Vijay's new swing change

[ericld]

...too vertical IMHO

I personally don't care for Vijay's new swing. I think he is taking something simple and making it too complex. He had a beautiful swing that was working for him last year.

The problem with the second half of the season was more likely in his head.

I think Faldo nailed it when he said "Vijay's new swing has more planes than it took us to get to Hawaii"

[mat562]

Apparently, he keeps his pencil in his back-right trouser pocket.

The extra length of the eraser-topped model he customarily uses has forced him to make a more upright backswing to avoid it fouling his right elbow.

[GolfTitan]

It certainly is a change from last year, but I guess only the year will determine if the swing change was a good decision or not.

He's a top pro for a reason...I do know that much.

[moonshineboy]

I guess you are never too old for a swing change. I don't know-his old swing was pretty effective if you ask me. Jury's still out one the new one

[ramylson]

Didn't he recently change his swing, prior to this? I'm thinking closely following Tiger's change..

If that's the case, then you would think that this might be more a mental issue than actually trying to improve his swing. Constantly making large "improvements" takes awhile to impact ones game. While it's known that he hits a million golf balls a day (ok, I've embelished it a bit but it's got to be close), I don't see these changes really taking hold before he's making another "improvement".

[dlygrisse]

I am no swing guru, but it seems to me if you look at all the Jim Hardy etc. theory that with his type of release (flipper) seems to work better with a two plane style swing. That being said I think Vijay is such a hard worker he could probably make about any swing work. Now if the guy could only putt and continue to let his short game do it's magic I think he will win a few tournaments this year.
His "new" swing reminds me alot of the swings you saw during the 1970's and 80's, Nicklaus/Watson/Pate/Seve/Stewart/ etc. etc. etc.

[anders]

When Vijay first appeared on the European Tour his swing was totally different, he practised in those days harder than anyone else so I'm sure he's making the right changes. In any case one thing we're all forgetting is that he is a sportsman is very strong and flexible so if anyone can adapt to changes it will be Vijay! Tiger Who?

[hoganfan924]

[quote name='ericld' post='848545' date='Jan 4 2008, 11:12 AM']I personally don't care for Vijay's new swing. I think he is taking something simple and making it too complex. He had a beautiful swing that was working for him last year.

The problem with the second half of the season was more likely in his head.

I think Faldo nailed it when he said "Vijay's new swing has more planes than it took us to get to Hawaii"[/quote]

Dang, you beat me to it. I was going to start a thread on this!

100% agree. I like his old swing much better. This new one is going to have even more hand manipulation (his old one already had too much IMO). Look out for some very wild drives this year from Vijay! IMO, the older you get, the more unreliable "timing" a flippy hand release gets. I feel bad for him, really I think he's gotten some very bad advice. I wonder where it came from.

[dodger]

Aesthetically I like his new swing. It will likely help him turn the ball over easier. He apparently lost a lot of shots right last summer. It is a big change plane-wise. With his talent and commitment, hard to see it won't be successful.

[spider]

[quote name='dodger' post='849029' date='Jan 4 2008, 01:32 PM']Aesthetically I like his new swing. It will likely help him turn the ball over easier. He apparently lost a lot of shots right last summer. It is a big change plane-wise. With his talent and commitment, hard to see it won't be successful.[/quote]


I watched Vijay hit balls at the Target World Challenge recently. He was doing a drill where he pivoted and kept his hands super high at the top of his back swing holding it there and leaning toward the target a few times then would hit the ball from that position.

As far as hitting right... Well on the par 5 5th hole he hit a wood that was blocked so far right of the green into the crowd. It was definitely a double cross. He immediately went to the drill. I hate to say this almost looked like a high hands stack and tilt move at top of back swing.

I will leave it up to you experts but watching him live sitting directly behind dtl it looked like less flip than in prior years. Of course it was live... I am sure easier to review on video.

[wildwilly911]

his back will never hold up to his new swing. its hurts mine just watching him swing

[Ace In The Hole]

New swing or old swing Vij has one of the best pivots in the game, and is in amazing shape, he's not going to hurt himslef physically, it's just not going to happen. Now his new swing, well I'm not a fan of the way it looks, I thought he had one of the smoothest free flowing swings on tour last year, the first thing I though when I watched his new swing was "man that looks like a tamed down version of Jim Furyk" Well looks aside if he plays better with it good on em. Vijay is always always working out, and working on something he has changed his swing quite a few times.

[kemau]

y'all need to read a lil bit.....

[url="http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/columns/story?columnist=harig_bob&id=3176133"]Full Article[/url]

[b]Singh hopes getting older won't inhibit winning ways[/b]

"For Vijay Singh, the number could signify his jacket size, the one he wears at Augusta National every year when he returns as a former Masters champion. It could be the length of his driver, the one he uses to endlessly pound balls on the driving range.

Or it could be his age, which is the subject of far more conversation these days as golf's iron man begins another season as the defending champion at the Mercedes-Benz Championship.

Next month, Singh turns 45, an age that typically signifies diminishing skills in golf -- if that process has not already started.

But to Singh, that really is just a number."

[scores]

Vijay always had a lot of body english in his swing and I think the new swing is going to cause him to steer it a bit... with less rotation I think it won't last and he will settle back...to his old ways.

I do like the guy and wish him the best.

Who is he working with now? anyone know?

[rosskoss]

When I was at the US Open last year, VJ was practising the WEIRDEST looking swing move on the range. He basically overrated a huge amount and the club went way past parallel. Something like Daly's swing. He practised that and a hip rotation move on all the practise days. (he'd fire the hips really hard)

[birdie_man]

What is he doing anyway? Anyone have new video?

Last I remember his swing has been too laid off.

[provx]

he is not laid off anymore, it points down the target line and his hands are higher an the top of the backswing, all that looks fine.

the problem is it seems like he is coming in way too steeply at impact and is really handsy.

[keyser]

[quote]Well on the par 5 5th hole he hit a wood that was blocked so far right of the green into the crowd. It was definitely a double cross[/quote]
How can you hit a double cross right?

I´ve always thought Vijay has a great swing, but it did flatten very much when he went to the longer driver(when he started using the hibore). IMO he did need to make it more upright again.. but from the sound of it he´s done it too much, haven´t seen him in action this year.
p.s.He finished second last in putting this week. He usually hit the balls beautifully, but when he´s putting poorly, it´s pretty bad.

[dab36]

This is funny, we are critiquing Vijay Singh's swing. He likes to tinker unlike Calc, Couples, Lietsky, etc.......Some are tinkerers and some never change. I have no opinion about Vijays swing except that I am a huge fan and when he is on all cylinders, it is exciting to watch.

[spider]

[quote name='keyser' post='852296' date='Jan 6 2008, 07:53 PM'][quote]Well on the par 5 5th hole he hit a wood that was blocked so far right of the green into the crowd. It was definitely a double cross[/quote]
How can you hit a double cross right?

I´ve always thought Vijay has a great swing, but it did flatten very much when he went to the longer driver(when he started using the hibore). IMO he did need to make it more upright again.. but from the sound of it he´s done it too much, haven´t seen him in action this year.
p.s.He finished second last in putting this week. He usually hit the balls beautifully, but when he´s putting poorly, it´s pretty bad.
[/quote]

My bad!!!! Good point I thought the same thing when I originally wrote it. He blocked it far right of where he was aiming. Does that sound better? From my vantage point he looked like he was aimed right trying to hit a draw and blocked it very far right. Hard to say unless you knew what he was trying to hit. I realize he likes to hit a fade not sure he was on this shot.

P.S. he did make par from a tough spot. Also I have no expertise to critique the swing just trying to "report" what I watched first hand.