Bubba Watson's mystical swing

[Zeph]

I would beg to differ Mike, but as 5 Keys is only concerned with the 5 iron swing and Bubba's driver is what I have observed then I don't really have an argument unless you think the 5K's hold up with his driver.

The only key I would say he doesn't have with the driver is the second, weight forward. His head may move a bit more with the driver than irons, but that's because he can. Same goes with the weight part. You don't need the weight that far forward and the head to remain as steady with the driver since the ball is sitting up on a tee. He's also hitting +5º up on the ball. The head is still in control. You don't see it moving all over the place. The biggest move from address happens right before impact when he jumps. Nobody is saying the head must be stationary. It is relatively steady[/b]. You will see more of the weight forward and steady head with the irons, where you want to hit the ball on the way down.

[Patrick57]

The only key I would say he doesn't have with the driver is the second, weight forward. His head may move a bit more with the driver than irons, but that's because he can. Same goes with the weight part. You don't need the weight that far forward and the head to remain as steady with the driver since the ball is sitting up on a tee. He's also hitting +5º up on the ball. The head is still in control. You don't see it moving all over the place. The biggest move from address happens right before impact when he jumps. Nobody is saying the head must be stationary. It is relatively steady[/b]. You will see more of the weight forward and steady head with the irons, where you want to hit the ball on the way down.

I would agree with all of that. The head must dip and move away from the target to accommodate the hip slide and thus it stays steady. I don't know where you get the +5° figure but I'll take your word for it. Does anyone know of any good videos of his swing?

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick57

I would beg to differ Mike, but as 5 Keys is only concerned with the 5 iron swing and Bubba's driver is what I have observed then I don't really have an argument unless you think the 5K's hold up with his driver.

The only key I would say he doesn't have with the driver is the second, weight forward. His head may move a bit more with the driver than irons, but that's because he can. Same goes with the weight part. You don't need the weight that far forward and the head to remain as steady with the driver since the ball is sitting up on a tee. He's also hitting +5º up on the ball.

The head is still in control. You don't see it moving all over the place. The biggest move from address happens right before impact when he jumps. Nobody is saying the head must be stationary. It is relatively steady.

You will see more of the weight forward and steady head with the irons, where you want to hit the ball on the way down.

Yes, generally hitting up 5 degrees with the driver.  And I would say the weight is forward at impact, 60%. Like Zeph pointed out, it's relatively steady but with the driver he's borderline on the downswing in an effort to swing "up".

When we say steady head it's more in relations to back and forth movement, there is definitely a lowering of the head, in reaction to lowering to lowering the cog to use the ground for power.  Bubba is a bit of an outlier with the driver, here are better examples