Swing AnalysisSwing AnalysisA frame-by-frame review of a second 8-iron swing from the November 4 session at Mariners Point, filmed in slow motion and measured with the full reference frame (grid, center lines and diagonals), plus the complete range-screen readout. Second 8-iron report in the logbook.
Bottom line: the best 8-iron so far, by a hair. 126 yds total, 123 carry, 94.0 mph ball speed, and only 6 ft of curve. It lands at 43° and stops within 3 yds, the same flight as report #1 with a straighter line.
The slow-motion clip shows a clean, centered strike and the same reliable frame: connected takeaway, hips that hold their depth, balanced finish. The head still drops, about 4½ in by impact (vs ~6 in in report #1), and launch stays high at 23°, so the 8-iron still flies only ~6 yds past his 9-iron.
6 ft of curve, centered contact and the same distance twice in a row: a repeatable 8-iron.
Keep the cap on its address line, especially in the first half of the backswing, where the dip starts.
Hands over the lead thigh at impact to bring launch from 23° to ~18° and add carry.
| Metric | André #2 | André #1 | LPGA avg | PGA avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball speed | 94.0 mph ★ | 93.5 mph | 99 mph | 115 mph |
| Club speed (est.) | ~68–69 mph | ~68–69 mph | 74 mph | 87 mph |
| Carry | 123 yds ★ | 122 yds | 130 yds | 160 yds |
| Flat carry | 123 yds | 122 yds | — | — |
| Total | 126 yds ★ | 125 yds | — | — |
| Launch angle | 23° | 22° | 17.6° | 18.1° |
| Apex | 69 ft (23 yds) | 68 ft | 26 yds | 31 yds |
| Landing angle | 43° | 43° | 46° | 50° |
| Curve | 6 ft ★ | 22 ft | — | — |
| Hang time | 5.0 s | 5.0 s | — | — |
| Proximity | — (no target) | — | — | — |
★ best 8-iron numbers in the logbook so far. Club speed isn't on the screen: at a typical 8-iron smash of ~1.36–1.38, 94 mph of ball speed means about 68–69 mph. The curve direction isn't reliably readable on the panel (glare), so only its size is logged.
What it means: two swings, almost identical numbers (±1 yd, ±0.5 mph): this is his real 8-iron today. The gap to the LPGA average is mostly launch: ~5° too high. Same speed with ~18° launch should be worth ~128–130 yds carry.
This clip is an iPhone slow-motion video: the swing was captured at 120 frames per second and plays back 4× slower. Times below are converted to real time (each frame = 1/120 s, about ±0.01 s).
| Group | Backswing | Downswing | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| André (8-iron #2, slow motion) | ~0.45 s | ~0.31 s | ~1.5:1 |
| André (8-iron #1, same session) | ~0.50 s | ~0.28 s | ~1.8:1 |
| André (9-iron #1, Oct 28) | ~0.50 s | ~0.25 s | ~2:1 |
| PGA Tour (Tour Tempo, "24/8") | ~0.80 s | ~0.27 s | 3:1 |
Tour figure: John Novosel, Tour Tempo. Frames: takeaway 66, top 120, impact 157 (54 and 37 frames at 120 fps). If the phone recorded at 240 fps, every time halves but the ratio stays the same.
What it means: a quick, short backswing, as in all his irons. The ratio is the one to watch: a slightly slower, fuller backswing (~0.6 s) moves it toward 2.5:1 and gives the hands time to lead at impact.
Nine key positions, filmed from behind (down-the-line). The target is into the picture. Times are real time from takeaway.
Photos are numbered in the order they happen in the swing.
Left: impact close-up in slow motion (frames 155–158, 1/120 s apart): clubhead arriving, at the ball, ball launched. Right: the sole shown to the camera after the swing, an "8" with no bar under it (on his clubs only the 6 and 9 have the bar).
Club: 8-Iron, read on the sole in the video. Logged as report #2.
| Measure (vs address) | Top | Impact | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head, height | ~2 in down | ~4½ in down | Fix less than #1 (~6 in), same pattern |
| Head, toward ball | ~1½ in | ≈ 0 in | Good back on its line |
| Hips, depth (toward ball) | ~1 in back | ~1 in toward | Good minimal |
| Hips, height | ~1 in up | ~1½ in up | Watch slight stand-up |
| Hands at impact | — | ~2 in fwd · ~1 in up | Watch could lead more |
| Club | Carry | Total | Ball speed | Launch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-Iron (best) | 146 yds | 150 yds | 107 mph | 20° |
| 7-Iron | 144 yds | 147 yds | 104 mph | 22° |
| 8-Iron #2 (best) | 123 yds | 126 yds | 94.0 mph | 23° |
| 8-Iron #1 | 122 yds | 125 yds | 93.5 mph | 22° |
| 9-Iron | 116 yds | 117 yds | 92.2 mph | 27° |
Both 8-irons confirm it: ~21 yds under the 7-iron but only ~7 yds over the 9-iron, with almost the same ball speed as the 9. Less added loft at impact is the key to a healthy ~12-yd step.
Freeze the cap height before you start back, and keep it there until the lead arm is parallel. 10 slow swings, then full speed.
Feel the hands over the lead thigh at impact. Target: 17–19° launch with the same 94 mph.
Count "one-two" back, "three" down. A fuller backswing makes room for the hands to lead.
Confidence: high on ball flight (range screen), club ID and impact; good on tempo; moderate on head and hip distances.