How Good Would Seve Have Been??

A

AlchemyGolf

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I was out on a cycle ride with my brother today( he is still a very keen golfer off 4 handicap)
He was telling me about this article he brought back from the states where this expert was saying that technology was killing the game.

The balls fly straighter!
The clubs hit it straighter!
and both go further!

He was arguing that the lesser talented pro can now forge a career out of playing whereas a pro 30 years ago with the same talent didnt.

When we got back we went on You Tube and found the clip of Seve driving the Par 4 10th at the belfry in the 1985 Ryder Cup.
An amazing shot under the circumstances but made all the more incredible by the fact he was using a persimmon wood with a head that looked like the size of a pin head!

I throw out 2 questions

1.Is technology detrimental to the PRO game?
2.How good would Seve be with todays equipment if he was emerging today as a swashbuckling 19 year old at The Open again?
 
I seem to recall Tom Watson hitting a magnificent drive in the BBC pro celebrity golf programme some time in the eighties at Turnberry I think. Peter Alliss was astonished as were the spectators.
 
Well, he wouldn't be called the car park king, as most of his drives would still be on the course.

Actually, I doubt it would make a difference. When he stopped playing, he was gash, and that was with modern kit and all.

To an extent, if you are any good, you will rise to the top whatever kit you use. Quite a few pro's use blades still, and I bet if they want a ball that they can work, then the manufacturers will make them a few. They don't need to sell them to us.
 
I throw out 2 questions

1.Is technology detrimental to the PRO game?
2.How good would Seve be with todays equipment if he was emerging today as a swashbuckling 19 year old at The Open again?
Click to expand...

2 good questions!!!

1, IMO no because everyone is using the same technology so it is a level playing field.

2. I Think seve would have been a great but the standard of golf is better now than it was back then in that i dont mean the players are better i mean the game is more popular. I wish seve was playing now with Tiger, phil and the rest because i think there would be some amazing duals!!!
 
1: Times move on. I think a lot of pro's now would struggle to get on with the gear from the past.

2: Seve would be Seve. The cream always rises to the top.
 
I actually think he would struggled big time because the ball cannot be moved around like it used too.
Click to expand...

That is certainly possible. Guessing the players hit a fade with the driver into the 10th (see video) these shots are less easy i.m.o.
 
I dont think the equipment matters, they are all using the technology of today, so its level as always has been.
Besides, the Courses are being continually lengthened to compensate for the extra length.

He'd still be Seve.

"but the standard of golf is better now than it was back then in that i dont mean the players are better i mean the game is more popular"

Eh ?
 
"but the standard of golf is better now than it was back then in that i dont mean the players are better i mean the game is more popular"

Eh ?
Click to expand...

The game is more popular there are more golfers competing at the very top level consistently than back in the day when there was just a few.

No doubt i will be wrong chris??? ;)
 
I actually think he would struggle big time because the ball cannot be moved around like it used too.
Click to expand...

So do you think this makes the modern players less skillful ? ;)
Click to expand...

I wouldn't say that (sorry to chip-in)....it's actually quite hard to hit some shots with modern clubs. I have an FT-3 driver which on occasions I like to slide round the corner of a 300 yard dog-leg hole.....it's very hard to do!! when years ago it was easy. Not less skill, just different.... :D
 
IMO these are pointless questions that are dredged up pretty frequently...how good would Jack be, how good would Snead be...yawn.

They are all top quality golfers and they would have been top quality in whatever era they were playing in. They would adapt to whatever was needed.

Hardly a "top pro" but Mark Roe can still knock it round Glorious Goodwood with hickory shafts in level par.
 
If Seve played in todays era with the modern equipment he would have been one of the best, just as he was with the clubs he used in the 70's and 80's. There are five elements that determine how successful an athlete is and technical ability is just one of them. He had tremendous drive to be the best and win and he wasn't scared to take a shot on no matter the situation.
I may be a bit biased as he played some amazing golf when i was growing up and learning to play.
 
The only thing further I will say is technically, he was junk. In this day, with pro's who have near perfect swings, would he get a look in? I am not convinced he would shine through. Yes, his short game was solid, and his recovery play was great, but I am not convinced that would have kept him in the tournament against the players of today. Courses 7000 yards long, not his bag really.
 
2.How good would Seve be with todays equipment if he was emerging today as a swashbuckling 19 year old at The Open again?

[/QUOTE]

Seve would be amazing with todays equipment he was an incredible talent and could produce any shot from anywhere,ive no doubt with todays equipment he would be better than he was then.He was a genius.Imagine Seve with a driver in his hands that went straight,and also a ball that does basically what you want it to do.He would definately be up along side Tiger I.M.O
 
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