Jordan Spieth's left ankle

[Rainmaker]

I noticed this in other golfers but in Jordan it's pretty extreme - what do you think of this left foot/ankle roll-over?   Injury prone?  I'm not really wondering about Spieth, specifically, just this move in general - getting weight way outside the left foot.   Good?  Bad?  Depends on your age? 

 

[Ernest Jones]

I dunno, but I have noticed it too and often wonder if it is at all related to his bent left arm coming through impact.

[Buckeyebowman]

I don't know what you're talking about. Look at the position of his hips, torso, upper body, and head. All well behind the ball. His weight is NOT outside his left foot.

[Rainmaker]

40 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

I don't know what you're talking about. Look at the position of his hips, torso, upper body, and head. All well behind the ball. His weight is NOT outside his left foot.

Pressure then?  Surely you see what I mean, though - with his left foot folded under his left ankle . . .

[JetFan1983]

21 minutes ago, Rainmaker said:

Pressure then?  Surely you see what I mean, though - with his left foot folded under his left ankle . . .

Golf Evo has a video for this. 

Like you said, a lot of pros do this move (and a lot of pros don't). Spieth seems to do this to an extreme (maybe too much?), getting onto his left outstep faster than most. 

It's probably not for everybody. Some people work on not doing this, some people work on doing this more. 

As far as "pressure" as measured by something like Swing Catalyst, I'm sure doing something like this would show a different trace than what, say, Rory McIlroy does, who doesn't really roll onto his outstep much at all. I would imagine Jordan's move would send the trace more towards the heel, which some people want and some people don't. I'm just spitballing of course, if you disagree, don't hesitate to chime in here. 

[nevets88]

Reminds me of Johnny Miller. Not sure if Miller was plagued w/injuries, I don't think so.

Later in life, after his playing days, he changed something and it was no more.

[pganapathy]

The move helps Jordan generate clubhead speed.  Something that Jack used to do.  Drive the swing with your legs

[Groucho Valentine]

Doesn't look very comfortable. But Spieth hasn't been injury prone as far as i know. Jason Day and Rory McIlroy on the other hand are probably going to need new hips before they're 40 with the way they swing...

[natureboy]

I think if he had used modern sneakers with all that EVA padding under the heel, Miller's foot would have looked even more rolled over.

[lastings]

This is really just a case of "loud feet".   If you look back at the swings of many great old golfers when they were young (Jack, Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, to name a few), They had very loud feet.  You'll notice that all of those golfers rocked on their feet a lot through the swing.  You can notice it especially at the top of their back swing, their lead foot would actually be tilted off the ground.  

here's an example of Jack doing it: 

They would rock their feet to create a lot of weight transfer.  then through the swing they would transfer all the way to the outside of their foot.   Not as many would go that far forward..   but, Jack did.  

 

In time, this act has faded, and professional golfers have much more quiet feet.   I don't know why, though.  looking at this makes me want to move my feet a lot more.  who wouldn't want to swing like Jack? 

 

[Rainmaker]

1 hour ago, Groucho Valentine said:

Doesn't look very comfortable. But Spieth hasn't been injury prone as far as i know. Jason Day and Rory McIlroy on the other hand are probably going to need new hips before they're 40 with the way they swing...

It actually is really comfortable although it doesn't look it.  Of course, I'm not saying I'm doing the same exact thing as Jack, young Johnny Miller or Spieth . .but I have been rolling over my left foot and it seems to really help with my weight shift.  It doesn't hurt or feel strained . .but it looks like . .pretty bad on your ankles, lol.  Especially if you imagine somebody who looks a little less like young Johnny Miller and a little more like Refrigerator Perry, lol.

[DaveP043]

I wouldn't be surprised if I do this.  I've never looked, but I do try to get my weight moving onto the outside of my left foot.  Its not just the weight moving, but rotating will put torque onto the foot that will tend to make roll like that.  As an aside, anyone who's looked at the FootJoy M Project shoes may have noticed that the nubby sole is extended just a little but up on that side of the shoe.

That sole extension isn't present on the outside of the right shoe.  Apparently, FootJoy made these only for right-handed golfers.

[Buckeyebowman]

I can remember spraining my left ankle playing basketball over the Winter many years ago. When Spring rolled around, and me and my golf buddies got together to hit balls at the range, I couldn't do anything! My ankle hadn't completely healed, and I couldn't get my weight into my left side at all. Spieth's move is no problem for a healthy ankle. But for an injured one? Maybe not!

[Brian W]

seems like it is an extension of him sliding his hips quite strongly but I could be off on this