Gainey's Grip, Swing and Success

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by delav

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Quote:

Originally Posted by delav

I created this thread because far too often (especially on this site) the emphasis is to fit the mechanics of an 'ideal' swing into a well-defined box.  There is a good chance that there isn't a single member on the board who holds the club the way Gainey does, let along swings like him.

I think that's directed at least a teeny bit at me. So let me say this...

Not directed at any particular figure or entity on this board.  More pertaining to commonly accepted 'ideal' positions and swing mechanics among users.

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

[Zeph]

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

Because we find it interesting and want to learn how different swings can work. Nobody break down Aaron Rodgers because he is throwing a ball, a task far easier than swinging a golf club. Not saying there is no technique to throwing a handeggball, but it is something anyone can do and we will naturally be able to do with very little practice. Not as good as Rodgers, because he's practiced it a lot, but good enough to throw the ball as far as we can. Swinging a golf club is a whole different story, no other sport move in the world is as diagnosed and hard to get right as a golf swing. In many sports our body will naturally know how to perform a task, in golf everyone is trying to get under the ball and help it into the air. By diagnosing good swings, bad swings, traditional swings and weird swings, we can learn a thing or two.

[Gordon McTavish]

Gainey might have an odd looking swing, but he's got nothin' on Eamonn Darcy!

[WUTiger]

Gainey had a hard fall on No. 17 on Monday morning. He smoked a driver on the short par 4: the ball rolled onto left edge of green, hit a hazard marker stake and bounced into a lateral hazard.

He had problems getting the ball to stay on the bank after a drop, and he ended up being allowed to place the ball. Finding a spot on the shaved bank took about two minutes. He pitched a ball up onto the fringe, but it hit the front fringe and rolled back down the slope into the water.

He then pitched on and got a 7.

Golf Channel guys says his mom still works the evening shift in a textile plant in South Carolina. Gainey has lots of fans in a hard-scrabble part of the USA.

[delav]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

Really?  Most golfers spend time thinking about their own swing and mechanics.  Additionally, the golf media surrounds us with analysis of swings at all levels.  Open up an ESPN, when was the last time drills or analysis was provided for any sport covered.  Further, how many football, basketball or baseball etc fans actually get out and participate in these sports.

Golf is quite different and it's part of golf culture.  It's interesting to see successful players with very different swings, what is wrong with discussing it?

[jamo]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

John Gruden breaks down quarterbacks' throwing motions all the time.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by jamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

John Gruden breaks down quarterbacks' throwing motions all the time.

One guy on one network. I don't watch every NFL game (still prefer the CFL in spite of the talent disparity) but the next time I see what you're referring to will be the first.

Look at the Phoenix Open on the other hand. Every time Kostis goes to the Minolta whatever cam, he adds nothing of any real value to the coverage, then all the other has-beens (or never weres) chime in with their irrelevant thoughts. A better comparison perhaps would be MLB, where mechanics are very important. When a pitcher has an unusual motion, they'll touch on it. I don't see a lot of slow motion analysis for every pitcher entering the game.

Originally Posted by delav

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Why are golfers so obsessed with the mechanics of every other player's golf swing in general, and especially the guys who happen to have the 36 and 54 hole leads in PGA Tour events. I don't recall anyone breaking down Aaron Rodgers' throwing motion in super slow motion. Why? Because 1.) football isn't so friggin' boring that they have to add that kind of thing, and most of all 2.) because the average weekend warrior at home knows there a helluva lot more to being a professional quarterback at an elite level than a throwing motion..

Really?  Most golfers spend time thinking about their own swing and mechanics.  Additionally, the golf media surrounds us with analysis of swings at all levels.  Open up an ESPN, when was the last time drills or analysis was provided for any sport covered.  Further, how many football, basketball or baseball etc fans actually get out and participate in these sports.

Golf is quite different and it's part of golf culture.  It's interesting to see successful players with very different swings, why wrong with discussing it?

According to the Norweigan guy, anyone can toss a football. It's easy. Um . . . no it isn't. Most people can't throw a football or baseball through a wet sheet of paper, yet they're no farther away from having an NFL calibre throwing arm than they are from PGA Tour quality ball striking. People are dillusional and the Minolta biz hub super slomotion whatamacallitcam isn't helping, especially when the guys in the control room are Kostis and friends.

PS. Discuss away, but I gotta ask which swings are really worth discussing. I'll pass on the double gloved fellow and look at the move of the guy who actually won. Again.

[Zeph]

I'm not saying the analysis of Kostis are of any value, but that high speed analysis of swings are more useful for a middle-handicapped golfer than a guy playing some american football in his free time. We use the high speed videos to analyse swings ourselves and get help from people that are more knowledgable on the subject. I never said anything about throwing a football or baseball hard, I'm talking about the basic motion of throwing something, which most humans are able to. Give someone a baseball and he will be able to throw it a distance. Give a golf club to someone who has never touched one before and he might not even hit the ball at all. He may whiff it or hit the ground first, perhaps knocking the ball off it's tee. Becoming a NFL QB or MLB pitcher takes years of practice and dedication, but the basic motion of throwing an object is easier than to hit down on a golf ball to make it go up. Why else would there exist such an incredible amount of instructional material on the golf swing? Not just telling you a thing or two, but breaking the swing down to a thousand pieces and analysing each part individually.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Zeph

I'm not saying the analysis of Kostis are of any value, but that high speed analysis of swings are more useful for a middle-handicapped golfer than a guy playing some american football in his free time. We use the high speed videos to analyse swings ourselves and get help from people that are more knowledgable on the subject.

I never said anything about throwing a football or baseball hard, I'm talking about the basic motion of throwing something, which most humans are able to. Give someone a baseball and he will be able to throw it a distance. Give a golf club to someone who has never touched one before and he might not even hit the ball at all. He may whiff it or hit the ground first, perhaps knocking the ball off it's tee. Becoming a NFL QB or MLB pitcher takes years of practice and dedication, but the basic motion of throwing an object is easier than to hit down on a golf ball to make it go up.

Why else would there exist such an incredible amount of instructional material on the golf swing? Not just telling you a thing or two, but breaking the swing down to a thousand pieces and analysing each part individually.

There's a lot of money in golf instruction and selling amateurs on the dream that some day they'll reach their limitless potential. There was successful golf instruction before the advent of high speed photography. Many old school teachers were shown to not be doing what they said they were. Sound familiar? Funny thing is, it still worked.

This isn't the place for this dicussion I suppose, but playing to the level of the average avid golfer is not really that hard. Some people struggle of course, but c'est la vie.

[Philip9210]

Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

I cant take the guy seriously… He's a hack! Every time I see him on TV I just shake my head and laugh. I cant even watch him for more than a swing, I have to change it…

A hack?!?!?!? When's the last time you made a cut for a PGA event?  I'd sure as hell take his swing if it meant shooting his scores.

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

I cant take the guy seriously… He's a hack! Every time I see him on TV I just shake my head and laugh. I cant even watch him for more than a swing, I have to change it…

Gainey a hack?  He would have to give you 10-12 strokes a side, and he's a hack?  C'mon, guy. You don't mean that.

[MSchott]

Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

I cant take the guy seriously… He's a hack! Every time I see him on TV I just shake my head and laugh. I cant even watch him for more than a swing, I have to change it…

That's not fair. He's probably one of the 200 best golfers in the entire world. Who cares what his swing looks like? Besides that, based on an interview I saw with him this past weekend he seems like a genuinely nice person.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Many old school teachers were shown to not be doing what they said they were. Sound familiar? Funny thing is, it still worked.

This isn't the place for this dicussion I suppose, but playing to the level of the average avid golfer is not really that hard. Some people struggle of course, but c'est la vie.

Why would you want to be average? What's wrong with wanting to be better than average?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Many old school teachers were shown to not be doing what they said they were. Sound familiar? Funny thing is, it still worked.

This isn't the place for this dicussion I suppose, but playing to the level of the average avid golfer is not really that hard. Some people struggle of course, but c'est la vie.

Why would you want to be average? What's wrong with wanting to be better than average?

I want to be in the 99th percentile, which is why I'm here. When I'm watching golf coverage on TV (I know - wrong thread) I don't want someone to tell me how to hit the ball or how Joe Schmo hits the ball. I want more play by play and updates, like other televised sports do.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I want to be in the 99th percentile, which is why I'm here. When I'm watching golf coverage on TV (I know - wrong thread) I don't want someone to tell me how to hit the ball or how Joe Schmo hits the ball. I want more play by play and updates, like other televised sports do.

That's fine. The problem is the TV networks think Peter Kostis is being helpful, and a lot of dummies think he's being helpful too. :-)

If you can watch the swing on mute the slow-motion swings are a great way to learn. I don't mind them. I quite like them, actually... it's the putting and network promos and non-action shots I I don't care for. Baseball is one of the slower sports out there, yet we see more bat-on-ball contact during baseball than club-on-ball contact during most golf tournaments.

I suspect there are ways to make everyone here happy. I doubt you'd mind the slow-mo video of swings if they showed a lot more actual golf shots and less putting too. Win-win. The problem is the network dolts seem to think everyone likes putting.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I want to be in the 99th percentile, which is why I'm here. When I'm watching golf coverage on TV (I know - wrong thread) I don't want someone to tell me how to hit the ball or how Joe Schmo hits the ball. I want more play by play and updates, like other televised sports do.

That's fine.

The problem is the TV networks think Peter Kostis is being helpful, and a lot of dummies think he's being helpful too. :-)

If you can watch the swing on mute the slow-motion swings are a great way to learn. I don't mind them. I quite like them, actually... it's the putting and network promos and non-action shots I I don't care for. Baseball is one of the slower sports out there, yet we see more bat-on-ball contact during baseball than club-on-ball contact during most golf tournaments.

Baseball is hit or miss too, but when it's done well, which is more often than not, it's extremely watchable. All I ask is to not be reaching for the remote while the play is on. I'm sure it would be copyright infringement to re-post the Kostis pieces with a voice over, but it would be great!