How to hammer it like Hideki Mastuyama

The Six key things you can learn from Hideki Matsuyama’s golf swing

The World No.3 is Japan’s highest ever ranked male golfer, and with five PGA Tour titles under his belt at just 25 years old, he’s proved himself to be an outstanding competitor.

Matsuyama tore apart the field on the final day of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, birdieing all three of his final holes to card a course-record equalling 61 on his way to a five-shot victory over Zach Johnson. 

His win pushed him in to the top spot of the FedEx Cup rankings, and he ranks consistently well in the PGA Tour averages. At the time of writing Matsuyama is ranked second for both strokes gained tee to green and birdie average, in addition to being ranked third for scoring average. 

But what makes him so good? Top PGA Coach and Woburn’s Head Pro Luther Blacklock says a huge part of his recent success is down to the fact that Hideki Matsuyama’s golf swing is better than textbook.

Here, Blacklock he reveals the six key lessons you can learn from one of the Tour’s best player from tee to green.

Tilt your spine slightly to right 

 You can’t see it too well from this angle, but Hideki sets up with his spine tilted slightly to the right at address. His left arm, clubshaft and ball also form a perfectly straight line.

Ignite the left shoulder 

Like Adam Scott, Hideki gets the club moving with his shoulders – in particular by turning the left shoulder under his throat. His wrists are slightly under-hinged here. Great for the driver.

Allow your right hip to turn 

 Hideki’s quiet wrist action facilitates a shoulder turn of 100-plus degrees. And because his shoulder turn is so good, look how much his right hip has moved back. No stack and tilt here!

Leverage the ground 

 If you resist your shoulder turn with your right hip you’ll not only damage your back, you’ll never be able to hit  this position, where your knees squat slightly as you apply force to the ground.

Hit it slightly on the up 

Hideki has lost some height here but it’s nothing to worry about. His left shoulder rises to compensate and helps him hit up on the ball. He’s fantastic coming into impact.

Hold your spine angle 

My only minor criticism of Hideki’s technique is that he stands up a little too much in his finish. Ideally, I’d like to see him retain the spine angle he created at address into his followthrough.