Learning from the ladies

[TWM]

After watching three hours of ladies golf yesterday I went for my Sunday morning range practice. Only three duff shots in seventy five balls.
You can imagine how I spent this afternoon.
Well done Catriona.

 

[Imurg]

I've always said that an ordinary handicap bloke is going to learn more from watching the pro girls play than the pro guys. They hit it much more similar distances to us.

 

[Society_Fan]

Absolutely agree. Can not get out to play at the moment, but I'm sure that my swing would have been smoother.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I've been saying the same since the Ladies Open was on. They are much better role models for club golfers in terms of tempo. The only difference is they all have short games to die for and sublime putting strokes.

 

[Dodger]

I have to challenge you on that point Homer,I went to St Andrews and watched and on the whole their short game was nothing short of woeful....80 yards and under was very poor in comparison with even top amatuer men.After that weekend I vowed I wouldn't cross the road to watch womens golf as it was IMO a poor standard in comparison with even the St Andrews Links Trophy.

 

[Imurg]

As I said - much like the golf we play. We can learn by watching how they get themselves out of the cack and keep their heads while doing it.

 

[USER1999]

I am with Dodger on this. I watched a bit yesterday, and from 100 yards in they were very poor. Especially as they were laying up to 100 on the par 5s deliberately. What was the point in laying up, if you can't get up and down from there?

 

[Adrena1in]

Not as thrilling as the men's game perhaps, but just as enjoyable to watch I think. Although there were plenty of poor shots, (I can't believe how well Catriona kept scrambling from the deep rough, (plus I can't believe how annoyed I get whenever a player scrambles well and Peter Alliss says, "Oh, that's impossible!!" - AAAGGHHHH!!!)), such as Mika's shot from the greenside bunker that flew 20 or 30 yards over the other side of the green, there were still plenty of crackingly good shots from a lot of the players.

I only feel I could learn something from Catriona and Webb though...their swings are fantasticly smooth and clean I think.

But yes, well done Catriona, a well deserved win.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I watched a bit yesterday, and from 100 yards in they were very poor. Especially as they were laying up to 100 on the par 5s deliberately. What was the point in laying up, if you can't get up and down from there?

I think very poor is a bit harsh. I sat at the back of the 7th and watched the last 7 or 8 groups yesterday. Most who laid up were getting it to 15-18 ft. One hit the pin and another knocked it to an inch. Good stuff if you ask me. Also spent 4 hours on the 11th green Saturday morning watching the back markers come through and still saw many more birdies than bogeys in fact it was over 2 hours before I saw a bunker shot they were so "poor".

 

[brendy]

The last few holes saw every one of the last few groups falter to an extent. Some of the driving was average and while I know they are professionals, the moment proved a little too much when it came down to it for a few who were in with a little bit of a shout.

Is it just me or are the ladies all starting to lengthen their swings compared to yesteryear in a quest for a little more distance? Lots of Churchill dog nodding and forced looking swings.

 

[JustOne]

The more ladies on the course the better it is in my opinion... but then I've always prefered the company of ladies

I thought the women played really well considering the pressure they were under (a major and £197K up for grabs) my only gripe would be that the course seemed so short.

 

[brendy]

It was short though I think I heard on the last hole (370 yards iirc) the ladies hitting driver and leaving themselves around 140 yards in. If thats true then they were only hitting it 230-240 yards. There wouldnt be much point in putting the tees right back to the blue sticks.

 

[JustOne]

Yeh, my point being that although they have these lovely flowing, well balanced swings that we could all supposedly learn from.... in general they don't actually hit it that far.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Yeh, my point being that although they have these lovely flowing, well balanced swings that we could all supposedly learn from.... in general they don't actually hit it that far.

Something we can all learn from then. I'd just love to hit it straight and if I could swing with the tempo and power most of the women pros play with I'd be more than happy.... and probably off less than my current 7. (They played mostly off the Mens medal tees by the way, not a "ladies" course).

 

[slugger]

So...

Did anyone else hear the american girl say the "f" word live on air when they were walking up the 17th (i think) fairway.

People are criticising Tiger but he's not the only one that doesn't act correctly when playing in front of 000s of tv and live viewers.

Quite enjoyed what little of the open i did see after getting in from playing yesterday though. Most of the swings were so slow and smooth - much to learn from.

 

[brendy]

So...

Did anyone else hear the american girl say the "f" word live on air when they were walking up the 17th (i think) fairway.

Yea the bit where she spoke to the camera about "getting that", I had to rewind it, was funny that she realised just as she was saying it and kind of turned away from the camera as if we could only see and not hear what she was saying.

 

[AndrewG]

I'm experimenting with a new putting grip at the moment, and it seems to be working well on the practice green, splitting the left and right hands on the grip. Turns out the primary exponent I've been able to find is Natalie Gulbis! So basically, I'm holding the putter like a girl :s