How Steven Bowditch Bombs It

BY The Swing Doctor -
Golf Australia's RESIDENT THERAPIST

The struggles of Steven Bowditch on and off the golf course throughout 2006 have been well-documented, especially after he returned home for the end of season events.

Most of his playing problems can be traced back to his fight against depression. However, in an interview with Golf Australia he admitted he had some technical problems with his swing that developed early in 2006 and had gotten much worse after a few months playing on the US PGA Tour.

“Basically the problem has been getting the club caught behind my body on the downswing,” he said. “This can only result in a blocked shot or a shank with an iron.

“I have been working on trying to keep the club out in front of my body on the downswing and not being so quick with my body in the downswing.”

In the February 2007 issue, we examine a swing sequence featuring Steven, which was photographed during the 2005 Australian Open, and pinpoint the key moves he makes for generating so much power. Here are three tips to get you started.

AN ATHLETIC SET-UP

Even before he has swung the club back, Steven looks powerful and athletic standing over the ball.

His back is beautifully straight, he’s bent slightly forward from the hips and there is just some flex in his knees.

His spine angle is ideally tilted so the top of his spine is further away from the target. This places his head behind the ball.

His stance is fractionally wider than the orthodox ‘width of your shoulders’ mantra given to new golfers. This slightly wider stance gives Steven greater stability when he swings the driver hard.

You might also note his feet are set square to the target line. A lot of professionals opt for a slightly flared stance but Steven’s square feet position is obviously something he is comfortable with.

WIDE BACKSWING

Halfway into his backswing, Steven’s shoulders have only turned about 45º (relative to the target line and his starting position).

The big mistake many club golfers make is overdoing their shoulder turn too early in the backswing, which, in turn, whips the club too far inside the target line and ends up stuck behind their body. In Steven’s case, the club is still in front of his turning body so there is no way he is going to get trapped on the backswing.

Steven’s arms have moved away from his body a little as he winds up with a wide swing arc. However, he hasn’t separated from his body enough to lose his good body angles established at address.

COILED UP AND READY TO UNLEASH

Wow! Steven’s position at the top of the backswing just oozes power.

He has made a full shoulder rotation of 90º while his hips have turned less than half that amount. The resistance created by his turning upper body is one of the keys to Steven’s incredible power. In fact, look at Steven’s right leg. It has stayed flexed but it is effectively maintaining the resistance created in the upper half of his body.

It is also important to note here that Steven’s club is right on plane at the top of the backswing (inset) and the angle of the clubface is ideally matched to the angle of his left wrist. This will make it much easier for him to deliver the club into impact on plane.

Read the rest of this article in the February 2007 issue of Golf Australia magazine.