Best ball strikers by era

[TheDeanAbides]

I'd love that to be true. Trevino should definitely be on any ballstrikers list. Hogan himself was impressed.

[Jtgavigan]

Sergio was another guy who when he struck the ball, it just sounded different. I had thought about him on the list and not sure why I didn't put him there.

[Man_O_War]

it's not up to you lol.

[Jtgavigan]

Never said it was. This is an opinion thread. Dont expect to agree with everyone nor everyone agree with me. Not even about that. I just wanted to see what people thought. I can choose to agree or disagree.

Some people have made great points here and made me reconsider my opinions/thoughts. Others, I disagree with, but I appreciate and respect all of the opinions.

[widow-maker]

Orville Moody. Sarge was the worst putter in the history of the PGA. But he could strike a golf ball

George Knudson. I followed him in a US Open qualifier and he hit every shot right on the button. Every fairway. Every green.

Calvin Peete. Unorthodox but repeated it day after day, year after year.

[dlygrisse]

Jack was tremendous with the long and middle irons, good with the short irons and below average with wedge play till later in his career. Trevino was kind of the opposite. Lee hit a low controlled fade off the tee, Jack a high bomb. I think Jacks game travelled better to more courses.

[dlygrisse]

Vardon

Jones

Nelson

Hogan

Jack

Miller

Faldo

Tiger

Koepka?

[nitram]

I'd like to add 3 time Masters Champ Jimmy Demaret to the list.

[Catty]

I've watched the Moe Norman vids. I never saw him in person but Ill still comment. I just don't get it. If he wasn't the short odd bod then no one would even give him a second glance. Starting to become a bit of an urban legend. Anyway the other Norman, Greg and Rory.

[dlygrisse]

Yeah. IMO you don’t qualify for this list unless you have validated it at the highest level, by winning a major. Moe didn’t even win a PGA tour event.

lots of guys look great on the practice tee or on Thursday (MAC Ogrady comes to mind) you need to prove on a back 9 on Sunday at a major.

[Jtgavigan]

My thought for the thread was maybe give some spotlight to guys who didnt win or win big, but just hit it better than everyone else.

[JDCON]

In the 80s and 90s it was Norman and Faldo.

[Jtgavigan]

That cut looked pretty sweet on 16 today. I do agree with you that time will tell, but he definitely looks like he has a solid future. His whole game looks good. Great demeanor too.

[Tax77]

[Nels55]

[Golfjack]

Ah, so Morikawa does belong on this list then? Kidding. It's a bit early to include him, but his ball striking (basically shots gained approach) is beyond reproach. Pro's still say Tiger though. Absolute control over the ball with irons. Justin Thomas is also really good. Lots of great iron and wood shots, and always ranked up there. I'd stick these two in the 2020 edition no problem.

[Golfingfanatic]

Morikawa is the best iron player of this generation hands down.

[MattyO1984]

Garcia’s ball striking is absolutely obscene! I will never forgot watching him at The Open in 2010 playing with Adam Scott. Scott hit everything the same. Same fly, high, straight ball flight. Sergio by contrast was punching in low fades, holding up high draws, running in low chasers and landing wedges over the flag and bringing them back. It was an absolute incredible spectacle and he wasn’t even playing that great at the time. It was just an absolute clinic with every club in the bag...except for the putter.

[MattyO1984]

I am not sure that I have seen Monty appearing anywhere on here. The guy could strike his irons unbelievably well. Seemed like he was pin high more often that not. He might not have been the most versatile player when it came to hitting it right and left but he his fade all day long and did it all without practicing anywhere near as much as some of his competitors.

[Holy Moses]

LOL. So did Tiger.

Morikawa is on this list. He’s that good.

[Dave230]

Sergio when he won the Masters too was a clinic. That 15th hole when he nearly got an albatross will always live in the memory, two of the sweetest shots you can hit to get there.

He might have played that hole the best I’ve ever seen it. Then the following year he played that hole the worst I’ve ever seen it. That’s golf for you.

[Jtgavigan]

I actually thought about him. Had a feeling someone would bring him up.

[ChrisL52188]

David Duval would fit the bill from 1997-2001. He was unbelievable.

[naval2006]

Very hard question indeed. There are several great ballstrikers, some who haven't won much on Tour. But the list with guys like Snead, Tiger, Seve, Hogan, Nelson, Johnny Miller, Greg Norman, the Watsons (Tom and Bubba) and so on and so forth is pretty much the same. I've seen my pile of pros playing and the way Tom Watson hit the ball was definitely waaaaaay above the average Tour pro. He was a golf wizard. And the older pros agreed that few players could hit the ball the way Sam Snead did. The late Roberto De Vicenzo told me so many years ago. Outstanding ball striking won't always grant a great career, but it does help in the big leagues.

[Nels55]

Arnold Palmer was a tremendous ball striker, one of the best who ever lived. His putting let him down during a large portion of his career.

[jgallant415]

Really surprising nobody has mentioned Justin Thomas on the modern list. Assuming current stat rankings hold this year, he will be at 5 consecutive years of top 5 SG Approach and Tee-to-Green. Hard to argue with that.

[Chopper1986]

Jose Maria Olazabel was a great ball striker, with the irons at least. Always seemed to struggle with the driver though.

[ChrisL52188]

Hale Irwin was awesome as well.

[Jtgavigan]

I love him. Hated he couldn't stay healthy. He always seemed like the one guy who really didnt fear Tiger. He seemed to relish going toe to toe with the best. Agreed. No one has mentioned Tom Kite. He wasn't bad either.

[Jtgavigan]

Yep. I had taken a few years off of playing golf and really hadn't been paying attention . But, hard to argue.