LEARN FROM A PGA CHAMP: A breakdown of Keegan Bradley's swing and putting

[Steve Hennessey]

You see it all the time -- a golfer goes from playing mini tours to graduating to the PGA Tour. Ian Poulter went from being an assistant pro in England and a 4-handicap to being one of the world's elite players.

 

Well, now it's Keegan Bradley, who was playing on the Hooters Tour just a couple years ago. Fast forward to this weekend, and Bradley is now one of the front-runners for PGA Tour Player of the Year after his win at the PGA Championship (his second win of the year).

 

What kind of changes did the PGA champ incorporate in his game? Golf Digest's Managing Editor, Roger Schiffman, spoke with world-class instructor Jim McLean about the changes he helped Bradley make.

 

See how they can help you improve your game, and let us know what you think: Monday Swing Analysis: How Keegan won the PGA

 

 

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[Stryker]

From the Full Swing section of the article..
[i]
His hips would also "twist" or "reverse" in his backswing, meaning his left hip would get closer to the target while his upper body moved too far off the ball. [/i]
Read More [url="http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/blogs/theinstructionblog/2011/08/monday-swing-analysis-how-keeg.html#ixzz1VCVYwTjH"]http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/blogs/theinstructionblog/2011/08/monday-swing-analysis-how-keeg.html#ixzz1VCVYwTjH[/url]

I just made a new topic yesterday when I noticed I am doing the exact same thing. My hips are moving towards the target and my upper body is moving away during the back swing. Wish he would of gone into more detail on how they made this change. Anyone have any thoughts?

[Aquelarre]

This seems to be an error: "[i]Jim said he wanted Keegan to get his lower half and upper half more "stacked" on top of each other, essentially the opposite of what Stack and Tilt promotes[/i]." Actually, keeping both COG's stacked is precisely what S&T promotes and the reason for the "S" part. Difficult to spot what Jim or the editor tried to say.

[cbrian]

[quote name='Aquelarre' timestamp='1313505174' post='3491623']
This seems to be an error: "[i]Jim said he wanted Keegan to get his lower half and upper half more "stacked" on top of each other, essentially the opposite of what Stack and Tilt promotes[/i]." Actually, keeping both COG's stacked is precisely what S&T promotes and the reason for the "S" part. Difficult to spot what Jim or the editor tried to say.
[/quote]
Haha, is that talking about the backswing?

Edit* read the article and apparently he wants the hips to move back with the upper cog to get "stacked." A, good luck with that and B, yea that's definitely different.

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='cbrian' timestamp='1313512849' post='3492075']
[quote name='Aquelarre' timestamp='1313505174' post='3491623']
This seems to be an error: "[i]Jim said he wanted Keegan to get his lower half and upper half more "stacked" on top of each other, essentially the opposite of what Stack and Tilt promotes[/i]." Actually, keeping both COG's stacked is precisely what S&T promotes and the reason for the "S" part. Difficult to spot what Jim or the editor tried to say.
[/quote]
Haha, is that talking about the backswing?

Edit* read the article and apparently he wants the hips to move back with the upper cog to get "stacked." A, good luck with that and B, yea that's definitely different.
[/quote]

Yeah, McLean has always advocated a sway loading/lateral move in the backswing, aka "loading [i][b]over[/b][/i] the right leg." Similar to Ballard or even Leadbetter. I guess Bradley was reverse hip shifting, aka "backshifting" with too much axis tilt in the backswing for Jim's liking and more like what Sean Clement does.

[cbrian]

Yea but the lower cog is never going to move back enough to be stacked.

[hoganfan924]

Right, swaying over the right leg and simultaneously having the Cg's "stacked" sounds dangerously close to a reverse pivot to me and would require more timing, not less, IMO. This is probably more an issue with the explanation in the article rather than what he actually worked on.

[bl3]

So what type swing does Keegan have (1 plane, 2 plane, S&T,ect.)? And I'm just a lowly scratch golfer and by no means a teacher, but I think he has the best looking and repeating swing in golf... I love his spine angle at address, he really bends at the waist and allows his arms to naturally hang. Just a great repeating swing in my opinion...

[Soupster]

what is your definition of swaying?

[cbrian]

[quote name='Soupster' timestamp='1313527942' post='3493004']
what is your definition of swaying?
[/quote]

Don't know who you are asking, but both COG's moving would be pretty good start at defining a sway.