Critique Brizzle's Swing

[iacas]

One of the kids on my golf team... I recorded his swing with my digital (still) camera, a Canon SD-550. Turns out, as I've mentioned, it takes some pretty nifty 320 x 240 videos at 60 frames a second.

Well, here are four swings from two angles on Jake. Critiques welcome! I'll print the thread and pass it along to Jake:

http://thesandtrap.com/briz1.avi
http://thesandtrap.com/briz2.avi
http://thesandtrap.com/briz3.avi
http://thesandtrap.com/briz4.avi

[Diggitydog]

Wow, now that is flexibility. My back hurt watching him just past impact.

Couple of comments for Jake.

First video down the line:
Shoulders are open to the target line which will promote the out to in swing / fade or slice.
Clubface is closed at the top of the backswing and I think the club gets laid off from hips high to the top, pointing left of the target. Point the club head directly at the target when you get to the top.
I see the swing being on an out to in (fade) plane.

Second video down the line:
This swing had the same properties except he was much more on plane.

Third Video face on:
I love Jakes leg action on the backswing in this video. I would say it's as close to perfect as you can get in my books.
Jake gets really jumpy with the left foot through impact. I'm gonna be honest on that one, I've never had that issue and I don't know how to fix it.

Grip is strong which may or may not be an issue but I would change it. I bet it is the reason that his club face is closed at the top. A good line up for my grip is to see my first 2 knuckles on my left hand at address while looking down at my left hand. Ball position could be moved back 1 ball width as well. The ball being right off the heel can cause that open shoulder setup. The further forward the ball is the more open the shoulders want to get.

Probably my next biggest concern is the amount of backward head movement through impact. I think in an effort to stay behind the ball at impact the whole move has been overcooked into almost shooting backward at impact with his upper body and head. I'm not sure other than consistency what that would cause except for a fatiqued back over time.

Fourth swing face on:
This swing isn't much different than the third video but he does a bit better job on his wrist angle going back. Jakes wrist hinge is pretty rigid on all swings, but really that is a personal preference as to timing so if he really likes his take away I wouldn't change it.

The thing that is noticeable on the face on shots is his left arm is in the chicken wing position instead of extending. His right arm extends nicely but his left arm is slightly bent at the elbow right after impact. More extension needed here.

If I could only pick one thing to change in the entire swing it would be to stabilize the head more on the downswing and at impact especially. Don't let it drop back and down so much.

Things Jake is doing correct:
Jake, your balance is good, but everybody can always work on that one.
Weight change and leg action on the backswing is very good in my opinion. Keep that up Jake.
Shoulders get into a nice full turn.
Arm plane on the back swing is great, I think the club is a bit out of position but that is easy to get as opposed to the arms being on a bad plane.

Keep it up, lots of good things in that swing!

[A.J.]

I like the set up and the takeaway a lot except its odd and perhaps a power drain to duck out the right foot while keeping the left straight. That will tend to facilitate a great deal of hip rotation on the way back, which is generally good for an upright swing like that but resist the transfer of weight on the way down.

You might suggest he do the exact opposite with his feet.

[Lomi]

Links appear to be broken for me.

[iacas]

Links appear to be broken for me.

I only left them up long enough for Jake to download them. While they were up, I thought some folks might have the chance to view 'em. They did. Thanks for looking though.