Images from a swing sequence breakdown for Rickie Fowler.
Rickie hovers the club head 2-3 inches off the ground, much like Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman did, promoting a softer takeaway and more width to the backswing. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
FAVORITE MOVE No. 1: There’s no head movement at all and the club face is at a right angle to his shoulders, which is textbook. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich; for more GCA Magazine)
The sun can be a great training aid. Note the shadow on the ground from Rickie’s club shaft, which is parallel to his toe line. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich; for more GCA Magazine)
His spine angle hasn’t changed from address, which helps keep his arm swing from getting too long at the top of the backswing. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
FAVORITE MOVE No. 2: Note the stretch marks on Rickie’s right pant leg, which signify how much rotation and resistance there is in his lower body. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
Great footwork! From the previous frame, you can see how Rickie plants and drives off his right instep, creating a lot of lag on the downswing. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
There’s more clearance now between his arms and body than there was pre-Harmon; as a result, the club swings down in front of his body. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
To hit a draw, the clubface needs to look right of the target at impact, which it is here. What extension! Not just in his arms, but his legs, too. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
FAVORITE MOVE No. 3: Rickie maximizes his power by continuing to rotate hard into the finish, with his hands exiting just beneath his shoulder line. (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
The ball is starting to work back toward the fairway after starting at the right edge of the bunker. Looks like another fairway hit for Rickie! (Analysis: GCA lead coach Kenny Nairn; photo: Fred Vuich)
