Comments on: Should Tiger Woods Fire Hank Haney?

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 05:30:23 +0000

I believe that as long as Tiger has Haney as his coach, his performance will be feast or famine. I choose to believe Jim Hardy when it comes to swing planes, two swing plane (one plane & two plane) versus Haney’s notion of just one plane. As for Tiger being too tall for the Haney’s one plane (flatter) swing, not true. Peter Jacobsen is one inch taller than Tiger and can play both one plane and two plane swings. Tiger is the best scambler in golf, but he has to be because of his inconsistency from the tee box. I’m not sure what the answer is and I’m sure Tiger doesn’t know either.

By: JD

JD — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:17:53 +0000

Now that Tiger has missed the cut in the British Open, the issue of his record with Haney is ripe for discussion. I don’t think you can say that his record with Haney is better than his record pre-Haney. He has missed more cuts (majors and not) while under Haney than before working with Haney. (For the record, I am going by the March 2004 as that time frame.) And I do think that maybe Tiger is too tall to be using Haney’s swing, although I don’t think that it caused his knee injury. Tiger has been snapping his left knee on the downswing for a long, long time.

By: mike

mike — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:58:55 +0000

I tried to switch to the Hainey swing with one of his disciples. I’m a little over 6′3″ I couldn’t get it. I’m not Tiger but I remember an article by Greg Norman years ago when he tried to switch to a flatter swing and he said then it was taking his god given talent of being tall and throwing it away. Something to think about.

By: Phil

Phil — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:33:43 +0000

Erik

That his swing puts additional strain on his knee is an interesting theory. I wonder what the biomechanics experts would say about that. I think the contrast between the straight driving Stenson with an upright swing and Tiger, with his roundhouse move, is rather astounding.

By: Erik Schneider

Erik Schneider — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:43:46 +0000

I dont think Tiger has a choice. The Haney swing does not suit someone as tall as Woods and its probably the reason that he keeps blowing out his knee. The Haney swing forces Tiger to absorb the force of his downward move first to the knee and second to the heel. If he keeps this swing, it will be the straw that breaks the knee for good.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 18:35:49 +0000

BD
It is a very intriguing decision/non-decision. But as we both mentioned, his record is better with the new model. So, all things considered, he will likely stick with what he’s got and work around the driver in competition as he tries to improve it and get all facets back to 100%. And who knows - perhaps he will eliminate the goblin that infects his driving and rise to new heights.

By: BD

BD — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:45:48 +0000

Several of the “pros” for firing Haney ASSUME that a swing change is warranted (see nos. 1-3 plus the last one). The question really is, does the Haney swing impair Tiger’s skill with the driver to such an extent that it needs to be junked in order for him to win majors? However, seems like we already know the answer to that, since Tiger has already won a bunch of majors with Haney.