Could anyone make it to the top twenty-five?

[johnboywalton]

I was reading an old article about Steve Davies ( world snooker champ, for our younger members) He stated, he felt that he had no real natural talent, but it was just sheer practice, 8 hours a day every day, that got him to his level!

If it is true, could this be the same for Golf!

Say from the age of 16, money,lessons and time to practice were absolutely no object, could anyone make it into the top 25 of Golf, or is "natural talent" the main ingredient to get into the "Elite"

 

[RobbOnTheRock]

I think talent is earned, or developed.

But then I'm a believer of you can do anything if you try hard enough.

Other wise I'd give up this stupid game

Cheers
Andy

 

[stevie_r]

I think it would be unlikely, a liberal helping of natural talent is necessary for any sport IMHO

 

[Imurg]

Unlikely but not impossible. To quote the OP - Interesting Steve Davis - not a natural like Ronnie or Jimmy but with the practice he got there.
Golf I think is a little different though. There's a much wider range of possible shots to play - no shot more than about 13 feet on a snooker table - so a much wider talent base is required. YOu also get the same lie on a snooker table, in golf it could be anything. Learn your angles and pace and spin and you can play snooker, you need a bit more for golf.

 

[stevie_r]

Unlikely but not impossible. To quote the OP - Interesting Steve Davis - not a natural like Ronnie or Jimmy but with the practice he got there.
Golf I think is a little different though. There's a much wider range of possible shots to play - no shot more than about 13 feet on a snooker table - so a much wider talent base is required. YOu also get the same lie on a snooker table, in golf it could be anything. Learn your angles and pace and spin and you can play snooker, you need a bit more for golf.

In golf being 2 or 3 mm out on a shot doesn't really hurt you, in snooker it can. Hit a bad shot in golf and you can make amends quickly - play a bad shot in snooker (a few mm out) and you get to sit down for ages and watch your opponent rack up a huge break.

I'm not a snooker fan by any means, it bores me rigid, but I don't think it is possible to compare the two sports in that way.

Steve Davies may have 'felt' he had no natural talent - I think we all know that it simply wasn't the case

 

[percy_layer]

Say from the age of 16, money,lessons and time to practice were absolutely no object, could anyone make it into the top 25 of Golf, or is "natural talent" the main ingredient to get into the "Elite"

I think that this could have been true for an average 16 year old 30 or so years ago, but these days the golfer would need to be a lot younger. The main attribute needed in my opinion is enjoying playing and practicing for hours most days and never losing the enthusiasm to play and compete.

 

[CMAC]

In golf being 2 or 3 mm out on a shot doesn't really hurt you, in snooker it can.

3mm at 110mph over 280yds I assure you creates a far bigger error

 

[stevie_r]

the speed has nothing to do with it - and i meant missing your target by a few mm

 

[bobmac]

I would say no chance.
There are too many things that have to go together to get someone into the top 25. You have to be the whole package.
Whether it's called natural ability, mental strength, hand eye co-ordination, determination, discipline...whatever.
Very very few are blessed with the whole package.

 

[thecraw]

I am told that Gary Orr was nothing special until he finished school and spent hour upon hour pounding balls on the practice range.

Don't know how true that is but its what I was told by a member at Helensburgh GC.

 

[Yerman]

Put it another way train and practice all you like if you are built the right way it ain't gonna happen. Ask how long you would have to train to beat Usain Bolt?

 

[Yerman]

Put it another way train and practice all you like if you are built the right way it ain't gonna happen. Ask how long you would have to train to beat Usain Bolt?

In a foot race, of course

 

[sev112]

Note your point, but what's the right/wrong build for golf ?

Darren Clarke ? Webb Simpson ?
Stiggy Hodgson ? Robert karlsson ?

 

[stevie_r]

Note your point, but what's the right/wrong build for golf ?

Darren Clarke ? Webb Simpson ?
Stiggy Hodgson ? Robert karlsson ?

I don't think yerman meant build purely in physical terms

 

[USER1999]

It must be possible, Ian poulter has done it.

 

[stef92]

Golf must be harder, we have 1 hole to aim at, they have 6!!

 

[bluewolf]

a talented person who puts in 100% will always beat a "non-talented" person who puts in 100%.. There is a saying in Rugby - A good big un will always beat a good little un. hard work is one important aspect. The natural talent is what seperates the best from the rest..

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Poulter would be the classic example of someone who went from assistant mars bar seller to decent tour pro. I'm pretty sure Padraig is on record as saying he wasn't as talented as his brothers and really had to work at it. I guess it can be done but those that make it are very few and far between

 

[Jimbooo]

I played snooker to quite a high level in my youth, and I can tell you it's a very different game - you can't really compare it with golf. One tiny bit out on any shot and it means the ball doesn't go in and you've stuck your opponent up. You can't just aim to get it near the hole - every shot has that pressure of holing it.

Anyway, in answer to the OP, I'd say you'd have to have a fair bit of natural ability to stand a chance.

And... Steve Davis has loads of natural talent. Just look at this 147 he made at an exhibition match - you can't do that at the speed he does it without natural talent.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CSJZ_arJcU