TP&C: Lenny Mattiace Part 2

By Wayne | Tour Players and Celebrities

Lenny and I have been working together for about a month now and I was able to get together with him again (3rd time face to face) for a day and a half down in Tampa. We played 9 holes at World Woods, and then worked on the range there for 3 hours or so, then the next day went out to TPC Tampa Bay and played a few holes again and also worked on the range for another 3-4 hours. This video is a compilation of the swings I shot during that time, and we ended up feeling good about how the swing was progressing.
 
In the next week we talked and texted a number of times, and here is a snippet of our conversations:
(Lenny had gone out to play and was discussing a shot he hit into a par 3).
 
Lenny: Swing question: 5 iron par three into a 2 club wind. Aiming at the center pin. Ball starts slightly left then hooks into trap 12 yards left of pin. Divot pointing slightly left of pin. Why is that %&$# hooking?…My guess- blade slightly closed. I was feeling the hands coming a little out [a good thing] . I don’t think the blade was open enough thru impact. What do you think?
 
Wayne: (Guessing) Hands slightly downward in transition, you lean into the shot a hair to keep it down and your right arm doesn’t quite get in front. Impact not quite forward enough and clubface closes a hair. Also, keep a close eye on your tendency to close the face before starting the swing.
 
Lenny: OK, hands need to be more forward as does the right elbow more in front. Love it. Going for more today. I hit about 15 on that par 3. About 6 hooked and 8 on the green. 1 on right fringe. Yes, the ones that did not hook I did feel more lead and sustained going thru impact. Today’s goal no hooks left of green.
 
Wayne: Cool. Make sure to fill up your divots.
 
Lenny: Lol. Always.
 
Wayne: Also, go for that little kick in transition to sharpen up your wrist cock. Maybe experiment with that on a few.
 
Lenny: What do you mean? The hands pressure into the thumbs?… Yes, understood the whip in the change of direction. I am thinking into the wind it wasn’t forward enough in transition to sustain the blade.
 
Lenny: Felt the whip in the change of direction. Felt good. Was also feeling the right elbow very low to the ground through impact almost like it could brush the grass. What do you think of that? Balls went good today too.
 
Wayne: Balls good, thoughts good, all good. The move forward adds to the wrist bend in transition. Has a lot to do with grip and grip pressure. Clubhead feels like it continues backwards as you move forward. Increases lag, allows the hands to get more forward heading to the ball as wrists have sharper angle and clubhead stays up longer. Might feel like a bit of a “whip” at the top.
 
Lenny: We are on the same wave. The last two days even more so I have been feeling the whip. That athletic change of direction. Played with a buddy of mine today at TPC. Shot 1 under. And 18th hole hit driver center and 5 iron on green into 20 mph wind. 1 drive in left rough.
 
Toe up going back…change of direction. Hands slight out, rotating through. Right elbow driving, hands driving. Deepening on downswing. Keys for me.