Photographs by J.D. CubanSTART YOUR ENGINES
The transition into the
downswing should be
powerful, but Reeves
likes to see clubhead
speed gather and
culminate through
impact. “I feel like I’m
swinging at 97 percent
of my max,” Mitchell
says. That’s fine, Reeves
says, “if the 97 percent
is at the bottom of the
swing—not the top.”
QUIET HANDS
There’s very little hand
action in Mitchell’s
swing, Reeves says. “His
arms keep pace with his
body, but he’s not trying
to pull the club into the
ball.” Mitchell says it
feels like his hands are
“naturally falling” when
he hits a big drive. “I’m
counting on my big
muscles, not my hands,
to deliver speed.”300-PLUS FADE
Unless there’s a stiff
headwind, Mitchell says
he’ll take on bunkers 310
yards out. He hits a fade
by rotating his torso
hard in the downswing
while preserving his
spine tilt. The fast
rotation makes it nearly
impossible for the club
to out-race the body,
leaving it slightly open
to his path at impact.“Even though I’m fading it, my tournamentball speed is around 187 miles per hour.”PRO-FILE
keith mitchell
27 / 6-1 / 190 pounds
St. Simons Island, Ga.driver
Mizuno ST
(9.5 degrees)ball
Titleist Pro VMIRROR IMAGE
A hallmark of Mitchell’s
swing is that the club
moves around his body
equally on plane during
the backswing and
follow-through, Reeves
says. “We’re constantly
working on this. I also
like how much his
shoulders have turned
as he finishes. If his
torso keeps moving, you
can bet he crushed it.”