I turned on The Golf Channel the other day and caught a short piece of a “Playing With the Pros” show featuring JB Holmes.  I had seen this show featuring JB a few times but had never watched it all.  This time I came in near the end of the show, which I had never seen, just in time to hear his Lady amateur student ask a question that perked my ears up.  And JB’s answer was music to my ears.

The question was first preceded with a statement about his having a real short, ¾ backswing and it was obvious he did not cock his wrists at the top of his backswing.  I will add that JB’s backswing is also quite vertical and close to, if not, 12:00 o’clock.  She then asked her question, “Why did he not swing to parallel and cock his wrists at the top of the backswing.”

JB’s answer was short and sweet.  He said that if he cocked his wrists he lost at least 20 yards and hit it dead right.  I can’t remember exactly what JB said but I am sure the reference was that the longer swing and wrist cock, it messed up his timing.  His shoulders likely start the transition and get ahead of the ball and that is what causes the block dead right shots.

JB went on to explain that in his transition, he starts his lower body, feeling his hips move first.  Then in order, it is his trunk, shoulders, arms, hands and club.  This is the same sequence The PPGS recommends as it starts from the ground up.   Starting the transition with a lateral forward shift or slide of the lower body is what causes the upper torso to tilt slightly backwards and thus is behind the ball to impact.

JB then went on to discuss his power level and said that he doesn’t really swing that hard anymore.  He said that in his younger years he was all about hitting it as hard as he could.  He said that back then he swung so hard both feet came off the ground.  Now he swings hard but keeps both feet on the ground.

I can attest to JB’s length as I witnessed it first hand up close.  Two years ago at the Players Championship, DJ played a practice round with JB.  I was walking side by side with both of them.  The 12th hole at TPC Sawgrass is listed on the scorecard as playing 358 yards from the championship tees.  That morning, the wind was calm and the temperature was not yet scorching hot and humid.

The 12th hole is a slight dogleg left.  It plays maybe 20 to 30 yards shorter straight lining it over the corner.  This still is at the least a 325 yard, all air carry drive to the slight elevated or pop-up  green surrounded by a number of small and deep bunkers.  The rough is always real high and thick especially around the green which, along with all the bunkers, makes rolling a ball up impossible.  The only way to hit the green is air it there all the way.  They teed it up from just about dead back on the tee.
DJ hit first and hit a 3 wood right down the middle in perfect position for a short sand wedge to the green.  JB walked up with his driver in hand and teed his ball real high as he was going for the green.  He made a powerful swing, a ¾ backswing with firm, solid, “no cocking” wrist like I believe in, swing and teach, and the ball exploded off the clubface and was launched sky high over the corner toward the green.  The few trees and the high rocks and mounds on the corner hide the green so we could not see the ball land.

We walked out to DJ’s ball and when we reached it we could see JB’s ball on the green.  I shook my head in awe as I know his ball flew all the way as there is no landing short and running the ball up onto this green.  I looked at JB and sized him up.  He doesn’t look much bigger than me and even in my best younger and stronger days, I could not have flown the ball to this green, even from the ladies tees.

JB Holmes, according to his PGA Tour Player profile is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 190 pounds.  From what I just saw, JB can hit it 320 plus in the air anytime he wants.  That is super long for a guy his size.  So, it is obvious he is quite strong and can generate some serious club head speed.

After DJ hit and we were walking to the green seeing his ball sitting up on it, I asked JB if he worked out doing strength conditioning.  His comment was, “Never have and likely never will.  I have always had really fast hands.”  I can attest to it. He has really fast hands and that translates to really fast club head speed.

Using a ¾ vertical backswing with no wrist cock, JB said it all a proved that was the way to hit it longer and straighter.  Best of all he can really back up his statement as he showed us on the 12th hole that day, and you can see for yourself by following him any time he plays on the PGA Tour.

The Surge!

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