All material is the copyright of Bill Knowles and may be used only with his permission.
Barbara Romack
November 16, 1932 – October 15, 2016
Barbara Romack had a wonderful amateur career, including beating the legendary Micky Wright in the final of the U.S. Women's Amateur Open in 1954. Unfortunately, she couldn't achieve the same heights at the Professional level when she joined it in 1958, only winning once on the LPGA Tour. Nevertheless, she was often close to the winner's group and was one of the high earners for several years.
Her backswing may have been a little on the shorter side, starting early with the wrist cock in the takeaway, but she made up for that by collecting more leverage at the start of the forward swing. Also, her forward swing may have had that little bit of extra-hand activity in the contact area, but she continued past the ball well and had a wonderful 'Arnie' style flourish at the end.
Hollis Stacy
Born March 16, 1954
The swing of Hollis is one of the most dynamic actions I have seen. She started with a very strong emphasis on her right side, setting herself up for a huge wide swing of the arms. The right knee shows a pronounced inward kink, and by maintaining the inward pressure she ensures a rightward sway is impossible.
To be completed.
Kathy Whitworth
Born: September 27, 1939 – December 24, 2022
Kathy Whitworth set a benchmark in golf no one has ever touched, whether it is Sam Snead or Tiger Woods, Mickey Wright or Annika Sorenstam. Her 88 victories are the most by any player on a single professional tour.
Whitworth, whose LPGA Tour victories spanned nearly a quarter-century and who became the first woman to earn $1 million for her career on the LPGA.
The swing in this film is not without flaws, but her weaknesses had little influence on the end result, which was to hit the ball straight to her target consistently. She states in her book that she only started to win after she harnessed the pace of her swing. Her arms and body were only able to find unity with each other once her rhythm was highly developed.
Whitworth won six majors during her career and broke Mickey Wright’s record of 82 career wins when she captured the Lady Michelob in the summer of 1982.
All that was missing from her career was the U.S. Women’s Open, the biggest of the women’s majors. Upon being the first woman to surpass $1 million in career earnings in 1981, she said, “I would have swapped being the first to make a million for winning the Open, but it was a consolation which took some of the sting out of not winning.”
Sorenstam described her as a “total class act who set the bar so high"
Marlene Floyd
Born 1948 in North Carolina
Sister of famous brother Ray Floyd
Marlene took up the game early and was mostly taught by her PGA professional father who owned and ran a driving range. In her teen years, she was mentored by former Tour Professional and teaching star Johnny Revolta.
Revolta was a revered teacher of the short game and would have ensured Marlene was more than competent in this area.
As a flight attendant for United Airlines, Floyd spent much of her free time playing golf in amateur tournaments in the mid-1970s.
She won the Hawaiian Amateur in 1974 and 1975 and advanced to the third round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship those same years.
To find out more about Johnny Revolta click on the following link:
I have not made any comments about Marlene`s swing and leave it open to anybody who wants to make a comment or two.
Unlike her brother Ray, Marlene was unfortunate to never win on the tour and had to settle for third place several times in her career.
In later years Marlene was to follow in her father's footsteps and gain a good reputation as a teaching professional.
In "The swing through time" section is a blog about successful brother Ray Floyd.
Maria Astrologes
Born August 10, 1953
Maria Elana Astrologes Combs-She played under her maiden name, Maria Astrologes, until her marriage in 1979.
She joined the LPGA tour in 1972 and retired in 1979. A short career brought her only one win when she beat Judy Rankin and JoAnn Garner after a playoff in the Birmingham classic, played on the Green Vally course.
Her scores were 66,74,70 which made her 6 under par for the three days.
Jo Ann Prentice
Born February 9, 1933
Although a late starter at 15 it seemed only natural for Jo Ann to join in when her three brothers had all become passionate golfers. With her later start, Jo Ann had only a short amateur career, although she did win the Alabama state championships in 1954.
Two years later in 1956, Jo Ann became professional and joined the regular tour. She was seen as one of the LPGA’s most colorful and outspoken members, as well as one of its most consistent players.
A pupil of Bob Toski she broke
through with her first win in the 1965 Jackson Invitational and won another five titles after, including the 1974 Colgate-Dinah Shore. That was her best season ever as she won more than $67,000 and finished fourth on the final money list.
Jo Ann had a steady swing with good rhythm and natural balance.
Amy Alcott- Born 1956
The swing of Amy Alcott when she first joined the LPGA tour at the age of 18. Amy Alcott says that she first started to play golf when becoming fascinated with the game after watching it on TV. Self-taught, she would practice in the garden making her own small courses and using a child's imagination to overcome her self-made challenges. The natural thoughts of a young girl without technical detail in her mind can be seen in Amy`s 18-year-old swing. Using her optimum tempo she crashes through the ball. All the energy and violence can be seen in the contact and the momentum that carries her to the finish. Amy`s left heel rising is not a distraction and is often to be seen in great players who give it all they`ve got, especially in the ladies' game.
Betsy Rawls
A comparison of swing mechanics after a decade
Betsy Rawls- Born in 1928 in South Carolina.
One of the great ladies of golf has now reached the grand old age of 93 years old.
Betsy Rawls started playing golf at the age of 17. She won her first Tournament, the Texas Amateur in 1949. In 1950, she finished second at the U.S. Women's Open as an amateur, and in 1951 she turned Professional.
1961- Betsy is in her prime at 31 years old
She went on to win eight Major Championships and 55 LPGA Tour events. She became a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1950.
1971
A decade apart, both films were taken by Irv Schloss. Betsy Rawls's swing shows virtually no difference, and she still has that almost inborn upper-torso lift on the backswing.
Sandra Post
A still taken from an Irv high-speed film taken in 1969
Sandra Post (born June 4, 1948) is the first Canadian to play on the LPGA Tour. In 1968 at age 20 in her rookie professional year, she won the LPGA Championship and was the youngest player at the time to win a major.
Born in Oakville Ontario Post was introduced to golf at age five by her father, and was seen as a youthful prodigy. She was competing in Ontario provincial events by age 13 and compiled an outstanding junior and amateur career that included winning the Ontario and Canadian Junior Girls Championships three times each.
Sandra hit her peak form between 1978 to 1981 and won seven of her eight titles.
In 1999, she was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2003, was honored by her country with membership in the Order of Canada.
Patty Berg
This film of the Grand Old Lady of the Ladies tour was taken by Irv in 1974. It confirms what a sound action she possessed, even at 55 years old.
This is great information John. I am starting an article on Irv in the next week and intend to have it ready in six to ten weeks. It will be at least twice as long as my standard articles. All material information would be much appreciated. Until now Irv has not received the credit he deserves. At all.
Yes, my long time teacher - Carl Lohren - Acknowledged that he learned a lot from Mr Schloss as well.
Bill, Mike Killian here! A former student of Irv’s and real believer in the man. Do you have a lot of his eight millimeter videos? Later this year we are going to work on Irv nomination to the PGA Golf Hall of Fame. No one has educated more people of my era than Irv Schloss. Would love to touch bases in November. Thank you for this post.