Did Jordan Spieth lose the Open with his driver? To listen to the commentators rip his driving accuracy (36%), you might think as much. Certainly, his driving woes are no surprise to this guy. However, woes are totally curable.
Did you see Stenson shank it on 17, and then break his club. He did the same thing at the 2015 BMW in Chicago – with his driver .
Oof. Anyway, he was set up open at the Open’s seventeenth. I assume he was trying to hit a knock-down shot, but he laid it off and couldn’t recover.
Spieth has recovered his putting touch/stroke, at least. Furthermore, his iron game is solid. So, what’s up with his driver swing? How is someone capable of sharpening the rest of his game consistently incapable of addressing only one part?
Without stating the obvious set-up deficiency, I’ll address movement. He does the same thing Stenson does to start his downswing… he drops the hands from an upright position. Consequently, both start their downswing with rotation and arm swing instead of leg drive and arm swing.
The difference between these two movement dynamics is creating room to set the trailing elbow early in the downswing. Jordan and Henrik don’t have driver leg drive because they set up square to closed. I’ve explained the sequence of swing choices we make to adapt to any set-up. Furthermore, I’ve explained the necessities created by an Open Stance. If you’ve read my stuff, you know the must-haves.
I obviously don’t know what Spieth and McCormick and Stenson and Cowan are working on. However, I do know that whatever topics they discuss are incidental in nature, which means movement-based. It’s a shame such sensational athletes become tied to the sweaty, flabby-armed, slapping machine of “modern” instruction… poor guys. Boys, don’t worry… I’ll pick up when you call.
Open your stance, and play golf.
John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy
Should Jordan Speith Give Advice on Hitting It Straight and Far?
Lee Trevino Recommends a Flatter Swing
Why The Open Stance Controls Your Trailing Elbow