Rickie Fowler: swing sequence
Rickie Fowler's new Butch Harmon swing has taken him to The Players title
Rickie Fowler and coach Butch Harmon have created a perfectly on-plane and repeatable action that produces impressive distance despite Rickie's smaller stature, says PGA Advanced Fellow Ian Clark.
Fowler finished in the top five in all four majors in 2014 and clinched the 2015 Players Championship at Sawgrass, before picking up the Scottish Open and the Deutsche Bank Championship.
1. Rather like Jack Nicklaus, look how Rickie hovers the club at address. Give this a try if you feel tension in your arms at address.
2. Classic start-up, copy everything you see here. This is something Rickie has worked on with Butch Harmon. Previously, his left arm would go too much across his chest, and he would pull the club inside.
3. The club shaft is parallel to his target line and over his toe line. Perfect.
4. The club shaft is now pointing at his target line, with the shoulders moving on a right angle to his spine.
5. If Rickie has a flaw, it would be that the shaft here is a little laid off. Look at how it is now pointing outside his target line. This will need a compensation at some point.
6. Look how Rickie has his left arm covering his right shoulder, this is a nice deep position for the club to approach the ball from inside the target line.
7. You can sense here how Rickie has started the downswing by moving his lower body first, but has kept his back facing the target. This stretching is one of the reasons that at only 5ft 9in, Rickie produces 117 mph of clubhead speed and can carry the ball 300 yards.
8. The club shaft is again now pointing at the target line. He is back on plane and pouring on the power.
9. Ho Hum! Just another 300 yard drive. Note the stability in his footwork - you still cannot see any of the spikes in his right shoe.
10. Compare the shaft angle here to picture 8, it is identical. Again, the shaft points to the target line, a classic on plane swing.
11. Anyone for balance? Try this next time you play - can you hold your finish for at least three seconds?
Photos: Mark Newcombe/Visions in Golf
Words by Ian Clark, PGA Advanced Fellow and World of Golf Master Professional
Trackman University Master Instructor
The Golfing Machine authorised instructor GSEM
Top 100 coaches in the UK-Golf World
