Swing Sequence: Angel Cabrera

By Guy Yocom Photos by J.D. Cuban

May 13, 2010

WELL-AGED WONDER

As a young man I was extremely flexible, and my swing was very long -- perhaps too long. I could drive the ball great distances, but sometimes I would turn my shoulders and hips too far, and my accuracy would suffer. As I got older, I lost some of that flexibility, but none of my strength. My swing became shorter and -- strangely -- much better. My only goal is to have the clubface square at impact. I won the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters in my late 30s, largely because of my confident driving. Today, at 40, I believe there are more victories in my future, especially in the major championships. You should welcome getting older in golf. With greater knowledge of your swing, you too can keep improving.--Angel Cabrera

COLLISION COURSE

A stable lower body sets up a powerful explosion at impactAngel Cabrera is the last of the true caddie-yard players, his swing a rough-hewn, self-invented action steered mainly by instinct and desire. Cabrera walked three miles each way, seven days a week, to the Cordoba Country Club in Argentina beginning at age 10. He got his first set of golf clubs at 16 and turned professional at 20.His story is compelling, but no more so than the golf swing that has evolved into one of the most powerful and reliable in golf. His technique is grounded by massive, superbly conditioned legs that anchor a mighty winding and unwinding of his upper body."Angel's swing is like watching a duck on water -- effortless on top but working like hell underneath," says his instructor, Charlie Epps. "His lower body is stable and efficient with excellent footwork. It's like Claude Harmon said: You can't shoot a cannon off of ice skates."Cabrera is thick around the back and shoulders, with preternaturally fast arms and hands. Impact is a freight-train collision, his swing speed clocking in at 125 miles per hour, his ball speed upward of 195 mph. His natural ball flight is a towering fade, but he can adjust his trajectory on command by tweaking his ball position."Anyone who thinks a fade can't go as far as a draw should see Angel," Epps says. "His power and artistry are amazing."--Guy Yocom

Angel has no swing thoughts. His waggle is a wiggle of his right thumb, nothing more.

He swings the club out and away. It can only go inside from here.

Angel grew up playing soccer barefoot. No wonder he has such great footwork.

A big shoulder turn often means a bent left arm at the top.

Shoulders aligned to the right keeps the shaft on plane.

Great drivers like Angel have a passion for hitting the ball hard.

Right palm facing forward, turning down, shows upper-body flexibility.

Try to expose your right side to the target at the finish, as Angel is doing here.

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Swing Sequence: Angel Cabrera

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WELL-AGED WONDER

COLLISION COURSE

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