Thanks to the Chief for sending me the news that a young golfer named Mason Howell has qualified for the U.S. Open at the tender age of 17.
That’s heady stuff, but it’s unfortunately the good news.
The bad news is that Chief included a video montage of the young man’s golf swing, and I don’t know what else to call it except a five-alarm fire with regards to injury risk.
He’s obviously already a very talented golfer, but m assessment would be that the clock is already ticking on a future back issue, based upon seeing positions like this:
Here is the montage of some swings that have me wincing, watching the lower back torque and post-impact torsion:
I’ve already said that I hate doing these pieces, because you would almost think I’m rooting for disaster with the amount that I post – what I’m trying to do is to prevent others from trying to swing this way.
The unfortunate fact is that once a golfer achieves a certain level of success with their swing, it will be very difficult to dissuade them from continuing down that path – I would say young Mason is probably already convinced (along with his camp) that this is the way to do it, based upon results.
Not only that, listen to how excited this analyst is in examining Mason’s “X-Factor Stretch” here below:
And if you want to know about the “X-Factor” in all its glory, this man is celebrating a swing model that is wrecking backs the world over.
Absolutely criminal to be praising and showcasing this stuff.
Tiger Woods kept swinging in a manner that, aside from his car crash injuries, has ruined his body. Do you think he ever, for a second, considered making a switch to an actual mechanically-sound swing like the Classic Golf Swing model?
Nope – he broke his body on the altar of the Modern Golf Swing, likely completely bamboozled by the MGS’s flawed analysis of Ben Hogan’s swing.
Even back in 2018, when I was shocked to see some changes in his down swing (releasing the trailing foot post-impact), he was still twisting his lower back on the back pivot:
So, I wish Mason Howell the best of luck in the US Open and his already-set career path, but if he doesn’t change those mechanics, it could be a very short run ending sometime in his 20’s.
WAX Golf 
I’ve witnessed a few minus handicappers in their late teens-early 20’s (the majority get scholarships to golf in America) and I’d have to say 95% have swung like that.
That is unfortunate.
However many orthopaedic surgeons will be rubbing their hands together.
It is unfortunate.But at least they get to leave rainy england for a few years in the sunny southern states.Don’t know what the insurance is for back damage as a university student,mind you.
95% seems a bit low to me but I would rather not be right.
Anyways, this kid has to win ’em while he is young because wear and tear on the irreplaceable body parts is going to come fast and by chance (some where close to 100% he isn’t) he evades injuries, this is a young kids swing and as he matures, his body won’t be able to find these position.
An oddity that leads to a golfer’s modern golf swing deterioration is they have practice so much to be at the top level as is true of most athletes but due to the dangers of what they are repeating in the pursuit of perfection hastens their decline.
tbh with you 95% probably was me being generous and trying hide the horrible truth. haha
“An oddity that leads to a golfer’s modern golf swing deterioration is they have practice so much to be at the top level as is true of most athletes but due to the dangers of what they are repeating in the pursuit of perfection hastens their decline.” A deadly combination,indeed.
I had a convo years ago with our friendly CBC analyst, Chief, and he recounted to me that before the days of the Modern Golf Swing, a lot of pros had back issues… but it was from all of the time they spent bent over working on their putting. Muscle fatigue. Never from swinging.
Which is why of course many of the greats from Palmer onwards enjoyed a full career on the Senior circuit. Many of today’s players will be fortunate to still be playing and walking in their 40’s.
Unfortunately the only thing that is going to turn this around is when some golfer needs an extra 40 yards with his driver and cranks up the X factor torque about 10 times past the biological limit and in unleashing his massive hit, in the recoil he decapitates himself and his head goes off like a spinning top all on tv live. (Joke)
Actually the problem in the realization of the danger is the injuries are happening in small increments and compensations keep them hobbling along. DJ and some others have been doing a fine job of documenting this but for the most part, this message is in the backwaters of the golfing world.