Tiger Woods' and Adam Scott's Swings

Golf Master Tips, Tiger Woods' and Adam Scott's Swings - Consider this swing video of Tiger Woods' and Adam Scott's swings - http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZecViQxUwss

Note how their left arm/forearm rotates in the backswing so that the back of their flat left wrist/hand lies parallel to the inclined plane during the mid-backswing.

Tiger Woods' and Adam Scott's Swings

Note that Tiger Woods' and Adam Scott's clubshaft is on-plane in their mid-backswing - an imaginary straight line extension from the butt end of the club points at the ball-target line. Note that the back of their flat left wrist/hand lies against/parallel to the inclined plane (which is roughly intermediate between the elbow plane and the turned shoulder plane at this time-point in the backswing).

During their downswing, this biomechanically natural left arm/forearm movement will be automatically reversed. The flat left wrist/hand will be brought down the inclined plane until the hands reach the delivery position (third parallel) and then the left hand will undergo a natural release swivel action in the late downswing (from the third parallel position to its impact location) so that the back of the flat left wrist/hand can face the target at impact.

Most professional golfers adopt an erect posture, like Tiger Woods/Adam Scott/Stewart Cink, and they therefore utilize a takeaway swivel action in the backswing and a release swivel action in the downswing. 

It is possible for a left arm swinger to avoid having to use a takeaway swivel action in the backswing, and a release swivel action in the downswing, if he bends over more at hip level - like Kevin Sutherland. The golf instructor, Jim Hardy, teaches this particular swing methodology in his Hardy one-plane swing technique (Hardy OPS).

Jim Hardy recommends that his OPS golfers bend over more at hip level, so that they acquire approximately a 40 degree spinal tilt angle at address [1].

Jim Hardy demonstrating his backswing shoulder turn angle - from reference number [1]

Note that Jim Hardy has an approximately 40 degree spinal tilt angle, and note that he turns his shoulders at a relatively steep angle to the ground (compared to Tiger Woods and Adam Scott who have a more horizontal shoulder turn motion in the backswing) - note that the black line (representing his shoulder turn angle) hits the ground between 2-4' from the ball-target line. Jim Hardy wants his OPS golfers to have a centralised spine at address, and he recommends that his OPS golfers simply rotate their upper torso at right angles to their bent-over/centralised spine during the backswing.

Here is a photograph of Jim Hardy performing his "Brute Drill" - a pivot-action drill recommended by Jim Hardy [1].

Jim Hardy demonstrating his Brute drill - from reference number [1]

The name "Brute" is derived from a large plastic garbage container that is called the "Brute". Jim Hardy cut off the top of the container, so that he can utilise it for his drill. Image 1 shows how Jim Hardy has an approximately 40 degrees forward spinal tilt at address and a centralised spine (no rightwards spinal tilt). Image 2 shows Jim Hardy rotating his upper/lower torso as an unit in the backswing - with the upper torso rotating perpendicularly around his centralised spinal axis. Image 3 shows Jim Hardy performing his recommended downswing pivot action - where he rotates his shoulders perpendicularly around his centralised spinal axis.

Jim Hardy also recommends that a Hardy OPS golfer avoid using a takeaway swivel action in the backswing and he recommends that a Hardy OPS golfer keep the clubface relatively square to the clubhead arc during the early backswing.

Jim Hardy demonstrating his recommended OPS takeaway - from reference number [1]

Note how Jim Hardy is keeping the clubface pointing at the ball during the takeaway - note that the toe of the club is tilted downwards. Note that Jim Hardy is notintentionally rotating the left arm/forearm so that the back of the flat left wrist/hand lies against/parallel to the inclined plane by the mid-backswing.

It is possible to play excellent golf using the Hardy OPS style. However, very few professional golfers use the Hardy OPS, and I think that a major factor is the difficulty involved in performing a fluid pivot action when bent over at 40 degrees. It takes a great deal of athletic flexibility to pivot-rotate the upper/lower torsoas a single unit around a centralised spine when bent-over at 40 degrees, and most professional golfers prefer to stand more erect and pivot-rotate around a rightwards tilted spine (as described in many of my review papers on the "standard" left arm swinger's pivot action). Golfers who choose to adopt the "standard" left arm swinging approach must therefore always incorporate a takeaway swivel action during the early backswing and a release swivel action in the mid-late downswing. (Source)