An Instant Golf^® Special Report

Martin Kaymer Golf Swing Analysis

 

by Robert Cotter
Professional Golf Ball Engineer
Director of Golf Swing Instruction, Instant Golf®

After fantastic wins at the U.S. Open and John Deere Classic, young Jordan Spieth is on fire as he heads to St. Andrews this week for the Open Championship.

Jordan's ascent reminds me of the rise of 2014 U.S.Open champ Martin Kaymer, the now 30 year old German phenom who broke on the scene a few years ago and quickly climbed to World #1 with his precise, stellar play.

Despite a slow start to the year, Kaymer has a knack for great play in big events. In fact, PGA Championship, Players Championship, and U.S Open titles comprise his only PGA Tour wins! His superb resume also includes 11 European Tour wins and a massive putt that clinched the 2012 Ryder Cup for the European team.

Martin's swing has remained the same throughout his golfing career. In this day and age of cookie cutter swings and swing methods du jour (ala Tiger), it is nice to see a player stick to what works for his body type, natural tendencies, etc...

Every professional golfer has a signature swing move(s) with their motion that distinguishes them from their peers. Jim Furyk's swing can be spotted and identified from 2 fairways over. It's also hard to miss Bubba Watson's enormous back swing length and artistic flair.

Kaymer distinguishes himself with 2 moves. He loads the club shaft at the top of the swing like an archer's bow, and then lets the club free wheel through impact into his finish position. And he does the latter a well as anyone in the game.

Watch the video below paying close attention to the torquing of the shaft at the top (9 seconds in) and the free wheeling through impact that starts at 10 seconds or as soon as the club head gets outside the hands:

 

The shaft completes the loading when Martin turns his body back to the target to begin the down swing. It then unloads in the down swing springing the club head through the ball.

Kaymer's not a huge guy at 165 lbs, but he drives the ball 291 yards on average which is longer than the majority of his peers. If you load the shaft like a bow, you will be rewarded with a turbo boost of speed through impact.

His free wheeling motion through the hitting zone forces his right hand and arm to straighten as if he is momentarily shaking hands with someone in front of him.

The feeling a golfer should have is that the right hand is stretching out to touch the flag or target before it wraps up into the finish position.

A long right arm and vertical hand also assures the club face is closing (pointing left for the right hand golfer) through and after impact which prevents the blocked shot (and can dampen any slice tendency).

So do you need to load the shaft at the top like Martin to hit the ball a long way and shoot great scores?

No, many top golfer's "place" the club to the top of the swing with a more demonstrable pause (Steve Stricker comes to mind). And their shaft loading and unloading occurs more gradually or later in the down swing.

This often requires the player to have more aggressive hand or body action through impact to square the face. Kaymer lets the free wheeling action of the shaft and club head do the work. His down swing is a result of the dymanics that came before it.

His body is essentially along for the ride after it starts the down swing. His swing repeats like a fine swiss watch, and he has 2 majors and a Players title to show for it.

In golf, there is more than one way to get the job done as evidenced by the distinctive moves of Furyk, Watson, and Kaymer. What's more, you can be sure they will all be headed to the World Golf Hall of Fame in the near furture.

Enjoy your July golf,