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Is working the ball overrated?

eberryhill7

By eberryhill7,
in Golf Talk

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eberryhill7 Well Established Member

eberryhill7

I know this might be ludicrous, but I was wondering if since Rocco had X-20 irons and a squareway wood in his bag and beat 153 people in the toughest tournament of the year, that maybe working the ball is somewhat overrated. I mean he always hits a draw and didn't seem to need the ability to hit a fade or anything to take the Tiger to 91 holes. Why do people want to work the ball with irons that severely punish mis-hits, when a straight flight with clubs that still go generally where you want even if you miss the sweetspot slightly. Please don't murder me for posting this, I just want to hear some reasons.

In the blue and tan grom Bag:

Driver r7 460 10.5*
Fairway Woods '07 Burner 15* and 18*
Irons 4-PW r7 XDWedges 47*, 52*, 58* CG14,Putter TiffanyBall One Tour D
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Dent Great Member

Dent

You actually make a good argument. I find the same thing:

Working the ball for me is pointless I only do it when I need to work it around obstacles, hazards, trees etc.
When I see people hit a huge fade on a flat fairway, the easiest green possible well: whats the point?

Its a riskier shot and may not stick as well on the green. I find hitting it straight is the safest shot. Maybe its just bragging rights for some people?
In My Bag

Driver: Sasquatch 460 9.5°
3 Wood: Laser 3 Wood 15°
5 Wood: r7 19° (Stiff)Irons: S58 Irons 4-PW Orange DotWedge: Harmonized 60°Wedge: Z TP 54°Putter: Tiffany 34"Balls: Pro V1 Shoes: Adidas Tour 360 IIThe Meadows Golf Coursewww.themeadowsgc.comAge: 16
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LongIron Member

LongIron

For the average golfer playing average courses I think its overrated. However, for the courses the Pros play on, there are numerous places where working the ball is crucial. Tough pin locations, protected greens, narrow fairways, etc... If you can work it, why not?

Driver: 4DX Tour 9°
3 Wood: Burner
Irons: J33 Combo
Wedge: 56°
Putter: Pipe PP/002Ball: Gamer

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Maverick Great Member

Maverick

For me a fade has been the default shot as it requires less ability..for me. I'd like for my shots to go straight but they usually go a little left or right.

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Cizzle Well Established Member

Cizzle

Immelman also had game improvement irons and won the Masters. You also have to remember Rocco lost the playoff because he didn't work the ball. On a dog leg right, that draw just is not going to cut it. So in some situations, working the ball is valuable and essential to scoring low.

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DJYoshi Great Member

DJYoshi

For me a fade has been the default shot as it requires less ability..for me. I'd like for my shots to go straight but they usually go a little left or right.

agreed. I have the same illness too..at least, I thought it was an illness, but it's just me being comfortable setting up a little open. it's not an over-powering fade..just a little baby fade... but it sucks when i'm up against a hard dogleg left..... i can setup and draw the ball a little bit, but risk:

not pushing the ball out far enough b4 it starts to draw or hitting a snap hook shot). but thank god for those dogleg right courses huh?! and besides..i'm not good enough to really work the ball..i'll setup to hit a draw maybe 6 shots in the round where i'll get 2, maybe 3 the way I want.
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golf_junkie27 Great Member

golf_junkie27

Personally, I think there is a huge difference between working the ball and shot shaping. I think every good ball striker has the ability to hit the ball in a certain area and control distance.

For example, if I'm teeing off on a shot that needs to go right, I would set up on the very left and try to hit to a certain spot on the right hand side. This is much more different than setting up for a fade and shaping a fade shot. Much more difficult to do. (Just an example)

From experience, I'll find the need to actually shape a shot because of trees, angle and pin placement. However, almost every shot requires that you hit the ball to a certain area. (What I considering "working the ball")

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rudygu Dedicated Member

rudygu

Jack Nicklaus explained this in the most clear way I've ever seen in his book Golf My Way . He calls it "percentage golf" and uses a shot into a green as an example. He basically says that if he aims 10 feet left of the pin and tries to cut it, that he will end up 10 feet right of the hole if he overcooks it and hits a slice, but if he hits it perfectly it's in the hole. Whereas, if he aimed directly at the pin and hit the same slice he is 20 feet right of the pin. The same thing works in reverse for a draw.

He goes on to detail the simplest (imo) method of working the ball left and right. He makes a good argument and confirmed my belief that it is a very useful skill indeed.
Callaway FT-9 Tour I-mix 9.5° Driver (Fujikura Zcom Pro 65 stiff)
Mizuno F-50 15° 3w (Exsar FS2 stiff)
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Ogg Well Established Member

Ogg

I think working the ball is a very important aspect of being a good player. Just thinking about the holes on my course that require you to hit a draw or fade off the tee alone makes it important. And the whole fact of being able to work the ball out of trouble brings in a whole new dimension, especially to saving par.
In my bag:
Driver : 905R 9.5*
3 Wood: Big Bertha Titanium 15*
5 Wood: Big Bertha Titanium 19*
Irons : 755Wedges: Vokey 50* Wedges: 588 DSG 56* Putter: 2 Ball Lined Blade 35Ball : ProV1
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Crafty Dedicated Member

Crafty

I know this might be ludicrous, but I was wondering if since Rocco had X-20 irons and a squareway wood in his bag

You seem to forget that the only man he didn't beat works the ball nearly every shot.

I get what you are saying to some degree. Peoplethink that in order to shoot low scores, they have to be able to work the ball into every pin. Not the case. However, if your mind sees a fade, draw etc. is the best play for the upcoming shot (and your mind is confident about it), then hit it. There are many different ways to get the ball in the hole.

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CG031 Great Member

CG031

Working the ball can be useful but it's funny when you see this people who try to shape the ball when it's so unneeded.

Driver Ping G10 10.5*
Hybrids Ping G5 (3) 19* Bridgestone J36 (4) 22*
Irons Mizuno MP-57 5-PW
Wedges Srixon WG-504 52.08 Bridgestone WC Copper 56.13
Putter 33" Scotty Cameron Studio Select #2

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bthroneburg Member

bthroneburg

You seem to forget that the only man he didn't beat works the ball nearly every shot.

+1. Crafty's got it right. What looks good and is comfortable for you, provided it is the shot needed to score good on the hole. Good mind set is a big plus.

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bruce Dedicated Member

bruce

If Rocco was able to play a fade he mightn't have lost the open,thats what the first sudden death hole required of the tee,Woods likes to play the fade but surprisingly a pro like rocco couldn't play it.Rocco was in trouble every time on that hole because of his draw.

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JaY_B Great Member

JaY_B

IMO it is impossible to commit to a straight shot, you have to remember that Rocco was *working* it, he was just working it one way.

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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You seem to forget that the only man he didn't beat works the ball nearly every shot.

Beat me to it. Indeed, the best player in the world plays a spinny ball and works every shot he plays. You'd think some of the other pros would catch on...

Erik J. Barzeski — ⛳ I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
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CG031 Great Member

CG031

In my ability, Tiger's ability to shape the ball as well he does isn't really what seperates him. It's the putting. The guy is just incredible inside 15 feet, he's like a machine. Especially when he needs a big putt (ex. 18th at the Open this year, needs birdie to force playoff from about twelve feet...I bet most other guys miss that putt.)

Tiger is great at everything don't get me wrong but if I had to pick one part of his game that seperates from other great players (ex. Adam Scott) I'd say it's really his putting. It's so much better than everyone elses.

Driver Ping G10 10.5*
Hybrids Ping G5 (3) 19* Bridgestone J36 (4) 22*
Irons Mizuno MP-57 5-PW
Wedges Srixon WG-504 52.08 Bridgestone WC Copper 56.13
Putter 33" Scotty Cameron Studio Select #2

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fusioncal Dedicated Member

fusioncal

I know this might be ludicrous, but I was wondering if since Rocco had X-20 irons and a squareway wood in his bag and beat 153 people in the toughest tournament of the year, that maybe working the ball is somewhat overrated. I mean he always hits a draw and didn't seem to need the ability to hit a fade or anything to take the Tiger to 91 holes. Why do people want to work the ball with irons that severely punish mis-hits, when a straight flight with clubs that still go generally where you want even if you miss the sweetspot slightly. Please don't murder me for posting this, I just want to hear some reasons.

To stay in control.

Let's put it this way, if you're a high ranked manager or whatever high position, would you employ an obedient assistant or someone who never listens to you and always works things his way? Clubs exactly are like that assistant.
What's in the bag:
Driver: r7 SuperQuad 10.5° ~ UST Proforce V2 65g Regular
Wood: 906F4 18.5° ~ Aldila VS Proto 80g Stiff
Irons: MP-60 3-PW ~ True Temper Tour Concept S3
Wedges: Vokey Oil Can 252.08, SM56.10 & SM60.08Putter: Marxman Mallet 33"
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eberryhill7 Well Established Member

eberryhill7

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So basically the ball is probably going to move on you whether you like it or not, so you might as well try and control this movement as best as you can? Is that the main principle behind working the ball, other then to get out of bad situations?
In the blue and tan grom Bag:

Driver r7 460 10.5*
Fairway Woods '07 Burner 15* and 18*
Irons 4-PW r7 XDWedges 47*, 52*, 58* CG14,Putter TiffanyBall One Tour D
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