Today I'm going to talk about one of the great players on the PGA TOUR right now, Matt Kuchar. Matt has seen a remarkable turnaround in his career the last few years, and has become a fan favorite in the process. So what has been the secret to his success?
Matt has a very unique swing. It's one that gets talked about a lot and one he spends a lot of time perfecting. He has certainly mastered it though, as his results clearly show. I was asked to give my opinion on Matt's swing today, so I'll explain the difference between the PPGS and rotational swings like the ones many professionals use out on tour today.
Hi,
Thanks for your videos - much appreciated. I am NOT trying to be "negative" on your teaching the upright swing, but more asking for your comments. Matt Kuchar changed his swing to the really "flat and behind" swing, which (to my understanding) is complete OPPOSITE swing to your teaching. This swing change COMPLETELY saved and revived his carrier, to the point that he became one of the best golfers in the World. Any comments ?
Many thanks and cheers.
Matt Kuchar is certainly one of the best players in the world. It's true he went through a career revival after perfecting his new, flatter swing. Nevertheless, I still worry about his ability to have a long career if he continues to use that swing. I hope that he is able to stay healthy and have a long career because when he is playing, the game of golf and the PGA TOUR are that much better.
The PPGS works in harmony with gravity. We swing a vertical club, which is a light club. Matt swings around his body, which creates a very heavy club. That's why it's so difficult to maintain that type of swing. It's that kind of flatter swing that is hard to master and even harder to remember. Simply put, the Peak Performance Golf Swing is just an easier swing.
Matt Kuchar is a great guy, a pure gentleman, great father, and a great PGA professional. I've known him for many years as he and DJ have battled on the course many times, dating back to their collegiate days. He figured out something that's working for him and I hope he has continued success. My only concern is the longevity aspect because his swing includes a high degree of stress on the body.
If you want longevity, it's the PPGS for you.
Keep it vertical!
The Surge
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Comments
Matt Kuchar Swing
I agree with you on your analysis and it is those little things that gets him off track at the wrong time. Here is what I noticed with his swing, when has addressed the ball and prepares to do his back swing he will shift his balance on his heels which looks like he is leaning back right before he make the swing. That can't be good for consistency. What are your thoughts?
perhaps a "counterfall"
I saw Kuchar doing that and wondered if it wasn't something like the "counterfall" taught by David Lee over at gravity golf. The idea is that you need to counterbalance your swinging arms like a hammer throw in the track and field or a place kicker/soccer player. They all lean back, to "go around".
I have used the move and it works...but it is something for a "body" swing, and not an "arm" swing like the PPGS. To me this body/arm distinction is very important, and helps to explain why you can't just take something from one swing style and assume it might work in another.
Humana
I see DJ did not make the cut this week. He needs to get the fire back in his game that he had when he won the Hope in 2008.
Have not been able to practice much it has been cold and snowing here. Cant wait until it warms up a bit.
Humana
Mike, Ya DJ had a rough time in his first tournament of 2014. Hopefully he'll get things straightened out soon. Noticed that he was under 50% fairways hit;
On a bright note. On day one he pitched in from 102 yards for and eagle 2.
This kid Patrick Reed was off the hook awesome. He broke the record for a 54 hole low with 3 63's in a row. Imagine his stats;
25 birdies
25 pars
2 eagles
2 bogie
= 27 under par
We can only dream what golf would be like if you birdied or eagles every other hole. He has one putted 60% of his greens and is up and down 9 of 10 tries. He said he is in a putting coma and the hole looks giant. He is in a zone where he believes every putt should go in.
Crazy if he shoots another -9 63 in today's final round
Sunday pressure
Well Patrick Reed just hung in there shooting a 71 in the last round. It made it interesting for a minute as others nearly caught him then he won by 2.
Zach Johnson shot a career best 62. The pros just tear up those desert courses in perfect warm dry weather.
Game
Hey Mike.
Probably too much of what they called "crapolla" in Tin Cup. I've been making my best effort toward eliminating all "crapolla" lately and hitting the ball the way I used to hit it, and better than I've ever hit it before.
Sometimes it's best to just be stupid and play the game.
Game
Steve
I agree. I Find myself getting burned out or just showing up and going through the motions and playing crappy when this happens I will either not practice for a while or not play for a weekend or two. I could imagine what touring Pros go through as much as they play and practice.
If you add struggling on top of it like DJ it has to wear on you mentally and physically.
Matt Kuchar
Matt Kuchar is a great player. There is no denying that. He also has the best attitude of any player I've seen playing the game today. One thing Don did not mention relative to Matt's swing, is how tall he is. He's 6' 4'' which enables him to have an extraordinary amount of leverage. And he is extremely flexible. In an interview with him about his swing he was saying that the philosophy behind him using his one plane swing was to rely less on timing and more on consistent rotational body movement. What Matt has done is to match his body type and physical characteristics to a swing method that provides him with the greatest opportunity to combine distance and accuracy for success at his level of competition. Pretty dang smart.
The really extraordinary thing that few people mention is smart he plays; how well he reads greens and putts, and how good his short game is. That is truly the name of the game. Each week it all comes down to who is making the most putts.
So, is it better than PPGS? Not for me.
Will the Medicus show us anything
Don,
I was just wondering if using the Medicus club would aid us PPGS advocates.
Would it break if we brought it back into the sacred burial ground?
Also if not in SBG would it perform as advertised.
Your thoughts.
Keep up good work
Bill Mullin
Brooklyn New York
medicus
Haven't tried it but I know Surge has not endorsed it and only endorses two swing aids.
http://www.thegolfstop.net/Products.html
http://www.swingtechgolf.com/
Swingtech -> https://www
Swingtech -> https://www.swingsurgeon.com/shop/products/swingtech-golf-training-aid
Medicus
You can use it, but it won't show you anything at all about going in the SBG. You can make the flattest and deepest swing in the world just fine without it breaking down.
It will break down on a typical PPGS takeaway unless the takeaway is slowed down to a point where there isn't enough force for it to break while getting to the toe line. Once it reaches the toe line there is no problem with the rest of the back swing or the FUS.
The reason it is more likely to break down at takeaway with the PPGS as opposed to a one plane swing is that the palms aren't rotating to an inclined plane from the start, and instead are staying perpendicular to the ground and moving the club head with the direction of hinge instead of against the direction of hinge (that it's designed for).
I wouldn't say not to use the Medicus. In fact I think it has a lot of value as long as you don't let it trick you into rotating the palms past perpendicular to the ground on the takeaway.
All that said, it's not the best training device if you really want to use a PPGS. It's a good device for many people. My son improved a lot using it. Didn't do a thing for me because I could swing the thing all day long and never have it break down as long as I slowed down the takeaway to the "low and slow" that Surge hates.
Medicus
I agree with everything that Steve Smith said about the Medicus. I do find it good for tempo because it breaks down if any part of the swing is too quick.