Chris Como Named Tiger's New Coach

[mvmac]

There's a difference between getting more speed (something he's been talking about for a year now) and not having Dustin or Bubba length.

Tiger's quote about not having that much speed immediately follows him talking about Dustin and Bubba.

Right, just because he can't be Bubba or Dustin long doesn't mean he can't pick up some speed.

[Mr. Desmond]

Looking from afar, Isn't the discussion  about how the teacher approaches mechanics and positions?

I see everyone's points, or I am trying to see them clearly.

As members above have posted, Tiger worked on mechanics under previous instructors ... but isn't the difference how the instructor approached mechanics?

Just looking at Foley and reading his stories, it seems he was very position oriented, perhaps overly so.

Perhaps Butch was a little more relaxed about positions and discussed mechanics but in a way that allowed Tiger's swing to still have a flow.

For example, Haney's people would have me in positions, have me stop, look, etc. and over time, that is the way I'd practice a position - -I'd stop at certain points to see if I was there...

New instructor sees me doing that and says "Stop that now. The swing must flow. Get a picture in your mind of what you want your swing to look like (given our mechanics beforehand) and give me that swing. The mind is powerful -- get the picture and do it in one motion."

It took several weeks, but I am more flowing and less positional...

Perhaps that is the difference between someone like Foley and Butch...

[Gunther]

Right, just because he can't be Bubba or Dustin long doesn't mean he can't pick up some speed.

Just flipped on the tournament. Had it taped so it's early but seems to me he should have focused a little more on his short game. Man, he looks terrible. I'm sure he'll turn it around to some degree but I'm not sure another major is in his future.

[Jakester23]

Just flipped on the tournament. Had it taped so it's early but seems to me he should have focused a little more on his short game. Man, he looks terrible.

I'm sure he'll turn it around to some degree but I'm not sure another major is in his future.

Its 18 holes in 4 months. He even said he's only been playing for a month or so and just walked his 1st 18 since the PGA. I think its a little early for any reaction. Unless he can't finish 72 because of his back otherwise he's just trying to get some competitive rounds under his belt.

[Gunther]

Its 18 holes in 4 months. He even said he's only been playing for a month or so and just walked his 1st 18 since the PGA. I think its a little early for any reaction. Unless he can't finish 72 because of his back otherwise he's just trying to get some competitive rounds under his belt.

Bit of a knee jerk on my part, I'll cede that. Call it a gut feeling.

[taxgolf]

At the end of the day we will have to wait and see as it is very very early right now.

Spoken by a wise man! Hear, hear!

[golfrocks]

what is como working on with tiger?

[Valleygolfer]

what is como working on with tiger?

My guess is chipping...

[golfrocks]

yes for sure he needs to get better at chipping or hit more greens haha @Valleygolfer

[RandallT]

Comparison of the swing at the two most recent Hero World Challenge events. He looks closer to the ball in March 2013 (on right) vs December 2014 (on left).

[boogielicious]

Looks like two different length clubs in the first part.

[RandallT]

Looks like two different length clubs in the first part.

True. And angles probably different. And maybe the shot shape he had in mind for each was totally different. Who knows?

The video was from the PGA Tour YouTube account, and I wonder if they consider doing their best to do apples to apples videos.

[mvmac]

Tiger on his new swing/short game.

Quote:

"If I put my backswing in the same position that I used to have it in and then make this new release, I'm going to hit it fat every time,'' he said. "I've got to get things in a different order. From about 40 yards out it's pretty solid. I hit those shots really well. Anything inside of that, I have to get used to.

"It's a different release pattern, and so my chipping is off, putting is just a touch off,'' he said. "I started to figure something out today, which was nice. I've got to get used to a different release pattern, different release point. That said, my short game is off because of it, but my long game is better. All it is is practice. I just need to work.''

Geoff Shackelford's take, definitely agree.

Quote:

Maybe I'm just old school, but if your backswing thoughts are precisely the same for a little flip wedge around a green as for a full driver swing, you're playing a game with which I and many others are not familiar.

[colin007]

Yeah, Tiger was just making stuff up that sounded like it was real sciencey swing guru tech talk, basically just garbage. Doesn't want to give any legit swing critiques, it's like trying to get a truthful answer out of Derek Jeter.

[Mr. Desmond]

Yeah, Tiger was just making stuff up that sounded like it was real sciencey swing guru tech talk, basically just garbage. Doesn't want to give any legit swing critiques, it's like trying to get a truthful answer out of Derek Jeter.

Yes...

I tend to turn off players when they start talking about what they are doing in terms of the tech talk and release points (it might mess me up even more!) -- don't know what to think about Tiger. Is he putting everybody on, or is he the guy that when he talks, his instructors put their hands over their eyes and shake their heads...

Don't think Tiger, just do.

That's why you play Nike... that

and the money.

[iacas]

Geoff Shackelford's take, definitely agree.

Agree too. I guarantee you if Tiger asked Chris or Sean "is the short game swing the same as the full swing" both would have said "no."

[CharlesWright]

Croaching Tiger, Hidden Fear... High Expectation. And until now, all has gone in vain.

Hope they'll cope up well to perform better in future.

[boogielicious]

It may be me, but I get the feeling that Tiger is messing with people when he makes statements like this.  If he just said, "I chunked my chip", it wouldn't be enough for the media and they'd ask more questions.  By spewing nonsense, they scratch their heads and go away.  I do this occasionally when someone with no technical knowledge asks a dumb question at a meeting.  I get real technical and they don't ask anymore dumb questions for fear of exposing their ignorance.