What skill impresses you most about TOUR players

[golfchief]

The putting and reading the greens.

[Steaksauce]

To me it's more how they work together with their caddies. "146 to the front, 152 to the pin, green slopes back, grain faces east, ect... Fly it 157 yards to the back left edge and let the ridge take it back..." So much presicion compared to amateurs: "Uh... about 150."

That's really what I'm really impressed about because I'm starting to be able to do all the other stuff at the beginning of this season but their immaculate preparation is staggering...

[marpr]

  r7 425 said:

out of skills like putting irons driving chipping short game course management driving distance trajectory do you think impresses you most about tour professionals.

Putting and sand saves.

[mn723]

I envy their consistancy, trajectory and nerves. The #1 thing I envy is the % of putts from 15' and closer that they make. Tour players seem to average 25-27 putts per round while I average probably 30-32. A tour level putting ability would turn my 2 handicap into a +3.

[TourSpoon]

Short Game...120 and in

Trajectory
Touch with wedges
Putting

Overall...

Tempo
Thru Impact
Balance

[Wisco-Kid]

1 Consistency
2 Putting
3 Working the ball

[NCGolfer]

Two things. First, consistency in ball striking. As a scratch golfer, I can hit some great shots from time to time and get in a groove where I feel like I can't do any wrong. These guys live in that groove and rarely leave it.

Second, the short game. They are so creative and masters at getting the ball in the hole. The Tour players look at the short game in a totally different way than amateurs do. It's fun to watch them around the game and watch them as they calculate every little contour and bump in the green. You rarely see these guys make a big mess around the green (unless it's the US Open.)

[niblick]

how many chip-ins did we see at Bay Hill? when those guys miss a green, all they're thinking is how they can make a birdie the adventurous way. the combination of skill and focus is awesome.

[NM Golf]

I have been to several Tour events and the one thing struck me as impressive was their distance control. Sure they are all good around the greens and they all putt well. They can all work the ball, although they all have a shot shape they prefer and hit most of the time. They don't always hit the ball dead straight at the flag but they do hit it the right distance most of the time. The same is true with putting and chipping. The reason they are so good at getting up and down is they have great pace.

My buddy, who has been on tour, once told me when hitting a shot, any shot, you should never have direction or line on your mind. Only distance matters because if you always hit the ball the right distance you should never be too far from the hole.

[Three Putt]

Watching them at the practice range on pitch and flop shots, looks like they are throwing it underhand...tight lie to medium rough, didn't really matter.

and distance control of course...CADDY...."It's 148 to the top of the mound, then the ball should filter to the left...hit it about 149.

PRO..."I'll hit it about 152 to account for the wind"

ME..."How far to the center of the green from that sprinkler head, I'll take another club for the wind"

[MountainHip]

  Thrash13 said:

The consistent accuracy and distance control with irons is amazing. That may not be the biggest difference between pros and amateurs, but it's what impresses me the most. Hitting 70% of greens in regulation is just staggering, and it definitely puts the pros in position for more birdies and two-putt pars.

I agree, even playing with amateur (semi-pro) scratch golfers the BIGGEST difference I see between I and them is their approach shots, and the proximity to the pin. I may hit a lot of greens, but end up 3 putting from 50 feet or what-have-you. The difference between par and birdie is the approach shot.

[TourSpoon]

  MountainHip said:

I agree, even playing with amateur (semi-pro) scratch golfers the BIGGEST difference I see between I and them is their approach shots, and the proximity to the pin. I may hit a lot of greens, but end up 3 putting from 50 feet or what-have-you. The difference between par and birdie is the approach shot.

Good point. I played with a mini-tour guy yesterday and even though he missed more birdie tries than he made he was almost always in position. He still made a fair share and ended up 4 under.

[Finn07]

Their putting and their tempo.

[JaY_B]

  NM Golf said:

My buddy, who has been on tour, once told me when hitting a shot, any shot, you should never have direction or line on your mind. Only distance matters because if you always hit the ball the right distance you should never be too far from the hole.

Very good advice

I most impressive aspect about pro's is how solid they are in every aspect of the game, they have no major weaknesses, and every shot they hit is just that little bit better than your average golfer.

[r7 425]

I think having a good caddy is more valuable than ever. At oakmont in the practice rounds-the caddies took soo many notes about the terrain and the greens. I never knew caddies took down that much inofrmation until i saw the practice rounds. Its amazing how well they know distance

[Craig Mac]

I admire the focus these guys have, when in the zone they seem to shut off everything around them. From blocking out the crowd to letting the bad shots go and staying in the moment.

[Ceej]

Could somebody explain further how their "tempo" is impressive?

[r7 425]

Yes--Tempo is soo impressive---some of the guys that swing the slowest hit the ball the farthest--its really amazing how they do it