Players in history with best short game

Zachary Smith Asked 7 years ago

Hi, Alois.

On your site you stress the importance of a good short game and I'm curious who you would hold up as exemplars worth watching and modeling one's short game after: past or present players, with a particular interest in penholder players.  I'd previously submitted a question (that you answered wonderfully) so it may jog your memory if I mention that I'm unable to extend my wrist back very far due to a congenital handicap.  I mention this because I'd reached a high level quite quickly with a unique Seemiller variant, but have in the last few weeks been toying around with other options knowing that I could always return to the former (one such option which I displayed in the question I submitted last).  I've since arrived at a grip (with a paddle modification) that lets me toggle between a wrist release that is in plane with my forearm and a wide penholder grip all by merely changing the angle of my thumb against the bat and the pressure of my last two fingers against the back of the bat (I'll be happy to upload pictures or a video after this round of med school exams).  The in plane grip is perfect for everything except the push game and the easy toggle to penhold was a serendipitous solution.  Thus I find myself wanting to figure out how to dominate the short game through the power of penhold.

Cheers,

Zachary

Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago

Hi Zachary,

I think all the higher ranked Chinese players have excellent short games when they need it.  We tend to play attention to their big strokes but it is the short play that sets it all up for them.  You can look at Xu Xin and Wang Hao as good examples of penhold players.

However now there is a big emphasis on the backhand flick off the short ball at the top level.  However I think for club level players, if you can develop the short game it will be a big benefit.