Can you have it all?

[bobmac]

It seems no golfer on tour has the whole package.
The long game and the short game

Look at Tiger.....drives it all over the place, just like Seve used to but great short games
Weastwood......tee to green is great but cant get it in the hole.

Now if Tiger could drive like Westwood or Westwood had Seve's short game, they would be awesome.

Do the top golfers have to accept they can't have both ?

 

[Foxholer]

No different to other sports really, though those like tennis are more likely to call it 'strengths and weaknesses'.

Pretty certain the well coached ones will be working on their weaknesses rather more than their strengths - and I believe Westwood's short game has improved. It's just that the crucible of playing in a Major against the best in the world on a course that can be so brutal (aka Rose's almost fabulous shot into 15) is a rather severe test,

And golfers really are constantly striving for 'perfection'. If you were really serious asking the question, then, I believe someone in your position should take a long hard look about their commitment to their 'job'!

 

[MashieNiblick]

Interesting post.

Over the years it is hard to identify players wh0 have had it all. Even Jack was noted as not being the greatest around the green (deadly on it though).

Of the current guys I think Donald, although not long by today's standards, has the best all round game. Long enough, accurate, great iron player, excellent short game and good putter.

 

[bobmac]

If you were really serious asking the question, then, I believe someone in your position should take a long hard look about their commitment to their 'job'!

Wow.
I wasn't expecting that oo:

 

[thecraw]

I'd say Oosthuizen is a player with a great balance of all round skills.

Foxholer - oh dear I guess Easter Bunny didn't trap at your house this morning!

 

[Ethan]

It is very unlikely that any one player will be the best at everything, but you have players who have balanced games, no real weaknesses. Trouble is that if you have a player who hits a lot of greens, then you will see that player missing a lot of 25 foot putts. Another player who misses a lot of greens and chips up to 3 or 4 feet with a great short game looks like they hole everything compared to the first guy.

 

[Junior]

It seems no golfer on tour has the whole package.
The long game and the short game

Look at Tiger.....drives it all over the place, just like Seve used to but great short games
Weastwood......tee to green is great but cant get it in the hole.

Now if Tiger could drive like Westwood or Westwood had Seve's short game, they would be awesome.

Do the top golfers have to accept they can't have both ?

Not at 0547 on a Sunday morning are you nocturnal ? or did you wet the bed

To answer your question, I think the top pro's do accept they cant have it all , all the time. Thats why they employ the many different, long game, short game, psycologists that they do to strive to be the best they can. Every now and then it happens and they will 'get in the zone' as they say and shoot a 61 or 62.

 

[Micky P]

it would not be very good to watch if they had it all
as i have been watching and seeing some go from one side of the green to the other and put there drive into the long stuff it makes me feel better about my game and when you have to players that have different skills it makes for a good game

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Foxholer -was that reply for real? Even with the best will in the world Bob and a lot of club pros can only work with what they have and certainly in my case the raw materials are partially damaged and not that good. The pro has to make something with that. To answer the question, they can make most golfers competent in all areas and indeed may coach them to scratch and beyond. A world away from the tour guys though

The topplayers practice every facet continuously and no, they never have full control of it all. They might have the ability to do so but the capability of producing it under that microscopic pressure is a different thing so no, they wil never have it all. That is why no champion will win hitting every fairway, every green and why there is so much onus on the short game. Chop it round off the tee as Tiger is doing and you can't get in position to score. Miss greens as Westwood has done and you wont win if you can't chip and putt. Even Mickleson misses too many fairways and green and sometimes even he can't perform miracles. Never seen a complete golfer in 40 years of watching and never will

 

[Foxholer]

Foxholer -was that reply for real?

Absolutely!
Though I did mean to post '

And ​

top/pro

golfers...' in the last paragraph, so apologise for any misconception generated.

The 'acceptance of mediocrity' that is available to amateur golfers just does not exist for playing pros. As a result, they are, in almost all cases, striving for perfection in their golf.

Professionals, in any role, who are not giving their best are acting unprofessionally imo and, I believe, should examine their attitude. I've worked professionally (different to had a career) and met several (touring and non-touring) golf pros through my club and current work. Also been lucky/good enough to be involved with international level sportsmen in a couple of other sports, so can appreciate (and have experienced) the pressure they have to cope with - something most amateurs have absolutely no conception of! The quest for perfection and possible consequences of failure are immense!


​

 

[SGC001]

It's a question Pelz poses in his short game bible and part of his reasoning for arguing golf consists of 5 games not just 1. He argues different attributes are more beneficial in the different games.

I guess the above argument seems to more one of acceptance, rather than whether it's possible to be the best at each aspect. I'm sure they'd want to be as good a they could be in each area unless it negatively affected another area and reduced their scoring ability.