March, 2014 | Wayne DeFrancesco

Pitching Techniques of the Tour Pros

Over time I have compiled quite a number of pitch shots by various Tour pros so I thought it would be interesting to go over some of these and discuss the different techniques they utilize. The two most common shots are the “leading edge” pitch, and the “using the bounce” pitch. As you will see, the leading edge pitch refers to a shot struck with the hands well ahead of the clubhead and the shaft leaning forward at impact. Most of the time the impact position is previewed at address by leaning the weight forward and the hands forward prior…

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Swing Analysis: Kevin Na

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

This swing utilizes almost all the preferences I have come up with over time, which makes it, in my opinion, one of the best swings on the Tour. About the only thing I would change or work on would be the backing up of the head, but that is probably something that he has done since he was a kid. My guess is that he would see that as something to get better at and probably spends some time on fixing it, then leaves it alone when it comes to playing. Other than that, you see just about everything performed…

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Online Students: Andrew Paul

By Wayne | Videos: Online Students

Here is the email Andrew sent with his swings. In 23 yrs. of golf (I’m 53, 6′-4″, 220 lbs., and marginally athletic) could never maintain a steady head. It would always come up and back. Been focusing on lowering it with the right hip going back and it worked thanks to your teaching on the web site. I would like to achieve three things. 1. Body opening up more through impact. 2. Hands not so “flippy” through the hitting area. 3. Finish with weight all the way forward with my right foot straight up on my toes. Seeing my…

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Online Students: Thomas Delaney

By Wayne | Videos: Online Students

This is the email I got from Thomas’ dad Eddie in answer to my request for some background information. In my first look at the swings I saw a nice, strong motion with a good instinct for hip movement and shaft plane approach. As you will read below Eddie picked up on the lack of lateral movement and his description of Thomas as “laid off” is something I would attribute to the “pinched” left arm In the backswing, which causes him to roll his right arm up to get around the restriction on the left shoulder. This further leads to…

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Tour Pros Demonstrate Wayne D. Bunker Techniques

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

In this video I use some swings taken from Tour events showing various players hitting bunker shots while utilizing the techniques that I regularly teach. Of course, not every player does it this way, but enough do (as do I) and I have found that I can get even the most damaged bunker victims to hit passable bunker shots and have a plan for approaching the shot that gives them a chance to repeat that success on the course.

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Swing Analysis: Jimmy Walker

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

Walker has won 3 times already in the Tour’s wraparound season, which is scary considering that his swing has a lot of room to improve. He is a tall, lanky guy with a big arc and he hits the ball a mile, averaging over 300 yards off the tee, but at the same time he is one of the least accurate drivers on Tour, hitting less than 50 % of his fairways. He makes up for this fact by hitting over 70 % of his greens (which means that his misses off the tee are not particularly wild) and by…

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Lesson of the Week: DeWayne Keith

By Wayne | Videos: Lesson of the Week

DeWayne is an avid player who makes a nice living caddying and working at the Old Marsh Club in Florida in the winter, and at Hudson National Golf Club in New York in the summer. He would like to get back into playing competitively, but up to now has not been satisfied with the way he is striking the ball. He has watched the website quite a bit and is friendly with recent student and mini-tour player Nick Antonelli, so he decided to make a visit. A couple of things that struck me right away as I watched him…

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Swing Analysis: Patrick Reed

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

This is a hugely interesting swing to say the least. Reed is playing some awesome golf and has proclaimed himself a “top 5 player” in the world. I would suggest that he wait until he is actually ranked in the top 5, but you can’t fault him for a lack of confidence. He is certainly not intimidated by any circumstance, at least so far (will be fun to watch him in the majors), which was evidenced when he wore black and red on Sunday and warmed up right beside Tiger. Reed’s action is anything but classic with his feet…

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Lesson of the Week: Bruce Gross Part 3

By Wayne | Videos: Lesson of the Week

I’ve had quite a few people suggest that I post more of the hands on work I do with students, so here I include a segment of me trying to get Bruce to feel the timing, amount, and direction of the lower body movement and how his arms should not only trail but aim themselves to approach from more across his body. The instinct to hit at the ball with the upper body moving in front of the lower causing the club to approach from out to in was evident in Bruce’s first batch of swings, but that was to…

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Online Students: David Trungale

By Wayne | Videos: Online Students

After watching David’s swings I was interested in finding out more about his golf history before I did the analysis. The following came from David in an email: “I appreciate the quick response. I started playing golf at age 15 and am currently a 21 year old college student. (I do not play organized collegiate golf, just independently) I never had any decent coaching when I played varsity golf in High School; my coach was very anti-mechanical and told me not to change anything in my swing. But I still practiced several hours a day. I would hit…

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Monthly Archives: March 2014