Chip Beck

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cmartingolf

cmartingolf

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When I was 12 (29 years ago), I attended a junior clinic during the practice rounds at Glen Abbey Golf Club the host course of the Canadian Open at the time. I think the year was 1980.

The two pros kind enough to give their time for the kids were Andy Bean and Chip Beck.

I can remember Chip's move. He moved off the ball to the right and had a little hitch at the top. In my twelve year old eyes, he flushed it and was very friendly.

Fast forward: In 1996 I was on the range with Chip and Mac. The course I worked at was hosting the Bob Hope. During that 16 year period, he lost the move off the ball and the hitchy hands at the top. His swing looked very rotational and he was very pure on the range.

I've met him briefly a couple of times and he's a super nice guy. I was really disappointed he laid up at Augusta. That said, if he would have wedged it 5 feet and holed it, he could have won.

Perhaps the search for power is what hurt him, but I thing he was longer as a younger pro.

Did you guys add Kenny Knox to that list?? I think Daly at the PGA and Couples at Tucson made him change is game. The Couples at Tucson is a footnote when Mickelson won as an amateur. I was there and watched Freddy hit it 40 - 50 by Kenny all day. It's one thing to play with a guy who bombs it. But a guy who bombs it and stuffs his irons can be oppressive. If Fred could have shook it in from 4' Mickelson wouldn't have won as an amateur. He putted like an average club player.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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It is a little weird no doubt.

I will say I can kind of understand it...

At the prefessional level it is probably off the norm...dunno really though.

He'll be back.
 
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birly-shirly

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I think part of the reason these guys make changes is because form in golf is such an up and down affair. It is unbelievably rare (hats off to Tiger) for anyone to truly dominate. In golf, you're a great if you win a handful of majors over a 10 or 15 year career. In tennis (say), the realistic contenders for a given grand slam event might be 4 or 5 guys. And 2 or 3 guys might monopolise an event for years. But if you're a pro golfer, a good year might be 2 or 3 tournament victories and the rest of the time you're getting your ass-kicked. There must be a temptation for these guys to ask themselves why they don't win every week, and to maybe start to scratch at that little niggle in their swing or ballflight. The next thing you know, you're a respected major champion strapped into some gimpy swing-harness and a beach ball between your legs.
 
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Bigwill

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aaron_lohan said:
Yes possibly but why make a swing change immediately after winning 2 majors on the run?
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I don't get this. I mean, they always say, "if you're not getting better, you're getting passed by", but why does getting better have to mean an overhaul? You just win a major or more, so what you're doing obviously works. In stead of trying something else, why not continue to sharpen what got you there in the first place?
 
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JonWil

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birly-shirly said:
But if you're a pro golfer, a good year might be 2 or 3 tournament victories and the rest of the time you're getting your ass-kicked. There must be a temptation for these guys to ask themselves why they don't win every week, and to maybe start to scratch at that little niggle in their swing or ballflight. The next thing you know, you're a respected major champion strapped into some gimpy swing-harness and a beach ball between your legs.
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Priceless!!!:D
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

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Just saw Beck on TGC...seems like about the nicest guy ever.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83W8_5GkpMs[/media]
 
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