Editor’s note: We tasked our resident equipment nostalgist with mining Getty Images’ archives from the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock for interesting photos. Here are his selections. 

David Duval hits from the rough at Shinnecock Hills, site of the 2004 U. S. Open, during first-round play June 17, 2004. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Patience, one-handed finishes, and keeping your cool. USGA championships challenge each facet of your game. You have to be “on” for all 18 holes. Insert the “one shot at a time” analogy, but it is very much true. Simple when executed but as the game goes, it is the greatest challenge. The challenge of Shinnecock Hills on a standard day is amplified in a U.S. Open.

A generational blend of equipment. Tiger Woods tees off his Titliest PT 3-wood with a steel shaft. During this time in 2004, we would see clubs from the late 90’s in play blending into the early 2000’s. Launch monitor use became a common practice beginning in 2006 on the PGA Tour on-site, which made for quicker equipment changes.

SOUTHAMPTON, NY – JUNE 16: A Taylor Made golf employee tightens a screw on the new R7 quad driver during the third day of practice at the 104th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on June 15, 2004 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

One of the big splashes of the equipment world in 2004 was the launch of the TaylorMade R7 Quad. The four adjustable weights represented a new level of player optimization not seen at the time. Soon, a wrench in each golf bag would be a necessity. 

Brad Faxon competes at Shinnecock Hills, site of the 2004 U. S. Open, during first-round play June 17, 2004. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Another big splash during this time was the 2003 release of the Titleist 983K and 983E model drivers. Brad Faxon is seen here swinging the K model. This driver was considered large at 365cc’s. With nearly every driver at 460cc’s. It is amazing to see the standard of a club change in just over two decades.

The feeling of victory. Retief Goosen completes his journey, solidifying his victory on the home hole. In 2004, as a spectator, you had to capture the moment on your digital camera or film. Not a mobile device in sight, soaking in the scenes of the 2004 U.S. Open. Just a sign of the times when it comes to hosting championships at Shinnecock Hills.

Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond (9 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Black 75 TX

Mini driver: Callaway Elyte (11.5 degrees @10.5)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 9 X

Irons: Callaway Apex Pro (3-5), Callaway Apex Forged Prototype (6-PW)
Shafts: Fujikura Ventus Black HB 10 X, KBS C-Taper 130 X

Wedges: Callaway Opus SP (50-10S, 54-10S, 58-08C)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey Damascus Milled Jailbird Mini

Grips: Golf Pride MCC Plus4 ALIGN

Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X

Check out more in-hand photos of Jackson Herrington’s clubs here.

In our forums, one user is curious about the pros and cons of a shorter backswing, particularly as someone who has a history of over-swinging.

@LUMA wrote:

“I have been a natural over swinger my whole life. That’s 30+ years of it ingrained. My main issue when I get out of whack is a backswing that is too long. Shortening it up fixes my issues immediately, every time.

“I recently took a month off and went to the range yesterday and today. It was a nightmare, just couldn’t figure it out. Shortened my backswing to what feels like 50% (which it isn’t in reality), and game is back immediately.

“Question is, do any of you have any “checkpoints” or swing thoughts to help with getting the club back to a certain point before transitioning? I can shorten it, but some sort of checkpoint or feel I could repeat every single practice swing and normal swing will help me ingrain the move so I don’t have to “think about it” anymore, the shorter swing will just become natural.

“I’ve been fighting this for so long and I want to try to shorten my backswing up naturally once and for all and not let the long swings creep back in slowly over time.”

Our members in the forum shared their own insight on the advantages of playing with a shorter backswing. Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

• Rapidcat: “I’ve dealt with this issue for 40+ years (single figure ‘cap).Early wrist hinge on the backswing is the only way to fix this that has worked for me.Believe me, I’ve been down dozens of rabbit holes.Do yourself a favor and take on board some of @MonteScheinblum’s info on here and his Rebellion Golf website (google it to find).

  BTW, I have no affiliation with him, just a fan of his teaching.”

• PitchPlease: “I have the tendency to let my arms run off at the top of my swing which causes sequencing issues and over swinging, so I’ve been working on making a shorter more compact back swing.The three drills I use most and have had a great impact on my swing are:1. Alignment stick under right arm – I have a stick about 1/2 the length of a normal one. It creates a barrier when my left arm touches it. Two extra benefits for me are: a) creates “connection” for right arm but unlike headcover or towel, it doesn’t pin the right elbow to my side allowing it to lift a little like it should in the swing, and b) my other tendency is an inside takeaway – the stick helps because I’ve found out that if I take it inside then my left arm first touches near the forearm, whereas when arms are more in front and on plane then it touches my left bicep first, so great feedback there too.2. Wall drill – I keep an extra iron in my office and when I am on calls I stand perpendicular to the wall with left foot about 6inches from it. I make backswing and the wall creates a barrier where I can’t go more than just above left arm parallel. Need to be careful here though so you don’t reverse pivot or make a weird compensation to miss the wall.

  3. Pump drill / Tommy Fleetwood-style cutoff swings – on the range I always start my session with some shoulder to shoulder Fleetwood style punch shots… similarly, I will work the pump drill where I break the swing into takeaway, turn to top, pump down twice, swing. Helps me with sequencing and always feel like I compress it better after this drill.

  Finally, I will do a modified pump drill as my practice swing out on the course. Think Justin Rose but not quite as deliberate.”

• Brokensticks: “Im also a notorious overswinger and its coming from seeing way to many videos on ”how to get speed” and its all just bigger turns and over time it had gotten out of control.I still hit it good most of the time but it relies on me practicing alot. The difficult part is trying to do less in the golf swing, its much easier to tune things up than it is to tune it down.Ive taken some lessons for people here and videos on myself doing different things and its like…- Trail hip back while keeping the knee bend. There is alot of info on ”straightening the trail leg for power” which according to AMG is mostly bogus. Im prone to shooting left hip forward which just causes me to spin and straightening the leg just makes it worse. Turn ”into” the leg

  – Dont let my arms collapse as it just send my arms around and up. I cant keep them straight and making a ridiculous turn when I try to look at the ball

  – Wrist condition. My right wrist goes into alot of radial deviation at the top which just sends my club across the line and and into my vision if its a driver. If I keep it in the ulnar side of things its not sending it.

  One of these doesnt really help and just makes me hit it like crap and need to hit all of the checkpoints for me to really influence how I deliver to club to impact. If I hit all of them it doesnt really feel like my swing is much shorter as they are still ”long” but with brakes set on different points in my swing. If I dont stop the hips from just spinning, I dont make any progress.”

Entire Thread: “Shorter Backswing (Checkpoint)?”