Suzann Pettersen
 

Did you watch Solheim Cup & see Suzann "sweep loading" before even starting the backswing? Interesting move. Never saw that before. What are your thoughts?

i noticed

It freaked me the first time I saw her do it. Until this season, Michele Wie's pre-shot routine was: go to first position (waist high loaded), stop. Go to End, stop. Back to first position, stop. From there, through to Finish.

I thought "Hey, she has the same pre-shot as..... holy $@!% she hit the ball!"

Charlie

Didn't Leadbetter advocate something like that called "the swing of the future"

I was watching the tape of the event last night and was half paying attention and caught it out of the corner of my eye. Thought she had a Chris DeMarco type of waggle. Ran the tape back and watched it again---VERY interesting. Then I was watching the tape of the men's tournament (yes, i'm a sick man) and hear Hank Haney discuss take-away faults such as taking the hands back before the club moves and, conversely, "cocking the wrists" without moving the arms or shoulders at all. And he proceeds to demonstrate Suzanne Peterson's initial move!!! Oops! He then demonstrated random loading and said that was what we all should be doing. Hmmmmmm........ Should we send him a yellow book? Stay healthy kids. Dr Dave

I'm not a fan of the more 'static' nature of that move, but you can not argue with the alignments and motion once underway. She has one of the best moves around IMO. The TGM influence is obvious.

SInce this is the BAsic section I don't feel bad asking: WHat is she actually doing here and what does she accomplish? I thought it would be considered a no-no in TGM when I saw it.

fdb2, the Leadbetter Swing of the Future eliminated the address position and 1st part of the takeaway---you started with a partial hip turn, left arm across the chest and horizontal, left wrist cocked and club vertical so that the butt end is pointing at the ground----and THEN starting the swing from there. He felt most mistakes were made during address and takeaway---so this swing skips those parts. (Golf Digest Jan 2002) Dave

Not an e-x-p-e-r-t, but I'd say its "TGM approved" and even 100% TGM. Her flying wedges will be ok as long as she does not cock her right wrist and I don't think she does. All she does - I think - is to complete her Sweep Load on plane before going to business.

I have not had a chance to see her swing...is it on the web somewhere?

I played an entire season using this "pre-set" for all full shots. I would hold that position about 2 seconds before proceeding with the swing. Although I had seen Faldo using it for practice, I added it to my normal swing routine after noting that Lyle Alexander (a fine scratch golfer from Canada and a frequent contributor to the Single Axis Forum) had played for many years that way.

The greatest benefit from this method is that once you've established the left wrist cock and right wrist bend, they remain frozen all the way to the top as you simply turn the hips and shoulders. It helped me because I tend to double-cock at the top.

I only abandoned the method because I found I was losing rhythm and tempo in my swing, and perhaps the novelty wore off. But I did lower my handicap from 6 to 3 during that year.

Bruce

yeh it definately helps to establish those allignments early, i use this set and then swing takeawy just as a drill to practice the feeling of the sweep loading. i have always thought for me the sweep loading was the way to go it just seemed more simple . does anyone know if suzanne peterson has always used this or is it just recently or what .

Can't tell when she started, but 99% sure she did not use it two years back.

Can someone explain sweep loading.

Sweep loading - setting wrists early (in the backswing)
Example: Suzann P

Random loading - setting wrists "somewhere in the middle" (in the backswing)
Example: Ernie Els

Snap loading - setting wrists late (close to top of backswing)
Example: Jack Nicklaus

Seems most people would agree that if Shoulder Turn Takeaway is applied it has to be combined with Sweep Loading. If not, the clubshaft will be off plane.