Mike Weir leaves Plummer and Bennett

[otto6457]

I may be the last person on the internet to see this but it looks like another "Star" has left the S&T fold.

Mike has gone back to his previous long time coach Mike Wilson.

Is the glow starting to fade on S&T?

story here:

Mike's Blog - New Swing Coach

 

[vjsinger]

SHOCKING.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Well, the S&T folks will tell you that Weir stated that he was hitting the ball better with the method. Then the big kicker is that they'll say that he's still going to use the main priniciple of the S&T, the reverse tilt of the axis, and then go on to list all the golfers that have that type of axis tilt.

It sort of reminds me a bit of the West Coast Offense in football. It really grew in popularity in the 90's in the NFL after years of success the Niners had with it under Bill Walsh. It then drew a lot of detractors and eventually many teams and coaches started to get away from it. Now, every team has some WCO plays, formations and theories in their playbook and that's what WCO proponents like to point out. This of course drives the critics mad because they think having a few WCO plays doesn't mean in any way that it's a WCO scheme.

The facts as I see it is the S&T is just one particular pattern to hitting a ball that can work for some people and not work for others. But I think of it as a 'swing overhaul' method while I prefer to see golfers attack the root cause of their problem shots by basically improving the flaws behind those problem shots. Some can get away with making a swing overhaul, most cannot. And then to make a swing overhaul to one particular pattern is even less likely of a chance for success.





3JACK

 

[ggsjpc]

It seems clear to the people on this site that a single pattern can not, will not work for everyone. Does that devalue the method?

I don't think so. Any method that allows players to win on tour must have some attributes applicable to that players method.

Does that mean it should be implemented to everyone?

Of course not. We know better. Why don't players that support a family on their golf skill know there is no magic bullet? I have no idea.

The guys that are close lack just enough confidence to allow thoughts of "maybe there's a better way" creep in instead of maximizing there pattern and getting it in the hole.

Befuddles my mind.

 

[Steve Greffen]

Bottom line whether or not they are a method teacher or a teacher that provides options or components to make up a customized pattern, these players will switch coaches regardless for a variety of reasons.

It is interesting that Weir and Aaron have gone back to old coaches that will likely not be so regimented on positions in the swing per a method, and allow for some ways to get it done right.

 

[mjstrong]

Why don't players that support a family on their golf skill know there is no magic bullet? I have no idea.

I don't think any of them think there is a "magic bullet," but they just don't know what the proper prescription for their particular affliction is; so they search.

It can be tough to see the truth when you've won a tournament under a certain label. Both Baddeley and Weir won under those guys, and now both have left.

You know what? I've won a tournament with my only warm up being a large coffee and breakfast sandwich...that doesn't mean it contributed to my performance.

I remember one year at the FBR Open where Jeff Quinney was playing very well for a few rounds, and they kept making a big deal about his swing changes. Well, if you looked at the stats, he was leading the tournament in putting! Then he pull hooked one into the water at 17? and fell out of contention.

Some times you can do well despite your swing, not because of it.

This post's train of thought may be tough to follow, but I hope I got my point across.

 

[Jared Willerson]

People also made a big deal out of Ballard because Curtis Strange won 2 US Opens with his method, but if you look at the stats of those 2 wins, his short-game won it for him, not his ball-striking.

 

[Brian Manzella]

I am writing a BLOG on all of this from a completely different perspective.

But, for now, there is NOTHING funny about a breakup of student and teacher.

Mike & Andy just need to self-scout some more, and go back to the drawing board and they will be WAY better for it.

 

[birdie_man]

Interesting.