Matthew Wolff - 83

[ProStryker]

I get it, we all have disaster rounds sometimes.  He was chunking, blading, hitting 25 yards over greens, driving into penalties...  3 putt.   My question is not about this round in particular, but he just doesn’t seem to be playing like he used to.  When watching him, it seems his swing has gotten really short, like, a 3/4 swing.   When he was playing well and contending, I thought I remembered his swing being long, and past parallel, across the line.   Not sure why it got so short lately. Anyone else notice this, or is it my imagination?

[PJE]

His backswing is unique but I don't recall it being long, to me it looked more vertical on the backswing. But on the transition, he moves into a much conventional position for the downswing.

Obviously, people with unique or different swings can play very well but I think unique swings are more prone to getting out of whack than a classic or conventional swing.  Maybe he's not feeling the way he needs to feel on the transition?

And of course, as you said, sometimes things just go really wrong. Golf is a nutty game. 

Edited February 26, 2021 by PJE

[grm24]

1 hour ago, ProStryker said:

I get it, we all have disaster rounds sometimes.  He was chunking, blading, hitting 25 yards over greens, driving into penalties...  3 putt.   My question is not about this round in particular, but he just doesn’t seem to be playing like he used to.  When watching him, it seems his swing has gotten really short, like, a 3/4 swing.   When he was playing well and contending, I thought I remembered his swing being long, and past parallel, across the line.   Not sure why it got so short lately. Anyone else notice this, or is it my imagination?

He withdrew after the round. For a while he was heading toward 90 as he was +12 after 11. Possible his wrist injury from earlier this year is still bothering him. He hasn't played well since mid October after b2b 2nd place finishes. 8 events played. 2 WD. Best finish of T36 in the other 6.

Edited February 26, 2021 by grm24

[ProStryker]

13 minutes ago, PJE said:

His backswing is unique but I don't recall it being long, to me it looked more vertical on the backswing. But on the transition, he moves into a much conventional position for the downswing.

Obviously, people with unique or different swings can play very well but I think unique swings are more prone to getting out of whack than a classic or conventional swing.  Maybe he's not feeling the way he needs to feel on the transition?

And of course, as you said, sometimes things just go really wrong. Golf is a nutty game. 

 I just went and watched YouTube vid of his swing a year ago.  It wasn’t as long or parallel as I thought.   Apparently, my memory is failing me, lol

[PJE]

3 minutes ago, ProStryker said:

 I just went and watched YouTube vid of his swing a year ago.  It wasn’t as long or parallel as I thought.   Apparently, my memory is failing me, lol

Ha ha, you are not the only one! 

[Creedo77]

This has been going on since Torrey when commentators said he was battling an injury 

[TiScape]

Just now, Creedo77 said:

This has been going on since Torrey when commentators said he was battling an injury 

Yeah. He WD with a hand injury. Not sure what was actually wrong with it.

[phizzy30]

Injuries cause golfers to compensate to try and avoid or minimize pain.  I'm guilty of this.  My swing was all out of wack when I suffered a serious hand and knee injury.  Took awhile to recover and get my swing back to where it should've been. 

[oikos1]

Cue the "He never had a swing that would hold up on the tour" crowd.

[GolfTurkey]

He never had a swing that would hold up on the tour.

[aenemated]

5 minutes ago, oikos1 said:

Cue the "He never had a swing that would hold up on the tour" crowd.

Hahaha I mean, but for real ... he has to do SO MUCH re-routing in the downswing that it's always concerned me - and I like the kid - how consistently he can pull that off; especially under tour pressure. 

 

Say what you will about Tony Finau's win record but I'm a total believer that the general simplicity of his swing is why he's always in the hunt. His lack of wins is totally mental and not mechanics. 

[GolfTurkey]

16 minutes ago, aenemated said:

Hahaha I mean, but for real ... he has to do SO MUCH re-routing in the downswing that it's always concerned me - and I like the kid - how consistently he can pull that off; especially under tour pressure. 

 

Say what you will about Tony Finau's win record but I'm a total believer that the general simplicity of his swing is why he's always in the hunt. His lack of wins is totally mental and not mechanics. 

 

Also hard to see how Finau is going to get injured swinging so far within himself.

 

The big problem I see with a lot of pro golfers and athletes is that the stubborn determination that makes them great also makes them terrible at listening to / managing their bodies.

 

Tiger is the obvious example for the rest of the PGA tour where he lost a chunk of his prime due to rushing comebacks and pushing through pain. Koepka is another one treading the same path I fear. Taking cortisone shots to mask the torn labrum in his hip, plenty could go wrong there.

 

Wolff had another WD fairly recently if memory serves (Hawaii?). Doesn't make sense to me for someone that young with so much time on his side not to rehabilitate properly and come back only when he is 100%. Also a lot harder to drown out the naysayers when results are poor.

Edited February 26, 2021 by GolfTurkey

[Vardon Grip]

With all due respect, I believe the correct title is: "What up with Wolff?"

[Creedo77]

1 hour ago, TIScape said:

Yeah. He WD with a hand injury. Not sure what was actually wrong with it.

Just WD from WGC too

[Hawkeye77]

10 minutes ago, Vardon Grip said:

With all due respect, I believe the correct title is: "What up with Wolff?"

Later to be edited to "Just crying Wolff!"

 

Actually OP kind of fessed up to not remembering his swing that well, and we know he's been injured, but, lol, I'd forgotten that in less than about two weeks' time since I last heard it.

 

Still, someone shoots 83 in a WGC probably going to have a thread.  

 

BTW, Annika was +3 today - I've already requested Santa send me her swing, I'll take it!

Edited February 26, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[DavidCrockett]

So far, 2021 has not been kind to golfers with animal names.

[Cakalacman]

I mean if you are hitting the ball on your practice putting stroke, it's probably a good idea to go home. Can't imagine it gets any better anytime soon this weekend. 

[jomatty]

1 hour ago, ProStryker said:

 I just went and watched YouTube vid of his swing a year ago.  It wasn’t as long or parallel as I thought.   Apparently, my memory is failing me, lol

His swing definitely looks shorter to me...

[farmer]

The real question here is whether a 4 hdcp can take him!

[phizzy30]

43 minutes ago, GolfTurkey said:

 

Also hard to see how Finau is going to get injured swinging so far within himself.

 

The big problem I see with a lot of pro golfers and athletes is that the stubborn determination that makes them great also makes them terrible at listening to / managing their bodies.

 

Tiger is the obvious example for the rest of the PGA tour where he lost a chunk of his prime due to rushing comebacks and pushing through pain. Koepka is another one treading the same path I fear. Taking cortisone shots to mask the torn labrum in his hip, plenty could go wrong there.

 

Wolff had another WD fairly recently if memory serves (Hawaii?). Doesn't make sense to me for someone that young with so much time on his side not to rehabilitate properly and come back only when he is 100%. Also a lot harder to drown out the naysayers when results are poor.

Cortisone shots are terrible generally I wouldn't even use that as a last resort for pain.  Yes it greatly reduces inflammation but destroys the soft tissue at the site.  There have been plenty of pro athletes who have ruined their careers from those and pain meds.  As for Wolff, he's probably pushing through the pain from his wrist injury which is obviously really messing with his swing.  I really hope he takes some more time off to fully heal from this.  He has a long bright future ahead of him and he would get a medical exemption for this albeit he's already exempt for the next 1 or 2 years I believe. 

Edited February 26, 2021 by phizzy30

[wildcatden]

Is a PGA Tour pro fined for shooting 90 (or above)?

[WhostherealSlimShady]

As a WGC event he gets paid last place money for hitting just one shot, withdrawal or not. Maybe he thought he should give it a shot and if the pain was bad he withdraws and still makes a few bucks. 32.5k for last place is not jump change.

[MattyO1984]

Interesting one with him. Clearly a horror round and I get it, even guys at that level have them. It did seem that, at points, during the round that he had almost quit whilst he was out there. There was one putt in particular that if he could have been described as approaching it lackadaisically, then that would have been a huge improvement. It almost seemed like he tried to miss it.

 

Obviously, he has a heck of a golf game when he is firing on all cylinders. I do wonder how much is happening in the most important distance - the six inches between his ears. If his injury was so bad that he was unable to get it round the course then what the heck was he doing out there in the first place? If it had gotten worse during the course of the round then why did he carry on and try to finish out? Why did his caddie not step in and say, WD now, you aren’t doing yourself any favours?

[nikeblades00]

3 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Wonder how much is happening in the most important distance - the six inches 

You scared me here for a minute! Didn't know where you were taking this! But maybe that matters too!!

[caseFSU]

Gankas better get out the 'G-box' and square him away.

[Frankensteins Monster]

9 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Cortisone shots are terrible generally I wouldn't even use that as a last resort for pain.  Yes it greatly reduces inflammation but destroys the soft tissue at the site.  There have been plenty of pro athletes who have ruined their careers from those and pain meds.  As for Wolff, he's probably pushing through the pain from his wrist injury which is obviously really messing with his swing.  I really hope he takes some more time off to fully heal from this.  He has a long bright future ahead of him and he would get a medical exemption for this albeit he's already exempt for the next 1 or 2 years I believe. 

As a one off, to curb constant inflammation, cortisone shots have their place, golfer's, and tennis elbow, for example. One bout of inflammation where rest, strengthening, and a flexibility/range of motion program have little effect, a cortisone shot can be very beneficial to get over the hump. Now, for people popping (injecting) them into the same area like they're Flintstone's vitamins, yeah, it will be an issue.

Edited February 26, 2021 by Frankensteins Monster

[Frankensteins Monster]

6 minutes ago, caseFSU said:

Gankas better get out the 'G-box' and square him away.

Edited February 26, 2021 by Frankensteins Monster

[Valtiel]

10 hours ago, GolfTurkey said:

 

Also hard to see how Finau is going to get injured swinging so far within himself.

 

The big problem I see with a lot of pro golfers and athletes is that the stubborn determination that makes them great also makes them terrible at listening to / managing their bodies.

 

Tiger is the obvious example for the rest of the PGA tour where he lost a chunk of his prime due to rushing comebacks and pushing through pain. Koepka is another one treading the same path I fear. Taking cortisone shots to mask the torn labrum in his hip, plenty could go wrong there.

 

Wolff had another WD fairly recently if memory serves (Hawaii?). Doesn't make sense to me for someone that young with so much time on his side not to rehabilitate properly and come back only when he is 100%. Also a lot harder to drown out the naysayers when results are poor.

 

9 hours ago, phizzy30 said:

Cortisone shots are terrible generally I wouldn't even use that as a last resort for pain.  Yes it greatly reduces inflammation but destroys the soft tissue at the site.  There have been plenty of pro athletes who have ruined their careers from those and pain meds.  As for Wolff, he's probably pushing through the pain from his wrist injury which is obviously really messing with his swing.  I really hope he takes some more time off to fully heal from this.  He has a long bright future ahead of him and he would get a medical exemption for this albeit he's already exempt for the next 1 or 2 years I believe. 

Singers have done the same thing in the past with cortisone shots to battle through inflammation in their throat/vocal folds from pushing themselves too hard and/or bad technique. Irreparable damage has been done as a result, sad stuff.  

[TheDeanAbides]

11 hours ago, aenemated said:

Hahaha I mean, but for real ... he has to do SO MUCH re-routing in the downswing that it's always concerned me - and I like the kid - how consistently he can pull that off; especially under tour pressure. 

 

Say what you will about Tony Finau's win record but I'm a total believer that the general simplicity of his swing is why he's always in the hunt. His lack of wins is totally mental and not mechanics. 

Go ask Brad Peterson about the rerouting. I've said it before, but it's a simple move that makes shallowing during the transition almost automatic. It's insanely efficient and makes OTT almost impossible. 

[MattyO1984]

34 minutes ago, nikeblades00 said:

You scared me here for a minute! Didn't know where you were taking this! But maybe that matters too!!

 

Haha, the thought crossed my mind when I was typing it 😂