Steve Pratt's Hit it longer.com

When Charles Howell III came onto the PGA Tour under the tutelage of David Leadbetter, he was thought to be the next big thing.  Now in his early thirties, Howell has compiled more of a journeyman career with only 2 wins and one top 10 finish in a major championship as he enters his 13th year on tour.  But over 22 million in earnings still says that he's pretty good.

Howell was one of the youngest players to ever participate in a PGA event, at age 17!  At Oklahoma State he won the NCAA individual championships with a record setting score.  He was supposed to be a world beater - not just 'one of the guys."  So what holds Howell back from really being the star he was once projected to be?

Is it is putting?  While not super strong in many putting categories, he is above average in 3 putt avoidance and total strokes gained.   Could he improve?  Of course.  But it also makes me want to look elsewhere.

Driving?  YES!  This is where Charles Howell III seems to be the most inefficient through his career.

The stat that is the most telling is driving distance efficiency, where Howell ranked 175th last year, averaging only 290 yards on 116 mph average swing speed.  Compare that to Hititlonger.com recommended swinger Mark Wilson, who got 287 yards out of only 107 mph average clubhead speed.  Howell is losing approximately 17 yards off the tee.  Where is it going?

It is clear in this video that he is swinging down and across to the left  - a move that used to make Mike Austin scream at the TV when he watched golf.  Howell has been one of the steepest driver swingers on tour during the last several years, measuring at least 7.5 degrees downward.  This has caused him to have to use very high loft, reportedly as high as 12 or 13 degrees in order to optimize launch angle and flight.  This seems to be very common among notable David Leadbetter students - as Nick Faldo played his whole career at around 5 degrees downwards.

The good news is that Howell's new coach, Grant Waite, a former tour player himself, works with Howell on a Trackman Pro launch monitor.  Rumor has it that Howell is getting closer to just one degree down - and he has the stats to prove it this year.  So far in 2012, Howell is averaging 309 yards per drive, although it is early in the season.

I think in this day and age, you've just got to be as efficient as possible to keep up with guys like Dustin Johnson, J.B. Holmes, and Bubba Watson who can all be hitting mid irons into every par 5.  It is even worse when you tend to come in on a low trajectory.

Looks for Charles Howell III to have a better year this year if he continues being more efficient off the tee.