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Swing Sequences
Swing Sequences
Golf Instruction

Driver Swing Sequence: Kenny Perry

By Matt Killen, Teaching Professional
with Ron Kaspriske
Photos by J.D. Cuban

Kenny Perry proves there's more than one way to bomb a drive

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1. AT ADDRESS

Let's start with his backswing. Although it might look unorthodox, it has all the components of any great ball-striker's. The difference is the order. Most pros turn the shoulders and then hinge the wrists. But Kenny sets his wrists early and then turns his shoulders and hips later.

1. AT ADDRESS

Let's start with his backswing. Although it might look unorthodox, it has all the components of any great ball-striker's. The difference is the order. Most pros turn the shoulders and then hinge the wrists. But Kenny sets his wrists early and then turns his shoulders and hips later.

2. AN EARLY HINGE

People notice Kenny's unusual takeaway. All he's doing is cocking his wrists earlier than most pros do. That's why the clubhead is outside his hands in this picture. It's his style.

2. AN EARLY HINGE

People notice Kenny's unusual takeaway. All he's doing is cocking his wrists earlier than most pros do. That's why the clubhead is outside his hands in this picture. It's his style.

3. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS

Kenny's early wrist set makes the shaft plane almost vertical halfway back, but if you look at his downswing, he's perfectly on plane, with the butt of the shaft pointing right at the target line. Getting to this position is the only thing that matters. Kenny can set the shaft on plane like this virtually every time he swings, and that's why he has one of the greatest combinations of power and accuracy in the game today.

3. THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS

Kenny's early wrist set makes the shaft plane almost vertical halfway back, but if you look at his downswing, he's perfectly on plane, with the butt of the shaft pointing right at the target line. Getting to this position is the only thing that matters. Kenny can set the shaft on plane like this virtually every time he swings, and that's why he has one of the greatest combinations of power and accuracy in the game today.

4. HIPS IN NO HURRY

Notice that Kenny's hips don't rotate back until the last few feet of his backswing. It's not a bad thing. The late rotation helps him complete his backswing.

4. HIPS IN NO HURRY

Notice that Kenny's hips don't rotate back until the last few feet of his backswing. It's not a bad thing. The late rotation helps him complete his backswing.

5. LOVE THAT LAG

His swing might look quiet, but here you can see how powerful it really is. Look at how much lag there is between his arms and the shaft.

5. LOVE THAT LAG

His swing might look quiet, but here you can see how powerful it really is. Look at how much lag there is between his arms and the shaft.

6. DELIVERING THE GOODS

Kenny delivers the true loft of the clubface into the ball, maximizing power, by keeping his left arm connected to his chest. His flat left wrist also is crucial to getting true loft and controlling the clubface.

6. DELIVERING THE GOODS

Kenny delivers the true loft of the clubface into the ball, maximizing power, by keeping his left arm connected to his chest. His flat left wrist also is crucial to getting true loft and controlling the clubface.

7. GETTING LEFT

Kenny is focused on shifting his weight to his left side as he swings through. You can see here that his legs are driving toward the target, and his right foot is pushing off, signaling

7. GETTING LEFT

Kenny is focused on shifting his weight to his left side as he swings through. You can see here that his legs are driving toward the target, and his right foot is pushing off, signaling

8. THE FINISH

Kenny's one of the best ball-strikers on tour. He's been in the top 10 in total driving (a stat that combines distance and accuracy off the tee) for the past three years. From shoulder high in the downswing to shoulder high after impact, he's perfectly on plane and maintains excellent balance.

8. THE FINISH

Kenny's one of the best ball-strikers on tour. He's been in the top 10 in total driving (a stat that combines distance and accuracy off the tee) for the past three years. From shoulder high in the downswing to shoulder high after impact, he's perfectly on plane and maintains excellent balance.
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