Chamblee: Tiger Woods Builds and Destroys As Opposed To Micheal Jordan
Brandel Chamblee might have got some flack over his handing out grades last year, but the man talks a lot of sense. In his latest piece for Athlon Sports Chamblee talks about Tiger’s ever changing swing compared to Michael Jordan who kept more of less the same technique throughout his NBA career. He says people will look back on Tiger Woods and discuss his swing by the year or vintage like a bottle of wine.
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Because the Tiger Woods of 1997 was vastly different in form from the Tiger Woods of 2000, and different yet again in 2007, and different still today in 2014. Among his mind-blowing accomplishments, ascending to the number one spot in the world and dominating the world of professional golf with four completely different swings might be the most “in your face" feat ever achieved in sport.
Compared to air Jordan.
Michael Jordan worked harder than his peers to improve his form, but the mechanics he used to score over 3,000 points in the 1986-87 season looked essentially identical to those he used to hit a jumper with 5.2 seconds left to clinch the NBA Championship for the Bulls against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals.
Brandel then latches on to the Build And Destroy strapline. And he’s not talking about wives or girlfriends!
None of this happened to Tiger Woods, who exploded onto the scene in 1996 and won The Masters by 12 shots in 1997 only to completely scrap that record-breaking swing. What he came back with two years later was the best swing in the history of golf.
Build and destroy.
In 2000 Tiger started history's most dominant, astonishing stretch of golf with a longer, wider, spot-on plane and more versatile swing. He won four professional majors in a row by as much as 15 shots and made 142 consecutive cuts. What is the purpose of pursuing a method in sport, except in hopes of becoming the best, the most consistent and the most dominating athlete of your era, if not of all time? Tiger did just that, and then, as if he was tired of driving a two-year-old car, he traded it in for a newer model.
Build and destroy.
By 2007, Tiger’s swing, flatter and narrower, looked nothing like his swing that won four majors in a row, but his scoring average of 67.79 was exactly the same as his scoring average of 2000, and so was his dominance, if not his ability to win by blowout margins.
Build and destroy.
As Tiger has aged and his body has grown, his swing has flattened (and his major championship win total has flatlined).
In 2013 Tiger won five times (no one else won more than twice on Tour) and became the No. 1 player in the world again by a wide margin â€" and the swing he uses today is completely unrecognizable compared to the swings he’s used in the past, which makes one think that Tiger could take any method, tie one hand behind his back and tattoo Nike on everyone’s forehead with the other while continuing to win. Clearly, it’s not the method he uses but perhaps the belief in that method that matters most. Or perhaps it’s just that he goes to a place mentally that no one else can grasp. Perhaps he’s always there. Either way, at 38 years old, Tiger has not only done things in golf no one has ever done or will ever do, but he’s also done things in golf no one has ever even thought to do.
Not so sure about the tattooing bit, but a point well made Brandel Chamblee.
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