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World Class Golfer Tries to Swing "Happy Gilmore" Style

I've done this at the driving range a couple of times. Usually I just get dirty looks from the people that actually take golf seriously.
 
Originally posted by: HopJokey


Pretty cool for Padraig to do this. I wonder if he'll ever try it during a tournament.
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Of course he won't. What you saw was the best results out of dozens of tries. There were likely many many poor hits, shanks, tops, skyballs and other misses that got edited out.
 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: HopJokey


Pretty cool for Padraig to do this. I wonder if he'll ever try it during a tournament.
Click to expand...

Of course he won't. What you saw was the best results out of dozens of tries. There were likely many many poor hits, shanks, tops, skyballs and other misses that got edited out.
Click to expand...

Yea no doubt. One of the commenter's on that blog suggested he try it during this scenario:

"Round 2, 2 away from projected cut on a long par 5 18th hole".

Still unlikely as the backlash from failure would be rather severe. Funny if he does it though.
 
I don't see him trying it ... but he looks amazingly athletic compared to his normal waddle down the fairway when he takes a run at it.
 
Interesting. I understand Padraid talking about it being to difficult and not worth the reward, but isn't that the challenge in it? It's harder to do, not anyone can do it. But with practice, would you be able to master this drive similarly to mastering a regular drive? If so, 10% increase in range is a big difference... could help, no?
 
would it be allowed in a PGA event? don't you have to "address the ball" properly before you hit it? forgive my ignorance
 
Wow that really really annoyed me how they showed his Gilmore swing about 25-30 times throughout the video
 
Originally posted by: meltdown75
Originally posted by: Quintox
Wow that really really annoyed me how they showed his Gilmore swing about 15-20 times
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u gonna have a meltdown?
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I changed my numbers as I kept watching, and yes it is really really bugging me for some reason
 
Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Interesting. I understand Padraid talking about it being to difficult and not worth the reward, but isn't that the challenge in it? It's harder to do, not anyone can do it. But with practice, would you be able to master this drive similarly to mastering a regular drive? If so, 10% increase in range is a big difference... could help, no?
Click to expand...

Golf is pretty hard as it is. Introducing more variables would take the difficulty to another level.

Distance is important but accuracy/consistency is more important.

Imagine trying this teeing off during the 72nd hole of the Master's with you tied for the lead. Crazy pressure.
 
Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Interesting. I understand Padraid talking about it being to difficult and not worth the reward, but isn't that the challenge in it? It's harder to do, not anyone can do it. But with practice, would you be able to master this drive similarly to mastering a regular drive? If so, 10% increase in range is a big difference... could help, no?
Click to expand...

It would help if you could do it with the same degree of accuracy and consistency of a regular swing. You can't. You also get a big boost in distance by using a longer club. According to USGA/R&A rules you can use a driver up to 48" long, but most pros and good players use 44" to 45" tops. The distance gains beyond that are not worth the big dropoff in accuracy and solid contact. The Happy Gilmore swing would be even worse. Gaining 30 yards 5 times out of 10 and hitting it OB the other 5 times isn't a benefit.
 
Incidentally, I can get a pretty good whack at the ball doing this, and these days, the accuracy is only slightly worse than my normal driver 😛 Maybe during my annual guy's weekend away I'll pull this out if I'm struggling ... again. 😛
 
Originally posted by: meltdown75
would it be allowed in a PGA event? don't you have to "address the ball" properly before you hit it? forgive my ignorance
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It is perfectly legal.
Rules of golf

Addressing the Ball
A player has ?addressed the ball?? when he has taken his stance and has
also grounded his club, except that in a hazard a player has addressed
the ball when he has taken his stance.

Jack Nicklaus was noted for never "grounding' his club. If you watch him over any shot the clubhead is hanging an inch or so above the ground so he never technically addresses the ball. This way if his ball moved he would not incur a penalty stroke.

"18. What should a player do if his ball at rest is moved by a gust of wind?

Wind is not an "Outside Agency" (see Definition) and therefore, as a general rule, if a sudden gust of wind moves a player's ball, there is no penalty and the ball is played from its new position. However, if this happens after the player has addressed the ball, the player is deemed to have moved it, he incurs a penalty stroke and the ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2b)."

 
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
Originally posted by: HopJokey


Pretty cool for Padraig to do this. I wonder if he'll ever try it during a tournament.
Click to expand...

Of course he won't. What you saw was the best results out of dozens of tries. There were likely many many poor hits, shanks, tops, skyballs and other misses that got edited out.
Click to expand...

I was actually pretty amazed when they slowed down his Gilmore swing and put it next to his regular swing- don't get me wrong, I understand that his normal swing would be waaay more consistant than the gilmore swing, but I doubt he had too many shanks/poor hits etc just based on his positioning etc- I wish my swing looked that good =)

But yeah, no one would ever do this on tour. I have a feeling that if he stood still but just tried to kill it (over rotate/swing etc), he could add 30 yeards w/out the running start. But then the accuracy would drop again.
 
Originally posted by: ManyBeers
Originally posted by: meltdown75
would it be allowed in a PGA event? don't you have to "address the ball" properly before you hit it? forgive my ignorance
Click to expand...
It is perfectly legal.
Rules of golf

Addressing the Ball
A player has ?addressed the ball?? when he has taken his stance and has
also grounded his club, except that in a hazard a player has addressed
the ball when he has taken his stance.
Click to expand...
thanks, i came back hoping for a reply 🙂 :beer:
 
LOL! Every golfer has tried it. One of my partners who is probably a 8 handicap will step back with his right foot before driving. So he lines up, then drops his right foot (rear foot) back during his back swing. It's hilarious but it works for him, normally is 10-20 yards longer than we are.
 
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