Zach Johnson: swing sequence

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Open champion Zach Johnson is an example to amateurs because he found a formula that worked for him and stuck with it, says Carl Watts of Mannings Heath Golf Club.

1. You'll notice he has the ball at the toe end of the club, and he's standing a bit further away from the ball than standard. This means his hands aren't hanging straight down which is a compensatory element, because his tendency is to move the lower half of his body closer to the ball on the backswing. 

His toes and shoulders are also pointing a little bit left. He likes to play a draw and to extend down the line, and these angles compensate that. 

He's a perfect example of a player who is setting up in a way that will work for their swing, rather than trying to be textbook at address. 

2. The clubface is shut on the way back because he has a strong grip. The last thing he wants to do is release the club, because he'll snap hook everything. The shut clubface is one  way he deals with this. 

3. The club is outside the hands -  it's a steep position, as the club is going up rather than behind. 

4. He's shallowed out a lot and the grip end is pointing just inside the ball. He's rotated the forearms over to do this. 

5. Because of the strong grip, the clubface is pointing straight to the sky. He's in a shut position at the top. The last thing he wants is any speed or quick movements from here. His key thought will be keeping his hands ahead of the club on the downswing, which is why he looks like he's holding off. 

His arms are matching his shoulder angle, which is shallow - meaning it's pointing above the ball. It's like a baseball swing. If he doesn't adjust and move closer to the ball to create a steeper angle, he'll miss it. 

6. The club is pointing above the ball - this highlights how shallow he is at the moment. 

7. He's readjusted by pulling the club down, and he's now back on plane. The end of the club is pointing at the ball. Most players will have rotated more, but you can see his hips are still very square. He had to do this because of his flat body turn. His arms are out in front of him.

At this point you can see that this is a homemade swing. He has found what works for him, and managed to repeat it. Rhythm and timing is crucial for him. If he tries to hit it hard, there would be issues. 

8. He's in a strong position here, with the club below the hands. 

9. At impact he is still very closed because he has to drop the arms at the top of the swing. This is different to most Tour players. 

10. Through the hitting area the club is quite high, everything is extended. The clubface is closed. He's making sure he doesn't flip the club over. 

11. Notice how wide and long the position is - the club is way up high. That's him making sure the club doesn't release, to prevent the hook. 

His bad shot will go to the left, which we saw in the play-off at St Andrews when he landed behind the bunker on the Road Hole. 

12. It's a relaxed finish and he's folded in the arms. From the wide position where he's holding off, everything folds in nicely. 

Would you teach this swing - no? But can players who have a strong grip learn from Johnson - absolutely. 

Johnson's done what most amateurs need to do. He found out what works for him, and stuck to the formula. 

Caddie Damon Greene, who is a member of the Champions Tour, plays a key role. He clearly knows how to play and gives him great information. Johnson is also a devout Christian, and psychologically that is a key factor. He has a inner calmness on the course, which many won't have. 

Photos: Mark Newcombe/Visions in Golf

Words: Carl Watts

Former European Tour pro (1994 to 2001) and "High Performance Speaker"

GolfMagic has teamed up with Carl for a special deal. Play nine holes at Mannings Heath with Carl on your bag, and he guarantees you'll drop shots without changing your swing. You'll get a three-hour lesson for the price of two hours.

Website: www.carlwattsgolf.co.uk and www.performanceboost.co.uk

Mannings Heath Golf Club offers two-day tuition breaks to help you improve your game.