Brian Manzella, Face-On Driver Swing, big fade, on Pebble Beach's #14

[birdie_man]

Brian you get it out there alright for an old guy eh....

BTW if the past means anything this is going far too well.............

I am waiting for someone to rip him............

 

[Matt 4-L]

Didn't mean to hit a sore spot there Brian, I am asking for my benefit, not to hack on you about your swing. I am aware that lots of the tour pros have that sit down motion in there swing but I am not sure if I can think of any great ball strikers who come up out of there posture then back into the sit down position...I might as well throw this out there now, you have mentioned before about the chin up position ala Adam Scott how you don't like that at address, well I found if I do that then my shoulder won't hit my chin and force me up and I see you have that same issue, your shoulder is hitting your chin and forcing you out of your posture? I am trying to improve MY golf swing this winter by not losing my posture at the top, not hacking on yours.

 

[goley]

alway nice when you can back up you knowledge with a little ol compression using different patterns...

 

[Brian Manzella]

Total and complete waste of time.

Didn't mean to hit a sore spot there Brian, I am asking for my benefit, not to hack on you about your swing. I am aware that lots of the tour pros have that sit down motion in there swing but I am not sure if I can think of any great ball strikers who come up out...

Blah, Blah, Blah.

The ball doesn't know what the body does...only what the club does.

Get it?

I ONLY posted this swing to bring out all the "Blah, Blah, Blah" that would come from folks who just have no idea what the heck they are talking about—no offense.

This is to sow a CRITICAL DIFFERENCE in the Manzella Matrix over other methods.

This is it!

Work with the student to develop a CUSTOM PATTERN that allows that golfer to make:

1. An effective, kinetic chain snapping, right shoulder down plane, PIVOT.

2. A straight plane line.

3. Lag pressure.

4. Clubface control.

PERIOD!

I can make any golf swing. Any.

As long as I swing at 70% speed, and 60% backswing length, I can look as pretty as pie. I can keep my head dead still, any place you want. You want it between my feet—dead still? No problem. You want a sequenced release? You want a steep shoulder turn and weight on my LEFT foot at the top? No problem. You want a flat arm swing, with a steep shoulder turn? I'll take me two shots to get ready for ya.

The PROBLEM is, I can't PLAY those ways. I can play this way. It suits my body, suits my nerves.

I played a lot for a 10 week period this summer, I could hit it as well as I needed to. I wanted to test my self. I played 40 rounds in 10 weeks. I hadn't played 40 rounds TOTAL since 2004. I can still play when I play a lot. IF, I make the CLUB WORK LIKE A CLUB. I hit my little cut off the tee, work my irons, MATRIX short game, taught myself to putt like I teach David Toms to putt.

I wanted to see if the MATRIX knowledge worked. It did.

I am trying to give all the 50 lb. overweight, inflexible people hope.

I could fix you in 2 hours.

AND I bet I would spend one SECOND on your "up" or "down" move.

Total and complete waste of time.

 

[Matt 4-L]

Thats great Brian that you can play that way, I can't. I am tired of scoring in the 70's, I want to start breaking par on a regular basis and I hit too many inconsistent shots when I pick up like that, I thought maybe you could share how you get back to the ball on a consistent basis with that move.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

What did you shoot at Pebble? Did you play from the tips?

 

[Brian Manzella]

OK.

Thats great Brian that you can play that way, I can't. I am tired of scoring in the 70's, I want to start breaking par on a regular basis and I hit too many inconsistent shots when I pick up like that, I thought maybe you could share how you get back to the ball on a consistent basis with that move.

I have done it for a long time.

But, like I said, I can not do it.

So, then...how?

Steeper shoulder turn, steeper hip turn. Shorter arm swing, flatter arm swing.

I can hit it on range like that just fine, but, can't play dead on the course like that. It may work PERFECT for you.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Pebble Beach from the tips.

What did you shoot at Pebble? Did you play from the tips?

It was a great day for golf. Me and long-time student, Adam Mallory and two Pebble Beach assistant pros.

The two assistants asked us two if we wanted to "play for something." We said sure. I started off very fast, and Adam played great all day. In fact Adam's was playing so good late in the round. that the other three of us were just trying to stay out of his way.

He was +1 through 13 and shot 77.

I hit 10 of 14 fairways at Pebble from the tips, about 280 avg. with the driver.

I was 1-under going in to #5, the new par 3, and made a silly double there without hitting a really bad shot. I was in the greenside bunker in two on the par-5 6th, and made 6 (no comment). 39 on the front.

I don't remember the back very well, we were in a made dash to finish before the sun went down, and played 18 in the dark (the have a bright light on 18 green).

I made a couple of pars and a couple of bogeys, and did not par #14 (the tee shot). I had a bad yardage and hit it dead over the pin from what I thought was 105 and would up 15 yards too far and dead. Made 7.

I needed to play 16, 17 and 18 2-under to break 80, and I went par, birdie, par.

Snowman.

But I taught Adam everything he knows.

 

[Chris Sturgess]

Sounds like an eventful day. Were holes 7,8,9, 10 as fun as they look. Especially 8?

 

[otto6457]

He doesn't miss fairways

Brian and I played a round of golf in New Orleans during my last lesson series and I don't think he missed a fairway all day. He didn't miss many greens either. His swing flat out works every time. Solid impact and compresses the heck out of the golf ball.

Plus, he has fun on the course. Can't beat that.

 

[holeout]

Brian,

I'm curious as to whether this swing is a return to the swing you used when you played your best golf that you described in the "why do players 'lose it'?" thread and in this one as well: http://www.brianmanzella.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7392

Is this the same "pick the ugliest one!" and "lift, drop, and rotate" swing that you have described in these two threads?

 

[birdie_man]

Brian you were doing a float load here....right?

i.e. extra FATS

i.e. "drop then........(insert favourite feel here)"

 

[Brian Manzella]

Good questions, Birdie!

I was using the current version of the Manzella Matrix "true center" pattern at the time (it has evolved and is near complete as a definable pattern) for all shots except Drivers and 3-woods off tight lies. I was using a very similar pattern to my old "59-59" pattern with the Driver. That shot on video is NOT that pattern exactly. I was trying to hit a HOLD shot, not a real cut.

I have gotten the "center" pattern down so well, it is hard to do my "normal" driver swing these days. The ball just goes straight. Of course, this is the idea of this pattern.

I took some video today of the "center"...it looked really good visually...but...I am waiting to show it. The "friends" video will have plenty of it, AND how to DO it.

 

[Kevin Shields]

I was using the current version of the Manzella Matrix "true center" pattern at the time (it has evolved and is near complete as a definable pattern) for all shots except Drivers and 3-woods off tight lies. I was using a very similar pattern to my old "59-59" pattern with the Driver. That shot on video is NOT that pattern exactly. I was trying to hit a HOLD shot, not a real cut.

I have gotten the "center" pattern down so well, it is hard to do my "normal" driver swing these days. The ball just goes straight. Of course, this is the idea of this pattern.

I took some video today of the "center"...it looked really good visually...but...I am waiting to show it. The "friends" video will have plenty of it, AND how to DO it.

Brian, do you think more about the clubface or adjusting your pivot when you need to turn it over? I ask because i now can fade it and draw it with the same feel in the clubface.

 

[tbyeaton0627]

I'm guessing the high right shoulder in your finish is purposeful for the cut pattern no?

 

[birdie_man]

What's a hold shot? I have an idea but am not sure...

The "59-59" (I assume to signify that you shot 59 twice with it) pattern is the one that basically led to NHA right?

Interesting with the "drivers and 3 woods off tight lies"........

I mean- interesting that you use a different pattern (or different patternS) at all.........and interesting that it's on THOSE two particular shots.....

This gonna be in the "Friends Video?"

 

[Brian Manzella]

RIGHT-TO-LEFT

Brian, do you think more about the clubface or adjusting your pivot when you need to turn it over? I ask because i now can fade it and draw it with the same feel in the clubface.

When I personally want to hit a draw, I aim right, slow my pivot and use as much of a full sweep "toss" as I need to to launch it high enough to turn it over enough for the shot at hand.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Well...

I'm guessing the high right shoulder in your finish is purposeful for the cut pattern no?

Actually, I never have had that much of a Jimmy Ballard finish in modern times.

I think I was trying soooooo hard to stay "out in front of it," that that right shoulder was an after effect.

When I hit my normal fade, my right shoulder is much lower.

 

[tbyeaton0627]

Jimmy who? I bet ya you hit that nice baby draw with the shoulder down and back a bit tho

 

[DOCW3]

I have been studying this clip from address to when the hands reach shoulder high in the move back and the move down after the hands have returned to that same position. The continuing upward movement of the arms after the shoulder turn is complete and the "fall" toward the target of course is interesting. There is a sequence of JB Homes in the June 06 Golf Digest. Take a look if you have it and see if you think there are similarities.