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there seems to be two types of golfers. there are those who hit the ball vs. those who swing at the ball. what do you all think are the merits of each style and why do you choose one or the other? do you think a lot of it has to do with body type? whether you're tall or not?

Well, you can be a successful golfer both ways. Look at the PGA Tour and you have hitters and swingers. Personally, I'm a swinger and I believe it has a lot to do with my body type. I've been nicknamed the "rubberband" because of my swing. I have a slender build so I'm not really the kind of guy who can hit my drive 280 yards with brute force. It's funny because sometimes I play twilight rounds and I'm paired up with some huge guy and he's amazed with how I'm outdriving him.

I think whether or not you hit or swing at the ball depends on your body type. If you're more flexible, you'll be able to make a full swing. If you have a bigger or more muscular build, you'll probably hit the ball as you probably have more trouble making a full turn.

I don't understand the difference. Don't golfers both swing AND hit? You swing at the ball and when the club reaches it, you hit it.

You want to actually swing through the ball to get the best contact, if you hit it, you get into all sorts of problems including coming down too hard at the ball (and taking huge divots), to falling off balance, which is one of the worst things.

You do actually hit the ball but you do not want to actually think like that, just let the ball get in the way of the club and you will get better results.

Nick

the way in which you load your shaft during the swing. A swinger will rely very much on centrifugal force during the swing to generate his club head speed. (Ernie Els)

A hitter will rely a lot on right arm thrust and muscular force as source of power. (Darren Clarke)

Doc