A Week to Remember at Jacobs 3D
What a way to close out the summer...It was always going to be an important week in the new studio, as golf movement science pioneer Dr. Steve Nesbit is in town for a two-day advanced biomechanics seminar and one-day "masters level" immersion with four coaches who are taking their teaching to the next level. The attendees at the two-day class got an unbelievable treat when major champion Padraig Harrington came by to say hello on Tuesday morning. Fresh from his win at the U.S. Senior Open in June—and even fresher off his win at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open PGA Champions event the day before—Padraig came in to have more of his swings analyzed and work on his wedge game. We recorded more than 50 swings in 3D, and wore out the tee box on No. 16 at Rock Hill making some improvements to his scoring shots. Padraig is absolutely hammering the ball, and he has a real chance to be the first player to ever be named the PGA Tour Champions player of the year after already winning the PGA Tour and European Tour player of the year awards—which he earned during his two-major 2008 season.
A New Way to Think About the Downswing
One of the groundbreaking topics in the two-day biomechanics seminar is the concept of "true downswing"—or, when the energy in the downswing truly begins to move toward the target. That's a very different thing than the "visual" or "perceived" downswing, which is when the club begins its journey back around toward the ball. If we can redefine the start of the downswing as this later time in the swing, it can give you a much improved concept of what you need to be doing—and not doing!—as you force the club toward the ball. Like any new concept, it will take awhile for this to catch on, but I think once you see an explanation of it in video—along with how it can change the way you teach and perform a swing, you'll see value.
Coming Up
The "off-season" begins in October, and the focus for Jacobs 3D this year will be heavy on concrete, easy-to-understand, easy-to-use video tips. This new downswing concept will be one of the first ones I examine in detail over a series of videos. Keep a lookout on the Jacobs 3D social channels for information about when those free videos launch. I also have limited spaces available for one-day coach-and-player and remote player coaching through the fall and into the winter. Go to Jacobs3D.com to learn more.
