Archive for April, 2015
Shell Houston Open 2015
Shell Houston Open 2015 – A look at J B Holmes and Johnson Wagner’s golf swing
What a great finish to the Shell Houston Open, it was unlucky for Jordan Speith but what a great performance by both Wagner and Holmes.
At one point I thought that J B Holmes was on for a 59 especially after a superb front nine of 29!!
Wagner so great determination with holing that 20ft putt on the last to get into the play off.
Lets take a look at what we can learn from both players.
At set up both players set up well but quite different in their posture. Holmes (right) sets up with a very straight back and arms extended away from the body and his weight looks set more into the center of his feet. Wagner (left) has a slightly rounded back and his arms hang straight down from his shoulders, his weight most certainly looks more settled into the balls of his feet.
Both players swing the club away very differently from the ball, Wagner (left) has a great one piece take away and keeps the clubhead out in front of him. Holmes swings back with the club moving very much behind him, alot more on the inside. He also stands up a little just before he swings back, you can see the difference in his knee flex between the 2 photos above.
A key check point is when the club reaches this position in the backswing, the club should ideally be parallel to the ground and parallel to the target line.
As both players reach the top of the backswing they are both in very good strong positions, but once again very different. Wagner has his left arm more across the his shoulder plane and Holmes is much more upright. It would be fair to say that Wagner is much more of a rounded, flatter rotary player and Holmes has a much more upright action. Both players have a good full shoulder turn which is something that a lot of golfers should take on board, complete your shoulder turn in the back swing.
As both players swing down into the “delivery position” they get into a great position to deliver the club into the ball. One thing that we could all learn here is by the time the club gets back parallel to the ground it should also be parallel to the target line with the clubhead just sat in behind your hands. Both players demonstrate this beautifully. The hips should be slightly open with a good proportion of your weight on the left side, your weight moves in the direction your swinging the golf club. Another key thing here is that both players are still holding their original posture as they turn towards impact.
Both players in a great impact position, hips fully rotating, right heel slightly up, shoulders parallel to the target line with the right arm slightly underneath the left arm.
Both players finish in a great balanced position, fully rotated through and holding that finish.
Mark Wood
PGA Advanced Professional
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