Why does Tiger HAVE to hit the cut?

[460CompMark]

There isn't anything wrong with his swing.  He just needs to stop trying to cut the ball constantly.  He isn't 21 anymore.  That whole out to in pre-shot routine he does is only complicating things.  He needs to just take a normal practice swing and focus on the straight or baby draw.  Swing your swing Tiger. haha

[460CompMark]

this:

[cipher]

There isn't anything wrong with his swing.  He just needs to stop trying to cut the ball constantly.  He isn't 21 anymore.  That whole out to in pre-shot routine he does is only complicating things.  He needs to just take a normal practice swing and focus on the straight or baby draw.  Swing your swing Tiger. haha

The above video is from 2011 right?  He hit 48.9% of fairways in 2011.  He hit 62.5% in 2013.  His GIR is about the same, but his proximity to the hole was much better in 2013.  I would take his 2013 cut swing any day.

[Nutter]

The above video is from 2011 right?  He hit 48.9% of fairways in 2011.  He hit 62.5% in 2013.  His GIR is about the same, but his proximity to the hole was much better in 2013.  I would take his 2013 cut swing any day.

Of course we'd be happy with any swing he made, i'd take his intentional slice swing.

[Deryck Griffith]

Rose does have a nice swing but I guarantee you tiger isn't looking at anyone elses swing especially when he's own the guy for most of his career.

Tiger has always had nice things to say about other people's swing during the years.  Specifically as it pertains to Justin Rose, at the Tavistock Cup this year, Rose and Tiger were interviewed together after one of the days and Tiger had some very nice things to say about Justin's swing while Justin was standing there next to him.  Tiger has also mentioned good things about Rose's swing other times as well.

I agree with Mike and am sure Tiger on occasion will glance over at Rose's swing with the driver during practice rounds together with Foley to see what movements he can apply to his own driver swing.  I'm not sure if Tiger would pay much attention on anything else besides the driver swing though...

As it pertains to the cut shot, Tiger has always detested the hook shot no?  Even with Haney. I found it interesting in Haney's book that on several occasions, Haney had Tiger rely on hitting a somewhat botched soft cut shot with the driver when he was under extreme pressure in tournaments where he had to hit the fairway while in contention to win.  He feared and continues to fear the ball "curving" uncontrollably left that much.

Personally, I think Tiger's tempo, rhythm, everything completely falls apart during the round and especially during the weekends while in contention.  He gets super aggressive and can't control the need to "hit it hard" and comes out of his positions.  If you watch Tiger on the range with the driver, every shot is perfect with a perfect tempo throughout the entire swing.  He JUST can't translate that same "calmness" with the swing under pressure while in contention.

[Deryck Griffith]

I just found this.  Looks freakishly similar

[Jakester23]

They look almost identical but thats tigers 3 wood not driver. Im not sure how much different his driver swing looks but I the results are obviously much different. Someone wrote above how it looks like hes really going after it with the driver which I agree with. Its almost like he has a completely different tempo with his driver vs every other club.  I dont really see the problem with the shape (cut) as much as I just think he over swings with the driver.  Also I think he faired pretty well while  in contention 5 times this year.

[cipher]

They look almost identical but thats tigers 3 wood not driver. Im not sure how much different his driver swing looks but I the results are obviously much different. Someone wrote above how it looks like hes really going after it with the driver which I agree with. Its almost like he has a completely different tempo with his driver vs every other club.  I dont really see the problem with the shape (cut) as much as I just think he over swings with the driver.  Also I think he faired pretty well while  in contention 5 times this year.

It should not really look much different though.    One of the reasons he probably "goes after it" with the driver is to try and eliminate the miss to the left.

[Jakester23]

It should not really look much different though.    One of the reasons he probably "goes after it" with the driver is to try and eliminate the miss to the left.

I agree 100% to me it looks like he's swinging 75-85% with all of his other clubs. With the big dawg he looks like hes swinging 150%. I understand it though a perfectly hit drive is feels so good and builds so much confidence.

[Jakester23]

I know this is off topic but that cut seemed to work good enough for him to win POY for the 11th time.

[nick1998bunker]

I don't know if any of you have noticed this, but Tiger has been dead set on hitting a cut from the tee and long par 3's this year, and to be honest he's not that good at it.  I saw his second round last night and I watched him try to hit the same shot off numerous tees (with long irons and woods) and do the same thing every time, either hit a dead pull or fan it right.  There was even one hole where you had to hit it through a shoot between two trees and even then he hit it 5 yards from the tree on the left and tried to cut it back in (ended up in the right rough), while Duff plows one right through it.  Now don't get me wrong he's had a great year but I know one area he struggles is off the tee.  I just don't get why he tries to play this shot over and over, it's like he's lost his creativity and is trying to go straight mechanical.  Anyone have any insights I don't know about?

I think he is a little more creative when he has an iron in his hand. He seems to fear the driver draw but plays draws with approaches a lot. In a clinic he dd he was aske by Martin hall what the biggest change from 10 years ago was and he said trackman. I think he knows it's easier to hit the cut off the tee so he gets caught up in doing so

[Mulligan Jeff]

After reading The Big Miss you understand Tiger's fear of missing left. I gotta believe he feels more in control with the cut even though he doesn't pull it off as much as expected.

[nick1998bunker]

I think he played the draw with the old spinny balls but has since switched

[nick1998bunker]

After watching some of the presidents cup, tiger hits plenty of draws and pulls them off, especially short clubs. He dosnt hit it with driver though

[bubble]

looks to me that tiger plays a cut in two situations.

1 - the shot invites tio play a cut (course design, flag position etc...)

2- he wants to take a bit of distance off a club (in between especially on long clubs)

[Nutter]

I know this is off topic but that cut seemed to work good enough for him to win POY for the 11th time.

We all know he's had a good year, I'm attempting to discuss his thought process when he's hitting the ball poorly.  Also, he didn't win a major and hasn't done so since 08 which makes the year a failure in his mind.

looks to me that tiger plays a cut in two situations.

1 - the shot invites tio play a cut (course design, flag position etc...)

2- he wants to take a bit of distance off a club (in between especially on long clubs)

I already argued against #1 in my OP, I've seen him play the cut numerous times when the hole didn't set up for it.

[Nutter]

After reading The Big Miss you understand Tiger's fear of missing left. I gotta believe he feels more in control with the cut even though he doesn't pull it off as much as expected.

I'll have to pick that up.  I didn't know Tiger had any fears .

[Jakester23]

If you watched the pres cup this week he isnt hitting the cut as much.  Johnny Miller even commented on it yesterday that he has hit more draws this week.  I think the course dictates it as well as how hes hitting it in warmups.  I think he can do anything he wants he just seems to be more comfortable with the cut when he is struggling.  He hit 3 perfect draws to win the players 2 tee shots and a iron shot so I think its more course and feel dictated.