Downswing: Less Clubface Rotation
Remember Hovland’s new-and-improved takeaway? Well, this is why it was so important. The toe of the clubface coming into impact is pointing to the sky; a similar spot to where it was on his backswing. With the clubface that open, Hovland used to have to rely on timing with his hands to get it back to square in the few milliseconds he has left before he hits the golf ball.
Now, Hovland’s clubface is pointing more towards the ground — similar to Dustin Johnson’s. Instead of needing to roll his wrists to try to square the face, all Hovland has to do now is turn through with his body.
Release: More weight shift and turn
Because of that open clubface in the frame before, young Viktor Hovland used to stall his body and flip his hands to square the face. Just look at how much more has wrists have rolled over on the left. You can’t even see the logo on his left glove anymore, unlike in the frame on the right. It was a move that costs him power and accuracy, because it’s so hard to time.
Modern-day Hovland doesn’t have that problem. There’s less wrist roll, so the clubface is more stable throughout. He turns more aggressively with his upper body, which you can see helps with his weight shift. It’s why he’s more off his right foot after impact nowadays and his right shoulder is turned more towards to the target.
Hovland and Lucas have built a more powerful, more effective swing, and one we’ll be watching on the PGA Tour for years to come.
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