What Makes PGA Tour Players Freaks of Nature?

[shortstop20]

What makes them freaks of nature?

[senorchipotle]

What makes them freaks of nature?

flexibility, faster twitching muscle fibers, great muscle memory and motor skills.

[jamo]

What makes them freaks of nature?

An innate ability to pick up a golf club swing it over their shoulder, and hit it squarely on a little white golf ball. And some great, yet changeable, muscle memory. But, I suppose back to the original topic.

There really is no time table for success. I'm sure you don't want to hear that, but it's true. But, if there was one, I would say that you would be on or ahead of it. I heard once that a majority of golfers never break 100. If so, you are wayyyyy ahead of that.

[iacas]

Moved a few posts over from another thread.

And yes, Ben Hogan was a freak of nature, even if you consider his extra-deep sense of determination and willpower part of what made him a freak, he qualifies in spades.

[mck]

An innate ability to pick up a golf club swing it over their shoulder, and hit it squarely on a little white golf ball. And some great, yet changeable, muscle memory. But, I suppose back to the original topic.

I think that's the point--someone can be far better than an average golfer and still be no where near tour level.

[FHopper]

I am a big believer that eye sight is a huge component of most good athletes and is of course the foundation of hand-eye coordination. Since I am a poor ball striker I can "see" that the ability to visually resolve the spot you want to hit is huge. I look at a ball at address and I see a ball on the ground. I think good players see a spot on the ball and hit that spot. This kinda gets back to an earlier thread about glasses, we with tri-focals are in a lot of hurt when it comes to ball striking.

[Fatphil]

There are X% of geniuses out there…and X% of superb athletes. If Einstein had gravitated towards music he probably would have been the next Mozart…if Kolbe and Lebron had played soccer the US would win the World Cup…it’s just a coincidence that Tiger played golf…he probably would have been the next A-Rod or Peyton Manning if he went the other way.

The old nature or nurture discussion.

[colin007]

just a coincidence that Tiger played golf…he probably would have been the next A-Rod or Peyton Manning if he went the other way.

ive heard that said before, im not sure it applies to all sports and all pros. i think the elite athletes in football and basketball could excell in each others sport, but i dont think most of the baseball guys would have the athletic ability to hang on the football field or basketball court. as for tiger, he could prolly do well in other sports, hes clearly an athlete, but i dont think hes an elite athlete. dustin johnson is prolly more of an athlete than tiger is.

[bong_crosby]

There are plenty of guys on Tour that aren't any more able to play golf for millions than you or me, it's just the fact they they decided to put the work in.

I disagree.

There is something about the professional level golfers that cannot be taught and cannot be learned. It's referred to as feel - and you either got it or you don't. You can improve your sense of feel, but in the end, it's a mechanical solution to a non-mechanical problem. The men and women in the pro ranks have an innate sense, especially around the greens. I'm not saying that the guys and gals on tour didn't put in a lot of work and practice, but to say that anyone could be playing golf for millions is just ridiculous. To the OP, it's impossible to say where you should be after so many years of playing the game. Just go with it, work on it, and have some fun. This game is supposed to be fun...at least that's what they keep tellin' me.

[Leftygolfer]

I believe there are a couple of factors that have nothing to do with having athletic ability. 1) Work ethic. They worked harder than anyone at a young age and continued. 2) Parents give them opportunities. You wouldn't find a PGA tour players who has parents who didn't put in alot of time and money to there childs golf game. You don't have to be rich, but if you have a child that is winning tons of junior events and beating good players that are much older, it takes a big commitment from the parents to get him to the big events to see where he stacks up against the other kids that are in the same boat.

[sean_miller]

I believe there are a couple of factors that have nothing to do with having athletic ability. 1) Work ethic. They worked harder than anyone at a young age and continued. 2) Parents give them opportunities. You wouldn't find a PGA tour players who has parents who didn't put in alot of time and money to there childs golf game. You don't have to be rich, but if you have a child that is winning tons of junior events and beating good players that are much older, it takes a big commitment from the parents to get him to the big events to see where he stacks up against the other kids that are in the same boat.

Number two describes the majority of sports these days.

You still have to have natural talent to make it to the show. There are maybe some journeymen in any sport who stick around based more on pure hard work than a combination of work ethic and talent, but I'd say they're the exeption, not the other way around.

[martytilma]

You still have to have natural talent to make it to the show....

That's true, but I think one of the main reasons that pro's are so good is that they are able to devote literally all of thier time on practicing. Do you think Tiger was born and instantly his Dad said, man this kid can golf. No, he wanted him to be the best golfer ever and did everything he could to make that happen. Now Tiger obviously has a lot of natural athleticism and that doesn't hurt, but I believe that it was his dad giving him the opportunity and instilling a great desire to be the best that put him on the path of being a great golfer. I think that a lot of people are probably born with the ability to be a great golfer but are never put in that position.

Think about this. If pro's were only able to practice one day a week, do you think that they would play as great as they do? Obviously not. With having a family and normal job, I'm only able to play once a week and that is usually nine holes. I also never get to the range or putting green to practice, yet I still can shoot anywhere from par to a few over consistanly. Does anyone think that if a golfer with... lets just say an 5.0 index, were given the chance, and by chance I mean have Butch Harmon as your coach, having the ability to practice everyday for hours and getting to use top notch equipment for lets say a year, do you think they could make it on a tour? I think it could happen. Sounds like a great reality T.V. show!!

[sean_miller]

Does anyone think that if a golfer with... lets just say an 5.0 index, were given the chance, and by chance I mean have Butch Harmon as your coach, having the ability to practice everyday for hours and getting to use top notch equipment for lets say a year, do you think they could make it on a tour? I think it could happen. Sounds like a great reality T.V. show!!

Hey, you have an approximately 5.0 index. Do you think that with more practice time and solid mentoring you could make it on Tour? Maybe you could - these guys gotta come from somewhere - maybe your opportunity is in the future.

For me, based on how I'm playing now, I think there is no way I'd ever be able to play as good week in and week out on those courses to ever make it. This is basically as good as I'm ever gonna get, and I'm okay with that. PS. I have a couple close friends who play hockey professionally. They were first team in every sport they played and they disappointed a lot of coaches (football, soccer, basketball, baseball) when they finally chose 1 sport. They get to play golf about 3 months a year and they both play off low single digit indexes - we all consider them to be freaks.

[martytilma]

Hey, you have an approximately 5.0 index. Do you think that with more practice time and solid mentoring you could make it on Tour? Maybe you could - these guys gotta come from somewhere - maybe your opportunity is in the future.

I would like to think that I could. Probably not the PGA Tour but maybe a lower one. Without a doubt I believe that if I had a swing coach the ability to practice more that I could be a scratch golfer though. I never played in High school and never had a lesson. I'm the type that if I'm not doing something right or something is not working for me I have to fix it and fix it the right way not make what I'm doing work for me. I can't stand sucking at golf!!!!

[saevel25]

Yeah its called the mental game, the concentration to execute the shots one after another. Look at tiger he takes 5 months off has issues in his life and his game goes to crap, by his standards. It can happen to the best, this game is so much mental ability to stay with in yourself. Last evening i go out and say, i don't care i am just going to go 100% on all shots. I have had issues not trusting my swing. I go out and hit 7 out of 9 greens, missed one by a few yards over the green on a par 5, missed the other because of a lost ball. Before then i was lucky to get 1-2 GIR. So for me its was just saying, screw it i am going to swing the club and not worry about it. as soon as you take your mind to the course and think about yuor swing you are screwed. Now putting is another issue, 3 putting 5 times is not good ;b

[allin]

ive heard that said before, im not sure it applies to all sports and all pros. i think the elite athletes in football and basketball could excell in each others sport, but i dont think most of the baseball guys would have the athletic ability to hang on the football field or basketball court. as for tiger, he could prolly do well in other sports, hes clearly an athlete, but i dont think hes an elite athlete. dustin johnson is prolly more of an athlete than tiger is.

I see these kind of statements frequently, but the truth is most athletes end up in the one sport they can reach the highest level in. Thats why Deon Sanders, Bo Jackson etc are so newsworthy. I question whether tiger would have been nearly as exceptional at any other sport. Only 6' 1" maybe a point guard, Baseball, shortstop / outfielder? track, you have got to be kidding, unless he has been hiding sprinter speed somewhere, tennis or bowling where his mental makeup and eye hand coordination would be a major factor. He could be very good in a number of sports, but probably not one of the greatest or even professional in many other sports.

[jamo]

ive heard that said before, im not sure it applies to all sports and all pros. i think the elite athletes in football and basketball could excell in each others sport, but i dont think most of the baseball guys would have the athletic ability to hang on the football field or basketball court. as for tiger, he could prolly do well in other sports, hes clearly an athlete, but i dont think hes an elite athlete. dustin johnson is prolly more of an athlete than tiger is.

Apparently, Tiger was quite the track runner in high school. I think that all of the hand eye coordination would certainly translate into other sports. Maybe not basketball (his knees clearly show he wouldn't hold up with all of the jumping), but baseball, and even football, sure.

I think that's the point--someone can be far better than an average golfer and still be no where near tour level.

I think you were responding to my post that was meant for the OP in the other thread.

[Leftygolfer]

Tiger was an absolute freak at 4. I have a 3 year old and there is no way he can play right now. Maybe it is the attention problem he has or whatnot, but to think in less than a year he could break 50 for 9 holes is rediculous. There was something unique to Tiger. I am sure not all pros were shooting close to par at 6, but he was. I have exposed my son to golf his whole life. I used to take him to the range when he was a baby, I've bought him super light kids clubs, but he isn't close to being able to play. He can hit it about 40 yards when he catches it but that isn't very often.

I don't agree with others in that it is just hard work and exposure. There are thosands of kids that have parents who are ate up and very few make it to the top. Sure you could be a good +2 but that isn't near being on a major tour.