Those of us who are into the golf swing spend a lot of time debating which swings are our favorites. I thought it would be fun to talk about our favorite swings of players who are a little lesser known. So whether it is your favorite player who hasn't made it further than the sunshine or nationwide tour, a forgotten star of yesteryear or a grinder on the european or pga tour throw it up!
To kick this off im going to go with englishman Barry Lane. First of all i love the tempo, so smooth off the ball. secondly i love his change of direction, to go from slow and smooth with that beautiful little bit of lag at the top weve all worked on at the range at some point but just cant get, the balance, the effortless power. this is truly one of my favorites.
I like Jerry Barber's swing. He is lesser known to me.
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Carl Jerome "Jerry" Barber (April 25, 1916 – September 23, 1994) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour.
Barber was born in Woodson, Illinois, and was one of nine children raised on a Jacksonville, Illinois farm.[1] He turned professional in 1942. Among his seven tour victories, was the 1961 PGA Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club. Trailing Don January by four shots with three holes to play in the final round, Barber made a 20-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole, a 40-foot par-saving putt at 17, and a 60-foot birdie putt at 18 to tie January and force a playoff, which Barber won the next day by one stroke.
Barber was a full-time member of the PGA Tour from 1948 to 1962. He played on two Ryder Cup teams, 1955 and 1961; and was also the team captain in 1961.[2] Barber earned a living primarily as a club professional like most of the touring pros of his generation; he worked at Los Angeles' Wilshire Country Club.[1]
Barber holds the record for the oldest player to ever play on the PGA Tour, when he played in the 1994 Buick Invitational at the age of 77 years, 10 months, and 9 days.[3]
Last Edit: 1 year, 8 months ago by Michael C. MacDonald. Reason: more bio content
like Jerry Barber's swing. He is lesser known to me.
Michael,
Agree.
My first putter that I used for years, was a center shafted, Jerry Barber.
Assumed he was know for his putting.
Johnny Miller would probably say an 'old fashion' swing. Thats what Johnny said about John Senden's swing this past weekend.( Senden 5 years no1 in GIR)
Frank Phillips- Australian golfer- This is close to one of my favourite swings of all time.
2 Australian Opens, 2 Singapore Opens, 2 Hong Kong Opens, 5 New South Wales Opens, Malaysian Open, Phillipine Open, Tasmanian Open, Victorian Open, New Zealand PGA- great list of wins
Great call on Jerry Barber! a Hoganesque swing in a lot of ways. Frank Phillips is an interesting one too, not a player i have heard of, very similar to Byron Nelson in the way he compresses his body down into the ball.
I hope I can learn an "old fashion swing" half as good as Senden's or Barber's. I cannot think of a better kind. Congratulations to Senden on his performance at the BMW.
darryl tateishi wrote:
Michael C. MacDonald:
like Jerry Barber's swing. He is lesser known to me.
Michael,
Agree.
My first putter that I used for years, was a center shafted, Jerry Barber.
Assumed he was know for his putting.
Johnny Miller would probably say an 'old fashion' swing. Thats what Johnny said about John Senden's swing this past weekend.( Senden 5 years no1 in GIR)
Lesser known to me. I love this swing. Allen Doyle demonstrates that the golf ball doesn't care how pretty or long your swing is.
Allen Michael Doyle (born July 26, 1948) is an American golfer who currently plays on the Champions Tour.
Doyle was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and raised in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massachusetts. He attended Catholic Memorial High School in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Norwich University in Vermont. Exceptionally for a future leading professional, and despite winning numerous amateur titles, he did not turn pro until he was 46. In 1995 he won three times on the Nike Tour.
Doyle became eligible to play on the Senior PGA Tour when he turned fifty in July 1998, and won four official money events in 1999 including the Senior PGA Championship. In 2001 he won his second senior major, the Senior Players Championship, and led the tour on the money list. In 2005 he claimed a third major at the U.S. Senior Open, coming behind from a nine stroke deficit with a 63 in the final round. He successfully defended his U.S. Senior Open title in 2006 becoming the oldest U.S. Senior Open Champion at 57 years, 11 months and 17 days.[1] His career earnings on the Champions Tour exceed US$11 million.
Doyle is a member of the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.
great responses guys. I was watching gene littler on an old shells wonderful world of golf a few weeks ago, i cant tell whats more smooth, his swing or that cashmere sweater! Allen Doyle was a cool addition, a unique swing but gotta love what he does through the ball.
great call on stan leonard brad! someone i would not have thought of but im glad you posted his swing.
Miller Barber 1992(late in his career on the Champions Tour)
Turned professional in 1958
PGA Tour wins (11)
Senior PGA Tour wins (24)
IIRC his nickname was Mr. X
What a backswing but a great job of flattening the shaft on the way down.
Interesting topic. I think John Merrick has a really nice, smooth swing. It looks effortless. I know he's on tour now, but I wouldn't say he's really well known to the average fan. Or am I wrong? I'm certainly not the hippest cat in the room.
Bob Rosburg did win a PGA Championship but is probably more well known as a golf commentator than as a golfer.
This video clip from a Shells Wonderful World of Golf Match shows remarkable ball control and distance control and a nice action to boot.
I got some inspiration from those responses of a few more swings from the European tour!
The Miller Barber post made me think of Eamon Darcy, truly a strange swing but one that certainly works:
Raphael Jaquelin made me think of the rhythm of one of the most under appreciated Open champions of all time in Paul Lawrie:
Now I know there is not a whole lot similar in these two swings, but Bob Rosburg and Miguel Angel Jiminez are two guys who did a few unconventional things with the club but tied it together with fantastic body rotation, I love watching Miguel play golf:
Charles Henry "Chip" Beck (born September 12, 1956) is an American golfer who was a three time All-American at the University of Georgia. He has four victories on the PGA Tour and twenty runner-up finishes. He spent 40 weeks in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1988 and 1989.[1]
Beck was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was the runner-up at the 1993 Masters Tournament, and was tied for runner-up at the 1986 and 1989 U.S. Open championships. He is also noted for his stellar play at the 1991 Ryder Cup held at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort and is a three time Ryder Cup participant, also playing in 1989 and 1993 at The Belfry Golf & Country Club in Sutton Coldfield, England. He won the Vardon Trophy in 1988.
Beck shot a round of 59 in the third round of the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational on the Sunrise Golf Club (par 72) in Las Vegas, Nevada, one of only five players in the history of the PGA Tour ever to do so. His round included 5 pars and 13 birdies (a PGA Tour record for birdies in one round) including a three footer on the 18th hole. Beck finished tied for third in the tournament. He also shot a hole-in-one (also a double eagle) at the par-4 9th hole in the first round of the 2003 Omaha Classic, a Nationwide Tour event. It was the first in Nationwide Tour history and second recorded in the history of the PGA Tour umbrella combined.
Beck missed 46 consecutive PGA Tour cuts from 1997 to 1998 and eventually left the PGA Tour to sell insurance.[2]
In 2006, Beck became eligible for the Champions Tour and enjoyed newfound success. He currently resides in Lake Forest, Illinois.
That is one of my videos...I filmed Chip during a practice round we played somewhere... zoomed in on the feet in the video also for those who have seen my footwork video....it is noticeable there
Chip .....one of the super nice guys
Bruce William Devlin (born 10 October 1937) is an Australian professional golfer, sportscaster and golf course designer.
Devlin was born in Armidale, Australia. He turned pro in 1961 and joined the PGA Tour in 1962 after an amateur career in Australia which included a win at the Australian Amateur in 1959. During his PGA Tour career, he had eight victories all of which occurred between 1964 and 1972. In 1972, he earned $119,768 and finished eighth on the money list.
On the Senior PGA Tour, Devlin won one tournament, the 1995 FHP Health Care Classic. At the end of the 1998 golf season, Devlin decided to retire from the Senior PGA Tour to concentrate on his Golf Course Architecture and Design business and his commitment to ESPN's Golf Telecasts.
The main focus of Devlin's career in the past 30 years has been his work as a Golf Course Architect and Designer. Devlin has designed and built more than 150 golf courses throughout the world including Australia, Japan, Scotland, the Bahamas, and the United States. About two-thirds of the golf courses he designed have been in Florida and Texas. Many of these courses have hosted all of the professional golf tours, including: The Houston Open, HealthSouth LPGA Classic, Key Biscayne Golf Classic, and The Nike Cleveland Open. His golf design business is based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Devlin has also worked as a television commentator. He worked for NBC from 1977 to 1982; ESPN from 1983 to 1987; and since 1999 has occasionally covered professional golf for ESPN.
PGA Tour wins (8)
1 15 Mar 1964 St. Petersburg Open Invitational -16 (69-64-69-70=272) 4 strokes
2 22 May 1966 Colonial National Invitation Even (67-68-70-75=280) 1 stroke
3 3 Sep 1966 Carling World Open -6 (73-70-74-69=286) 1 stroke
4 27 Apr 1969 Byron Nelson Golf Classic -3 (71-66-70-70=277) 1 stroke
5 8 Feb 1970 Bob Hope Desert Classic -21 (67-68-68-70-66=339) 4 strokes
6 28 Jun 1970 Cleveland Open -12 (69-69-66-64=268) 4 strokes
7 7 May 1972 Houston Open -10 (69-70-67-72=278) 2 strokes
8 20 Aug 1972 USI Classic -13 (69-68-69-69=275) 3 strokes
Australasian wins (16)
1960 Australian Open (as an amateur)
1962 Wills Masters (Australia), Victorian Open
1963 New Zealand Open, Queensland Open, Victorian Open, Adelaide Advertiser Tournament
1964 Victorian PGA
1965 Wills Masters (Australia), Dunlop International
1966 Australian PGA Championship
1968 Dunlop International
1969 Australian PGA Championship, Dunlop International
1970 Australian PGA Championship
1983 Air New Zealand/Shell Open
Other wins (3)
1963 French Open
1970 Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship, World Cup (team with David Graham)
Senior PGA Tour wins (1)
1995 FHP Health Care Classic
watching chip beck its hard to imagine he struggled with the game. since you know him Bradley perhaps you could shed some light on what happened when he lost his way? was it driving? (been there), ball striking? putting? paralysis from analysis? (been there too).
when youve lost your way yourself its interesting to know what happened to other people. thanks for the posts BTW, its making this thread a great read!
George William Archer (October 1, 1939 – September 25, 2005) was an American golfer who won twelve events on the PGA Tour, including one major championship.
Archer was born in San Francisco, California and was raised just south in the city of San Mateo. He grew to 6 feet 5½ inches (1.97 m) tall, and as a boy he dreamed of a basketball career, but took up golf at San Mateo High School after working as a caddy at The Peninsula Golf and Country Club near his home. He turned professional in 1964 and claimed the first of 12 victories on the PGA Tour at the Lucky International Open the following year. The leading achievement of his career was his win at the 1969 Masters Tournament. His other top-ten finishes in the majors came at the U.S. Open, where he finished 10th in 1969, 5th in 1971, and at the PGA Championship, where he took 4th place in 1968.
Archer was hampered by injuries throughout his career and had surgery on his left wrist (1975), back (1979) and left shoulder (1987). In 1996, he had his right hip replaced and two years later became the first man to win on the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour) after having a hip replacement. He won 19 times on the Senior Tour between 1989 and 2000, but he did not win a senior major. Archer is also the only player in Champions Tour history to win a tournament in each of the first three decades of its existence.
Archer is considered one of the game's all-time great putters, and at one time held the PGA Tour record for fewest putts over four rounds with 94 putts at the 1980 Sea Pines Heritage.
Archer was known as the "Golfing Cowboy," due to a summer job in his youth at his friend and sponsor, Eugene Selvage's Lucky Hereford Ranch in Gilroy, California.
Archer died of Burkitt's lymphoma — a lymphatic system malignancy — in Incline Village, Nevada in 2005.
PGA Tour wins (12)
, 1965 Lucky International Open -6(68-73=69-68=278)
, 1967 Greater Greensboro Open -17 (6-64-68-68=267)
1968 Pensacola Open Invitational -20 (66-68-69-65=268)
, 1968 Greater New Orleans Open Invitational -17 (69-65-70-67=271)
1969 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am -5 (72-68-72-71=283)
1969 Masters Tournament -7 (67-73-69-72=281)
, 1971 Andy Williams-San Diego Open Invitational -16 (67-72-68-65=272)
1971 Greater Hartford Open Invitational -16 (68-66-68-66=268)
1972 Glen Campbell-Los Angeles Open -14 (66-69-69-66=270)
, 1972 Greater Greensboro Open -12 (70-68-66-68=272)
1976 Sahara Invitational -13 (67-66-69-69=271)
1984 Bank of Boston Classic -14 (69-66-70-65=270)
Other wins (9)
1963 Northern California Open, Northern California Medal Play, San Francisco City Championship
1964 Northern California Open
1967 Northern California Open
1968 PGA National Team Championship (with Bobby Nichols)
1969 Argentine Masters
1981 Colombian Open
1982 Philippines Invitational
Senior PGA Tour wins (19)
1989 (1) Gatlin Brothers Southwest Senior Classic
1990 (4) MONY Senior Tournament of Champions, Northville Long Island Classic, GTE Northwest Classic, Rancho Murieta Senior Gold Rush
1991 (3) Northville Long Island Classic, GTE North Classic, Raley's Senior Gold Rush
1992 (3) Murata Reunion Pro-Am, Northville Long Island Classic, Bruno's Memorial Classic
1993 (4) Ameritech Senior Open, First of America Classic, Raley's Senior Gold Rush, PING Kaanapali Classic
1995 (2) Toshiba Senior Classic, Cadillac NFL Golf Classic
1998 (1) First of America Classic
2000 (1) MasterCard Championship
