Spieth - Time to rebuild his swing?

[CallawayLefty]

I think both his mind and his swing were on borrowed time by the 12th yesterday. He had been hitting it so bad the whole week and just grinding out pars and birdies when they were available. I just couldn't believe how many times he got up and down, and while that's awesome and I don't think there's anybody else playing right now that could have done it (looked like the way Tiger used to scramble), it wears you down mentally to be grinding so hard and makes you suspect of your swing. I watched almost every swing that kid took this week, and he was right and/or short dozens of times with drives and approaches - there were some lefts in there too, but mostly short and right. I think the turning point was 10 and 11 where he failed to get up and down, which were basically 2 of only a small handful of times he failed at that task. It starts putting pressure on you to hit a really good shot so you can stop leaking oil, and then you choose to play a shot where the miss you've been hitting all week is exacerbated. He put WAAAAYYYY too much pressure on that shot at 12. He should have done exactly what they planned - aim between the bunkers. Front bunker or back bunker is a 3.33 on average. Middle of the green is a 2.9. You're only going to make 7 from there if you really wipe the crap out of one. He did in fact wipe the crap out of that one, and I'm not sure there was any aim point that would have saved it from Rae's Creek, but he would have definitely had a chance to hit the front bunker with the correct aim.

 

Then it sounds like he got a little carried away with the next one. Starting thinking about how to spin it back to the hole and get it up and down. The correct play was no different than what he was supposed to do on the tee shot: aim between the bunkers, hopefully hit the green, maybe 1 putt to save bogey (he is the best putter in the world in my book from 20-25 feet), but know that a miss puts you in one of the bunkers with a good chance at 5 and a guaranteed no worse than 6.

 

Hindsight is 20/20, but I think he let his emotions get the best of him due to mental fatigue from having to get up and down so much. But he doesn't need to rebuild anything. He consistently puts himself in the position to win majors and regular events, and that's really all you can ask. Nobody hits it pure all day every day. It's all a game of managing misses. Tiger could hit it everywhere and get out of trouble without it wearing him out, and that's why he won so many majors. Phil played equally fast and loose and won his share of majors too, but of course also has finished second a lot. You don't win any majors if you can't put yourself in the hunt very consistently. But you're not going to win 14 of them if you can't take the constant and unrelenting pressure to pull out a victory even when you're missing your target.

 

Tiger didn't hit it everywhere when he won his majors, you could possibly note a two was miss at 08 U.S. Open for health reasons but the rest of his majors he either had it on a string or took the trouble out of play on virtually every hole

 

So he didn't miss fairways and greens? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he missed his fair share even when he was at his peak. I'm pretty sure most will agree that Tiger, even in his prime, wasn't the best ballstriker that ever lived. Sure he was great, which goes without saying. But he is burned into my brain as the best scorer, scrambler, and clutch putter that I've ever seen play, and he routinely did those things in spite of ballstriking that failed him. You certainly may have a point about his course management and it providing the base for highlighting his scrambling capabilities.

[dodger]

He had the same miss on holes 10-12, all caused by mental error. There is no swing technique anywhere that will overcome the little demons in your mind. He simply got way ahead of himself after his birdie on 9. Happens to a lot of people in that tournament. No reason at all to go for the pin at 12. All he needed was to hit it over the bunker. Boy that right flag is tempting.

 

If I recall from the television coverage didn't Jordan and his caddie discuss a target of 20 feet left of the flag?

He indicated in his post round interview he tried to hit a cut. When the ball is moving to the right on that hole, the tendency is to come up short with any type of breeze. point is it is a really tough shot.

[chigolfer1]

Specifically, what were all those pushes about?

[golfdad907]

Sure, Tiger would, so why not Speith? Kidding....let's see 22 years old, clearly time for complete tear down and reconstruction, I don't think so, somehow he had a mental collapse.

 

I think he'll be back, might take some time but too talented not to be....

 

Or, made what 25 million or so thus far, why not just retire? Be an announcer, get a Golf Channel show?

[Kuuuch]

Sure, Tiger would, so why not Speith? Kidding....let's see 22 years old, clearly time for complete tear down and reconstruction, I don't think so, somehow he had a mental collapse.

 

I think he'll be back, might take some time but too talented not to be....

 

Or, made what 25 million or so thus far, why not just retire? Be an announcer, get a Golf Channel show?

 

He should just be a Golfwrx sponsor and teach us all his putting ways

[DTXgolfer12]

That swing was good enough to dominate the tour last year in a way we haven't seen since tiger. He played relatively poorly and still finished second in very difficult conditions. He doesn't need to change anything. If he actually has a couple good ball striking days you'll see him win again like he did in hawaii.

[Forged4ever]

Oh yea, regarding Jordan, lol

 

Well, as many above me said, no, he doesn't need to rebuild s***, lmao

 

What, and rebuild his bag while he's at it, lmao????

 

No, he just needs to review his final 9 holes yesterday, identify his mistakes, file that away and forget the rest and just remember the prior ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE HOLES that he Played at Augusta and recall those as needed in the future-

 

He's a Champion, fundamentally flawed swing and all and he's good with it~

 

He'll be back atop the Leader boards quickly :)

 

Fairways & Greens My Friends,

RP

[Ghost of Snead]

Oh yea, regarding Jordan, lol

 

Well, as many above me said, no, he doesn't need to rebuild s***, lmao

 

What, and rebuild his bag while he's at it, lmao????

 

No, he just needs to review his final 9 holes yesterday, identify his mistakes, file that away and forget the rest and just remember the prior ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY FIVE HOLES that he Played at Augusta and recall those as needed in the future-

 

He's a Champion, fundamentally flawed swing and all and he's good with it~

 

He'll be back atop the Leader boards quickly :)

 

Fairways & Greens My Friends,

RP

 

I have this vision of Danny Willett putting the green jacket on Spieth next year about this time. What goes around, comes around ...

[dornstar]

If you look at the stretch of holes where he was struggling, his aim was way right and he said that he had aiming issues leading into the Masters. I think it bit him in the butt. He definitely looked like he was aimed way right on a couple of shots.

[MaybeImLeftHanded]

GTFOH. He has played the Masters three times and his worst finish is T2....

 

 

The masters this week showed just how brutal the game can be. It's beyond hard at their level. What they do, under that intense pressure is amazing. Next to combat sports like boxing and mma pro golfers, especially those at the highest levels have to be the most mentally tough athletes in the world.

 

On another note, nice to see Theon Greyjoy get a win. He's had a rough go.

 

[billh17]

If he ,or some coach ,even think about changing anything in his swing,i surely hope someone on his "team" says a loud WTF !

And they leave it alone. He has a rather good record in majors in his brief career !

[Hoganstriker]

Rebuild? One bad swing and its rebuild time? You have to be kidding. Only on wrx...

[dlygrisse]

No.

 

He is a little out of kilter. Go back to fundamentals. Check alignment, grip, posture, ball position and work on balance and timing. Seemed to me on some shots he was set up a little too on top of the ball or hanging a bit left. Could be wrong.

 

His problems will be easily fixed. Clear your head and go back to basics.

[dlygrisse]

Rebuild? One bad swing and its rebuild time? You have to be kidding. Only on wrx...

 

Well then he should just get new clubs. That fixes everything right?

 

[Illest]

OP has to be joking

[Bsgolf53]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

[nikegal]

He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

I have to constantly remind my students that with all of the "noise" out there, THIS is still the object of the Game!! Everything else is just fluff. Excellent post BS :) Maddie

[dap]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

[Fort Worth Pro]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

 

What changes did he make?

[dap]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

 

 

What changes did he make?

 

Not sure but here is where I read about it. Spieth didn't elaborate about the changes.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3308693/Jordan-Spieth-looking-add-five-10-yards-drive-looks-catch-Rory-McIlroy-golf-s-brightest-star.html

[David C]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

 

 

What changes did he make?

 

Not sure but here is where I read about it. Spieth didn't elaborate about the changes.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3308693/Jordan-Spieth-looking-add-five-10-yards-drive-looks-catch-Rory-McIlroy-golf-s-brightest-star.html

 

IMO the Daily Mail is something like the equivalent of USA Today or the New York Post. Fox News in print format. I think it would be fair to say people have polarised opinions about it. Personally I wouldn't hold any stock by anything written in it. To each their own.

[sfiggins]

He should go to single length irons. :-)

[Fort Worth Pro]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

 

 

What changes did he make?

 

Not sure but here is where I read about it. Spieth didn't elaborate about the changes.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3308693/Jordan-Spieth-looking-add-five-10-yards-drive-looks-catch-Rory-McIlroy-golf-s-brightest-star.html

 

Guys are always working on new stuff and tweaking. Whatever that was (and he said it was small) is probably about 15 tweaks ago. He has been quoted as saying they noticed earlier this year his swing had gotten short and he wasn't loading well. It's a habit he falls into from time to time and that is what he has been working on. Fact is these guys are constantly battling to keep their swings where they want them and from time to time they have bad habits that creep in. That doesn't mean it's from some "swing change".

[dap]

This isn't Ian Baker Finch or Michael Campbell...and he's not Apollo Creed getting hit by Ivan Drago. He will be fine he knows how to get it in the hole.

Spieth does need to change his swing. He needs to change it back to the swing that dominated last year.

 

Interesting you mentioned IBF. Spieth made changes to his backswing in hope of getting another 10 yards and this quest for more distance is what brought Baker Finch undone. I certainly hope Jordan doesn't follow that disastrous path but that meltdown at the 12th hole is going to seriously damage his nerves. He needs to get confidence back in his swing asap or he just might do an Ian Baker Finch.

 

 

What changes did he make?

 

Not sure but here is where I read about it. Spieth didn't elaborate about the changes.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-3308693/Jordan-Spieth-looking-add-five-10-yards-drive-looks-catch-Rory-McIlroy-golf-s-brightest-star.html

 

IMO the Daily Mail is something like the equivalent of USA Today or the New York Post. Fox News in print format. I think it would be fair to say people have polarised opinions about it. Personally I wouldn't hold any stock by anything written in it. To each their own.

 

That's not the only website that reports the same thing. It's not like it's totally unbelievable. He was at times 50 yards behind Jason Day at the PGA. Spieth probably figures the sustainability of his dominance is limited without the ability to over power courses. He can't rely on making 15 footers year in year out.

[JaNelson38]

It just boggles my mind the number of players who, after dominating or playing well a certain way, look to change. Especially when distance is involved. Tiger Woods STILL hasnt found his way back after his first swing change so many years ago.

 

Spieth over the last couple of years is averaging 292 off the tee. Its not like he's some short knocker working hard to move it out to 275. The fact that Day, DJ and others can get to 325+ is irrelevant...there's also a reason those guys havent had the success Jordan has had either.

 

In a way, its almost like Jordan is starting to succumb to the talking heads who constantly complain about things like his grip, follow through, etc which arent textbook examples of pretty swings.

 

For the love of god, leave well enough alone and keep playing well.

[Fort Worth Pro]

It just boggles my mind the number of players who, after dominating or playing well a certain way, look to change. Especially when distance is involved. Tiger Woods STILL hasnt found his way back after his first swing change so many years ago.

 

Spieth over the last couple of years is averaging 292 off the tee. Its not like he's some short knocker working hard to move it out to 275. The fact that Day, DJ and others can get to 325+ is irrelevant...there's also a reason those guys havent had the success Jordan has had either.

 

In a way, its almost like Jordan is starting to succumb to the talking heads who constantly complain about things like his grip, follow through, etc which arent textbook examples of pretty swings.

 

For the love of god, leave well enough alone and keep playing well.

 

Literally nobody on tour is "leaving well enough alone". They are all looking to get better and gain an advantage. They do this by constantly working on their swing with a tweak here and there. Jack Nicklaus golf swing changed through the years. Hogan said he was constantly tinkering with different things and if he didn't like it after a couple days he would scrap it. The idea that a player gets his swig and then just maintains it for the rest of his career is absurd.

[pmcuk]

It's all the fault of the water on the 12th. If they'd moved the water when setting up the course, Spieth would have landed on dry land.

 

He's quite right to sulk. Anybody would.....

[DrunkenTiger]

no, he needs more meditation :)

[BigD]

Comical Thread. Spieth said in the interview what happened. He changed his strategy after on the 10th tee after looking at the leaderboard. He said, "even par wins it by a shot on the back nine" Doesn't anyone remember him rolling off 4 birdies in a row and 5 total on the front with that swing "flaw"? He also lapped the field on Monday with a bogey free 66. It was a mental error by both Spieth and Greller.

 

From a mental perspective this is a similar issue that happened to players when Tiger was in the lead or just a few shots off the leaders. The other players "felt" they had to change their course strategy and become more aggressive to make birdies to hold the lead or catch the leader.

 

Spieth felt like he could coast in and still win. Complete opposite of his mindset from last year or the front nine on Sunday.

[Fort Worth Pro]

Comical Thread. Spieth said in the interview what happened. He changed his strategy after on the 10th tee after looking at the leaderboard. He said, "even par wins it by a shot on the back nine" Doesn't anyone remember him rolling off 4 birdies in a row and 5 total on the front with that swing "flaw"? He also lapped the field on Monday with a bogey free 66. It was a mental error by both Spieth and Greller.

 

From a mental perspective this is a similar issue that happened to players when Tiger was in the lead or just a few shots off the leaders. The other players "felt" they had to change their course strategy and become more aggressive to make birdies to hold the lead or catch the leader.

 

Spieth felt like he could coast in and still win. Complete opposite of his mindset from last year or the front nine on Sunday.

 

Not to mention the mental mistakes that occurred on 12. If you listen to the conversation between he and greller it was clear Jordan thought he had too much club for the line left of the hole. Then he said after the round that he got over and changed his mind d and thought he would just hit a little cut in there which is a shot he hadn't just planned or felt in his practice swing. He was uncommitted to the club and unsure of the shot shape. Recipe for disaster. Couple that with a cracked driver on Wednesday and the idea that his swing is in need of a rebuild or any changes he has made aren't working is a joke. He is clearly not as comfortable this year with his swing as he was last year. That happens to players all the time. He will work through it. It's a slight funk and anything portrayed as more is just uneducated armchair quarterbacking.