borntorunsean
Assistant Pro
Ive heard this phrase numourous times while watching golf etc. What does it mean?. Obviously, the better the player, the better the ball striker?. So why do pundits use it for a player who's 80th in the world etc?.
'He's a great ball striker'
- Thread starter borntorunsean
- Start date
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
Well he might be a great ball striker but have a crap short game. That's what makes the difference.
I've got a mate who is a great ball striker, one of the best I've seen. But he can't keep it on the island so he's destined to remain a 24 handicapper
I've got a mate who is a great ball striker, one of the best I've seen. But he can't keep it on the island so he's destined to remain a 24 handicapper
borntorunsean
Assistant Pro
Then he's surely not a great ball striker?
Smiffy
Grand Slam Winner
I can fat it straight or thin it straight. I'm not a great ball striker.
He can knock it into the next county but can't chip or putt for toffee.
He's a great ball striker.
Herbie
Tour Winner
A great ball striker to me is someone who catches the ball exactly where they should with the face of the club and with a decent swing, be it a fade, a draw or a straight shot. A good ball striker can be off target, but that is down to alignment or swing path changes and are different problems.
theeaglehunter
Tour Winner
From what I understand the best ball strikers are those who, with irons / wedges, develop the greatest 'spin to swing speed ratio'. So therefore they are those who strike the ball with the perfect angle of attack, guaranteeing the perfect ball than turf contact. The element of swing speed is important as somebody with a massive swing speed (jb Holmes) could get more spin than someone such as Jiminez even if he does strike the ball slightly worse. I think with tour pros it comes down to the consistency of the 'perfect' strike where clubface / ball / ground meet in perfect harmony as they so often do do this- it's difficult to describe but there is a difference between a good solid shot, and the perfect strike that really feels great (I'm sure most can appreciate this)
Good question though, this is what I believe it to be, but it will be interesting to see other peoples interpretations / what it actually is! I've never really given it much thought!
Good question though, this is what I believe it to be, but it will be interesting to see other peoples interpretations / what it actually is! I've never really given it much thought!
Herbie
Tour Winner
Its all subjective when you think about it, tour pro's may have a more refined explanation including all aspects of what makes a good strike, boffins may go further, but I think the majority of golfers would be happy thinking a great strike is hitting cleanly and spanking it a good distance more or less on target 
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I'll let you know, if I ever middle one.
Canfordhacker
Q-School Graduate
One of my mates often says "You just can't legislate for a good strike" as he airmails the green...
Adrena1in
Challenge Tour Pro
I hit some great strikes yesterday, right off the middle, didn't feel it through the club at all, took a lovely divot right after the ball...but the ball still didn't go where I (thought I) was aiming, or where I wanted it to go. I would say they were good strikes, but poor shots. On other holes I hit it thin, dead straight, almost exactly where I wanted it to go. Bad strikes, good shots.
Its the old adage of no pictures on the card and all that. I hit some great shots at the range on Monday absolutely pure out of the centre except that the supposed draw was a bit of a hook and everything was 5-20 yards left of my target. Great ball strike but poor result
For me a great ball striker is someone who can get the ball to 'zing' off the clubhead.
I swing through the ball, and quite often get a decent contact - fantastic feel and all that, even looks quite good in the air , sometimes. But it just never goes anywhere.
I played a few holes with a guy a few weeks back who was self taught, and I could have picked holes in his swing all over the place, But when he got his driver out the ball zipped a good 40-50 yards past mine, and it was straight down the middle every time. You could almost hear it sizzle.
THAT was great ball striking. Getting that extra ooompff out of it - forget the direction, that's secondary
I swing through the ball, and quite often get a decent contact - fantastic feel and all that, even looks quite good in the air , sometimes. But it just never goes anywhere.
I played a few holes with a guy a few weeks back who was self taught, and I could have picked holes in his swing all over the place, But when he got his driver out the ball zipped a good 40-50 yards past mine, and it was straight down the middle every time. You could almost hear it sizzle.
THAT was great ball striking. Getting that extra ooompff out of it - forget the direction, that's secondary
Imurg
The Grinder Of Pars (Semi Crocked)
The other day I was striking my irons as well as I reckon it is possible to do. They felt so solid, they went so straight, they bounced once and stopped within inches of the intended target and bought a big smile to my face. Shame it only lasted 5 holes.
That, to me, is great ball striking.
That, to me, is great ball striking.
