My Game

In this opening video, Francesco and his teacher, Denis Pugh, describe how they went about changing Francesco’s swing from an old-fashioned hands-and-arms move to a body-powered action. Here, they focus on the backswing: increasing rotation and stretch.

As Francesco explains in this video, a “brake” is anything that prevents the flow of energy during the swing, like keeping the feet planted or restricting hip turn. Francesco’s goal was to eliminate the brakes that inhibited swing speed, and he shows here how you can do it, too.

As a player known for accuracy, Francesco acknowledges the risk he took in trying to make his swing more powerful. He and his teacher, Denis Pugh, saw quick results, but Francesco says he still works hard on precision, every day checking the positions he outlines here.

Denis Pugh, Francesco’s teacher, jokes about his star student’s accuracy: “He plays the three main ball flights: straight, straight and straight.” Here, Francesco describes how he hits various specialty shots when needed. Simple methods any player can try.

Francesco’s swing transformation extends to his wedge game, where using the body to power the motion pays off with consistent contact and distance control. In this video, Francesco demonstrates his new approach with the wedges, including how to vary trajectory and spin.

In this final video, Francesco shares his two favorite practice drills: one to check swing positions, the other to train for more speed. He also walks you through his pre-round warm-up, which requires exactly 25 balls and includes specific tasks totally unrelated to swing mechanics.