Development of a player: Osten Waite

[mvmac]

Saw this and thought it was interesting in terms of the development of Osten as a player.  I don't think Osten has been playing all that long, compared to other player's his age, and it's good to see him start to get some success.  I have gotten to spend a some time with his Dad, Grant, and I can tell he's proud of the kid.  With swing alignments and mechanics, Osten's swing is really, really good.  And like he says below, feels like he learned the game backwards, understanding the swing and positions first and then going out and playing.  Rather than going out and playing, maybe honing some bad habits and then fixing them later.

I think this is similar to what Johnny Miller did as a kid, practiced in the garage and would hit balls against a tarp.  When he finally went to go play he didn't struggle with contact very much.

Now obviously there is a lot more to shooting a good score that just hitting it well, but it seems to me that this makes the learning curve much less steep.

The Article is below

Quote:

Osten Waite believes he learned the game of golf backwards.

Most beginning golfers cut their teeth out on the course, willing the ball toward the hole by whatever means necessary. If they succeed enough ­— and most never do — they'll focus on the mechanics of the game later on.

Waite, a Trinity Catholic High School senior and the Star-Banner's boys golfer of the year, had a visually stunning golf swing long before he learned to navigate the track with any true consistency.

“Others might learn how to shoot a score and then they learn how to swing and do everything mechanically properly,” Waite said, “whereas I learned how to do everything mechanically properly and then learned how to play. I think it's all leading toward pushing me over the edge and playing even better golf.

“I don't have to think any mechanical thoughts,” he added. “It's more just ‘go out and play.'”

Waite didn't come across his picture-perfect swing by accident. His father, longtime PGA Tour golfer Grant Waite, is known world-wide for his technically perfect swing. Grant Waite, a New Zealand native and longtime Ocala resident, swings with a near-poetic combination of strength and smoothness. It's a postcard swing, one that even PGA golfers watch with wide-eyed admiration, and one that has put the elder Waite on demand as a teacher of professionals now that his own tournament-playing prime has passed.

“He says I have the second-best swing in the world, yet I'm still No. 2 in the family,” Osten said. “It's a running joke in the family.”

Here is some video of Osten's swing

[RPMPIRE]

Very nice! I think it makes a lot of sense. Most pros have already adapted good positions in their swing so on the course they probably don't even think about it. Rather, they focus more on the next shot and their body takes care of the rest.

I like the identical swings between both of them.

[Domenic]

hhhmmmmm.......i see a strong resemblance of myself

[Kieran123]

Originally Posted by Domenic

hhhmmmmm.......i see a strong resemblance of myself

.....

[sean_miller]

If the son's quoting his father accurately, they couldn't be accused of displaying false modesty.

[colin007]

his clubhead is a little inside at P2...

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by colin007

his clubhead is a little inside at P2...

Well, after all, it is only the 2nd best swing in the world at present. Maybe when it gets to #1 he'll have that part figured out.

[michaeljames92]

I've been looking at his swings on youtube for a few months now, such a sweet action. I bet he flat out bombs it.

[colin007]

Originally Posted by Harmonious

Well, after all, it is only the 2nd best swing in the world at present. Maybe when it gets to #1 he'll have that part figured out.

maybe he can tell me how to do it too...

that driver vid is siiiick....

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Harmonious

Well, after all, it is only the 2nd best swing in the world at present. Maybe when it gets to #1 he'll have that part figured out.

LOL    P2, shaft parallel to the ground on the backswing, can be the least important "P", depending on the player.  That camera angle is a little off too.  I let him know about this thread, he likes it

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Domenic

hhhmmmmm.......i see a strong resemblance of myself

Me too . . . compared to video of a Russian circus bear riding a bicycle.

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Me too . . . compared to video of a Russian circus bear riding a bicycle.

High class swing. High class bear.

[Harmonious]

Given that swing, it is rather surprising that his junior record is not all that great.  For example, only T-19 at the Florida high school state tournament.  That is good, but I would have expected better results given his upbringing. http://www.fhsaa.org/sites/default/files/orig_uploads/sports/golf/archives/2011-12/state/boys_1a_ind_final.html

No doubt he'll have the opportunity to play college golf.

[mvmac]

Congrats to Osten for signing with the University of North Florida

Waite signs with University of North Florida

Trinity Catholic's Osten Waite will play golf for the University of North Florida next year.

By Andy Marks
Staff writer

Published: Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 8:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 8:56 p.m.

Staying close to home wasn't Osten Waite's biggest concern in picking a college, but his ultimate decision to go to school in Jacksonville definitely comes with fringe benefits.

"I can always have my mom do my laundry on the weekends," Waite quipped.

Waite, a senior golfer at Trinity Catholic High School, officially ended his college recruiting process this week when he signed with the University of North Florida. Waite is Marion County's first Division I men's golf signee since Forest High graduate Tyler Hock signed with Notre Dame in 2006.

"It just felt right," said Waite, who chose UNF over East Carolina. "The distance came into consideration a little, but it wasn't the No. 1 factor."

Waite said his choice to play for the Ospreys — currently ranked 14th in the nation by Golfweek — was based more on golf than geography.

"The amenities they provide, the practice areas and schedule, give me the best opportunity to continue my growth and evolution in becoming a golfer," said Waite, the reigning Star-Banner boys golfer of the year.

Waite was a late-bloomer who didn't pick up the game until eighth grade even though his father, Grant Waite, had a long and successful PGA Tour career that included a victory at the 1993 Kemper Open.

Osten was never pressured into playing the game; his interest blossomed on his own terms. His father's influence — Grant is known world-wide for his picturesque golf swing and currently coaches a stable of PGA golfers — allowed Osten to master the technical side of the game while still developing the competitive side.