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Why does nobody teach Jack Nicklaus’ golf swing?

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A 40-year-old Jack Nicklaus led the PGA Tour in total driving in 1980, which is a combination statistic measuring where a player finished in driving distance (Jack was 10th) and where a player finished in accuracy (Jack was 13th), giving the Golden Bear a total driving number of 23. That total hasn’t been eclipsed since: not by a young Greg Norman, not by a young Ernie Els, not by a young Tiger Woods and not by a young Rory McIlroy.

In 1980, Jack Nicklaus also led the PGA Tour in Greens In Regulation. So what would the longest and straightest driver in history who also happened to be just as sharp with his irons do to the competition? Far past his prime, Jack Nicklaus won half of the majors that year. He won his 16th and 17th career majors: the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship, which he won by seven shots. Incidentally, nobody in 150 years has ever won a major by a wider margin at that age. Six years later, he would become the oldest man to ever win the Masters at 46. Consider also that Nicklaus won the career grand slam, yet again, after he turned 38.

Jack had obvious physical advantages over his peers, but there had been others with similar physical gifts, such as Mike Souchak, George Bayer, Arnold Palmer and Tom Weiskopf to name just a few. What Jack possessed that nobody else has ever had to such a degree was the combination of power and accuracy, which was partly due to his physical strengths, but mostly due to his technical skill. He simply had the better swing, by far.

1977 Open Championship

Yet, nobody that I know of today teaches the swing that Jack used. The closest to that philosophy is Butch Harmon, who teaches a wide takeaway and pays close attention to the footwork of his players. Jack Grout, who taught Nicklaus from adolescence, encouraged a wide takeaway to get the hands as high in the air as possible and to complement this movement with a full turn of the hips and great footwork. That means the left foot rolled in first and then lifted on the backswing, and then the left heel was planted to begin the downswing and the right heel rolled in and lifted as it was pulled off the ground by the full rotation of the body through the shot.

Why does nobody teach this swing?

Some argue to me that because equipment has changed so much, the swing should, too. Lighter, longer clubs don’t require as much of a build up in the backswing to produce power, and the difference in the center of gravity between a wood and a metal wood doesn’t necessitate that a player “cover” or “get up to” the ball with his right hip and spine angle. A metal wood has a center of gravity lower and deeper into the head than a wood, so one can and is encouraged to have more angle in his spine away from the target and to hit up on the ball to maximize distance.

This is a copout to the economics of the game. Distance sells, so every ad is about how long a driver will go. Teaching is biased toward maximizing distance, which requires one to hit up on the ball with very little spin. The ideal numbers for distance are readily available, yet nobody knows the ideal numbers for accuracy. But if it’s true that high launch and low spin give distance, then low launch and high spin should give accuracy.

Jack Nicklaus had the perfect blend of both, and that’s why his swing, or the philosophy that produced it, should be taught today to professionals and amateurs.

Even for the amateur, adding length to the swing will add length to their shots. And just as it will allow a professional to age gracefully — or spectacularly in the case of Nicklaus — it will allow the amateur to play with less pain in his body as he gets older. The former of these points was proven by Tom Stickney using Trackman data and published on GolfWRX just a few months ago. The latter, you might call a hunch, but it is a very well-educated hunch based upon watching and documenting what swings have lasted over 150-plus years of professional golf. It’s something I wrote about in detail in my book The Anatomy of Greatness.

Professionals are perfectly fit for their equipment. Most likely, amateurs are not, and so it is left up to them to get the most out of their bodies. When all things are considered, it is the more economical approach. To do this, they need only strengthen their grips and turn their hips.

Yes, there are plusses and minuses to every swing. I can just as easy as the next guy tell you all the things that can go wrong if a player overturns and tips to the left at the top, or all the things that can go wrong if the player sways off the ball and can’t get back. I’d risk all of those faults before I’d want to see someone so fearful of making a mistake that they don’t make a proper turn.

To make sure you don’t sway, feel the weight on the INSIDE OF YOUR RIGHT HEEL at the top of the swing. To make sure you don’t over turn and tip too far to the left at the top of the swing, either set up well behind the ball at address like Jack Nicklaus or move off the ball a few inches in the takeaway. I recommend the latter because it keeps the club low and wide. It also keeps it from going inside too quickly on the backswing.

Even the sedentary player can squeeze another inch or two out of their hip turn. In doing so, they will add length to their shoulder turn, which will add length to their shots. But just as importantly, it will add accuracy… a point proven by Trackman in this century and by Jack Nicklaus in the last.

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Former PGA Tour winner Brandel Chamblee is the author of the New York Times Best Seller "The Anatomy of Greatness," which examines the commonalities of the best golfers in history. He works as a studio analyst for The Golf Channel and is a mainstay on its "Golf Central" and "Live From" programs, where he has established himself as one of the most well-researched and opinionated figures in golf. In his PGA Tour career, Chamblee amassed more than $4 million in earnings. He was a three-time All-American at the University of Texas, where he earned a BS in Communications. Chamblee currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, and is a father of three.

107 Comments

107 Comments

  1. Pingback: Best 9 jack nicklaus golf swing - lindaadvisors.com

  2. Jimmy

    Sep 25, 2021 at 4:42 pm

    Great article! Only confirming Jack’s GOAT status.
    Dont forget ….he was the Greatest Sportsman as well.
    Ryder Cup…..the 1969 jacklin concession.
    Jack was not only the best most successful Professional he was also the most gracious.

  3. Paul

    Mar 1, 2019 at 11:21 am

    Mr. Chamblee. I own a copy of your Anatomy book. It is amazing and is in my top 5 golf books of all time. However, it is clear to me that Nicklaus was gifted with tremendous power. Thus, he could adopt a golf swing that produced accuracy. In addition, he used 100 compression balls which would not spin as much. But, because of his swing, he could still stop a ball on the green. In one of his golf books he says his shoulders turn back 120 degrees?! My son inherited extreme flexibility from his mother and he can hit the ball ridiculously far while swinging slowly. It’s annoying. The modern swing maximizes leverage. Given today’s technology, that is the swing for most people. But, look at Xander. The Nicklaus swing is alive and well for those who are talented. He will will a Master’s.

  4. geohogan

    Jan 4, 2019 at 11:14 pm

    For the past couple of decades restricting hip turn for more X Factor has been pushed by almost every golf instructor. So who is going to join GOAT to go against the flock of sheep called PGA instructors?????

    In “Golf My Way,” his 1974 book, he has this to say about the concept of a restricted-hip turn to create power:

    I understand that there is a theory in golf today that the hips shouldn’t turn on the backswing. The idea seems to be that the less you turn your hips, while still turning your shoulders, the more leverage you’ll generate.

    It’s hogwash, and here’s why.

    Stand erect with your arms at your sides and keep them there. Now hold your hips still and turn your shoulders.

    Impossible, right? Even the slightest shoulder turn forces some hip turn. And the more the shoulders turn, the more the hips are forced to turn, right?

    … unless he’s incredibly supple or some kind of contortionist.

    Thus you should never try to restrict your hip turn if you want to hit the ball a long way.

    • geohogan

      Jan 5, 2019 at 12:30 am

      When was the last time, or any time, a golf instructor on GolfWRX, ever said anything like this:

      “Jack does not believe in the concept of consciously restricting the hip turn. He allowed his hips to react to the swinging of his arms going back. And the amount of arm swing and hip turn was dictated by the club he was swinging–the least for a wedge and the most for a driver.”

      Jim Flick

  5. geohogan

    Dec 20, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    If it were that easy to teach Jack’s swing, dont you think he would pass it on to his sons who tried to make it on the pga tour?

    Gary is going to try again.

    The only person, I am aware of who knows what Jack did, wrote
    The Hogan Manual of Human Performance: GOLF, 1992.
    and he has a letter from JN, himself.

    • Simon Taylor

      Jun 12, 2019 at 5:29 pm

      Hey there Gerry .. I bought your book when it came out in the early 90’s .. it was revolutionary and liberating .. still is .. the enlightenment of simple physics communicated in layman’s terms.. you were prepared to say that alot of the stuff that never really seemed to make sense in golf teaching .. in fact didn’t! Fantastic stuff – hope you’re well!

  6. Tin Hut

    Oct 25, 2018 at 8:54 pm

    Everyone owns their own swing! A good teaching pro knows the fundamentals of what works and help a student find his way. At certain point the student has to make decisions based on his or her results.

  7. Platt

    Oct 2, 2018 at 4:41 pm

    Jack’s swing influenced many in the 70s and 80s, including Johnny Miller, Payne Stewart, Tom Watson and Danny Noonan: long, flowing with major lateral hip movement and at times a bit of early extension. That reverse c eventually led to Jack needing a hip replacement and a new swing style. For most of us mere mortals we’d do better to eliminate the extraneous hip drive and wrist timing required in the technique. I grew up learning to golf that way and I find it nearly impossible to unlearn that lateral motion towards the target with my long irons and driver. That’s why they don’t teach it anymore.

  8. Simms

    Jul 5, 2018 at 9:16 pm

    It is Joke sun…hand eye coordination at the Pro level will make any any any swing work…to learn golf you need to learn from a seasoned instructor who had build him/herself up to about a 10 handicap with the hand eye coordination of an average guy/gal. Almost anyone playing better then 10 from back tees has athletic coordination and could get real good with good instruction..anyone playing the more forward tees and shoots in the mid to high eighties is challenged in the hand eye coordination department good or bad swing.

  9. Nigel

    Jun 27, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    I don’t think Jack’s swing is a good swing. There are much better, easier ways to swing a golf club effectively. Jack had a lot of excess movements in his swing.

    I think most of today’s swing problems are because of people attempting to copy Jack’s swing. Prior to Jack the golf swing was much better across the board.

  10. Reeves

    Feb 11, 2018 at 2:47 am

    Another upright swing no one will teach Inbee Park…

  11. Paul

    May 15, 2017 at 10:00 pm

    He did change his swing working with Lucas Wald.

  12. H

    May 11, 2017 at 12:39 am

    Can somebody teach me Bubba Watson’s swing?

  13. Greg V

    May 9, 2017 at 10:49 am

    A better question would be: Why does no one teach Sam Snead’s golf swing?

    • stephenf

      Jun 2, 2017 at 3:16 pm

      Don’t know about “better,” but it’s a damn good one.

    • Jim

      Jun 15, 2018 at 11:47 pm

      …famous incident. Big shot member at high end club – doesn’t practice much, misses every 3rd lesson & isn’t improving. Finally confronts the pro and want’s – instead of (“the same” drills & flexibilty exercises the pro keeps asking (begging) him to do – to just teach him to swing like Sam – because “it’s so simple”.

      After finally having had about enough of the guy the pro said ” OK. Bend over & touch your palms flat on the floor” “I can’t do THAT”. “OK then, stand next to this desk, and jump up on top of it”…”Of course I can’t”

      “Well then, you can’t swing like Sam Snead”…

  14. James Stephens

    May 6, 2017 at 3:25 pm

    Branded haters are a bunch of geeks that have never done squat under the gun. Bunch of Foley biomechanistic nimrods!

  15. stephe finley

    May 5, 2017 at 10:59 am

    “Endomorphic”

    Much of your analysis is good. But Jack is not and never has been an “endomorph.” Throughout his career he was a mesomorph who got too fat at times. An overweight mesomorph is still a mesomorph.

    • stephenf

      Jun 2, 2017 at 3:49 pm

      Why do I care what the LAWS book says, when it comes to what an endomorph is? When he was fat, he was fat. When he wasn’t, he was solid muscle and a remarkably (and provably) good athlete. His time in the 100 when he was in 8th grade would’ve been upper 20% of the field in _last_ year’s times. He was one of the best players, possibly the best player, on a district-champion basketball team in high school, and he played freshman basketball at Ohio State. (He could also dunk, at barely 5’11.”) These are not the things endomorphs generally do.

      There is also the fact that it took gigantic amounts of food to make Jack fat, which is not typical of endomorphs. Also atypical is the fact that when he put his mind to it, he took the weight off relatively easily and kept it off for many years. Endomorphs tend to run fat even while barely overeating, and they find it difficult or impossible to lose weight and keep it off.

      “Thick legs,” if they’re heavily muscled as Jack’s were, are not a sign of endomorphism. As for what he was “in his youth,” he was really thin around the time he got the mild case of polio; mostly in shape because of other sports until about age 18 or 19; then ballooned from about 1959 or ’60 for the better part of a decade; then was thinner at 32, 35, and 42 than he was at 22. So it’s not really a matter of “slim endomorph when young, obese later.” From the time he got out of high school until he was in his mid-40s at least, he spent much more time in shape than out of it, and he didn’t have to go to particularly great lengths to do it. Mainly just play tennis and basketball a little, bicycle a little, and stop eating a half-gallon of ice cream at a time, which he self-admittedly did (and which I can entirely understand).

      In short, an overweight mesomorph is not an endomorph, no matter what it says in “LAWS” or in your own personal theory. To say so is to evidence a fundamental misunderstanding of the terms, although it’s not entirely implausible that even an inaccurate and superficial understanding might have some application to the golf swing. That is, an overweight mesomorph and an overweight endomorph (the latter being more likely, but certainly both exist) might have at least a large degree of overlap in what they need to address in their swings.

      The entire three-body-type concept is a little oversimplified, dubious, and outdated anyway, although it’s probably valid to say that certain observable characteristics associated with the three-type model do affect things you can and can’t do in a golf swing, tendencies, etc. What specific characteristics those are and specifically how they affect the swing is a different question.

  16. Mr Poopoo

    May 3, 2017 at 7:20 am

    Swing like Jim Furyk… all he does is break scoring records.

  17. Walt

    May 2, 2017 at 11:42 am

    I’d say my back & right wrist. Originally from Hutchinson, KS, I like J Hardy & 1 plane. Even as a super senior I’m hitting more good shots as a 1 planer, best that I can practice the method. No reverse C & 1 foot divots flying.

  18. Jo Momma

    May 2, 2017 at 10:36 am

    Jalen says Keep cashin those checks Brandel

  19. Greg V

    May 2, 2017 at 9:57 am

    Excellent comment.

    Another player who used the same type of swing was Tom Watson. If either had tried to mimic Ben Hogan, we never would have heard of either.

    One of the overlooked aspects of Jack’s swing was the fact that he swung level. That is, despite the big hip turn, he got back to impact pretty much where he was at address without ducking under the shot, or swinging over the top. His steady head position had something to do with that, as did the tutelage of Jack Grout. It’s not easy to swing level when your hands go high in the backswing, but Jack did.

    • Nathan

      May 3, 2017 at 7:23 pm

      • stephenf

        Jun 2, 2017 at 3:18 pm

        Yeah, I read it. How do you know it’s remotely true (the part about grabbing the hair, I mean)? I’ve seen Grout on film saying he did that.

    • stephenf

      May 5, 2017 at 11:04 am

      “Grout’s anatomical ignorance…”

      I mean, I just have to shake my head at internet warriors who are smarter than the guy who taught the greatest major championship player and arguably the greatest player period of all time, throughout his entire career. Nicklaus thought he was “ignorant” enough to keep going back to him for 40 years or whatever it was.

      Meanwhile, just hang around and watch how many of the modern players taught by modern geniuses end up with career-ending or career-altering physical problems by the time they’re 37, 40, 44, whatever.

      • stephenf

        Jun 2, 2017 at 3:15 pm

        I’ll just let your comment hang in the air for a while. People can make their own judgments. Nicklaus, for instance, with his inferior instruction, or Trevino with essentially no instruction, or Hogan with his inferior theories, were all about as likely or more likely to hit a green with a 5-iron than anybody in the current pack of oh-so-brilliantly-instructed phenoms. They also had scoring averages within about 0.5 to 1.5 shots of the best today, despite distinctly worse course conditions, less consistent (and shorter) balls, clubs with zero correction, _far_ more imperfect greens, and other advantages of the current generation.

        You can make the same argument about how top players overcome errors in coaching today, btw. All of these guys, not just the top players, are involved in “modern scientific instruction and training,” which should mean that the _average_ player is surpassing the average player, or even the top players, of previous generations. But they’re not. What we get mostly is a lot more distance with zero or close to zero scoring improvement. Tons of guys in all-max-out-all-the-time mode who are more interested in whether they hit 8-iron from 175 than whether they hit the green or got it anywhere near the hole.

        And, of course, a lot of the improvement really is equipment. I was a plus-2 amateur and eventually taught and played as a pro in my 20s and early 30s, reaching about a plus-4 level. So I have some idea what it is to hit a ball well. I was pretty long back then, probably top quartile among good players (forget the long-drive-competition gorillas). That was 30 years ago. I’m in my mid-50s now and hit even the basic forged irons they make now at least as far as I did then. The longest drivers I’ve tested in the past couple of years are at least 30 yards longer than I was then with persimmon. At least. Forty-plus under some conditions. That’s where the “science” mostly is.

      • Andy

        Mar 6, 2018 at 12:36 am

        They will have made enough money by then and the next crop of killer hitters will be coming out. Back in Jacks day , there wasnt much money in golf – its a different world today. Do you think Rory cares if he wins 10 more majors – he may just slide around for 10 years and be done. My opinion – you will see the top 10 -20 players move around pretty consistently . The top 30 down will change every few years

    • geohogan

      Jan 5, 2019 at 10:04 am

      @gregv, this quote describes how Jack dropped into the slot:

      One of my lifelong checkpoints is to keep the shaft be- tween my arms throughout the swing, as shown in the halfway-down and follow-through positions. This happens without my thinking about it, if I maintain my posture, keep my head steady and allow my body to react to the club.

      As so many have said, we dont hit the ball with our BS. As long as we drop into the Slot(5L)
      not too steep, not too flat… just right: If we keep the shaft equally between both arms in the DS.
      Despite their unorthodox BS, Jim Furyk and Miller Barber dropped into the slot in DS.

  20. Jason

    May 2, 2017 at 9:07 am

    Ive always admired Jacks ability to keep the face square for so long. You can see it in his right wrist on a lot of his short shots in the new Jack documentary.

    • Harleyweedwhacks

      May 9, 2017 at 1:09 pm

      He faded the ball. His face wasn’t square, trust me. Everyone curves the ball a little, so he chose a fade over a draw the majority of the time. But to do that his face was either closed or open.
      Just a thought.

  21. RG

    May 2, 2017 at 6:52 am

    Why dont people swing like Nicklaus?!? I dunno, why dont players swing like Hogan or paint like Van Gogh or sing like Pavarotti or write like Hemingway? Why dont you swing like Jack, Bramble? Silly rabbit…

  22. ND Hickman

    May 2, 2017 at 3:26 am

    This, of course, coming from the man who bashes coaches on twitter because they didn’t play on the PGA tour then blocks them for questioning his opinions? Maybe if you actually spoke to people who coach golf you’d have an answer to why the swing is taught the way it is now.

    • stephe finley

      May 5, 2017 at 10:41 am

      FFS. The question was really why people are so ready to dismiss what Jack thought about the swing and how he swung the club, when he’s the greatest major-championship player in the history of the game. It doesn’t have a freaking thing to do with online squabbles between teachers. How about addressing the substance of the thing.

      As for “why the swing is taught the way it is now,” it’ll be different in five years, or three. Unless you’re about 14, “the way it is now” is never a guarantee of rightness.

      • ND Hickman

        May 8, 2017 at 2:38 am

        No. The question was why don’t people teach jacks swing. My point was that Brandel has a track record of blocking people who teach golf.

  23. H

    May 2, 2017 at 2:59 am

    It’s the same thing as somebody asking why nobody teaches Dustin Johnson’s swing exactly. Chambles, you did it again, you really are a total shambles, you worthless piece of scum from a motherless goat, you’re putting arguments out there to incite violent reactions in people just for your own sick pleasure that you so seem to get out of this junk you write and spew from your inane brain

    • Adam Crawford

      May 4, 2017 at 11:08 pm

      I’m noticing a trend with your input to these conversations. I’m really confused as to why you read this site at all if you find it to be constantly beneath you.

    • stephe finley

      May 5, 2017 at 10:55 am

      So you don’t actually have anything to say on the substance of the question, other than making a ridiculous comparison between Dustin Johnson and the greatest major-championship player of all time, one with a swing that has significantly more quirks to it. Try not to be so Chamblee-deranged.

  24. Someone

    May 1, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    “But if it’s true that high launch and low spin give distance, then low launch and high spin should give accuracy.”
    This logic is false…accuracy and distance do not have a causal relationship. Distance could absolutely be related to launch and spin, but accuracy is reliant on aim and square contact.

    A combination of the four would equate to accuracy and distance. But the opposite of distance is a lack of distance, not accuracy. Lower trajectory and more spin would simply equate to a shorter shot, not a more accurate one. If you’re aimed incorrectly and/or have and open/closed face at impact, you will still not hit your target.

    If your argument is that a low banana ball is more accurate than a high one, you are wrong. The target was 250yds away, one ball misses to the right around 230, while the low high spin shot missed short at around 190, either way, both shots are innacurate. Now does one have a better chance of being in the fairway? Sure. No argument there. It would still be short of the ACTUAL target, which would mean innacurate. But lower traj/higher spin does NOT equal accuracy. It just means a lower shot with more spin could still be a slice or hook.

    If a sniper shoots at their target and misses to the right/left of target, they’re not going to aim lower and end up hitting the ground before their target…they’re going to adjust their AIM for accuracy and still fire the same distance shot.

    • Kind of missing the point

      May 2, 2017 at 12:29 am

      While I don’t agree with Brandel, hitting up on the driver is clearly the way to optimize it, and plenty of the games best drivers of the ball hit up like 5 degrees on it…you’re kind of missing the point. It’s not that lower launching higher spinning shots are more accurate because they are spinning more (though this is partically true…balls that spin more don’t dive off line quite as hard as low spinning balls do), it’s because of the type of action through the ball that is required to hit a high launched low spin ball vs a low launch high spin ball. The more upward angle of attack (generally speaking) the better the chance your body can stall it’s rotation and cause some gnarly rate of closure issues. So when you’re launching high and spinning low you’re putting a more on the ball that is, if you were to hit 1000 balls, going to miss more often and miss worse, again generally speaking. The more level you are the easier it tends to be to eliminate left pelvis stalling and alas eliminating rate of closure issues with the face. It’s way there really aren’t too many guys on tour that launch it super mega high. Most of the more accurate drivers of the ball have lower launch angles, and that’s not becuase “High spin is better”, it’s because a more level angle of ATTACK generally produces tighter misses, and that angle of attack producers the high spin. So brandels not completely wrong, he’s just kind of missing the point as to WHY higher spinning shots tend to be more accurate.

      • Someone

        May 2, 2017 at 7:00 am

        You are missing the point I am making. He’s using false logic to make you believe the comparison. Thanks for the other information though. I get that part, I was just nitpicking at what statements he uses to try and validate his argument. They are called argument faults and people get away with using them all the time. You can look them up if you want to see the list of different types of argument fallacies people use.

    • Mat

      May 2, 2017 at 3:10 am

      “The ideal numbers for distance are readily available, yet nobody knows the ideal numbers for accuracy. But if it’s true that high launch and low spin give distance, then low launch and high spin should give accuracy.”

      Such ridiculousness costumed in logic. Ugh. You can make a case without disingenuous statements.

    • Mat

      May 2, 2017 at 3:12 am

      You can also make a strong case that accuracy is the difference between a shot’s final location and the expected final location. I’m fairly certain that comes down to repeatability. “Adjusting your numbers” is about the worst way to shrink that difference.

      • Someone

        May 2, 2017 at 6:53 pm

        I agree. Accuracy is about aim and ability to keep the face square at impact. Those “numbers” would change each and every time because there are ever changing factors to consider like temp, weather, conditions, etc. accuracy is based more on skill, so numbers wouldn’t help anyone since they would NEVER be the same on any shot.

  25. Tyler

    May 1, 2017 at 11:09 pm

    I think what Mr. Chamblee is trying to say is that the golf swing shouldn’t be robotic and rigid. It needs to be a free-moving, rhythmic motion and it should follow our body’s natural rotation and flexibility. We shouldn’t try to force movements or positions. An example that comes to mind (other than Tiger) is Hideki Matsuyama. I don’t know about you, but every time I watch that guy swing it makes my hips and back hurt for him. I don’t think that Mr. Chamblee is trying to say that we should swing like Jack. In fact I believe that Mr. Watson is an even better example of longevity than Jack is and this is what he had to say about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51koke_JejM
    I think the bottom line is that we should teach the swing as a personal, natural movement; not like a machine. This is how Butch Harmon teaches it. He doesn’t require his students to force their bodies into new positions. He tweaks things here and there without interrupting the natural movements they already have.

    • H

      May 2, 2017 at 3:01 am

      Well then why didn’t he just say that we should swing with a free-moving, rhythmic motion, instead of spewing this garbage and precisely saying that we should swing like Jack did. Duh

  26. Jerry Dadoun

    May 1, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Shawn Clement

  27. DeShamBeau

    May 1, 2017 at 10:18 pm

    Can we get an editor for this headline, please? Yeesh.

  28. larrybud

    May 1, 2017 at 9:42 pm

    Someone tell Brandel that “total driving” is a COMPLETELY meaningless stat.

  29. OwlEyes

    May 1, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    The entire premise of this article is absurd. There is no such thing as a “technically perfect” golf swing, and just because someone was great with their own swing (Jack), doesn’t mean his swing is ideal for everyone. Jack wasn’t the best player ever because of his golf swing. Jack was the best of his era because he had the ability to focus harder than anyone else on the course, and to draw the most out of himself when he needed it. Give Jack the same golf swing as any of the mentioned pros in this article and he has the same record. The irony in this article is Brandel talks about “distance sells, but accuracy doesn’t”. The true irony is this: almost everyone in the world of golf is eager to believe that the problem with their game is entirely technical. The truth is is that is only true for a while; the better you get, there is less room to improve obviously. Eventually, you get to a point where there is nowhere further to go, your swing is a good as its gonna be for you, and you have to learn how to improve by other manners (course managing better, focusing better, etc). Obviously this has happened for everyone on the pga tour, as their swings are very repeatable and produce exceptional shots regularly. Bad shots are more a result of poor mental play than swing flaws at the pga tour level. The difference between pga tour players is like 90% mental; the ability to focus is what produces superior results, not the difference in technical skill between them.

  30. DAS

    May 1, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Hi Brandel

    Really appreciate your thoughts, I have learned this method and enjoy the game now 55 years old because of it…I must say I am disappointed that you did not mention Shawn Clement…Shawn teaches this method (wisdom in Golf…by the way he does features on GolfWRX.com now) and I do understand that you have met him…Shawn has been teaching the fundamentals that you identified in your book for years….

    Regards
    DAS

  31. Ray Bennett

    May 1, 2017 at 6:22 pm

    Why wasn’t Arnold Palmer’s swing taught by popular golf instruction? Same reason Jack’s wasn’t taught! Popular golf instruction after Bobby Jones considered the shut to open release swing was too complicated for the masses. Instruction went the way of the open to shut release which was taught by the early Scottish pros who migrated to America when golf came to the States. The only early instruction m books hat I have read that teach Jack’s and Arnold’s release and swing elements, were published by Age Mitchell. The books are “Essentials of Golf” and “Down to Scratch”.

  32. Tazz2293

    May 1, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    I did glean a nugget from this article. It is something I was wanting to do better and now will work on it doubly hard.

  33. Christosterone

    May 1, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    PS:
    Great article btw…
    Quite insightful…

    -Chris

  34. Christosterone

    May 1, 2017 at 5:03 pm

    The following players emulated jacks reverse c in their own way:
    Colin Montgomerie
    Jeff Maggert
    Johnny Miller
    Vijay Singh
    Greg Norman
    Steve Ballesteros
    Thomas Pieters
    Robert Streb
    Kyle Stanley
    Thomas Pieters
    Sean O’Hair
    Tony Jacklin
    Tom Watson

    I could go on for hours but Jack essentially invented the reverse c load and finish…its in the DNA of so many greats and tons of guys on tour…you simply have to look at it…
    Some, like Robert Streb, copied Monty who copied Nicklaus but the moves are all in the same family.
    Heck, it can be argued Phil and Daly use Jack’s long languid move and ridiculously awesome footwork…

    Seek and ye shall find….again, I could go on but jacks reverse c is EVERYWHERE if u just know how to look.
    Maybe not his flying elbow but the hips and feet and head back thru impact resulting in that patented finish are all over the tour….especially the younger guys who incorporated jacks moves, maybe not even knowing, to gain distance and repetitive consistency…

    -Chris

    • Greg V

      May 2, 2017 at 10:16 am

      I don’t think that they copied Jack. I think that they got into the reverse C position because of their upright swing plane on the backswing. Byron Nelson discovered that the upright swing could work with steel shafts. Lots of players discovered that leverage could produce distance.

      On the other hand, Ben Hogan had so much flexibility in his wrists that he was able to develop great distance through lag. Sergio Garcia can do the same thing today. That’s just players developing their own method to use their own best talent.

      • Christosterone

        May 2, 2017 at 1:41 pm

        Colin Montgomerie personally told me that he watched his dads royal Troon archived BBC reels to watch jacks swing.

        He copied jacks positions as a kid…

        -Chris

    • Christosterone

      May 2, 2017 at 1:44 pm

      The reverse c was a way to hammer the ball with your head back and down.
      Grout would hold jacks hair on full swings to enforce this move.

      This head down and back through impact is what vijay and Johnny Miller in particular aspired to…because they both obsessed over jack.

      And it is this position that sets everything into place whose logical conclusion is the reverse c.

      -Chris

    • geohogan

      Jan 5, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      @christosterone

      jack at age 15, two years after bout with polio
      hdcp +3

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU8CHBZY19k

      A impact, weight has fully transferred to outside of left foot(everted)
      so what appears a reverse C is really only side bend.
      So fully is his pelvis turned toward the target, that at impact he is ‘side on’

      Call it side bend and todays golf experts are all over it.LOL

  35. Charlie

    May 1, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    I’m 70+ and fairly fit but have only a typical senior’s flexibiity. My best drives are 240ish yards. I have tried to get more length by allowing the hips to turn a bit farther (slightly raising the left heel) but for me it leads to timing problems and non-solid impact that I cannot fix (I’ve really tried). I hope it works for some of you.

    • Nocklaus

      May 8, 2017 at 8:34 pm

      Flare out your right foot a bit at adress, that helps.

  36. Bubba Smith

    May 1, 2017 at 4:05 pm

    Classic swing that should be taught. Ballard, Grout, Harmon, Greenwood. All teach this in some form and their students excel for years. Although not as long, Byron Nelson. Upright with great foot and leg action. I’m 53 and still hitting hit long thanks to learning to turn off the ball.

  37. Mike

    May 1, 2017 at 3:00 pm

    Another way of going about it, is to think “Right pocket back” that Greg Norman advocates. Gets you a good turn behind the ball without thinking about much else.

  38. Peter G

    May 1, 2017 at 2:46 pm

    This is a great article by Brandel but I think he should emphasize that that the swing that should be taught is Jack’s swing as outlined in his book Jack Nicklaus: The Full Swing. In this book, which was published in 1984, Jack teaches the swing that he revamped in the late 70’s that led him to have his great year in 1980. As Jack mentions in this book his swing had gotten too upright and he changed it by flattening his swing a little and tucking in the right elbow – not letting it fly so high as it famously did before. This swing is Jack’s best swing and is the one that should be taught

  39. Dj

    May 1, 2017 at 2:20 pm

    Answer? Because you have guys like hank Haney that would just say he’s across the line

  40. Arik

    May 1, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    simple. he had a great illustrated book made that shows it all in detail. You can buy it used for a couple bucks or view it free at local library. It wasnt the swing anyway. It was his mental ability. Just take a look at Tiger

    Daly had a very similar swing and learned from this book.

  41. Howard

    May 1, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    Oh God, this guy writes on WRX now? Actually a pretty good article, I’ve wondered the same thing for years.

  42. alfriday

    May 1, 2017 at 1:36 pm

    Brandel needs to meet Shawn Clement.

    Shawn even has a series of videos going through Brandel’s book discussing how he has been teaching a similar philosophy for 30 years.

  43. Paul

    May 1, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    Ref your statement

    ‘The ideal numbers for distance are readily available, yet nobody knows the ideal numbers for accuracy. But if it’s true that high launch and low spin give distance, then low launch and high spin should give accuracy.’

    Ideally, to optimize both distance and accuracy with a driver, you need a powerful, boring, mid-trajectory ballflight that will hold its line for longer. For that you need to minimize spin not maximize it. Low lauch, high spin is not advisable, especially into wind, the result would be a shorter, ballooning ball flight, and loss of accuracy.

    Jack Nicklaus’ stock shot throughout his career was a power fade. For a RH player, with a a normal fade you can expect a high launch, high spin shot. A power fade involves reducing both launch angle and spin rate. This dynamic strike action is achieved by reducing the loft on the clubface during the strike which is helped by an upward hand path, facilitated by an open stance which will position the ball slightly forward. The hands and wrists will adjust naturally as they rotate counter-clockwise to keep the clubface open the path.

    A high power draw, utilizes similar principles. For a rh player, a normal draw will be low launch, low spin. A more dynamic action, and a more powerful ball flight, is otained from launching the ball higher, whilst not increasing spin. This is helped with the ball set back slightly in the stance.

    Power fades and draws rely on a very efficient release action to maximize the magnitude of the strike to generate enough traction to influence the spin rate. Easy for players like Jack, Dustin, Rory et al. Much less so for golfing mortals.

  44. JD

    May 1, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    I was taught my golf swing by my father and grandfather, who undoubtedly watched and modeled their game after Nicklaus and Palmer, as many did of that era… needless to say I grew up with a hideous front leg kick that I thought was completely normal, as I was slicing everything except the putter. It was only a few years ago that I started really taking golf seriously again at age 24 and realized stabilizing my front foot is the best way to have any control over where the ball is going.

    Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler are the only swings that should be taught. You tell me how dudes that are probably 50lbs less and 6 inches shorter than most of us are out driving everyone…

    • Donald Quiote

      May 1, 2017 at 4:49 pm

      It is amazing how for they both hit the ball being so small compared to players like DJ. The amount of swing speed JT creates is crazy!

      • PeteT

        May 3, 2017 at 8:48 am

        Golf swings and efficiency in the swing only gets you so far. After that it is all muscle composition (fast twitch muscle versus slow twitch). This is why some people can jump higher than others; the difference between sprinters and marathon runners. Correct muscle training in this regards can help increase this ration, but there is only so much you can do to augment what you were born with.

  45. Grizz01

    May 1, 2017 at 12:53 pm

    I’ve always wondered the same thing? I was born in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio. Yep, I followed the Golden Bear in everything. Jack Nicklaus ‘Lesson Tee’ was thee book I went to constantly. I’m a little taller and broader than Jack. Found his swing to be perfect. Although I never understood the philosophy of the 70’s… hit at 80%. I went full bore all the time. My senior year in HS I was averaging 280-285 off the tee. I knew every time I teed the ball up I’d never be shorter than 275, even on bad hits (slice). Today at 54 with a full knee replacement I can’t quite shift my weight to the left side like I once did, but I still feel the footwork. I have to point my left foot our more when coming through… I don’t think I could do that if I had learned the modern swing. Yes! A lot of very good athletes today are missing out on power by not looking into Jack’s swing. But it is not for everyone. It does take an incredible athletic move to it pull off.

  46. Jim H

    May 1, 2017 at 12:25 pm

    Mr. Chamblee, I totally agree! I learned Jack’s swing from viewing his videos “golf my way.” I learned that the reverse C allows the club to stay on plane with high hands on the back swing, to a reverse C follow through. The swing also has an out to in plane that allows for the power pull fade. The raising of the left heal provides a golfer the ability to relieve pressure off the lower back. Golf is a great game that can be played for a lifetime. Why not invest in a swing that allow for that longevity.

    • larrybud

      May 1, 2017 at 9:44 pm

      If you’re concerned about the lower back, you surely don’t want players doing a reverse C

  47. John Wunder

    May 1, 2017 at 12:19 pm

    Great read BC!! I couldn’t agree more and I believe a lot of the swing mechanics that have riddled the 30-39 year old crop was Tiger 2000. Restricted hips, big shoulder turn to a full release. With Tigers flexible 175 pound frame he was genetically engineered to swing that way at that speed. WITH THAT BODY, NOT BULKED UP. As you see as he bulked up he had to create a more bodied swing where a more horizontal move down allowed him to match up his arms to his body. Look at the 2000 swing and his head is on a swivel not a pogo stick.

    I also truly believe that the efforts of those who attempted to mimic that perfect move fell way short. That endeavor ruined or limited the careers of countless players.

    http://www.golfwrx.com/40697/spartans-v-robots-tiger-and-rorys-advantage/

    Point being Tiger was the only person on the planet who could do it consistently under the gun. He was a unicorn.

    Lack of hip rotation was a Leadbetter teaching staple early, as you are well aware working with that program when I actually met you in Palm Desert in 2000. Thankfully we are seeing a more old school approach to the golf swing. I believe that this crop from 20-29 will play better for a longer period of time. I find it humorous that Mickelson with his less athletic frame and full hip turn has had how many surgeries? And is still planning on Ryder Cupping till he’s 50…..hmmmmmmmmm.

    I respect yah Brandel.

  48. God Shamgod

    May 1, 2017 at 12:09 pm

    One other thing. Citing Nicklaus’s combined driving stats, which is relative to his competition on the PGA Tour at that time is worthless to this discussion. The vast majority of players in 1980 had a similar high hands, left heel move. Of course Nicklaus was the best at it, but it doesn’t prove much.

    He also played persimmons with steel shafts when he had a combined driving stat of 23. Of course, the rest of the field did as well. Proving nothing.

  49. Brad Sparrow

    May 1, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    Can someone explain to me what he means by this?

    set up well behind the ball at address like Jack Nicklaus or move off the ball a few inches in the takeaway.

    I can’t visualize what he’s talking about. Play the ball further up in my stance? Back up a little up?

    • Grizz01

      May 1, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      I can’t explain it any better. BUT… I’d suggest you YouTube Jack’s swing and study it. You’ll catch the idea.

    • Rob Bailey

      May 1, 2017 at 1:38 pm

      I think Curtis Strange would be an example of pulling off the ball at the beginning of his backswing. You can YouTube his swing. But unless your hitting hundreds of balls per week, you’d be better off hitting every shot like Jack did, where the ball position is about an inch behind his left heel with every club.

    • larrybud

      May 1, 2017 at 9:45 pm

      Brandel wants you to sway off the ball, then time it perfect and sway back.

    • geohogan

      Jan 5, 2019 at 10:28 am

      @brad sparrow
      Im with you.
      IMO, what Jack did was set up left(open stance), with intent to start ball flight left of his final target. From caddy view it APPEARS that the ball is positioned off his left heel, but relative to his stance at address(to the left of target line) the ball is closer to the center of his stance. ie back.
      From that position, he can freely sweep the inside of the ball with a slightly open clubface for his fade, with ball position back in his stance relative to his orientation to where he wants the ball to start.

      Jack did not sway to the right in his BS. Check his top of BS position. His butt hole is always facing behind his left heel. “farting behind his left heel”(Gerry Hogan)

      His right hip and right elbow even with the back of the ball at impact and sternum well ahead of the ball. NO way did he set up behind the ball at address. is it any wonder no one teaches Jack’s way of swinging? Like Lag; have to be able to define it before one can attempt to duplicate it.

  50. Golf teacher

    May 1, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Great article Mr. Chamblee! I would have to say Jack taught me the game in a virtual and visual perspective sense. After viewing his videos ” golf my way”, I learned the importance of the reverse C which allows the club to stay on plane with high hands on the back swing, to a reverse C follow through or finish. Jack ( the greatest of all time), also has an out – in plane that allows for the power pull fade on all his shots. The most important part of a golf swing longevity is pressure on the back. The raising of the left heal( right heal for left hand player) provides a golfer the ability to relieve pressure off the lower back, thus ensuring the ability to play golf into their late 70’s.
    Golf is a great game that can be played for a lifetime. Why not invest in a swing that allow for that longevity.

  51. david

    May 1, 2017 at 11:56 am

    I would like to know why no one putts in the style of Nicklaus; he was only one of the greatest all time putters, and perhaps the greatest clutch putter of all time.

    • Grizz01

      May 1, 2017 at 12:56 pm

      I think there are some basic fundementals to all ‘styles’ of putting. Once you have them your stance and style is what you are comfortable with. Jack was a great clutch putter because of a strong will and mind. I don’t think that can be taught.

  52. Tazz2293

    May 1, 2017 at 11:49 am

    I believe a better Title would have been “Why don’t more Golf Instructors teach the fundamentals of Jack Nicklaus’s golf swing.”

  53. Jack Nash

    May 1, 2017 at 11:48 am

    Because the Reverse C isn’t popular anymore?

  54. God Shamgod

    May 1, 2017 at 11:48 am

    I’m pretty sure Bubba has a similar hip turn and left foot action. He also gets his hands extremely high.

    The premise that nobody teaches or swings with the late-70s lead heel lift is off base even if Chamblee is correct that it would help many people.

  55. SHG

    May 1, 2017 at 11:32 am

    I teach it, not trying to promote, but pretty blanket statement that just isn’t true.

  56. Alex T

    May 1, 2017 at 11:30 am

    Any coach worth their money would only teach Jack Nicklaus’ swing to Jack Nicklaus. Yes there may be some aspects that translate, but without Jack’s physiology no amateur could hope to replicate it. You wouldn’t teach Dustin Johnson’s swing to an out of shape amateur for fear of injury, so why Jack’s? Coaches should be teaching based on student’s physiology and capability, not an impossible to replicate archetype.

  57. SB2259

    May 1, 2017 at 11:15 am

    It is being taught today: ever heard of Jimmy Ballard? You know, Golf Digest’s Teacher of the Decade of the 1980’s. He’s taught that swing for over fifty years and he taught it to some of the best in the world including Ballesteros, Hal Sutton, Curtis Strange etc. Ask Rocco Mediate about Jimmy Ballard. For some reason Ballard doesn’t like the limelight and doesn’t advertise. If you can, find his video,”The Fundamental Golf Swing,” or his book, “How to Perfect Your Golf Swing.” He definitely teaches the Nicklaus swing fundamentals and tells you in so in his book and video.

    • Pingpro1959

      May 1, 2017 at 1:02 pm

      Agree with you in principal, Jimmy’s not teaching much any more and very few guys teach his ways. Butch probably the closest

  58. Mark

    May 1, 2017 at 11:11 am

    Everyone should visit Wax Golf. DJ Watts has been teaching this for years.

  59. James

    May 1, 2017 at 11:09 am

    Just as they do not teach Inbee Parks upright swing…only Don Trahan and Doug Tewell favor the more upright swing. Note, Mrs. Parks swing was not very effective in the wind this past Sunday something I have seen in upright swings before,

  60. Scott

    May 1, 2017 at 10:56 am

    Are there some drills to create the length without moving too far off the ball?

  61. Nathan

    May 1, 2017 at 10:39 am

    Great article and the book Anatomy of Greatness was well written too.

    • Ulric Thiede

      May 1, 2017 at 1:05 pm

      absolutely right. As a senior of 78 years I’ve been playing golf for 50 + years. I’ve always let my left foot rise a bit to get my shoulder to turn to 90 degrees, and I can still turn so much and get enough length with my driver. But the new teaching pros all advise my senior friends to keep the left foot flat on the soil, even if they cannot manage a full shoulder turn. I hope that Chamblee’s point will be listened to carefully.

      • indyvic

        May 3, 2017 at 3:38 am

        Good point Ulric. I’m now 68 and a year ago hurt my lower back and was down to using a cane to walk for months. I have recently found through practice/play that if I raise my left heel I can open up more on the backswing without feeling pressure on my lower back. Keeping my left foot flat stressed my lower back and I could ‘feel it’ after a few holes. In addition this movement permits me to swing in a wider arch and stay on plane. IMO learning what works for one’s physical condition is the swing to use and extend one’s playing years.

  62. DB

    May 1, 2017 at 10:16 am

    Great article, great stuff, thanks for contributing. I agree that instructors overlook both Nicklaus and Snead, who had swings that performed throughout their lives.

  63. Rev G

    May 1, 2017 at 9:45 am

    Thanks Brandel. Another swing key of Nicklaus’ that is under stressed today, is his pointing of his chin well behind the ball at address. This allows the swing to come straighter/wider in the back swing, with more turn. And then keeps the swinger behind the ball on the down swing. When done with consistency your swing gains power, but also accuracy because it keeps the swing on plane.

  64. Brian McGranahan

    May 1, 2017 at 9:34 am

    Shawn Clement?

  65. SV

    May 1, 2017 at 8:46 am

    Agree. Another example, and similar swing is Sam Snead. The “modern swing”, keeping the feet planted, creating a lot of torque is out of reach for most amateurs. Letting the hips turn more will relieve stress on the back for pros and amateurs.

    • gvogelsang

      May 3, 2017 at 9:23 pm

      This is a great insight.

      Sam Snead is probably the best swing model – ever. Like Jack, he got his hands high on the backswing, but not quite so high as Jack. He also rolled his left foot, and let his left heel come off the ground. But, unlike Jack, he finished a little more around, and allowed his back to straighten on his follow through. So, he avoided the reverse C that one sees in Jack, and Colin Montgomery and the like.

      You would think that by having high hands in the backswing, and finishing a little lower and more around, that his shot pattern would be a slight over the top fade. And, indeed, Sam Snead had that shot as his bread and butter shot. But, he was also so talented that he could stay behind the ball a fraction, and swing out beyond himself to hit a draw when needed.

      Jack was a fine all-around athlete growing up, but Sam Snead might have been the most gifted athlete to have played golf, certainly in the 20th century. He was good enough that he might have pursued a baseball career.

      Sam doesn’t get the recognition that is needed, because Ben Hogan in the same era was considered the best ball-striker ever. Sam did just fine against Ben, and his career was strong on Tour until he was in his 60’s. Swing theorists should pay way more attention to Sam Snead.

  66. Uhit

    May 1, 2017 at 8:42 am

    A great article, to a great swing, that works good and feels good…
    …I just have to practice more often.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open betting preview

Published

on

As the Florida swing comes to an end, the PGA Tour makes its way to Houston to play the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

This will be the fourth year that Memorial Park Golf Course will serve as the tournament host. The event did not take place in 2023, but the course hosted the event in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Memorial Park is a par-70 layout measuring 7,432 yards and features Bermudagrass greens. Historically, the main defense for the course has been thick rough along the fairways and tightly mown runoff areas around the greens. Memorial Park has a unique setup that features three Par 5’s and five Par 3’s.

The field will consist of 132 players, with the top 65 and ties making the cut. There are some big names making the trip to Houston, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala.

Past Winners at Memorial Park

  • 2022: Tony Finau (-16)
  • 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
  • 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Memorial Park

Let’s take a look at several metrics for Memorial Park to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds:

Strokes Gained: Approach

Memorial Park is a pretty tough golf course. Golfers are penalized for missing greens and face some difficult up and downs to save par. Approach will be key.

Total Strokes Gained: Approach per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.30)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.26)
  3. Keith Mitchell (+0.97) 
  4. Tony Finau (+0.92)
  5. Jake Knapp (+0.84)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Memorial Park is a long golf course with rough that can be penal. Therefore, a combination of distance and accuracy is the best metric.

Total Strokes Gained: Off the Tee per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+0.94)
  2. Kevin Dougherty (+0.93)
  3. Cameron Champ (+0.86)
  4. Rafael Campos (+0.84)
  5. Si Woo Kim (+0.70)

Strokes Gained Putting: Bermudagrass + Fast

The Bermudagrass greens played fairly fast the past few years in Houston. Jason Kokrak gained 8.7 strokes putting on his way to victory in 2021 and Tony Finau gained in 7.8 in 2022.

Total Strokes Gained Putting (Bermudagrass) per round past 24 rounds (min. 8 rounds):

  1. Adam Svensson (+1.27)
  2. Harry Hall (+1.01)
  3. Martin Trainer (+0.94)
  4. Taylor Montgomery (+0.88)
  5. S.H. Kim (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

With firm and undulating putting surfaces, holding the green on approach shots may prove to be a challenge. Memorial Park has many tightly mowed runoff areas, so golfers will have challenging up-and-down’s around the greens. Carlos Ortiz gained 5.7 strokes around the green on the way to victory in 2020.

Total Strokes Gained: Around the Green per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.76)
  2. S.H. Kim (+0.68)
  3. Scottie Scheffler (+0.64)
  4. Jorge Campillo (+0.62)
  5. Jason Day (+0.60)

Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult

Memorial Park is a long and difficult golf course. This statistic will incorporate players who’ve had success on these types of tracks in the past. 

Total Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.45)
  2. Ben Griffin (+1.75)
  3. Will Zalatoris (+1.73)
  4. Ben Taylor (+1.53)
  5. Tony Finau (+1.42)

Course History

Here are the players who have performed the most consistently at Memorial Park. 

Strokes Gained Total at Memorial Park past 12 rounds:

  1. Tyson Alexander (+3.65)
  2. Ben Taylor (+3.40)
  3. Tony Finau (+2.37)
  4. Joel Dahmen (+2.25)
  5. Patton Kizzire (+2.16)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: App (24%) SG: OTT (24%); SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Fast (13%); SG: Long and Difficult (13%); SG: ARG (13%) and Course History (13%)

  1. Scottie Scheffler
  2. Wyndham Clark
  3. Tony Finau
  4. Joel Dahmen
  5. Stephan Jaeger 
  6. Aaron Rai
  7. Sahith Theegala
  8. Keith Mitchell 
  9. Jhonnatan Vegas
  10. Jason Day
  11. Kurt Kitayama
  12. Alex Noren
  13. Will Zalatoris
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Adam Long

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Picks

Will Zalatoris +2000 (Caesars)

Scottie Scheffler will undoubtedly be difficult to beat this week, so I’m starting my card with someone who I believe has the talent to beat him if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Will Zalatoris missed the cut at the PLAYERS, but still managed to gain strokes on approach while doing so. In an unpredictable event with extreme variance, I don’t believe it would be wise to discount Zalatoris based on that performance. Prior to The PLAYERS, the 27-year-old finished T13, T2 and T4 in his previous three starts.

Zalatoris plays his best golf on long and difficult golf courses. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the category, but the eye test also tells a similar story. He’s contended at major championships and elevated events in the best of fields with tough scoring conditions.  The Texas resident should be a perfect fit at Memorial Park Golf Club.

Alex Noren +4500 (FanDuel)

Alex Noren has been quietly playing some of his best golf of the last half decade this season. The 41-year-old is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in Florida including a T9 at The PLAYERS in his most recent start.

In his past 24 rounds, Noren ranks 21st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 30th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 25th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bermudagrass greens.

In addition to his strong recent play, the Swede also has played well at Memorial Park. In 2022, Noren finished T4 at the event, gaining 2.2 strokes off the tee and 7.0 strokes on approach for the week. In his two starts at the course, he’s gained an average of .6 strokes per round on the field, indicating he is comfortable on these greens.

Noren has been due for a win for what feels like an eternity, but Memorial Park may be the course that suits him well enough for him to finally get his elusive first PGA Tour victory.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes found himself deep into contention at last week’s Valspar Championship before faltering late and finishing in a tie for 3rd place. While he would have loved to win the event, it’s hard to see the performance as anything other than an overwhelming positive sign for the Canadian.

Hughes has played great golf at Memorial Park in the past. He finished T7 in 2020, T29 in 2021 and T16 in 2022. The course fit seems to be quite strong for Hughes. He’s added distance off the tee in the past year or and ranks 8th in the field for apex height, which will be a key factor when hitting into Memorial Park’s elevated greens with steep run-off areas.

In his past 24 rounds, Hughes is the best player in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens. The ability to scramble at this course will be extremely important. I believe Hughes can build off of his strong finish last week and contend once again to cement himself as a President’s Cup consideration.

Akshay Bhatia +8000 (FanDuel)

Akshay Bhatia played well last week at the Valspar and seemed to be in total control of his golf ball. He finished in a tie for 17th and shot an impressive -3 on a difficult Sunday. After struggling Thursday, Akshay shot 68-70-68 in his next three rounds.

Thus far, Bhatia has played better at easier courses, but his success at Copperhead may be due to his game maturing. The 22-year-old has enormous potential and the raw talent to be one of the best players in the world when he figures it all out.

Bhatia is a high upside play with superstar qualities and may just take the leap forward to the next stage of his career in the coming months.

Cameron Champ +12000 (FanDuel)

Cameron Champ is a player I often target in the outright betting market due to his “boom-or-bust” nature. It’s hard to think of a player in recent history with three PGA Tour wins who’s been as inconsistent as Champ has over the course of his career.

Despite the erratic play, Cam Champ simply knows how to win. He’s won in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so I feel he’s due for a win at some point this season. The former Texas A&M product should be comfortable in Texas and last week he showed us that his game is in a pretty decent spot.

Over his past 24 rounds, Champ ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 30th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses. Given his ability to spike at any given time, Memorial Park is a good golf course to target Champ on at triple digit odds.

Robert MacIntyre +12000 (FanDuel)

The challenge this week is finding players who can possibly beat Scottie Scheffler while also not dumping an enormous amount of money into an event that has a player at the top that looks extremely dangerous. Enter McIntyre, who’s another boom-or-bust type player who has the ceiling to compete with anyone when his game is clicking on all cylinders.

In his past 24 rounds, MacIntyre ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 17th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 10th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses.

MacIntyre’s PGA Tour season has gotten off to a slow start, but he finished T6 in Mexico, which is a course where players will hit driver on the majority of their tee shots, which is what we will see at Memorial Park. Texas can also get quite windy, which should suit MacIntyre. Last July, the Scot went toe to toe with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a narrow defeat. It would take a similar heroic effort to compete with Scheffler this year in Houston.

Ryan Moore +15000 (FanDuel)

Ryan Moore’s iron play has been absolutely unconscious over his past few starts. At The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field, he gained 6.1 strokes on approach and last week at Copperhead, he gained 9.0 strokes on approach.

It’s been a rough handful of years on Tour for the 41-year-old, but he is still a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who’s young enough for a career resurgence. Moore has chronic deterioration in a costovertebral joint that connects the rib to the spine, but has been getting more consistent of late, which is hopefully a sign that he is getting healthy.

Veterans have been contending in 2024 and I believe taking a flier on a proven Tour play who’s shown signs of life is a wise move at Memorial Park.

 

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Why the race to get better at golf might be doing more harm than good

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B.F. Skinner was one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, developing the foundation of the development of reinforcement, and in doing so, creating the concept of behaviorism. In simple terms, this means that we are conditioned by our habits. In practical terms, it explains the divide between the few and far between elite instructors and college coaches.

To understand the application, let’s quickly review one of B.F. Skinner’s most important experiments; superstitions in the formation of behavior by pigeons. In this experiment, food was dispensed to pigeons at random intervals. Soon, according to Skinner, the pigeons began to associate whatever action they were doing at the time of the food being dispensed. According to Skinner, this conditioned that response and soon, they simply haphazardly repeated the action, failing to distinguish between cause and correlation (and in the meantime, looking really funny!).

Now, this is simply the best way to describe the actions of most every women’s college golf coach and too many instructors in America. They see something work, get positive feedback and then become conditioned to give the feedback, more and more, regardless of if it works (this is also why tips from your buddies never work!).

Go to a college event, particularly a women’s one, and you will see coaches running all over the place. Like the pigeons in the experiment, they have been conditioned into a codependent relationship with their players in which they believe their words and actions, can transform a round of golf. It is simply hilarious while being equally perturbing

In junior golf, it’s everywhere. Junior golf academies make a living selling parents that a hysterical coach and over-coaching are essential ingredients in your child’s success.

Let’s be clear, no one of any intellect has any real interest in golf — because it’s not that interesting. The people left, including most coaches and instructors, carve out a small fiefdom, usually on the corner of the range, where they use the illusion of competency to pray on people. In simple terms, they baffle people with the bullshit of pseudo-science that they can make you better, after just one more lesson.

The reality is that life is an impromptu game. The world of golf, business, and school have a message that the goal is being right. This, of course, is bad advice, being right in your own mind is easy, trying to push your ideas on others is hard. As a result, it is not surprising that the divorce rate among golf professionals and their instructors is 100 percent. The transfer rate among college players continues to soar, and too many courses have a guy peddling nefarious science to good people. In fact, we do at my course!

The question is, what impact does all this have on college-age and younger kids? At this point, we honestly don’t know. However, I am going to go out on a limb and say it isn’t good.

Soren Kierkegaard once quipped “I saw it for what it is, and I laughed.” The actions of most coaches and instructors in America are laughable. The problem is that I am not laughing because they are doing damage to kids, as well as driving good people away from this game.

The fact is that golfers don’t need more tips, secrets, or lessons. They need to be presented with a better understanding of the key elements of golf. With this understanding, they can then start to frame which information makes sense and what doesn’t. This will emancipate them and allow them to take charge of their own development.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Valspar Championship betting preview: Elite ballstrikers to thrive at Copperhead

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The PGA TOUR will stay in Florida this week for the 2024 Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is a par 71 measuring 7,340 yards and features Bermudagrass greens overseeded with POA. Infamous for its difficulty, the track will be a tough test for golfers as trouble lurks all over the place. Holes 16, 17 and 18 — also known as the “Snake Pit” — make up one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf and should lead to a captivating finish on Sunday.

The field is comprised of 156 golfers teeing it up. The field this week is solid and is a major improvement over last year’s field that felt the impact of players skipping due to a handful of “signature events” in a short span of time. 

Past Winners at Valspar Championship

  • 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2019: Paul Casey (-8)
  • 2018: Paul Casey (-10)
  • 2017: Adam Hadwin (-14)
  • 2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)
  • 2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)

In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value). 

Key Stats For Copperhead

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach grades out as the most important statistic once again this week. Copperhead really can’t be overpowered and is a second-shot golf course.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)

  1. Tony Finau (+.90)
  2. Nick Taylor (+.81)
  3. Justin Thomas (+.77)
  4. Greyson Sigg (+.69)
  5. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+.67)

2. Good Drive %

The long hitters can be a bit limited here due to the tree-lined fairways and penal rough. Playing from the fairways will be important, but laying back too far will cause some difficult approaches with firm greens that may not hold shots from long irons.

Golfers who have a good balance of distance and accuracy have the best chance this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+91.3%) 
  2. Zach Johnson (+91.1%)
  3. Sam Ryder (+90.5%)
  4. Ryan Moore (+90.4%)
  5. Aaron Rai (+89.7%)

3. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Adding ball-striking puts even more of a premium on tee-to-green prowess in the statistical model this week. Golfers who rank highly in ball-striking are in total control of the golf ball which is exceedingly important at Copperhead.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1.32)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.29)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.24)
  4. Cameron Young (+1.17) 
  5. Doug Ghim (+.95)

4. Bogey Avoidance

With the conditions likely to be difficult, avoiding bogeys will be crucial this week. In a challenging event like the Valspar, oftentimes the golfer who is best at avoiding mistakes ends up on top.

Gritty golfers who can grind out difficult pars have a much better chance in an event like this than a low-scoring birdie-fest.

Bogey Avoidance Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+9.0)
  2. Xander Schauffele (+9.3)
  3. Austin Cook (+9.7) 
  4. Chesson Hadley (+10.0)
  5. Greyson Sigg (+10.2)

5. Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions

Conditions will be tough this week at Copperhead. I am looking for golfers who can rise to the occasion if the course plays as difficult as it has in the past.

Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1,71) 
  2. Min Woo Lee (+1.39)
  3. Cameron Young (+1.27)
  4. Jordan Spieth (+1.08)
  5. Justin Suh (+.94)

6. Course History

That statistic will tell us which players have played well at Copperhead in the past.

Course History Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+3.75) 
  2. Sam Burns (+2.49)
  3. Davis Riley (+2.33)
  4. Matt NeSmith (+2.22)
  5. Jordan Spieth (+2.04)

The Valspar Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), Good Drive % (15%), SG: BS (20%), Bogeys Avoided (13%), Course History (13%) Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions (12%).

  1. Xander Schauffele
  2. Doug Ghim
  3. Victor Perez
  4. Greyson Sigg
  5. Ryan Moore
  6. Tony Finau
  7. Justin Thomas
  8. Sam Ryder
  9. Sam Burns
  10. Lucas Glover

2024 Valspar Championship Picks

Justin Thomas +1400 (DraftKings)

Justin Thomas will be disappointed with his finish at last week’s PLAYERS Championship, as the past champion missed the cut despite being in some decent form heading into the event. Despite the missed cut, JT hit the ball really well. In his two rounds, the two-time major champion led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

Thomas has been up and down this season. He’s missed the cut in two “signature events” but also has finishes of T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T6 at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am and T3 at the American Express. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking in the field.

Thomas loves Copperhead. In his last three tries at the course, he’s finished T13, T3 and T10. Thomas would have loved to get a win at a big event early in the season, but avoidable mistakes and a balky putter have cost him dearly. I believe a trip to a course he loves in a field he should be able to capitalize on is the right recipe for JT to right the ship.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6000 (FanDuel)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is playing spectacular golf in the 2024 season. He finished 2nd at the American Express, T20 at Pebble Beach and T24 at the Genesis Invitational before finishing T13 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship.

In his past 24 rounds, the South African ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 26th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Bezuidenhout managed to work his way around TPC Sawgrass last week with minimal damage. He only made five bogeys in the entire week, which is a great sign heading into a difficult Copperhead this week.

Bezuidenhout is winless in his PGA Tour career, but certainly has the talent to win on Tour. His recent iron play tells me that this week could be a breakthrough for the 35-year-old who has eyes on the President’s Cup.

Doug Ghim +8000 (FanDuel)

Doug Ghim has finished in the top-16 of his past five starts. Most recently, Ghim finished T16 at The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field.

In his past 24 rounds, Ghim ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. In terms of his fit for Copperhead, the 27-year-old ranks 12th in Bogey Avoidance and 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions, making him a great fit for the course.

Ghim has yet to win on Tour, but at one point he was the top ranked Amateur golfer in the world and played in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and 2017 Walker Cup. He then won the Ben Hogan award for the best male college golfer in 2018. He certainly has the talent, and there are signals aplenty that his talent in ready to take him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Sepp Straka +8000 (BetRivers)

Sepp Straka is a player who’s shown he has the type of game that can translate to a difficult Florida golf course. The former Presidents Cup participant won the 2022 Honda Classic in tough conditions and should thrive with a similar test at Copperhead.

It’s been a slow 2024 for Straka, but his performance last week at the PLAYERS Championship surely provides some optimism. He gained 5.4 strokes on approach as well as 1.88 strokes off the tee. The tee-to-green game Straka showed on a course with plenty of danger demonstrates that he can stay in control of his golf ball this week.

It’s possible that the strong performance last week was an outlier, but I’m willing to bet on a proven winner in a weaker field at a great number.

Victor Perez +12000 (FanDuel)

Victor Perez is no stranger to success in professional golf. The Frenchman has three DP World Tour wins including a Rolex Series event. He won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which are some big events.

Perez earned his PGA Tour card this season and enters the week playing some fantastic golf. He finished in a tie for 16th in Florida at the Cognizant Classic and then tied for third in his most recent start at the Puerto Rico Open.

In his past 24 rounds in the field, Perez ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 1oth in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Good Drive % and 15th in Bogey Avoidance.

Perez comes in as a perfect fit for Copperhead and offers serious value at triple-digit odds.

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