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Analysis of Mathew's Stroke
Mathew,
There is a lot to like here -- especially your Fanning and Folding Right Elbow during Start Up (Frames 2-3); your Extensor Action (throughout); your Left and Right Wrist Alignments at the Top (Frame 6); and your Impact Alignments and Extension (Frames 9-11). But, since you've asked, here are five things I'd look at: 1. Head Position. Move your Head into the middle of your stance and keep it there! Your Head and Feet should form an isosceles triangle (two equal sides), not a right triangle (one right angle). You should be able to drop a plumb bob from your chin into the precise middle of your Stance. Your Head is higher at Address than it will be at Impact, and this necessitates a Bob (Vertical Head Motion) during the Downstroke. 2. Grip and Arm Position. It is difficult to tell from the photos, but I suspect your Left Hand Grip is a bit 'weak,' i.e., Rolled to the left of Vertical. Your Right Arm appears too straight. There should be a definite 'bend' at the Elbow, and the Forearm should point at the Plane Line (instead of well inside it). 3. Eliminate the Sway (lateral Head Motion) and Bob. In Frame 1 your Head is as far right of center as it should ever be...and then you Sway (all the way over to your Right Foot in Frame 6)! You nearly recover your original position (Frames 6-7). Though still too far to the right, your position in Frame 11 bears a remarkable resemblance to the great Billy Casper in his prime. And then you completely lose your Head Position vertically and Bob (Frames 9-11). 4. Stroke Geometry. You need to establish a more geometrically correct Low Point. That's why there is no divot: Your starting Head Position and your Sway has put your Low Point (opposite the Left Shoulder) well inside your Left Heel. And this means a 'false orbit' of the Club. Hence the 'Sweep:' You are hitting 'up' instead of driving 'down.' Again, the 'bad guy' is your starting Head positon. Fix that and you fix your Clubhead Orbit. You are just too good everywhere else! 5. The Finish. The good news is that your Head has finally moved into a more 'Centered' position -- close to where it should have been all along. The bad news is that it is 'Pivot-Controlled Hands' per Harmon-Woods/Scott (Exaggerated Hip Slide, Locked Left Leg, and contorted Head Position). Better than the old 'Nicklaus' inspired 'Reverse C' to be sure -- but still a far cry from what is most natural and most geometrically correct. Actually, you combine the exaggerated 'Reverse C' of the Nicklaus era (Frame 11) with the exaggerated 'Model' Finish of the Woods era (Frame 12). That took some talent, my young friend! And just where should a correct 'Hands-Controlled Pivot' Finish take you? Let's fix that Head Position and see! |
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