Medinah Observations
 

I was at Medinah for the PGA Thursday for the first round.I camped out for a while on #8 tee box,the 204 yard par 3.
I could see most of the players using either a 4,5,6 iron but 5 iron was the club of choice.
Purpose of the post is I was surprised by the forward ball position and the open clubface at address from a majority of players.This equalled a high draw.Even Vijay who I thought exclusively cut the ball drew it on this hole.
The players I saw with this set up were Tom Lehman,Ernie Els,Robert Gamez,David Howell,John Daly,Vijay,Jeff Sluman and Freddy Couples.
So,this had to be the horizontal hinge action.

Sounds like a "high fade" with an "angled hinge" to me.

That is what I thought too but it was a draw.What really struck me was the open clubface.I don't go to these events very often and I really watched closely to ball position,clubface angle, and ballflight when possible.
Stuart Applebly's preshot routine is horizontal hinge basic motion before every shot.On this paticular par3 ,while waiting for the green the to clear, Appleby grabs his SW and works on the HH basic motion.A few years ago I wouldn't have recognized this action.

Believe it or not but the majority of pros that play draws do so with some throwaway.

So to avoid an all out hook they will open the face a bit to allow for the "throw."

Might be off topic but just hit me when I read it.

Would you say that with maybe single digit or better players the main cause for the 'all out hook' would be throwaway?

I hit several of these all-outers last night.:rolleyes:

Assuming reasonable grip and setup alignments, yep. Generally includes a right forearm/shoulder that comes into impact too high.

yes...this usually comes from an under-plane downswing that swings too far to the right and the pivot slows down too much because YOU want to swing left but the underplane downswing wants to go more "up" than back "in" and thus your flip to attempt this which radically closes the face and you hook.

I just saw a post not long ago from John Riegger on this site that said pros are the "masters of throwaway."

Thanks Ed and Jim. I was coming form that place i.e. I have a decent grip & setup and single digit hdcp. I know I fight the shoulder/forarm coming in high-but getting better.

Does the FLW (w/horizontal hinging, sustained lag) in a square/square setup resist a draw flight?

CW

Good post Jim....thanks for that.