Bubba Watson's Swing: There is No Secret to His Success

Born on November 5, 1978 in Bagdad, Florida, Gerry Lester "Bubba" Watson, Jr. grew up in a home of somewhat limited means. As a form of entertainment, his father purchased him a golf club and Bubba then " learned to play the game by hitting whiffle-balls around the house" (Pro-Sport Management). With no formal training, Watson continued to "practice" but focused on his studies as he attended" Faulkner State Community College and then later transferred to the University of Georgia. As his golfing career took off, he left the university and launched his career. However, as he recognized the implications of leaving college "as a role model to young kids and in 2008, without telling his family and friends, he decided to go back to the University of Georgia and complete his degree" (Pro-Sport Management).

The question then arises as to how does a young man of a simple upbringing with the absence of coaching go on to "6 PGA wins (2014 Northern Trust Open, 2014 Masters Tournament, 2012 Masters Tournament, 2011 Farmers Insurance Open, 2011 Zurich Classic of New Orleans. 2010 Travelers Championship), 9 Second Place finishes, and 37 top10 finishes" (PGA TOUR)? The answer is no secret: Bubba Watson has made his mark in golf with his signature swing!

Though it was not his introductory appearance on the PGA tour, Bubba Watson was made a household name by his infamous shot in the 2012 Masters tournament. Bubba, stuck in the trees at the 10th, opted to not play it safe as most players may have done. After all, playing it safe makes you average. What Bubba did next was nothing close to average as he pulled off a "spectacular shot from the playoff -- a 155-yard L-wrench-shaped hook with a gap wedge off the pine needles that stopped about 10 feet from the hole" (Evans). Watson's ability to visualize the shot, make connection, twist the ball, and drive as far as he deems possible has kept him as the topic of conversation and coined the concept of "Bubba Golf."

Golf experts in order to both credit his style and attempt to find a way to either duplicate or at least compete with his abilities have analyzed Watson’s shot at the 2012 Masters, along with his consistency in making such shots. These experts have suggested that the secret is using more hands in order to stay down longer during the shot, practicing different shots and angles, and, in order to achieve the curve ensuring, "disparity between the face position and the swing path" (Evans). Most importantly, it is noted that many of the great icons in golf lifted their left heel during the backswing. This is not witnessed often these days but Bubba Watson is an exception to this and his lifting of the left heel seems to be working great for him.

Looking beyond the experts and their analysis, the best place to go for the "secret of the swing" is to the words of the great Bubba Watson himself. In an article in Golf Digest, Bubba explained his "10 Rules to Hit Huge." Watson suggested trying different lofts to find the right fit to increase your yards and also to try a shorter shaft. As far as procedures, he suggested that the "best way to really boom the ball out there is to swing from the inside and turn it over" (Watson). He says that teeing off with the same anger that you feel right after a bogey also aids in the long shot. On physical stance, Watson stated that flaring out your front foot and turning back your hips make all the difference. Practice, especially if you are smaller, but also to avoid getting rusty. Most of all, though, Watson said to find your best trait and use it to the best of your ability while accepting that some days are just not your day.

References

Evans, Farrell with Mitchell Spearman. "Dissecting the uniqueness of Bubba." ESPN Golf.

April 26, 2012. Web. 6 June 2014.

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/7850535/dissecting-uniqueness-bubba-watson-swing.

PGA Tour. "Bubba Watson." Web. 6 June 2014.

http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.25804.bubba-watson.html.

Pro-Sport Management. "About Bubba." Official Bubba Watson." The Official website of

PGA Golfer Bubba Watson. Web. 6 June 2014. http://www.bubbawatsongolf.com/.

Watson, Bubba with Guy Yocom. "10 Rules to Hit Huge." Golf Digest. July 2010. Web. 6 June 2014.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-instruction/2010-07/10-rules-watson.

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