Chip Beck

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wriordan

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Does anyone have thoughts on Chip Beck's swing during it's peak period (late 80s, early 90s)? All the commentator experts always seemed to praise his form (possibly based on an aesthetically appealing rhythm), but then the huge drop off. I'm wondering if anyone found anything unusual in his technique which may have led to the sudden and sustained fall off of his performance. He seemed to me to have a highly rotational move with both the body and tight folding of the arms. Certainly one of the great fall offs I can remember but have never seen it discussed much in this forum.

Thanks for any comments.
 
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rogerdodger

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Beck was an early morad devotee, Mac worked with him extensively. I think his downfall began in 1993 when he finished second to Langer in the Masters. He had an opportunity to go for the green at 15 in two and laid up. I think he then started to search for more distance, which has been the downfall of a lot of players. If you watched him during his bad play, he actually got more upright in his posture, stood away from the ball more, and his swing looked a lot different. I also remember he had some type of back injury or issue that affected his swing as well.
 
mjstrong

mjstrong

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He had a hole in one on a par 4 on the Nationwide Tour, didn't he?

I actually watched him for a few holes here in Vancouver once. Great looking swing, but he hit it everywhere, and looked like he had no interest in grinding out that round. It was too bad, really.
 
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dlam

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Chip was on Ryder Cup team too.
Great player back then.
Maybe injuries, who know?
Understand he has 6 children. maybe bit tough at home.
 
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bax1865

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The Quest for Perfection is sometimes littered with despare

The quest for perfection has killed many talented players. It is almost an insecurity they have that they don't believe they are good enough as they are.

Can anyone name a player that fits the description of Tour Champions with tremendous talent that went south when they tried to become perfect:

1. Chip Beck
2. Bobby Clampett
3. Ian Baker Finch
4. Michelle Wie
5. Seve Ballesteros
6. Mac O'Grady
7. Tiger Woods
8. ??????
 
mjstrong

mjstrong

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Hank Kuehne had a lot of injuries, so I'm not sure which held him back more.

Ryan Moore was almost headed down that road.
 
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wriordan

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rogerdodger said:
Beck was an early morad devotee, Mac worked with him extensively. I think his downfall began in 1993 when he finished second to Langer in the Masters. He had an opportunity to go for the green at 15 in two and laid up. I think he then started to search for more distance, which has been the downfall of a lot of players. If you watched him during his bad play, he actually got more upright in his posture, stood away from the ball more, and his swing looked a lot different. I also remember he had some type of back injury or issue that affected his swing as well.
Click to expand...

OK, thought he may have been an O'Grady guy but wasn't sure. Just before that Masters loss, I had been talking to a pro (a recent Carl Welty asst) who told me Beck's "lawnmower pull would never hold up." I didn't buy it but sure enough, he lost it shortly thereafter.

Yeah, maybe he was looking for more distance after not reaching that 15th hole in two; maybe he was a perfectionist; maybe it was a "whole mental syndrome" but I've wondered ever since if there was something fundamentally wrong with that very aesthetically appealing action.
 
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Jared Willerson

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Parker McGlaughlin is intriguing to me. His game has headed south this year after winning last year. Seems like a nice guy, I hope he finds some success.
 
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bax1865

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Dance with who ya brung!

It is sad to see how many very talented players become infected with this. Too often players change what got them to the top of the field. Not only do they change their swings they change club companies. What staff is Lee Janzen on these days! LOL! Case in point!
 
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wedgeplay

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Played a fade.

Finished second at the Masters and thought he needed more distance.Tried switching to a draw and couldn't compete.Went on to sell insurance for awhile.

Ian Baker-Finch and maybe Faldo are two other players that tried to find more distance and it killed their games.
 
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birly-shirly

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Don't know about Faldo on this list. Didn't he manage 9 or 10 years at the very top? I think he did hit the weights during that time and gave himself tendonitis in the process, but that was more of a blip and he came back winning.

Sandy Lyle, on the other hand, should be right at the top of that list.
 
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aaron_lohan

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birly-shirly said:
Don't know about Faldo on this list. Didn't he manage 9 or 10 years at the very top? I think he did hit the weights during that time and gave himself tendonitis in the process, but that was more of a blip and he came back winning.

Sandy Lyle, on the other hand, should be right at the top of that list.
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He was right at the top from 1987-1997 (his last win on tour) and his putting went south badly he was taking 31-32 putts a round in the late 90s he briefly got back in 2000-2003 5th 2002 us open could have won the 2003 open, at the time he was playing less than 15 times a year and after 2004 even less.

Sandy Lyle definately dropped off rapid, in 1989 he tried tinkering with his swing, saw a variety of teachers and got worse and worse. This has happened to many including
Ian Baker Finch
Micheal Campbell
Hal Sutton before his comeback in the late 90s
 
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aaron_lohan

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bax1865 said:
It is sad to see how many very talented players become infected with this. Too often players change what got them to the top of the field. Not only do they change their swings they change club companies. What staff is Lee Janzen on these days! LOL! Case in point!
Click to expand...

Agree, why change the swing? Work on the short game theres so much scope for improvement there for the vast majority of pros.
 
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rogerdodger

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Sandy Lyle was very long off the tee, he certainly did not need more distance. He was pretty inconsistent, would go on a run for a couple months and then disappear. Some players are just streaky, and if they are comfortable with that, can last a while. Calc, Lanny Wadkins, Hubert Green, are some guys that would get really hot for a couple months and then do nothing. Miller was like that as well. Trying to get to the next level involves a step, if you miss it, you may never get back. Can be pretty scary trying to improve when you are at the top levels of the game.
 
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