Identifying golf swing improvements

1. Final Anchor Presentation
Student: Jeffrey Vagg
Student ID 021810771
12/15/2015

2. Problem/Question
• Why am I continuing to pull my shots to the left,
and how much does this contribute to my overall
score ?
• How do I improve ball flight direction, along with
the possibility of increased distance, the course
of action or diagnosis if you will, produces five
prescriptions for the cure and will it hopefully
mean few less strokes ?

3. Hypothesis
• A more neutral grip
• A narrowed stance
• Better posture
• Shoulder tilt/weight shift
• A continued use of video recordings
• Will the method used to improve these areas are
daily exercises/drills designed specifically to help
with the aforementioned deficiencies?

4. Pathology Overview
• Ball contact data was achieved with the aid of contact tape. With several swings, a pattern was
formed, and although many were solid and in the middle of the club face, the few misses were
also consistently near the hosel. This information, along with the other data being collected, begs
to form the hypothesis, why am I continuing to pull my shots to the left, and how much does this
contribute to my overall score?
• The ball flight was mid-height for the club selected, a 6 iron Mizuno JPX 800, that was used for the
swing demonstration. With a slight draw as desired, most hits were a straight left pull and
generally located on the left half of fairway or rough. Of the big misses, pull/duck hooks (missed
center of club face towards hosel) would land in left rough.
• Distance was judged based on the driver, a Taylor Made SLDR, stiff shaft with a 460* head. Club
head speed was clocked between 95 and 100mph, with a ball flight carry between 200 and 220
yards a rollout of about 25 yards. The driver also had an even more pronounced right to left ball
flight, with most landing from the left side of the fairway to the deep rough.
• The direction of all shots, demonstrated a right to left draw to a more direct pull and even a few
duck hooks. Only a few of the several shots were dead straight, with 2 fades to the right. This
identified 3 areas needed for improvement.

5. Variables/Research
Controlled Variables
• The club selected, a 6 iron Mizuno JPX 800,
that was used for the swing demonstration.
With a slight draw as desired, most hits were
a straight left pull and generally located on
the left half of fairway or rough. Of the big
misses, pull/duck hooks (missed center of
club face towards hosel) would land in left
rough.
• Distance was judged based on the driver, a
Taylor Made SLDR, stiff shaft with a 460*
head. Club head speed was clocked
between 95 and 100mph, with a ball flight
carry between 200 and 220 yards a rollout of
about 25 yards. The driver also had an even
more pronounced right to left ball flight,
with most landing from the left side of the
fairway to the deep rough.
Dependent Variable
• The 6 iron ball contact improved by lowering
the number of miss-hits, and resulted in
straighter ball flight with more balls landing in
the center of simulated fairway.
• The driver produced even better results. The
miss-hits were sufficiently reduced, as seen by
the contact tape, with more solid contact was
measured by an increase of 1 to 3 mph club
head speed, greater distance averaged at 10
additional yards, and considerably more drives
in the center of the fairway. In addition, both
sets of contact tape indicated a more consistent
ball contact in the center of the club faces.

6. Materials Used
• Trackman 360 video equipment
• Contact tape
• V1 Golf
• www.mytpi.com
• Jim McLean, Revolution Golf training videos
• Golf Digest
• Competition 12/12/2015

7. Prescription
• Experiment with grip
• Experiment with stance
• Experiment with setup

8. Data/Observations
• Student made arrangements with Golf Galaxy, a retail establishment, to
video several thirty minute swing sessions. The swing monitor/video
recordings, provides data and records among other things: club head
speed, angle of attack, club face, ball flight, direction and distance. This
produces a pictorial that allows for an instructor to analyze the four
stages of progression; ball contact, ball flight, distance and direction.
At the end this empirical research, the goal of is to improve ball
contact, direction, increase in distance and lower score.

9. Old Grip
Right hand rolled under
Promotes early release, faster
hands
• The grip, as indicated and illustrated in Ben
Hogan's Five Lessons, hold the club in your left
hand with your arm at a 90 degree angle. With
the butt of the shaft pointing down, the fleshly
part of your palm will create a pad at the
bottom of the wrist. Wrap your fingers around
the shaft with your thumb pointing directly
towards the club head. Now, with your right
hand place your ring and middle fingers in the
crease where your fingers and palm meet.
Wrap these "pressure fingers" around the shaft,
then slightly extend your index finger towards
the club head. With your right thumb, wrap it
around the shaft and "pinch your index finger".
Slightly raise your "pinky finger" and slide your
right hand back up towards your left hand.
Now interlock or override your right pinky with
your left index finger, thus creating a more
"neutral" grip.

10. Old Posture
Squatty, poor weight/mass
distribution
Promotes earlier weight shift,
requiring faster hands to catch up
• With the use of a full length mirror, stand
in front of it with a driver at shoulder
height and club fully extended. Bend at
the waist until the club head touches the
ground. With the mirror, spread your legs
to slightly wider than your shoulders.
• Continuing, place the club head behind
the ball and position it so it's slightly
behind the student's left heal. This setup
is finished by tilting your right shoulder
and that will result in more
weight/pressure on your right hip.
• Check the mirror for these elements to be
in place. This setup should result in an
ascending blow, and eliminating the need
to over compensate a late weight shift
with fast hands.

11. Old Setup
Ball position too far back, not
enough shoulder tilt
Promotes ascending strike, poor contact
and low ball trajectory, lost of distance
• This drill is designed to free the hips
so the club head will be on a more
desired direction, thus improving
the sequencing. This exercise starts
with your left foot next to a wall,
and your hands crossed at the
shoulders. With the new corrected
posture, start this exercise by
rotating your hips as simulating a
back swing, loading up your right
foot. This is followed by the down
swing and weight shift to the left
foot. The goal is to clear the hips
without touching the wall with your
shoulders.

12. New Grip
Neutral grip Better directional control
• A line forms from the right
thumb and follows fore arm
to shoulder
• Left fore arm points to right
foot
• Together shoulders/hands
forms X with feet
• This grip will prevent club
from turning over too fast
which will prevent duck
hooks 

13. New Posture
Solid foundation
Better impact position, more
distance
• Hip tilt will help get lower
body to clear before hands
• Helps weight shift to move
lower body first, thus creating
a stronger impact position
• End result should be more
powerful ball contact

14. New Setup
Ball position, shoulder tilt
Equal weight/body mass equals better
balance means stronger/straighter drives
• Remove squat position
• More upright equals longer
swing plane, means more club
head speed
• Equal mass distribution for
better balance from heal to toe
• Point of shoulders over hands
and toe with hip tilt backwards
• Shoulder tilt towards rear foot
helps promote ascending strike

15. Results
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Yards Direction Score
Sertup
Posture
Grip
As a participant in this field
study/research, and with a basic
understanding of the swing phenomena,
using the empirical research three basic
“objective” and assumptions were used
to achieve scientific knowledge about
the biomechanical phenomena.
I. Grip =improved yardage,
directional control and lowering
the overall score
II. Posture=improved yardage,
directional control and lowering
the overall score
III. Setup=improved yardage,
directional control and lowering
the overall score
The subjective evaluation and assigned
weight given to each category
represents data collected from
video recordings and contact tape
and is extrapolated to demonstrate
overall improvement in student’s
play

16. Coaching/Instructional Review
• Conclusion:
The immediate application of the drills and exercises were used in real-world
(Woodcreek Golf Course) competition on 12/11/2015. The driver play was improved
by hitting the center of the fairway seven times, the irons hit ten greens in regulation.
Through direct observation, this data analysis has had a direct result in the
improvement of the student, and this scientific method of research has now been
applied and can be taken to any golf course with measurable improvement. In this
case, being what is considered slightly about average golfer, in terms of overall golf
scores, an 82 was posted.
However, it should be noted that some errant shots, right to left ball flight with an
occasional pull were still being noticed. These shots contributed greatly to a few extra
stokes adding to the score. Therefore, the noted improvement can be attributed to the
grip, posture, setup change and video equipment used for this analysis. With
continued practice a lower score is to be expected.

17. References
• Buttolph Johson, Janet. & Reynolds, H.T. 2015.
Political Science Research Methods, Seventh
Edition. Sage Publishers, Simi Valley, CA.
• Hogan, B., & Wind, H.W. (1957 and renewed
1985). Five Lessons, The Modern Fundamentals
of Golf. New York Times, Trumbull, Connecticut
• Stickney. T. 2014.Golf Digest, “The Driver Guy”.
Volume 65, number 11,Advance Magazine
Publishers, Inc. New York,NY