John Senden- Best Ball-striker?

[colin007]

i was watching golf channel the other night and one of the commentators (dont remember which) said that Senden might be the best on tour at actually striking the ball. what do you think?

[bogeyhitter25]

It was Brandel Chamblee. And after seeing some of this week, I'd definitely have to say he's up there in the top 3.

[soup]

As long as you don't include him striking a ball with a putter.

[iacas]

I hate when they label someone a great ballstriker because he leads in GIR%. It could mean the guy just plays to the fat parts of the greens for a year... not necessarily that he literally strikes the ball the cleanest of anyone.

The pros know who the great ballstrikers are among them. I say we ask them instead of taking the lazy way out and just using GIR%.

[BASHERBAKER69]

..when the swing is working properly, David Duval can really give it a good thump!

Fred Couples, Davis Love and Cabrera also come to mind as great ball strikers....

[Sir Ryan]

My vote goes to Serg...

[mcfc_nick]

i was watching golf channel the other night and one of the commentators (dont remember which) said that Senden might be the best on tour at actually striking the ball. what do you think?

sergio disagrees

[CG031]

I hate when they label someone a great ballstriker because he leads in GIR%. It could mean the guy just plays to the fat parts of the greens for a year... not necessarily that he literally strikes the ball the cleanest of anyone.

I agree. Also, how can you label someone the "best." I mean, come on. He may be one of the 'better' ballstrikers on Tour, but how can you determine the best. Like Iacas said, using GIR% can sometimes be quite misleading.

On another note, I do love Senden's swing. It's so simple. And he makes it look simple when he hits the ball, too. Sergio is a great ballstriker and my favorite PGA Tour player. But how can you label him the "best?" How do you determine that? I've went to just one PGA Tour event and followed several guys. Phil, Paddy, Kenny Perry, and Sergio probably the most holes out of any of those guys and most on the range. I couldn't determine that Sergio was far more elite than any of the other guys I watched, I think it's foolish.

[wedge player]

my vote goes to tin cup

[bogeyhitter25]

John Senden is hitting his shots to makeable distance. Are you watching the Buick?

[iacas]

sergio disagrees

Sergio hasn't been high in GIR % (again, if you want to use that as the rating system) for a few years now. He's only 75th this year.

John Senden is hitting his shots to makeable distance. Are you watching the Buick?

If you're talking to me, yes, I'm watching, and my point remains: I think that using GIR % as a measure of "ballstriking" isn't necessarily the best way.

[golfbarefoot]

my vote for the best ball striker on tour is also Sergio Garcia.

Senden statistically has been very very good in GIR for many years for sure though.

Also, I do agree though that GIR % alone is not a true indicator of who is the best ballstriker.

The ballstriking statistic is actually GIR and Total Driving (remember Total Driving is Fairway accuracy and Driving distance) So true ballstriking again is much more than just GIR.

[Sir Ryan]

Sergio hasn't been high in GIR % (again, if you want to use that as the rating system) for a few years now. He's only 75th this year.

I don't really use GIR percentage to determine the ability of a player's striking ability to be honest. I mean whether or not it goes on the green in two or 3 or whatever doesn't necessarily mean their striking isn't up to par... I mean Sergio hit a 250 yard 4 iron (granted it could've been downwind and such) and it rolled passed the green onto the back fringe/rough, which wouldn't count for GIR. I call that some sick ballstriking

But with that kind of ability, Serg should be hitting those greens in reg. in a much better percentage. I see what you mean.

[golfbarefoot]

Even aside from ballstriking, remember Sergio Garcia won the Vardon Trophy last year.. that is pretty solid too since you can only win that with the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.

I will say more touring pros/caddies mention Garcia as the best ballstriker, that means something I would think. I've watched Garcia closely on the range and he is unreal. He hits a ton of fairways and really moves it out there. If only could mentally toughen up and capture the elusive major.

Ball striking is also a statistical category tracked by professional golf tours that is a measure of a golfer's combined abilities in driving and hitting greens. To produce its Ball Striking rankings, the PGA Tour combines a player's ranking in Total Driving and Greens in Regulation.

[Sir Ryan]

Even aside from ballstriking, remember Sergio Garcia won the Vardon Trophy last year.. that is pretty solid too since you can only win that with the lowest scoring average on the PGA Tour.

YES, and improve his putting!

Whatever people say, I believe he will. And once he does he's going to take that mentality with him and build up from there.

[Shorty]

i was watching golf channel the other night and one of the commentators (dont remember which) said that Senden might be the best on tour at actually striking the ball. what do you think?

This is not what is meant by the term "ball-striking".

It is a statistic based on a combination of driving accuracy and GIR. As Iacas correctly noted, the value of this statistic is dubious. In the same way that a low number of putts most likely means a low GIR figure.

[soup]

Senden turned pro 17 years ago and has career PGA earnings less than $9 million and finishes in the Top 10 less than 10% of the time. He's not a good ball striker.

[colin007]

Senden turned pro 17 years ago and has career PGA earnings less than $9 million and finishes in the Top 10 less than 10% of the time. He's not a good ball striker.

i dont know if i would agree with that at all. obviously hes "good" if hes on tour, but you know that already. it seems that what is holding him back is his short game and putting. tee to green he seems to be pretty good.