How Low Can a Driver Finish Be?

[ryunin]

I noticed a PGA pro like Adam Scott has very high finish, his shaft basically vertical in the highest point, which is higher than any time during his backswing. On the other hand the teacher Jim McLean showing a nice swing with a driver has lower finish than his backswing. Myself, I have never had a high finish, it seems as low as Jim McLean's. I wonder whether such a relatively low finish is absolutely OK unless we want to win a PGA tournament. This problem is also related to my practice swings in my bedroom. My bedroom is only about 8.2 feet high. But I can comfortably backswing with my driver here, I would have to really make my swingplane very upright to reach the ceiling with my driver. As my finish is lower than my highest point during my backswing, it seems I can comfortably practice driver swings in my bedroom, but as far as I know a ceiling that is at least 9 feet high is recommended for driver practice. Would you then say that my finish must be too low  if I can comfortably fit into such a small room? Of course, not saying I swing at the max speed, but my swing speed is only about 80 mph anyway.     

[ryunin]

I noticed based on a video where I drive a ball, that the finish seems higher than when I practice without a ball. A picture from that video attached below. But the question remains, what is the disadvantage of a lower finish with a driver?  I can post a link to that low Jim McLeans video later if necessary.   

[SavvySwede]

Low finish= lower trajectory but that's fine as long as you're not hitting it too low. A lower swingspeed makes if tougher to get the ball in the air so it might not be a good combination. Can't really say without seeing an actual swing/ball flight.

Most importantly, don't practice under low ceilings.

 

[ryunin]

21 minutes ago, SavvySwede said:

Low finish= lower trajectory but that's fine as long as you're not hitting it too low. A lower swingspeed makes if tougher to get the ball in the air so it might not be a good combination. Can't really say without seeing an actual swing/ball flight.

Most importantly, don't practice under low ceilings.

 

Thank you, I am adding the link to the video where Jim McLean, at the end of the video, shows his swing. It seems the finish is quite low , it would definitely fit into my room.  See 1: 55. If you can slow down the video, you can clearly see his finish is lower than his backswing.

[boogielicious]

Low finish may also have to do with flexibility. Many of us lose rotational flexibility as we get older. Same with pros. Watch the Champions Tour and you will see more abbreviated finishes.

[saevel25]

Honestly that image you posted is pretty useless because it's so late in the swing. 

If you want help with the driver post a video of yourself hitting a drive in your My Swing thread. 

[ryunin]

3 hours ago, saevel25 said:

Honestly that image you posted is pretty useless because it's so late in the swing. 

If you want help with the driver post a video of yourself hitting a drive in your My Swing thread. 

I understand it is useless for a swing analysis, but I was interested in the problem of low finish and then found that picture and realized that my finish was not so low, as we can see in the picture. I am thinking of posting a video of my swing but there are so many mistakes in the swing  that I don't even know where to start. Is it worth posting the whole swing the picture is taken from? It is a bit too dark and I don't have a quality camera so the impact section is completely blurred.      

5 hours ago, boogielicious said:

Low finish may also have to do with flexibility. Many of us lose rotational flexibility as we get older. Same with pros. Watch the Champions Tour and you will see more abbreviated finishes.

Yes, somebody told me yesterday that McLean's low finish has to do with his age, so I guess it is not ideal to start with. I am 48 but pretty flexible and fit for my age. Abrevvviated finishes at the Champions Tour, that must be some kind of Senior Tour I suppose. So in general I should make higher finish than Jim McLean, right?     

[mvmac]

3 hours ago, ryunin said:

I understand it is useless for a swing analysis, but I was interested in the problem of low finish and then found that picture and realized that my finish was not so low, as we can see in the picture. I am thinking of posting a video of my swing but there are so many mistakes in the swing  that I don't even know where to start. Is it worth posting the whole swing the picture is taken from? It is a bit too dark and I don't have a quality camera so the impact section is completely blurred.   

Post the whole swing, dtl and face on view.

Whether the finish is low or high is more of a function of what's happening well before it.

Few examples of what I would say are pretty good or "standard" followthrough positions, hands exiting through the lead shoulder.

Adam Scott on the left.

[ryunin]

3 hours ago, mvmac said:

Post the whole swing, dtl and face on view.

Whether the finish is low or high is more of a function of what's happening well before it.

Few examples of what I would say are pretty good or "standard" followthrough positions, hands exiting through the lead shoulder.

Adam Scott on the left.

OK. I don't have very good quality videos of my swing, but something might be revealed. I will try to post them in the my swing section tomorrow.  

[natureboy]

On 11/4/2015, 5:23:43, ryunin said:

Thank you, I am adding the link to the video where Jim McLean, at the end of the video, shows his swing. It seems the finish is quite low , it would definitely fit into my room.  See 1: 55. If you can slow down the video, you can clearly see his finish is lower than his backswing.

Do you mean the clubhead height off the ground or his hand level? his hands seem same height on B/S & F/T to me.

[SavvySwede]

2 hours ago, natureboy said:

Do you mean the clubhead height off the ground or his hand level? his hands seem same height on B/S & F/T to me.

Clubhead height looks to be the same as well. I'd say Jim's backswing and downswing are the same height.

[ryunin]

12 hours ago, natureboy said:

Do you mean the clubhead height off the ground or his hand level? his hands seem same height on B/S & F/T to me.

Yes, I mean the height of the clubhead at its highest point during the finish.  

10 hours ago, SavvySwede said:

Clubhead height looks to be the same as well. I'd say Jim's backswing and downswing are the same height.

I must have been unclear as for the comparison. I mean compaing Adam Scott's finish / clubhead height/ to Jim McLean's finish/ clubhead height

link to Adam Scott's driver finish where the clubhead goes to the stratosphere compared to Jim's: