Instruction
Video analysis: Rickie’s revamped swing
Although he finished the season without a victory, Rickie Fowler proved to be one of the most consistent performers on the PGA Tour in 2014. He finished ninth in the FedEx Cup standings, second in the Team USA Ryder Cup standings and finished no worse than T5 in any of the four major championships — his work with Butch Harmon, which began last year, is paying off.
The swing changes that Butch and Rickie put into effect this season are some of the most drastic I have ever seen. The interesting part is that Butch is typically a “work within the existing swing” type of teacher. His work with Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson has produced only subtle changes, but the improvements in Rickie’s swing are day-and-night. It’s no wonder he’s been a mainstay on major championship leader boards on Sunday afternoons in 2014.
Take a look at the video below and see if you agree!
[youtube id=”mAvK8kYQoo0″ width=”620″ height=”360″]
If you’d like me to analyze your swing, go to my Facebook page and check out my online swing analysis program.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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BigBoy
May 10, 2015 at 10:19 pm
The boy is back.
Greg
Sep 20, 2014 at 5:51 pm
Nice going … I post a valid point and you delete it… I will try again. If you look at Ricky’s feet you can tell the two videos are from a slightly different angle. There is nothing wrong with your assessment, but you need to use two videos from the same angle to make those points accurately. imho….
Dennis Clark
Sep 22, 2014 at 1:21 pm
I deleted nothing.
Jeff R
Sep 24, 2014 at 6:57 pm
Agree, but would say these videos are considerably much different angles.
Jack
Sep 20, 2014 at 4:05 am
I respect you Dennis, but these are not major changes. Rickey could have changed this in a day or two. I do believe that golf “teachers’ are a major reason people don’t get better. The golf swing is a pretty simply motion, that you all either can’t or won’t really explain to folks. Carry on…
Jimmy
Sep 20, 2014 at 9:00 am
The golf swing is not a simple motion at all, and there is not a chance in hell that it only took Rickie 2 days to implement these changes. Look at his finishes from the beginning of 2013-2014 PGA Tour season. That’s when he first started working with Butch, and he was not playing very well because he was making swing changes. But after MONTHS, not DAYS of working at this new swing, he started playing much better. The golf swing is anything but simple. Have you,(probably a hacker), ever tried to make even the simplest change in your golf swing, such as a minor grip change? It’s very difficult to repeat something just that small, let alone changing the position at the top of his swing or the position of the club head in relation to his hands on the take away.
Dennis Clark
Sep 22, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Agreed. As a teacher I can appreciate the degree of change and I think there is more to come. Going left thru impact for example.
Dennis Clark
Sep 22, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Interesting perspective. While you may find it simple others struggle with it. I only offer advise to those who seek it. And my corrections are from experience not theory. If you don’t think these changes are considerable I would respectfully disagree. Thx
Dennis Clark
Sep 22, 2014 at 2:00 pm
Do you teach golf? Curious.
jim rebey
Sep 18, 2014 at 8:56 pm
First thing i notced is that his chin is up now and the 90deg of the right arm at top.
Dennis Clark
Sep 18, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Interesting to note while on the subject of Fowler, he partnered with Billy Horschel in the 2007 Walker Cup matches.
John Mclane
Sep 19, 2014 at 3:19 pm
From a money ball approach to the Ryder Cup Billy Horschel would have been a much better pick for USA than Web Simpson. That was actually my captains pick even before he won the FEDEX. The USA team still hasn’t learned the lesson from the 1980 USA hockey team. Its not about getting the best players, its about getting the right players.
The Man
Sep 18, 2014 at 11:44 am
Went from an unorthodox swing to a classic modern swing.
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Seems like many of you got the message despite the different camera angles. There is a lesson in all these great players for anyone who wants it. In Fowler’s case the almost zero early forearm rotation, followed by a dramatic roll in the second part of the takeaway, put him in a laid off position at times. Butch hates the club laid off and behind. It’s one of his tenets as an instructor.
Dale Doback
Sep 18, 2014 at 1:43 am
This was a great analysis. I followed Rickie this year at the Bob Hope and he played very mechanical and uncomfortable missing shots all over but mainly pushes to the right. Fowlers misses seem to be getting much better and it is a pretty big adjustment he made in his swing in such a short time. While I wouldn’t call this an overhaul like Tigers, Harmon has defiantly softened his deep takeaway and his release doesn’t seem to be as dependant on his hand timing. Nice to see Fowler playing really well, I can’t wait to see him in the Ryder Cup. GO USA
Dennis Clark
Sep 19, 2014 at 9:49 am
Yes I agree. I teach hands more in front so body and arms can work together better, less independent. But Rickie is soooo talented he can make anything work????
Jeff R
Sep 24, 2014 at 6:59 pm
I’m Ron Burgandy????
Ian
Sep 19, 2014 at 7:40 am
Denis, really enjoyed that analysis. Obviously the camera angle made the flaws on the sling on the left look worse. But isn’t a club that’s laid off of the top most likely to come way out in front of the player? Just as a club that’s across the line has to come down steep and then shallow out too much leaving the club behind the player?
Dennis Clark
Sep 19, 2014 at 9:42 am
Ian, I know what you mean. Yes, but Here’s what to consider. The hand path vs the club position. “Laid off” means the club in under the PLANE of the hands. The hands travel in a direction and a plane. Example, inside, outside, up, down. How far the club head swings out is a combo of the path of the hands and the plane of the club. So when I see a player across the line at the top, the club usually starts down steep, and then they attempt shallow it out. They might shallow it by backing up, OR they might swing the hand path OUT toward the ball, like a Phil does. so it’s all individual. What I like about what Fowler is doing is keeping the hand path more in front with the club in line with the hands. This a bigger topic but that’s good for now. Great observation thought.
Rob
Sep 17, 2014 at 6:10 pm
The lost art of camera angles…while his swing is much different this is a terrible video to try and use. You have one right down the line (video on the right) then the video on the left is shot about 3 or 4 feet away and at an angle. Lesson #1 in video analysis for golf instructors is CAMERA ANGLES!
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:22 pm
Thx
luke
Sep 18, 2014 at 6:09 pm
agreed
DeucePot
Sep 17, 2014 at 5:43 pm
Dennis,
I appreciate the analysis camera angles aside. As you stated the angle will only affect the degree of change and not the point of your article. With professional level athletes even a small amount of change is significant and there are noticeable changes in the take away and position at the top. Watching Rickie in the latter half of the season I’ve seen a swing that he has confidence in, especially under pressure. On the whole he has avoided the tournament ending blow up holes or stretch of holes that his career had previously been full of. Many have missed the point of the article and even commented on the focus on a player who has not won much. Rickie is clearly showing a desire to be more competitive on the PGA tour and his new swing is in its infancy. Give him a little more time and wins will come.
Mark
Sep 17, 2014 at 3:54 pm
So much written about a man who can’t win a tournament. Never has someone had so much media coverage for so few wins….
Dennis Clark
Sep 19, 2014 at 9:51 am
Can’t disagee with that. Rock star with one win. I wrote this piece because of change not status in game. Thx
Jeff R
Sep 24, 2014 at 6:59 pm
two wins
Konnor
Sep 17, 2014 at 11:06 am
Dennis,
Your point is still more than made. The changes are significant to the naked eye but the videos further that point regardless of angles. Well done.
adam
Sep 17, 2014 at 10:24 am
My most noticeable takeaway from his old to new swing is that he slowed his back swing down tremendously. I have since done the exact same thing and it has made a world of difference
Jeffcb
Sep 17, 2014 at 10:18 am
I think respectfully that Fowlers good results are from around the green, not necessarily swing changes. He’s 108th in driving accuracy and 100th in GIR’s. However, he’ 17th in scrambling and 37th in strokes gained putting but he has seemed to me to make everything this year. My coach told me that under pressure with his new swing he’ll miss way right and by golly at the PGA on Sunday on 16 and 17 his tee shots were way right. Terrific year from him though
Stats
Sep 17, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Aha!
That’s what I was looking for. Thank you.
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:24 pm
And what about his new swing will do that?
Jeffcb
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Dennis – I wish I could remember the reason
Dennis Clark
Sep 18, 2014 at 1:14 pm
We’d need to know his Trackman numbers honestly. On camera in seems like his path was quite right. With the club more in front it can go more left IF HE WANTS. But if you look at him going through the ball, he still seems in to out. But I agree the swing we’re seeing looks prone to pushes and hooks.
Brian
Sep 17, 2014 at 6:44 am
Thank you for your great analysis. We all learn something from it…even the critics as they analyze your analysis. I might send you a video of my swing sometime.
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:24 pm
You’re welcome. Thank you.
dunn2500
Sep 17, 2014 at 3:04 am
These vids aren’t from same angle so hard to determine exactly where his angles are at….
Be Nice if you could use 2 examples from same angle…
dunn2500
Sep 17, 2014 at 3:09 am
These vids aren’t from same angle so hard to determine exactly where his angles are at….
Be Nice if you could use 2 examples from same angle…
Drawing lines against his body and camera is not even close to being in same spot so reference isn’t accurate….
Dan
Sep 17, 2014 at 7:43 am
Agreed!!
Stats
Sep 17, 2014 at 1:05 am
Does anybody have the ball striking stats from before and after? Not scoring stats, just ball striking stats.
Weird thing, I kinda don’t mind either swing. The new swing is more technical, being in positions to make it work, but the old swing was more about feel and I think that the old swing will stand up to pressure more than the technical one. With the new, more technical one I fear he’ll try to keep getting into the positions of the swing and forget to play with more feel to guide him in certain situations. Sure, he might be successful with the new swing and it might look good, but is it going to stand up long-term?
TW
Sep 16, 2014 at 10:23 pm
Also seems to have a smoother follow thru to finish. The 2010 swing seems like a bit more loss of posture in the finish. Would love to have this swing
Eric
Sep 16, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Dennis,
I enjoyed the analysis, is it safe to say the big change was the takeaway and that led to a better position up top and because of that better position up top allowed for a better / more efficient downswing through the ball?
Rickie Fowler
Sep 16, 2014 at 8:33 pm
Wow, what a bunch of tools leaving responses. Maybe these tools can write up the next swing analysis. Hostile bunch of pricks.
Eric
Sep 16, 2014 at 8:53 pm
agree completely with your comment!
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 9:08 pm
No need for that. Everyone stated their disagreements respectfully. That’s the great thing about golfwrx. We teachers interact with the readers In an open forum designed for everyone to learn. Thx
nikkyd
Sep 16, 2014 at 5:32 pm
One thing i noticed this year, is that he has slowed his swing down enough to notice it.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Over all tempo? He’s actually increased club head speed. His amazing ability to separate his lower and upper body creates a lot of speed. Thx
nikkyd
Sep 24, 2014 at 10:17 pm
Tempo, i should have said tempo. He just looks like hes taking an easier rip at the ball ( swing easy and live with the extra distance)
Andrew Tursky
Sep 16, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Here’s a link for those looking for a more DTL view of Fowler’s pre-Butch swing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEhpy6Mh-i8
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 3:33 pm
The brilliance of Fowler’s move is the shallow early steepening into impact. If most golfers learned that move early in their career they’d be WAY better off than the reverse of that as most amateurs are; steep early trying to shallow.
Don
Sep 17, 2014 at 3:03 am
I agree. Now how could an amateur find that move? Can you help?
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 6:06 am
The horizontal component needs to be learned early. Very early. I start a lot of juniors out by hitting from high tees to ingrain an arc and the feeling of swinging around.
Not Brandel
Sep 17, 2014 at 6:47 am
In my opinion, in the new swing, fowler initially drops his hands in transition while the shaft steepens a hair. After that, the club shallows out into impact. I agree 100% that a hogan-like shallow to steep move is more agressive and effective than the fowler/Michelson pattern.
Dennis Clark
Sep 17, 2014 at 8:11 am
Having taught for 30 years over 25000 lessons I assure you it’s the way to learn golf. When you get under early you can turn into the shot. WAY better than backing up to shallow it out. Thx
golfpunk46
Sep 16, 2014 at 3:00 pm
This in incredibly impressive! Thank you for putting this video together. Fascinating how much the change is.
harrold
Sep 16, 2014 at 2:49 pm
the video on the left is a complete waste of time as its at an angle so any perceptions that are being drawn from that about his sling will be blurred. Should analyse swing videos from exactly DTL otherwise the viewer is getting poor information
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 3:20 pm
No still video is a waste of time. At least mine. The camera angles are slightly different but the changes are as I indicated. Watched him up close at Augusts when the changes were new and at Pinehurst. By that time the changes were considerable.
Rich
Sep 16, 2014 at 7:58 pm
Yes the changes to his swing are considerable. You can see it with the naked eye. However, harrold is right. The angle of the 2 videos is significantly different so there is a considerable parallax error in the position differences you are pointing out in the analysis. You should find a 2011 video with the camera directly behind him as with the 2014 video and then the differences will have more meaning.
Chris
Sep 16, 2014 at 2:39 pm
My 2c to all instructors doing swing comparisons. Putting up camera angles that are this different shows either laziness or low quality standards, especially when the internet is full of Rickie swings. Even if you can still justify your assessment and what you’re saying is great info.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:30 pm
I’m always fascinated with talent and tend to seek our the less than orthodox swings to learn from. I watch Rickie up close every year at Augusta and I can state unequivocally that the changes are pronounced. He’s a gifted player.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:25 pm
To the point of the different camera angles: the changes I noted would not be different, perhaps just the degree of the changes. 2-D video comparisons are always subject to parallax issues but does any one actually think the club is not more in front of him? Or over him at the top?
Eric
Sep 16, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Wouldn’t the degree of the changes be an important distinction? You draw lines and make points referencing how different some of his positions are, all of which may be correct but also exaggerated and misleading because of the difference in camera angles. I agree with what you are saying since you can see everything even with the off camera angle, but think comparing all the lines you drew is pointless.
Rich
Sep 16, 2014 at 8:00 pm
+1. Couldn’t agree more Eric.
TheFightingEdFioris
Sep 16, 2014 at 12:51 pm
As an instructor, are you not being borderline irresponsible by using two camera angles that differ so drastically? That aside, you did a great job here. Big fan of what Rickie has changed and it was a big risk for him to do it and prove there’s some substance behind that style. But I do think the swing changes are exaggerated due to the camera angles.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Parallax issues are inevitable when taking videos off internet I agree. Irresponsible? I think not as the emphasis of my content would not change. Perhaps the degree of it.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:32 pm
I love your screen name. How did you come by it? Can I guess you play with a very strong grip?
TheFightingEdFioris
Sep 16, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Lol Ed Fiori and I are opposites in almost every way on the course, but gotta admire a guy that could hold his own against the Big Cat. And you’re right, your message would have been the same no matter the camera angles. Again, I thought it was a quality analysis.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 6:30 pm
I played with Ed. His nickname was “grip”! Thx
kyle
Sep 16, 2014 at 12:43 pm
Not a very good analysis.
It would be a lot better if you compared videos that were shot from the same angle. The camera angle for the 2011 video makes the hands seem further outside his hip at the top of the swing, and since it is shot from significantly higher than the 2014 video it makes the arms appear further below his shoulder plane much sooner.
Ricky has made a lot of changes, but the camera angles exaggerate the differences.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 1:19 pm
Direct down the line videos are hard to come by unless you film them yourself. Have you filmed any yourself? Or can you find any more accurate? If so send them. The point I’m making will not change I assure you.
Pat
Sep 16, 2014 at 2:06 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEhpy6Mh-i8
There you go
kyle
Sep 16, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Dennis,
Honestly you seem a little defensive, because I didn’t think much of your analysis. I can understand that. But some of your conclusions are based on the camera angle. I just looked up a better angle dtl view (around 2011-2012) and Rickie’s hands were barely outside his hips at the top of the swing (unlike in your analysis).
As I said the general ideas line up regardless of the angles, but it would have seemed much better done if the angles were the same. If you couldn’t find a better angle for the 2011 video, no worries, you could have just said that.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Not defensive at all. The video I chose was a different camera angle and you’re correct in pointing it out. You started out saying “not a good analysis”. My response says it is a good analysis despite the different camera angles because it indicates his changes. Are you a teacher? Do you do a lot of video work? Curious. Thx for interest.
Dennis Clark
Sep 16, 2014 at 8:02 pm
Not defensive at all really. Your opening statement was “not a good analysis “. The video I chose was a different camera angle and you’re correct in pointing it out. But the analysis has other lessons beyond the parallax problem caused by the video I chose. Namely: big changes are rare in great players and his is noticeable from any angle. My editor and I found a better camera angle and posted it above. When I return to my golf academy I’ll comment on that angle.
TheLegend
Sep 16, 2014 at 11:49 am
Very interesting!
Nick Cinzilla
Sep 16, 2014 at 10:41 am
Dennis, it looks to me like Fowler is taking the club a little steeper on the backswing, so that his left arm intersects his right shoulder, instead of being shallower and underneath his right shoulder. Would you say that this is more of a one-plane position at the top? If not please explain. Also, Harmon seems to favor most players hitting a cut versus a right to left shot. What is your opinion about that?