it incredable. You think they just aim at the hole and pull the trigger but you can hear them discussing with their caddy how they are going to play the shot to get the ball to react a certain way on the green when it lands etc. But the most surprising thing is the number of times they hit it fat or blade it, the ball still ends up on the green but they are disappointed it is not closer to the hole. To be beside them on a practice range and just watch is a real thrill, shot after shot with the same club landing pretty much on the same spot each time so that there is a cluster of 20 balls all within a 2 foot radius 100 yards away. Them I get up and shank one down the line ala Tincup.

Harrington said in an article that the most common mistake an amateur makes is under clubbing, trying to hit a 140yard pitching wedge when a softer 9 or 8 is the club to go with to the centre of the green. As for putting, Woods game has declined because his shot game has declined, he does not make as many 10 footers, if he can't do it, what chance have we got?

slave1

davo10 wrote: »

.....the sound it makes when the connect...

Agreed, different world

Dr.Silly

you mean this sound :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4AW9ZRmMe4

blue note

That's a great article. I always wonder how the pros would do on a normal course. For example, Tramore is my home course and I reckon the par 5s would simply be par 4s for them. I think there's only one green that would be driveable for them. They'd have the distance for a couple more (maybe), but they'd be insane to try it.

At the end of the day though, I suspect they'd be disappointed to come in any worse than -6, and I'd say it would be the same for most courses around the country.

Mr. Larson

Tiger shot a 67 out at the European Club - probably the one and only time he played it? If he can shoot a 67 there a top pro could break 60 at my home course with relative ease.

The_Kew_Tour

I remember Jean Van de Velde saying once that he found it harder to tell the difference between a 24 handicapper and scratch, then a pro and Tour player.

Basically saying that the difference between a Tour player and your average Club Pro was big and there was big gap between the two.

IMO it was bit harsh on your club pro, but was interesting point too.

fullstop

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I remember Jean Van de Velde saying once that he found it harder to tell the difference between a 24 handicapper and scratch, then a pro and Tour player.

Basically saying that the difference between a Tour player and your average Club Pro was big and there was big gap between the two.

IMO it was bit harsh on your club pro, but was interesting point too.

It was clearly said for dramatic effect, because it's simply not true.

ssbob

Great article and would love to find out about that fairway's stat re the 40 yards v 20 yards.

Have never played with a pro but watch a lot of pro golf, best I seen was in Killarney last year at the open, G-Mac, R Green & Dyson -13 for the day between them, how long they drive and how close they were hitting their approaches was astonishing.