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As you will see in Connor’s second lesson he has made a huge change in his swing based on my recommendations, and has gone from not wanting to play to winning the Oregon State Stroke Play Amateur by 3 shots. Hearing that I may have played a role in keeping the young man from leaving the game makes me feel extra good. Here is the follow up letter from his dad, and then my answer.
Wayne,
Just got your lesson. It is nice to see concepts turn into success. I am sure sometimes it goes sideways on you. I want to make sure that the drills that Conner is using to get the blade neutral and quiet the right leg are one that will produce the right result. The ones that got him to this point are the punch shot and the static start punch shot. Are these drills he should continue? I was telling him to hit 15 of each at the starting of each range session to continue to refine the blade position.
What would the drill for the driver be? From my understanding of the way you described the action in the lesson was to add more right hand from the top and throw the club through impacted adding a little loft. Let me know what you think.
The last issue I noticed you left it alone was the hip rotation. Was that intentional? If that is something that you normally do not work on let me know. It seems like everything moving together through impact produces a more consistent release of the club. Maybe the quieting of the right leg will accomplish the hip rotation not running out problem. If you think it is a problem at all. Would love to know your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks again on the lessons. You saved a kid from giving up the game all together. He really has confidence on your ability to keep him going in the right direction. Look forward to his next lesson. He will be traveling to California to play in the California State Fair at the end of the month. Probably send the next videos in after that. He will have just two weeks before reporting back to Oregon State.
We will have to plan a trip out your way or if you are ever on the west coast let us know and we might get a lesson in person.
Thanks, Bob
Hey Bob:
Yes. The release for the driver is like throwing low sidearm again but instead of throwing the ball with a downward trajectory you throw it upward. You can make that motion and see that the right hand has to release the ball at a different point (further back) and that the right wrist can’t be as bent, which would mean that the release action has to start earlier in the downswing, and in Connor’s case almost immediately after starting down. It will feel strange so you have to film it to see what happens. Usually excessive lag is difficult to lessen. As for the hips, if you watch Rory hit the driver you see the same thing. The hips get so open and deep at impact there is a point at which they put on the brakes momentarily to let everything extend and pass through. Can’t be bad if McIlroy does it. He’s hitting fairways and flying the ball 325.
Wayne
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