Jason Day: swing sequence
Balance, rhythm, strength - that's why the US PGA champion averages over 314 yards
Strength, athletic prowess, balance and a beautiful rhythm - that's why US PGA champion Jason Day is the third longest on the US Tour, says Advanced PGA member Duncan Woolger.
1. As you can see, Jason sets up to the ball in a beautifully athletic posture. He has worked on balance plates so that his weight distribution is in an excellent place to launch the ball a long way.
2. Jason has an arms and club dominant swing so has to create width. He starts the takeaway already trying to achieve a wide arc.
3. The arms and club are bang on plane here. The club is out in front of his body as his body turns.
4. If you draw a line from Jason's right shoulder to the ball you will see the shaft is perfectly parallel to it. He is shifting his centre of pressure to the right and making a big circle with his hands.
5. Picture perfect at the top here. The shoulders have turned on a relatively flat plane compared to the arms.
The back of the left hand and the clubface are identical, the shaft is parallel to the ground and is pointing at his target - lovely! He has created a wide arc and shifted his pressure behind the ball ready to unleash the club head at 120mph.
6. Here we go! Jason's storage of power is about to be let loose. The shaft is coming straight down the shoulder plane line and on a much narrower arc than it went back on - that's lag. He's also shifting his centre of pressure on to his left foot.
7. As you can see Jason's left arm is pointing out at the ball, bang on plane. The club head is also on it as well with the toe pointing straight up. This is going long and straight.
8. A beautiful impact. Pressure 80-90% on his left leg and a contact that is right out of the middle of the face with a shallow angle of attack, producing power and accuracy. This optimisation of launch conditions will see the ball carry over 300 yards consistently and down the middle of the fairway.
9. As in the backswing, Jason still has the club on plane and the club face hasn't been rolled over - it's on plane as well.
10. A full release of the arms, club and body. Nothing is spared.
11. A superb complete finish. Strong, athletic, in good balance with beautiful rhythm. It's no wonder Jason is in contention nearly every week he tees it up.
