By Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
In this video I go through the coverage of the President’s Cup singles and look at one swing of each of the participants (at least the ones who made it to television). Here we have Kevin Chappell, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Mark Leishman, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Charl Schwartzel, and Jason Day.
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
I’ve managed to qualify for the Senior Professional National Championship which starts September 28th (about a week from now) but I still haven’t been striking the ball well enough to feel in any kind of control of my rounds. In this video, I take my two most recently filmed swings, a gap wedge and a driver, and go over (again) the main items I am focusing on. I find the physical task of maintaining my depth in the backswing while keeping the right knee flexed to be the most difficult issue to deal with, and I have been paying extra attention to my foot pressure in an effort to improve my tendency to lift heading into transition and then lean into the front of my left foot as the downswing starts, which delays the opening of my hips and leads to an overly down the line exit.
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
I came upon a YouTube video of Tiger Woods giving a clinic at the American Express Championship in 2004 and it was amazing. The swings of Tiger are classic. I pulled off my favorite ones and provide a bit of commentary (but not much-the swings speak for themselves).
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
Having watched Rory with interest since he emerged as a player to be reckoned with I believe that he has continued to improve his technique and is certainly capable, barring injuries, to go on a run reminiscent of his major championship years. The main item I see is greater hip depth in the backswing, which lessens his tendency to lean forward approaching the top while pulling his right arm behind him.
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
When watching Dustin Johnson’s swing we are usually entranced by the bizarre angle formed by his left wrist at the top of the swing and don’t really focus on the rest of what is going on. Here I look at a couple of swings from the British Open, one of which gives us a great view of his unbelievably good hip and leg action, creating massive depth and adding tilt with the right side of his pelvis while maintaining most of his knee flex (not an easy thing to do). Another swing is a nice example of a knockdown shot into a stiff wind as he flushes a 5 iron from 160 yards, demonstrating his ability to control his power and his ball flight.
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
This snippet of Spieth practicing his pitch shots before the final round of the British Open happened while the announcers were droning on about whatever they could fill space with. Meantime in the background Spieth was providing viewers with one of the best short game lessons (unintended of course) they could ever receive. In six shots Spieth demonstrates the two most important pitching techniques for any level of player:
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
I can’t think of a single player on the PGA Tour the last 10 years who has changed their swing more than Matt Kuchar. While that would be a subject for a separate video, here I focus on the swing Kuchar used at the British Open, where if he gets a few breaks (like Spieth not making 70 feet of putts in two holes, or Spieth making bogey from the driving range) he wins.
Continue readingBy Wayne | blog , Videos: Swing Analysis
There is one thing I tell my serious students consistently, and that is that to learn about your game and to figure out what you need to focus on to get better you must compete. Eventual success arises out of the ashes of failure…
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
I thought it would be appropriate given that the British Open is just underway to look at the swing of former champion Bob Charles. The lefty from New Zealand won the Open in 1963 among some 75 assorted professional wins, including 6 PGA Tour and 23 Champions Tour events. What struck me most watching his swing with the driver is the perfect impact position with the shaft lined up with his right arm (leading arm) well past impact, much like you now see in players such as Jordan Speith, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka.
Continue readingBy Wayne | Videos: Swing Analysis
Kyle Stanley is easily one of the best ball strikers in the world. If you look at his stats over the last 5 years he is rarely out of the top 10 in strokes gaining driving and strokes gained on approach shots, and is always high up in greens in regulation. He is having a banner year and with his victory at the brutally tough TPC Potomac at Avenel Farms he moved up to 13th in the Fed Ex Cup standings.
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