Dr. Cary Middlecoff, AUDIO Swing Analysis by Brian Manzella, PGA, G.S.E.D.

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Brian Manzella

Administrator
He won the 1949 & 1956 US Open Championship.

He won the Masters in 1955 and the Vardon Cup scoring average trophy in 1956

He played on three Ryder Cup teams (1953, 55, 59)

He won 37 PGA Tour events.

Here is his swing for you to ponder, with audio analysis by yours truly:
[media]http://homepage.mac.com/brianmanzella/.Music/middlecoff.mp3[/media]

drcary.jpg
 
Last edited:
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
Like you said at the beginning....never heard of him...

Surprising with him having won 3 majors....

Listening...
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
Cool Brian thanks.

1. How would you describe his clubface control throughout?

2. Possible he'd setup with that head further forward for a shorter iron or lower shot? (what he turns around wouldn't change tho right...his spine...)

3. Anything more you can say about the ease of doing this guy's swing vs. Hogan's?

...

BTW look at the changes in the brightness.....I'd think they prolly are from different swings...like you mentinoned.
 
jpvegas1

jpvegas1

New
Middlecoff Anecdote from Kostis

In the 70's a group of noted teachers (Toski, Flick, Love and Kostis) and top players (Snead, Middlecoff and Runyan) participated in a roundtable discussion and a question posed to this group was the following: Does the teacher make the player, or does the player make the teacher?

When it came time for Dr. Middlecoff to answer, the three-time major winner stared for a moment at his cup -- filled with something definitely more potent than coffee -- and asked out to the table how many majors Jack Nicklaus had won to that point. The answer was 15. He waited a few seconds and said, "Well, nobody at this table could have screwed him up badly enough to keep him from winning 12."
 
S

swingobsessed

New
Great analysis. That is the type of thing that sets this forum apart from the others.


I would like to know the differences in the swing caused by setting up with impact hands as opposed to mid-body hands. How can I decide which is better for me? What are the pros and cons of each?
 
golfbulldog

golfbulldog

New
If this swing were on the PGA tour now...

What bits of it do you think the usual "tour gurus" would want to upgrade and which bits would you think of upgrading, Brian - to enable him to compete with a more distance-dominated game?
 
rchang72

rchang72

New
Brian,
It seems like Dr. Middlecoff starts his swing with a motion of his arms backward. In between frame 1 and 2 his hips and torso don't seem to have rotated much, whereas his shoulder look like they've rocked and his hands are over his right foot. Is this something he has to do because of the forward hands? That is delay the pivot until the hands are further back?

Roger
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
bulldog.....what makes you think he couldn't rip it already?

Maybe you see something you think is telling of this....?

BTW for the record frame 4 kinda reminds me of JB Holmes....
 
golfbulldog

golfbulldog

New
birdie_man said:
bulldog.....what makes you think he couldn't rip it already?

Maybe you see something you think is telling of this....?

BTW for the record frame 4 kinda reminds me of JB Holmes....
Click to expand...

Hi Birdieman - i don't know his driving stats or reputation but sort of assumed that the better guys from 40 years ago generally focussed their swings on ball flight control rather than distance until Jack and Arnie etc

His left knee bend actually increases through impact ( compare 6 and 9), Tiger and others have often said stuff about straightening it more through impact for extra distance (?maxing radius...getting left shoulder further from ball etc...??)

That was the thing that i was thinking of... plus he has a few other bits that look a bit goofy ( not a bad thing if for him his imperatives are solid) .... like his exaggerated left foot position at finish... just got to think that others (non BM/TGM) might try and "fix" the goofy looking bits at the expense of his individual mechanics....

Michele WIe kinda thing...
 
M

mcflog

New
jpvegas1 said:
In the 70's a group of noted teachers (Toski, Flick, Love and Kostis) and top players (Snead, Middlecoff and Runyan) participated in a roundtable discussion and a question posed to this group was the following: Does the teacher make the player, or does the player make the teacher?

When it came time for Dr. Middlecoff to answer, the three-time major winner stared for a moment at his cup -- filled with something definitely more potent than coffee -- and asked out to the table how many majors Jack Nicklaus had won to that point. The answer was 15. He waited a few seconds and said, "Well, nobody at this table could have screwed him up badly enough to keep him from winning 12."
Click to expand...

My understanding of the story was they were discussing or making a list of the greatest teachers in the game for one of the magazines I forget which one, past and present. Jack Grout's name came up, and it was said, based on Nicklaus' majors total, that Grout should be on that list. MIddlecoff made the statement that no one could have kept Nicklaus from winning at least 12. Grout's name was mentioned no further. Not exact quotes but to that effect.
 
D

dodger

New
Middlecoff hit primarily a draw and was among the longest hitters of his day. Bobby Jones described his game as "bodacious", due to his long, straight drives and great putting. He supposedly was a terrible bunker player but great in every other facet of the game. Let er rip, a book by Gardner Dickinson, talks a bit about him and he also wrote some decent instruction in the sixties, including one that analyzes the great players of the time's swings. It is a good book. This was a great analysis by Brian. Does this swing look like Tom Lehman?
 
J

Jared Willerson

Super Moderator
I don't see the big reverse C, maybe a slight one, but definitely not a huge Nicklausesque reverse C. His hip action looks a lot like Nelson IMO.

I think Middlecoff's injuries come from being about 6'4" in an era where golf clubs were built for someone 5'8". I believe I read that ill fitting equipment was the cause of his injuries.

Pretty good action though.
 
birdie_man

birdie_man

New
He actually doens't look as dynamic in this video to me. He looks really really deliberate. (and like he's trying to be) Tough to tell though cause I'd watch Austin video and to me he didn't look like he could hit it AS far as he did.

He (CM) was 6'2 and had a good pivot and lots of delay so I'd hope he coulda hit it far when he wanted to.

He's got kind of a weird finish but it's a good swing no doubt. Te me- not that bad of a reverse C.

Dude won 40 Tour events apparently though and 3 majors so we know he got results too.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top