Sergio gets the snake

[Richie3Jack]

The best way to tell the best ballstrikers is to ask guys on Tour. mike Donald told me in 94' that everyone knows Fred Couples is the best ball striker in the world. He has more shots and never misses the center of the face. So im certain if you polled the Tour on who is the best pure ballstriker you'd get a better feel for it than any stat.

As far as the best striker and worst putter, id say Chris Smith had them both beat.

I could not disagree more with this, Kevin.

For me, it's like saying that you can tell who the best players in football are by those who get voted to the Pro Bowl.

It's also like saying if I asked players last year who was a better ballstriker for the 2010 season and they voted for Sergio over Holcum, even though the stats show that Holcum was far better, we are supposed to believe the players even though the *evidence* points a completely different story.

I don't have a problem with GLCoach's assertion because from 2006-2009, Slocum and Sergio were pretty close to each other (although I have Slocum as slightly better and then 2010 he was far better). But to me ballstriking is about power to some level, accuracy, precision and just getting the ball closer to the hole on a consistent basis. So when there's statistics that help measure that, why go out and instead take the perception of some players who may have never played with Slocum or have played with him very little and have played with Sergio quite a bit. It's too ambiguous and non-exacting to me.

David Toms is a great example. I know guys on Tour and former players on Tour who think more of Toms as a putter than a ballstriker. I'm presuming because he doesn't generate a lot of clubhead speed and he does have a nice looking putting stroke.

But the reality is that Brian was right...Toms is a great, great ballstriker. Statistically top 10 just about every year. That's where he really makes his money.

Sometimes the Tour players get it right with guys like Boo Weekley and Kenny Perry, but more often than not they miss the boat on other guys simply because they haven't played a lot with them.







3JACK

 

[aaron_lohan]

I agree, the pairings are based on how well the player has done in the past and players who have done well in the past regardless of how well they strike it are paired together so the top players don't have a lot of contact with the rank and file tour pro.

 

[sadmemories20]

Speaking of Sergio...could someone help me find the mark-up Brian recently did on Sergio with the dots '' stuff showing the vertical arm/hand path dealy. I have searched long enough! Thank in advance.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I could not disagree more with this, Kevin.

For me, it's like saying that you can tell who the best players in football are by those who get voted to the Pro Bowl.

It's also like saying if I asked players last year who was a better ballstriker for the 2010 season and they voted for Sergio over Holcum, even though the stats show that Holcum was far better, we are supposed to believe the players even though the *evidence* points a completely different story.

I don't have a problem with GLCoach's assertion because from 2006-2009, Slocum and Sergio were pretty close to each other (although I have Slocum as slightly better and then 2010 he was far better). But to me ballstriking is about power to some level, accuracy, precision and just getting the ball closer to the hole on a consistent basis. So when there's statistics that help measure that, why go out and instead take the perception of some players who may have never played with Slocum or have played with him very little and have played with Sergio quite a bit. It's too ambiguous and non-exacting to me.

David Toms is a great example. I know guys on Tour and former players on Tour who think more of Toms as a putter than a ballstriker. I'm presuming because he doesn't generate a lot of clubhead speed and he does have a nice looking putting stroke.

But the reality is that Brian was right...Toms is a great, great ballstriker. Statistically top 10 just about every year. That's where he really makes his money.

Sometimes the Tour players get it right with guys like Boo Weekley and Kenny Perry, but more often than not they miss the boat on other guys simply because they haven't played a lot with them.







3JACK

Of course you would disagree.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Of course you would disagree.

I only disagree because I find your argument short sighted and flawed. I also feel that I have evidence and facts backing up my points. I don't disagree with people for the helluva it.

I remember when the 'Putts Gained Per Round' statistic came out, it stated that Steve Stricker was ranked 69th in that category in 2009. I was shocked. How could this be? I was always told that Stricker was a great putter and that's how he did so well on Tour. But closer examination revealed that Stricker had a lot of things going for him that allowed him to make so many putts. He was 15th overall on approach shots Proximity to the Cup. He also played on what the MIT guys determined were the easiest greens on Tour that year. So I started looking more at Steve Stricker as the great ballstriker who made his money thru his great ballstriking than Steve Stricker the great putter.

Asking Tour players....it is what it is....perception. Perceptions are not always wrong. But, they are not facts either.








3JACK

 

[BrendanC]

To objectively assess "ballstriking" (a fairly woolly concept in the end) you would have to ask Sergio / Heath exactly where they are aiming, and how they intend to get there.

You would then have to get a combined panel of knowledgeable judges/stats to assess their performance based on the selected criteria. Something like diving, or ice skating. Maybe golf has a future as an Olympic sport after all....

 

[Kevin Shields]

Emmitt Smith is statistically the best running back but does anyone believe he is the best? No.

 

[Richie3Jack]

Emmitt Smith is statistically the best running back but does anyone believe he is the best? No.

What statistics are you using?

Total Yards?

Okay.

What about yards per carry? That would go to Jim Brown.

What about other, more advanced statistics like Footballoutsiders.com's DVOA or DYAR statistics?

And I'd honestly rank him the 2nd best RB of all time





3JACK