Swing AnalysisSwing AnalysisA frame-by-frame biomechanical review of a filmed driver swing, his first face-on capture. It covers set-up, tempo, head and hip motion and sequencing, with benchmarks against average amateurs, low-handicap amateurs, the LPGA and the PGA Tour, and a comparison with his earlier reports. Includes a diagnosis, drills and a 4-week practice plan.
Bottom line: the set-up and the finish are strong. He has a wide, athletic stance, a healthy spine tilt away from the target at address, a one-piece takeaway, a lead leg that posts up at impact and a full, balanced finish facing the target.
The face-on view reveals the piece the down-the-line video couldn't show. From the top to impact his head travels about 5–7 inches toward the target, finishing almost over the ball. The hips move only about 3 inches, so the upper body outruns the lower body and the spine tilt he set at address (~12°) is gone by impact (~0°). Add the ~2:1 tempo, the same ratio as in his 6-iron and his October 7 driver, and it's a clear, coachable pattern.
Wide base, correct tilt at address, a posted lead leg at impact and a held, balanced finish.
Keep the head on or behind its address line through impact, and let the hips do the moving toward the target.
A slower, complete backswing gives the lower body time to lead, which is what keeps the head back.
The video runs at 30 frames per second, so each time is accurate to about ±0.03 s. The top is set where the upper body's motion reaches its minimum.
| Measure | André | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Backswing (takeaway → top) | ~0.60 s | Quick |
| Downswing (top → impact) | ~0.33 s | Unhurried |
| Total swing time | ~0.93 s | Tour-like total |
| Tempo ratio | ~1.8–2:1 | Below the 3:1 target |
| Group | Backswing | Downswing | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| André (this swing) | ~0.60 s | ~0.33 s | ~2:1 |
| PGA Tour (Tour Tempo, "24/8") | ~0.80 s | ~0.27 s | 3:1 |
| LPGA Tour | ~0.80–0.90 s | ~0.27–0.30 s | ≈3:1 |
| Low-handicap amateurs (0–5) | ~0.80–0.95 s | ~0.27–0.32 s | ≈3:1 |
| Average amateurs | often 1.0 s+ | ~0.30–0.40 s | varies widely |
The tour figures come from John Novosel's frame counts in Tour Tempo. The amateur and LPGA ranges are typical values from the same research and coaching literature, not one official table.
What it means: his total time is tour-like, but it's split the wrong way. The backswing is about 0.2 s shorter than a tour player's and the downswing is slightly slower. A rushed backswing leaves the body no time to sequence, so the upper body starts down first. That's the head move in section 4. This is the third report in a row at ~2:1 (6-iron, October 7 driver, now this), so it's a habit, not a one-off.
Nine key positions, filmed face-on from an elevated phone. André is right-handed, so the target is to the right of the image. The top of the club leaves the frame at the top of the swing.
P-numbers follow the standard 10-position swing model. Impact is the frame where the clubhead blurs through the ball and the ball leaves the tee.
The white line marks the centre of the head at address. The gold line marks the ball. At the top the head is slightly behind the white line, a normal load. At impact it has moved most of the way to the gold line. The camera didn't move: the alignment stick and the fence stay in place. Distances are estimated from stance width with perspective correction, so treat them as ±1.5 inches.
What the camera measured against typical tour values for a driver.
| Measure | André | Tour reference | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head at top vs address | ~1.5 in to trail | 0–4 in to trail | OK |
| Head at impact vs address | ~5–7 in to target | 0–2 in (stays or moves back) | Fix |
| Hips at impact vs address | ~3 in to target | ~4–6 in to target | A bit short |
| Spine tilt at address | ~12° away | ~10–15° away | Good |
| Spine tilt at impact | ~0° | ~25–35° away | Fix |
| Ball position | 2–3 in inside lead heel | Opposite lead heel | Minor |
| Tempo ratio | ~2:1 | 3:1 | Fix |
Tour references are typical values from 3D motion-capture coaching data and face-on tour footage, rounded. Measurements from one 2D phone video are approximate.
This video has no launch-monitor screen, so his numbers come from his October 7 driver session at Mariners Point.
| Metric | André (Oct 7) | Average male amateur | Low-handicap amateur | LPGA Tour | PGA Tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club speed | ~87–89 mph* | ~93 mph | ~105–110 mph | 96 mph | 115 mph |
| Ball speed | 129 mph | ~133 mph | ~155–160 mph | 140 mph | 171 mph |
| Launch angle | 16° | ~13° | ~12–13° | 13.2° | 10.4° |
| Carry | 213 yds | ~214 yds | ~250–260 yds | 218 yds | 282 yds |
| Tempo ratio | ~2:1 | varies | ≈3:1 | ≈3:1 | 3:1 |
*Estimated from ball speed ÷ a typical smash factor of 1.45–1.48. Tour figures: TrackMan 2024 tour averages. Amateur figures: TrackMan amateur averages by handicap (rounded); "low-handicap" means roughly 0–5.
Where it connects: with the head moving forward and the tilt lost, the low point of the swing moves toward the ball. That usually means a less upward strike, more spin and a face that's harder to square. On October 7 the drive curved 38 ft. Keeping the head back is the most direct way to turn his efficient 213-yd carry into straighter, longer drives.
| Report | View | Head movement found | Tempo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-iron | Down-the-line | — | ~2:1 |
| Driver, Mariners Point (Oct 7) | Down-the-line | ~5 in down, ~2 in toward the ball | ~2:1 |
| Driver, Crystal Springs (this) | Face-on | ~5–7 in toward the target | ~2:1 |
The connection: the two driver views show the same move from different angles. In the downswing the head goes down, toward the ball and toward the target, so the upper body "covers" the ball instead of staying behind it. One cue fixes all three directions: keep the head where it started until the ball is gone.
Confidence: high on the head movement and the tempo, which are measured against the fixed alignment stick and fence. Moderate on the exact inches and tilt angles, since this is a single elevated phone view.
Film from this same spot. Put a vertical strip of tape on the phone screen at the target side of the face at address. Hit 5 drivers: the face must stay behind the tape until the ball is gone.
Objective feedback on the exact fault measured here.
A friend holds a headcover (or a club grip) just outside the lead ear at address. Make half-speed swings without touching it until after impact.
Teaches the feel of the head staying back while the body turns through.
Swing to the top. Bump the lead hip 3–4 inches toward the target while the trail shoulder goes down and the head stays back. Pump twice, then swing through.
Makes the hips lead and builds the tour impact tilt (25–35° away).
Rehearse to a 3:1 tempo track: three counts back, one through. Start with practice swings, then hit balls.
A slower, complete backswing gives the lower body time to start down first.
Use the perpendicular stick already on his mat as a marker, set level with the lead heel, and tee the ball on that line.
Encourages the upward strike: higher ball speed and less spin.
Hold every swing in the finish for a three-count.
Protects his best asset while the downswing changes.
| Week | Focus | Session (≈40 swings) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Head behind the ball | 15 headcover-drill half swings · 15 phone-tape swings, filmed face-on · 10 full drivers |
| 2 | Hips lead, tilt grows | 15 bump-and-tilt pumps · 15 three-quarter swings feeling the trail shoulder down · 10 full drivers |
| 3 | Tempo 3:1 | 20 swings to a 24/8 track · 10 drivers with the tee at the lead heel · 10 swings at full speed, holding the finish |
| 4 | Retest | 10 drivers on a launch monitor, logging club speed, ball speed, launch, spin, carry and curve, plus new face-on and down-the-line video |
Head at impact: 5–7 in forward → 0–2 in
Spine tilt at impact: ~0° → 20°+ away
Tempo: ~2:1 → 3:1
Finish: keep it held and balanced
For the next session: film face-on at chest height from 3–4 m, square to the ball, with the whole club in frame. Add a down-the-line view and a launch-monitor readout, in slow motion (120–240 fps) if possible.