DQ Brandel Chamblee from the Golf Channel

[Golfingdad]

Originally Posted by phan52

I think this statement by Chamblee is dead on, and I believe it is the the genesis of a lot of the criticism of Chamblee.

TIGER WOODS has been in love with the geometry of the golf swing for years now, and it's hurt him. The golf shot is more important than the golf swing. When your mind is consumed by mechanics, it puts a governor on creativity. The art stops, and the science takes over. So long as we see Tiger stopping his practice swings and checking his positions--something Phil has never done, by the way--we'll never see him at his best.

I agree with this - believe it or not ;) - especially the bold part.

Originally Posted by iacas

Tiger wins a lot more frequently than Phil, despite being on Tour for a shorter period of time and missing several majors in the past few years with injuries, etc.

Also, Tiger's always been a tinkerer. He changed his swing after winning his first major as a professional - by a record number of shots and tying Jack's record at Augusta National - because he didn't like that he looked laid off.

I think a lot of people take a comment like that as Brandel saying that he thinks Phil is better than Tiger.  (I'm not saying you're doing that Erik, just that people do)  The natural response being that Tiger is - duh - way better than Phil so "Hey Brandel, shut your mouth, you're an idiot."  I think the other negative reaction to Brandel's criticisms on Tiger is unfairly based in the childish realm of "Yeah, let's see you do better!"

Whenever I hear Brandel talk about Tiger, I hear it more as tough love, or as a caring coach or teacher might feel about a prized student.  ("He is the smartest kid in the class and could do amazing things if he only had the drive or passion as Eugene over there")  I think there is no question that Brandel admires Tiger's game and thinks he's the best player, but he simply has strong views about how he thinks he could be even better.  Notice the end of the quote above.  He says until then "we'll never see him at HIS best," not "he'll never be as good as Phil."

Now, that said, I don't agree with that at all.  I don't think that there is any way that any of us (including Tiger) could possibly know which type of practice regimen is better for Tiger.  Perhaps being a tinkerer is precisely why he is as good as he is.  Who knows?  Until we are able to clone him and send the clone on the Brandel approved training path, there is no way to compare.  It's the road not traveled.

And the Catch-22 of the whole thing is that if Tiger was on the Brandel approved Phil-type training path, there's no way to know then either if we were seeing him at his best.  Maybe then, in that alternate universe, Frank Nobilo could draw our ire for believing that Tiger's "problem" was that he didn't care enough and he needed to get more involved in the science of the swing.

[ghalfaire]

Well I am just a poor old working engineer with a couple of advanced degrees in engineering, but not to worry I won't argue the new and old ball flight rules with anyone.  I just wanted to say that the Golf Channel without Brandel would be a much duller place. He isn't always correct, but he is thought provoking at times and I enjoy his commentary just like I do Johnny Miller's.