Stacy Lewis

[lia41985]

Currently leads the ladies' first major, the Kraft Nabisco:
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Those high hands are an interesting match with the flatter shoulder rotation/eventual sweet path. As Kevin stated:

You can have high hands and a low plane angle, in fact its preferred

To which Brian replied:

This is a CRITICAL POINT!!!!

I am talking about TOP OF THE BACKSWING shoulder-to-back turn difference.

Not whether his "Eventual Plane" was the "elbow plane," or any other steeper plane.

Just so you know, Dustin Johnson's left shoulder moves 60° more than his back.


One of our "Project 1.68" scientist, (not Rob Neal—and don't ask who) has done a lot of research on the strength to weight ratio of the shoulder area.

I will get a basic answer that will semi-satisfy without spilling to many beans.....

So what is it about the shoulders that makes high hands desirable:

As far as the shoulder movement goes, this has been an observation of mine since I was pup teacher many moons ago:

The shoulders have to move beyond their cozy confines of address to hit the ball a lick.

One of our science pals, has told us in scientific terms why this movement is important.

Basically, it is a couple of more power generators.

And what about consistency? Peter Thomson and Ben Hogan were super consistent ball strikers that "covered it" with a flatter eventual sweetspot path/shoulder rotation pattern. Is that possible with high hands?

There is absolutely no reason high hands would cause any inconsistency if you know what you can and cant do with it. This idea that low hands being more consistent is absurd. Maybe it is for some, maybe not. But to say it as if it were just common knowledge is just plain wrong. I know plenty of people that have components that dont mesh at all with low hands.

So here's my takeaway from looking at Stacy Lewis' swing: some components can match really well

 

[lia41985]

And the winner of this year's first major is...

Congratulations, Stacy Lewis!

 

[spktho]

I could be wrong, but I think Brian's comments that you have cited are not really relating to the flatter shoulder turn. I think he is talking about the ability of each shoulder unit to move independently during the golf swing. Probably speaking about the protraction and retraction(more precisely the scapular movements) motions the shoulder units are capable of.

 

[lia41985]

Right. I was talking about how high hands allow the shoulders more freedom of movement and how Stacy Lewis combines high hands with a flatter eventual sweet spot path/shoulder rotation.

 

[Jwat]

Great post, Lia. The high hands definitley make me more consistant. Low hands = very bad for me.

 

[Brian Manzella]

Great post, Lia. The high hands definitley make me more consistant. Low hands = very bad for me.

Me too.

And lots of other folks.

But some......play great flat.

 

[birdie_man]

Ya. I still can't figure out how Kuchar does it so well. I keep looking at it and it bugs me for some reason. Not gonna hate on a guy for having personal success though.

Will be interesting to see how he gets on, and under pressure. (not saying he can't, but it is another test...under presha)

 

[ekennedy]

Mouth Breathers don't feel presha...

Heck, Dustin Johnson's caddy has to tell him when he's finished the 18th hole.

 

[Steve Greffen]

Mouth Breathers

LOL...sounds like something Mgranato would say!! And hey, would have been a good idea for DJ's caddy to tell him he was in a bunker too!

 

[ggsjpc]

Plus she has great pace control with the flatstick.

Clutch putts coming in.