Paddy Harrington’s Impressive (And Frightening) Move

This swing apparently produced a 367 yard drive, but a grain of salt warning, it was on a Scottish links course (the King’s Course at Gleneagles in Scotland) and we know how the ball runs half the distance of the total drive (joking, but close) … but anyway…

Padraig Harrington is the swinger in question here, and by the PGA Champions Tour caption, they apparently think his footwork is to be admired (we know they wouldn’t insult a player in their feature Tweets, so we have to assume a positive tone here).

If you follow me here, first of all the analyst here has no clue what Padraig is doing to get this distance, all he mentions is an extended right arm (observation), starting the downswing with the lower body (how else on earth would you start it) and how he comes up post-impact (more observation), and none of these things are relevant:

While you continue to look at his swing above, I can’t understand why he doesn’t just continue the short-stop slide, because that’s what allows him to get through that ball at the bottom with full power.

He’s *that close* to a near-flawless swing.

**Also as close to a devastating injury.

And this is what makes that swing work:

  1. Great classic hip turn with the Swinging Gate, getting that left femur to vertical,
  2. Weight transfers to the leading foot, great upper torso leverage with the leading arm,
  3. More of the same,
  4. Impact position nearly perfect with the weight to the leading foot, the spine tilt, ball at the swing bottom, *chef’s kiss*

But then this:

Sweet Mother of Moses…

I mean, to be so good from top to the 9 O’clock position, but then to drag that right foot to anchor it while sliding, that stops the hips turning to the finish, both legs locked tighter than Fort Knox…

He then has to step out of it with the (squared) leading foot to avoid major injury in any one of the three arrowed body areas… I mean, that sequence above is amazing to see on any of the Tours, it’s that good, but the post-impact is nightmarish, friends.

I like Paddy, he’s always experimented and I remember posting about his drive move with a step-around finish back around 2017:

… but with that twist of the leading foot before the step-around – I have no idea why top-quality players forget the first rule of walking, running or throwing (and we should include swinging here), in that you plant weight on the leading foot and release the trailing foot!

Absolutely mind-boggling to this blogger, because it’s such a natural thing to do.

Trying to time that foot twist or step-out to prevent injury, to me, is just tempting the fates.  One bad timing and…

Then again, if golfers actually ever thought the Modern Golf Swing X-Factor method was the best and most powerful way to swing a golf club, I should perhaps learn to temper my expectations.

Best of luck to Paddy, and I’m hoping we don’t next see a major injury in his near future swinging in this manner.

7 thoughts on “Paddy Harrington’s Impressive (And Frightening) Move”

    1. DJ Watts Post author

      He’s going to be velcroed to a hospital bed in short order if he keeps swinging like that – look at what has already happened to BDC in a year swinging that way.

      My guess is he isn’t even trying to slide that trailing foot but the force of the swing through the bottom yanks it forward, and he’s actually trying to keep it anchored.

      Gadzooks, he needs someone in his ear and quickly.

  2. makingsense247

    What a move. I’ve never seen that. Reminds me of the time I had tennis elbow and had to change my throwing action as I tossed food into the trash can. Jk. No, that’s awful. I hope he figures it out quick.

  3. BM

    DJ, speak a bit on ‘release the trailing foot’ and ‘the shortstop slide’. Are both of these moves back protective. I tried really letting my trail foot slide forward on the swing and it really removes the back pressure. Is that it’s magic?

    1. DJ Watts Post author

      No magic about it, BM – just simple biomechanics. You can’t walk or run keeping the trailing foot planted, and you can’t turn to the finish of a golf swing with a full hip and body rotation without releasing the trailing foot.

      Those who do end up doing all sorts of weird things such as rolling the leading ankle or snapping the leading foot up and around, or narrowing their stance unnaturally.

      Now that you have seen this effect for yourself, watch how fully and aggressively you can get onto that leading foot on the transition- it will unlock your power 😊

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