Rory Swing Changes?

Hstead · January 17, 2013

Is it me or has Rory made some swing changes? I am watching Abu Dhabi and to me it appears that he is flattening his swing coming down, shallowing the plane more than he used to. It is like he is rerouting the club way to the inside on the downswing. He also appears to be aiming farther left. Watching him warm up on the range it looked like he was exaggerating the movement and he looked pretty uncomfortable. Anyone else think his swing looks different from a month ago? Maybe I am crazy?

Thrillhouse · January 17, 2013

I think he's just struggling with it. He is dropping it way inside and he tends to do that when he gets hitting the hooks.

iteachgolf · January 17, 2013

He's always dropped the club way behind him and had to aim a good bit left to hit straight shots. When he aims straight he's always hit pretty big draws. His path early last year was 10-12* in to out which is ridiculous. He's aiming left to get path more towards target and curve it less. But if they don't push watch out left.

iteachgolf · January 17, 2013

Here are a few videos and a post I made on this subject a few months ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh1-BX8LFWU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[quote name='iteachgolf' timestamp='1353605498' post='5966215']
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh0v9ksyDcc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Here's an extreme example. Look at where he is aiming vs his swing direction. This is why when he is trying to hit straight shots he aims well left.
[/quote]

Thrillhouse · January 17, 2013

[quote name='iteachgolf' timestamp='1358403593' post='6244567']
He's always dropped the club way behind him and had to aim a good bit left to hit straight shots. When he aims straight he's always hit pretty big draws. His path early last year was 10-12* in to out which is ridiculous. He's aiming left to get path more towards target and curve it less. But if they don't push watch out left.
[/quote]

Does he get the club more in front of his body when he hits it well or no?

CrushSticks · January 17, 2013

It's probably nothing, but I noticed a little extra dip he was making.

iteachgolf · January 17, 2013

[quote name='Thrillhouse' timestamp='1358404489' post='6244645']
[quote name='iteachgolf' timestamp='1358403593' post='6244567']
He's always dropped the club way behind him and had to aim a good bit left to hit straight shots. When he aims straight he's always hit pretty big draws. His path early last year was 10-12* in to out which is ridiculous. He's aiming left to get path more towards target and curve it less. But if they don't push watch out left.
[/quote]

Does he get the club more in front of his body when he hits it well or no?
[/quote]
Marginally. It's always behind him and well right of where he's aimed. This is why he doesn't really fade it (pushes it more than actually fades) and struggles to hit it low. His phenomenal rhythm allows him to get way with a lot and usually times it fairly well but I expect him to have some stretches where he looks ordinary and misses a stretch of cuts every year. Also expect him to dominate a tournament or two.

mr smith · January 17, 2013

Dont start a thread like this you cruel people. You will start giving tne nike execs duval flashbacks.

asualum · January 17, 2013

[quote name='CrushSticks' timestamp='1358404510' post='6244649']
It's probably nothing, but I noticed a little extra dip he was making.
[/quote]

I saw that, too.

I think he's searching a bit today just because of the new clubs. It's funny, but today he looks like he's wearing every doubter's comment on his face. He seems pretty self conscious today. Not like himself. They're making a ridiculous deal out of every shot, too. He'll calm down eventually.

NHauss · January 17, 2013

The videos, especially the bottom one, are from a while ago, and he has definetely tightened it up.
That having been said it still could be much better (kind of a scary thought), and definetely shows up when his timing is off like that stretch in the middle of last year when he missed 3 of 4 cuts I believe.

To answer the op question, I watched some of the coverage including slow mo, and to me it didn't look like he made any changes. My guess is he was pretty happy with where he was last year and worked on his equipment change more than anything in the off season.

poizster · January 17, 2013

[quote name='iteachgolf' timestamp='1358403593' post='6244567']
He's always dropped the club way behind him and had to aim a good bit left to hit straight shots. When he aims straight he's always hit pretty big draws. His path early last year was 10-12* in to out which is ridiculous. He's aiming left to get path more towards target and curve it less. But if they don't push watch out left.
[/quote]

This is exactly what happened at Abu Dhabi on his 2nd shot on a par 5 (can't remember which hole) Pin tucked way left, he was aiming left of the pin trying to hit it straight and just duck hooked it behind the grandstands.

MarkFromTheUK · January 17, 2013

Overcompensating for his new inferior equipment.

Stretch · January 17, 2013

Coincidence? I think not! :ninja:

Hstead · January 17, 2013

I thought he looked like he was really searching and exaggerating that move today. 75 didn't look like the new equipment agreed with him either, his worst round there by two shots. WOW.