Hockey vs. Baseball golf swings.

[JTitan12]

My 19 y/o cousin, who is a 3 handicap, told me that hockey players (like me) tend to have better golf swings than baseball players. Is this true? If it is, why so? I thought hockey players would have a disadvantage because yous stick is suppsosed to make contact with the ice and flex behind the puck, which in golf would be a duffed shot.

[Rockford35]

Baseball players generally have a harder over the top wrist move that is hard to break. The idea of a pull in baseball is rewarded, where in golf you are often penalized.

I also read a study about hockey players reflecting on the golf market somewhat because there are more left handed hockey players in comparison to right handed hockey players, and this reflects on golf sales for left handed equipment. Up here in Canada, it's something like 1 in 9 players are left handed. It's something like 1 in 75 in the US.

R35

[wirehair]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

Baseball players generally have a harder over the top wrist move that is hard to break. The idea of a pull in baseball is rewarded, where in golf you are often penalized.

Just in time, my back's getting better & I needed a new excuse.

[GoFlyers]

It isn't just left-handers. In hockey the vast majority of the players that shoot left-handed are right-handed people. I am right-handed and shoot lefty while my son is a lefty and shoots right-handed. It is actually the proper way to shoot...

[Pa Jayhawk]

For what it's worth, I've seen Hockey players that are far better golfers than Baseball players.

I've never played hockey, but from what I've seen as I watch alot of hockey I can only assume that hockey players have a better concept of shaping shots and the fundamentals of how a ball/puck will react based on the swing and motion of the swing. I would tend to believe a hockey player would easily be able to understand and change the path of a swing (inside~out, outside~in or hit down on the ball), and being able to regulate it more consistantly. From my reading on tempo, I find most hockey players have alot faster backswing tempos than golfers. Maybe in relation to not wanting to telegraph hockey shots. Just an opinion though.

[Big Brother Dunk]

Originally Posted by FKA Pa Jayhawk

For what it's worth, I've seen Hockey players that are far better golfers than Baseball players.

I've never played hockey, but from what I've seen as I watch alot of hockey I can only assume that hockey players have a better concept of shaping shots and the fundamentals of how a ball/puck will react based on the swing and motion of the swing. I would tend to believe a hockey player would easily be able to understand and change the path of a swing (inside~out, outside~in or hit down on the ball), and being able to regulate it more consistantly. From my reading on tempo, I find most hockey players have alot faster backswing tempos than golfers. Maybe in relation to not wanting to telegraph hockey shots. Just an opinion though.

I've never really given much thought to why hockey players make good golfers, but you raise some very good points.

[Rockford35]

Originally Posted by GoFlyers

It is actually the proper way to shoot...

That's a pretty bold statement. There are alot of professional right handed hockey players that would tell you otherwise.

I agree with what you're saying, that alot of people are left handed that play hockey (over 60% on my team alone), but I am willing to bet that skill and hand eye coordination have nothing to do with which appendage you use.

R35

[Farquod]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

I am willing to bet that skill and hand eye coordination have nothing to do with which appendage you use.

Is there some kinda new hands-free hockey stick? Sure would love to see those line changes...

[GoFlyers]

Originally Posted by Rockford35

That's a pretty bold statement. There are alot of professional right handed hockey players that would tell you otherwise.

Yeah, I said it in part to get a rise out of you but from a 'physics' stand point the statement is true. For a more powerful shot you want your strongest hand to be the furthest from the object you are going to contact. If a person has a stronger right arm/hand then for a faster/more powerful swing they should place that hand on top of the club/stick/bat/etc. With that said, a right hand dominate person 'should' swing/shoot/bat from the left side if they want more power.

[Rockford35]

I disagree.

For me, my power hand is my right hand. My left side just goes along for the ride. The top hand (in both golf and hockey) is the control hand. It's also what dictates your power. Try hitting a golfball left handed (one handed). Where's the power? Now take the right hand and hit a one handed shot. More control, more power.

R35

[goalie007]

I have to agree from experience that hockey players are somehow naturally successful on the golf course. I have played hockey since i was 5, and I am now 17. I picked up a golf club for the first time in my life about six months ago. I am now an 8 handicap, thats pretty fast progression. Golf felt very natural to me. And of course, I play about 6 days a week.

[Ravenous Bugblatter Beast]

If I could go back, I think it would have been better to have learned to golf from the left side. I'm right-handed. It probably would have been easier to grasp the concept of pulling the clubhead through the swing as my right arm wouldn't have been put in a position where it feels like it should be steering.

[dave.]

I think he is just generalising,and its a wild guess at best.

A baseball swing is an ideal base for a swing,particularly if you a follower of Hogans fundamentals.Far too many players try and swing too upright and go above off plane.

[Chas]

Might have something to do with the three-quarter swing being better for alot of us.

[txgolfer75077]

I'm alot like goalie007,
I played hockey for 6 years, and about a year after I quit, I took up golf. It's been about 9 months and I'm about a 4 handicap.