December, 2017 | Wayne DeFrancesco

Lesson of the Week: Andy Heiberger, PGA Still Early Extending

Andy and I have been working together since we both worked at Woodmont CC some 5 or 6 years ago. I helped him pass his PAT (Player Ability Test), but I didn’t see him for a few years after changing positions. Last July Andy came over to Lakewood for a lesson, and we have seen each other every 3 or 4 months since. He has made significant progress, and now that he is seeing a trainer regularly who understands the golf swing I feel he will now improve much faster. In this lesson I analyze Andy’s first swings and suggest that we try some stop and goes from left arm parallel so that he can concentrate on adding anterior tilt to his pelvis in transition while rotating and driving down into his left foot.

Clearing the Left Hip Faster: New Thoughts

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

I’ve been watching my left foot step forward in transition, my left leg stays forward too long in the downswing, and the club exit above the plane to the right forever with my longer clubs, especially the driver. I can see it, and I’ve had numerous ideas about how to fix it, but the pattern still exists and seems impervious to correction unless I give it total attention, which is detrimental to the rest of my swing and doesn’t work on the course in competition. I do have an excuse in that I have a fused lower spine and my trunk mobility is challenged, but I always feel as though the correct understanding of the issue and the right thoughts could correct the problem and change the pattern.

Wayne D’s Driver Swing: Big Change from One Swing to the Next

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

My driver swing has always been my weak link in my competitive play. My misses are too extreme, and when I mishit the ball I lose too much distance. This video highlights the pattern that I believe has plagued me forever. I am heartened by the fact that at least now I know enough about my own swing and tendencies to be able to make such a drastic difference in one swing simply by seeing what I was doing and being able to correct it immediately.

Playing for Money: Derek Gillespie and Why He Struck the Ball Poorly at 2nd Stage

By Wayne | Videos: Playing For Money

I probably shouldn’t use the word “poorly” in the title of this short paragraph as for most people the way Derek hits the ball would be other worldly, but in trying to qualify for the Web.Com at 2nd stage you either have to have your ball striking in order or you must get it up and down constantly and make every putt, which doesn’t happen very often. Derek’s own assessment of his performance was that he just didn’t hit the ball at a high enough level, so we did pretty much what we always do, which is look at the swing he brings with him and try to figure out what it’s doing, why it’s not working as well as it needs to, and get it to improve.

Online Lesson: Chuck Zellner- Still Fighting Early Extension Aka Goat Humping

By Wayne | Videos: Online Students

Chuck has done a marvelous job with his swing over the time I have been working with him. From face on you can see he has been able to achieve a true drive/hold release with great impact alignments and sustain past impact. He has also tempered a lot of the exaggerated movements in his backswing, which has now given his swing a simple, classic look. If there is anything Chuck can still improve going back I would say that I might get him to lower a bit less overall and not add additional knee flex from P3 to P4. This seems to feed into Chuck’s main issue, which is still the improper use of his glute muscles in the forward swing. His knees both move to the right of the target in transition, and although he has increased his rate of hip rotation he still tends to move under himself, leveling his pelvis too early in the downswing.

Wayne D. Swing Analysis: This is Pretty Good

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

It’s been 3 years since I had my back operated on and 1 year since I had my elbow operated on and I’m feeling like I can finally do some of the things I teach and talk about all the time. I had somewhat of an epiphany when I did videos of Tommy Fleetwood and Tiger and watched their pelvic movement in transition. I always lose height and pressure between P2 and P4, and I wind up driving my weight too far into the front of my left foot, which slows my hip rotation (my left hip is too far forward to be able to clear in a timely fashion), encourages me to drive my right leg toward the ball, and my swing exits well to the right of the plane. This is not a recipe for success.

Tiger at the Hero Challenge 2017: Great Swing that Shows Age

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

I’ve always loved Tiger Woods’ swing. Of course, he has changed it over time, but he has always demonstrated that whatever he tries, if he is healthy, he can do better than anyone else. I have truly enjoyed watching Tiger play and swing the club for 20 years, and just about 100% of the time I have defended him and pointed out just how good his technique was, and still is.

Swing Analysis: Tommy Fleetwood

By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis

I didn’t realize until I looked at the stats, but Fleetwood may be the best ball striker currently on the planet. The winner of this year’s Race to Dubai drives it an average of just under 300 yards and hits 70 % of his fairways, which obviously puts him into position to hit a lot of greens, which he does, his 77% GIR 3 full points better than anyone on the European Tour. His backswing could be a model for anyone, and with his…

Online Lesson: Austin Kendziorski Showing Winning Form

By Wayne | Videos: Online Students

Austin has done a marvelous job with his swing, as you will see when I side by side his swing now with the first one he sent me over two years ago. One of the keys to success at the higher levels is the ability to shoot extremely low numbers, and Austin’s 64 at Erin Hills and 63 at Rich Harvest Farms indicate he has no fear of hopping in the sub and going down. This kid is destined for good things.

Monthly Archives: December 2017