Instruction
Do golf swing models work?
It’s a question that will always linger in the instruction world: do swing models work?
Many great teachers have taught a particular model to their students with great success — Jimmy Ballard, David Leadbetter, for example. Others such as Butch Harmon and Chuck Cook have had great success without sticking to a model.
So what’s the best way for golfers to learn? In my opinion, the student needs to answer two simple questions:
- Do you buy into this teacher’s swing model 100 percent?
- Will a swing model simplify the game for you?
If you answered yes to both, then you might be a candidate to try a particular swing method. I know plenty golfers who played great golf, but then adopted a new swing method and became much better — Matt Kuchar is a great example of this. Often times when you fully commit to a swing model and believe that it work for you, it does.
There are also countless examples of when swing models just do not work for certain golfers. It often has to do with golfers not buying into the process, or their inability connect with what their teachers were telling them. Tiger Woods’ time with instructor Sean Foley is a great example of this. Foley has had great success with Hunter Mahan and Justin Rose, who attribute their best golf to what they’ve learned from Foley, but Tiger just couldn’t make Foley’s swing work. There were some apparent physiological limitations, which ultimately led to their split.
Contrary to what many golfers believe, Foley does not teach a model swing, nor do I believe that he was he far off with what he fundamentally wanted from Tiger. But somewhere between Tiger’s brain and Tiger’s body, the wires got crossed and things started to unravel. I’m fairly certain that Tiger bought into Foley’s concepts, but there was some kind of block that Tiger couldn’t break through.
If you have an ounce of doubt regarding the validity of the fundamentals that this teacher is espousing, then you are certainly doomed from the start. What if Faldo had not bought into Leadbetter’s teachings? He would have floundered for years. Tiger with Hank Haney? Same thing.
I think when you are dealing with a supremely talented player, it’s easy for that player to swing any way he chooses. For beginners, I feel that it’s not overly harmful to put them into some type of system to allow them to better focus on the basics — grip, stance, and overall setup, etc.
In my teaching, I have tried to gravitate away from any particular model. I do find myself teaching a few swing patterns more often than others in the club-golfer world in which I work, however. My way is neither right or wrong, but it’s how I’ve chosen to do things. Some would argue for my way, while others would argue against it. I find that having a few models to choose from helps me improve the players and swings that I most often see at the club level. This gives me the versatility to help a wide-range of golfers.
This is not to say that if I started teaching on Tour full-time, I would do the same thing… at this point I just don’t know. That would take time to figure out.
The only thing I can say confidently about golf swings, swing models and teachers is that you must buy into their vision 100 percent, or you will never get better — and you’ll probably get worse. Take the time to interview your next teacher and see if you are on the same page. If not, go to someone else!
As a teacher, if you DO teach a swing model, half your students will love you and half will hate you. If you DON’T teach a swing model, half your students will love you and half will hate you!
Welcome to the wonderful world of teaching golf for a living.
- LIKE1
- LEGIT3
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK0
Some call the image on the left laid off, but if you are hitting a fade, this could be a perfect backswing for it! Same for across the line for a draw! Stop racking your brain with perceived mistakes and simply match backswing to shot shape!
- LIKE0
- LEGIT0
- WOW0
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
My golf learning began with this simple fact – if you don’t have a fundamentally sound hold on the golf club, it is practically impossible for your body to execute a fundamentally sound golf swing. I’m still a big believer that the golf swing is much easier to execute if you begin with the proper hold on the club.
As you might imagine, I come into contact with hundreds of golfers of all skill levels. And it is very rare to see a good player with a bad hold on the golf club. There are some exceptions, for sure, but they are very few and very far between, and they typically have beat so many balls with their poor grip that they’ve found a way to work around it.
The reality of biophysics is that the body moves only in certain ways – and the particulars of the way you hold the golf club can totally prevent a sound swing motion that allows the club to release properly through the impact zone. The wonderful thing is that anyone can learn how to put a fundamentally sound hold on the golf club, and you can practice it anywhere your hands are not otherwise engaged, like watching TV or just sitting and relaxing.
Whether you prefer an overlap, interlock or full-finger (not baseball!) grip on the club, the same fundamentals apply. Here are the major grip faults I see most often, in the order of the frequency:
Mis-aligned hands
By this I mean that the palms of the two hands are not parallel to each other. Too many golfers have a weak left hand and strong right, or vice versa. The easiest way to learn how to hold the club with your palms aligned properly is to grip a plain wooden ruler or yardstick. It forces the hands to align properly and shows you how that feels. If you grip and re-grip a yardstick several times, then grip a club, you’ll see that the learning curve is almost immediate.
The position of the grip in the upper/left hand
I also observe many golfers who have the butt of the grip too far into the heel pad of the upper hand (the left hand for right-handed players). It’s amazing how much easier it is to release the club through the ball if even 1/4-1/2″ of the butt is beyond the left heel pad. Try this yourself to see what I mean. Swing the club freely with just your left hand and notice the difference in its release from when you hold it at the end of the grip, versus gripping down even a half inch.
To help you really understand how this works, go to the range and hit shots with your five-iron gripped down a full inch to make the club the same length as your seven-iron. You will probably see an amazing shot shape difference, and likely not see as much distance loss as you would expect.
Too much lower (right) hand on the club
It seems like almost all golfers of 8-10 handicap or higher have the club too far into the palm of the lower hand, because that feels “good” if you are trying to control the path of the clubhead to the ball. But the golf swing is not an effort to hit at the ball – it is a swing of the club. The proper hold on the club has the grip underneath the pad at the base of the fingers. This will likely feel “weak” to you — like you cannot control the club like that. EXACTLY. You should not be trying to control the club with your lower/master hand.
Gripping too tightly
Nearly all golfers hold the club too tightly, which tenses up the forearms and prevents a proper release of the club through impact. In order for the club to move back and through properly, you must feel that the club is controlled by the last three fingers of the upper hand, and the middle two fingers of the lower hand. If you engage your thumbs and forefingers in “holding” the club, the result will almost always be a grip that is too tight. Try this for yourself. Hold the club in your upper hand only, and squeeze firmly with just the last three fingers, with the forefinger and thumb off the club entirely. You have good control, but your forearms are not tense. Then begin to squeeze down with your thumb and forefinger and observe the tensing of the entire forearm. This is the way we are made, so the key to preventing tenseness in the arms is to hold the club very lightly with the “pinchers” — the thumbs and forefingers.
So, those are what I believe are the four fundamentals of a good grip. Anyone can learn them in their home or office very quickly. There is no easier way to improve your ball striking consistency and add distance than giving more attention to the way you hold the golf club.
More from the Wedge Guy
- The Wedge Guy: Golf mastery begins with your wedge game
- The Wedge Guy: Why golf is 20 times harder than brain surgery
- The Wedge Guy: Musings on the golf ball rollback
- LIKE87
- LEGIT13
- WOW6
- LOL1
- IDHT0
- FLOP4
- OB1
- SHANK8
Not the dreaded headcover under the armpit drill! As if your body is defective and can’t function by itself! Have you seen how incredible the human machine is with all the incredible feats of agility all kinds of athletes are accomplishing? You think your body is so defective (the good Lord is laughing his head off at you) that it needs a headcover tucked under the armpit so you can swing like T-Rex?
- LIKE0
- LEGIT2
- WOW2
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK2
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Justin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Two star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Report: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
Alejandro Tosti WITB 2024 (April)
Alejandro Tosti what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Srixon ZX5 Mk II LS (9.5 degrees...
Drew Brees WITB 2024 (April)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by GolfWRX (@golfwrx) Driver: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (10.5 degrees)...
Daniel Berger WITB 2024 (April)
Daniel Berger what’s in the bag accurate as of the Farmers Insurance Open. More photos from the event here. Driver:...
Rasmus Højgaard WITB 2024 (April)
Rasmus Højgaard what’s in the bag accurate as of the Zurich Classic. Driver: Callaway Ai Smoke Triple Diamond (10.5 degrees)...
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole4 days agoJustin Thomas on the equipment choice of Scottie Scheffler that he thinks is ‘weird’
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole4 days ago‘Absolutely crazy’ – Major champ lays into Patrick Cantlay over his decision on final hole of RBC Heritage
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole1 week agoReport: LIV Golf identifies latest star name they hope to sign to breakaway tour
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole1 week agoBrandel Chamblee has ‘no doubt’ who started the McIlroy/LIV rumor and why
Josh
Dec 21, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Click Here!
Regis
Dec 17, 2014 at 6:40 pm
I’ve been experimenting with different models through lessons, books , videos for years. Best lesson I ever had was probably 20 years ago. Pro said Golf is a shoulder turn. He said So much instruction focuses on using the ground, hip rotation, weight transfer…all great, but if you don’t get the shoulder turn down properly, its counter productive. When my game goes south, I start by focusing on the shoulder turn. Kind of like the Austrian Ski lesson: Bend the knees-5 dollars please.
Tom Stickney
Dec 17, 2014 at 8:00 pm
Reg- good deal
FormerCartWasher
Dec 17, 2014 at 3:24 pm
I worked for a while at a facility that used the Model Golf system that the graphic refers to. Take a bunch of measurements, plug them into the computer, and you’re supposed to see what the perfect swing would be for that person. Suppose you have a healthy 19 year old with unlimited practice time, and an arthritic 60 year old who is lucky to play once a week, but they have the same body measurements. The computer spits out the same swing. It may be valid for the 19 year old to rebuild their swing to try to match the model, but the 60 year old will need some pretty substantial adjustments to account not only for his physical limitations, but for the lack of practice time. He may be much better served by patching some things up to make his swing simpler and more repeatable, and devoting more time toward working on the chipping and putting, which require much less physical prowess.
Tom Stickney
Dec 17, 2014 at 5:14 pm
For- couldn’t be more true.
Ed
Dec 17, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Tom, my experience is that swing models work and don’t work–at the same time. A swing model focusing on how someone’s body moves (eg. arms, hips, shoulders, etc.) doesn’t work for two reasons: 1) everyones body moves uniquely (eg. walking behind someone you can often identify that person by their walk. There walk is sucessful but unique to them); 2) no single body part or collection of a few body parts controls the golf club. I can move my arms, shoulders, and hips in a variety of ways and still produce a good shot. A swing model of how the club moves always works. Because the movement of the club is universal. It must satisfy 4 conditions: 1) ball must be contacted by the center of the clubface, 2) the clubface must be square to the target line at impact, 3) the club must be swung along the target line and 4) the club must impart enough energy to propel the ball to the target.
Body models seldom work. Club models always work.
Tom Stickney
Dec 17, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Agree to a point but the first three principles you listed regarding the club are incorrect. The centerdness of contact is important but many pros miss geometric center if the club on most of their shots. Gearing to some degree in every shot one hits. Second, the club can be rt, left, or square to the target line and provide great results. Third, the club can be moved in to out, down the line, or out to in with great results.
Observer
Dec 21, 2014 at 12:20 am
I disagree with you Ed,
When you say that bodies can move differently that is not true (unless someone has had surgery to hinder normal function, or has broken or deformed a part of their body). Bones and muscles are set to move in very particular ways. Example: knees are hinge joints they are constructed to move in a very particular way – straighten and bend. They are not built to rotate. Models that are constructed on the anatomy and sound bio-mechanics can be very effective if they are based on and adhere to scientific principals, and as Tom Stickney said the student believes in their validity. Movements that don’t adhere to those principals are never going to be as effective as ones that do, they will require compensations giving false hope to the student, and leave them wondering why they can’t be consistent or efficient. Your so called club-models are dependent on the human body since clubs don’t move themselves.
Pat
Dec 17, 2014 at 7:02 am
I have had instructors that have stuck to a swing model and it ruined it my swing. My last instructor didn’t have a swing model and worked with my swing making slight adjustments here and there. Had the most success doing it that way. I think it’s best to find which method works for you and find an instructor who teaches that philosophy. Most important things for me was to start the down swing with hip rotation, and fixing my swing path so that I hit the inside of the ball. Doing so increases ball speed and helps me hit that high baby draw. Once I learned to do this consistently, my handicap dropped from 15 to all the way down to 2 when I played my best. Currently I’m a 5 handicap because I don’t have as much time to practice anymore.
Tom Stickney
Dec 17, 2014 at 1:05 pm
Some models don’t work for the player for sure. Some do.
Jeffcb
Dec 16, 2014 at 9:51 am
It also seems important to me to ask the student just what they want to get out of the game. If they just want a little more consistency is a complete overhaul really necessary? I think you can tell pretty quick if a particular theory is going to work for you or not. It took me about 5 swings to get a handle on a one plane swing (Speaking of Kuchar). So that’s how I know its a good one for me. Nice article Tom, I enjoy your articles.
tom stickney
Dec 16, 2014 at 2:45 pm
Jeff- Agree, it’s all up to the student and his or her goals…I am not in favor for a complete overhaul unless the student asks for it, but even then I tell them it’s a LONG process! Appreciate the comments.
Jeffcb
Dec 16, 2014 at 7:37 pm
LONG indeed but not so long as to quit the process. Progress is certainly one shot at a time. Takes patience
other paul
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:11 am
I love that Tom took 5 minutes to go through the comments and respond to almost every single one. Good on you.
Tom Stickney
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:29 am
Other- I always try and reply. Thx sir
juststeve
Dec 15, 2014 at 6:18 pm
I was taught how to swing the club on an arc in the direction of the target. I was taught to allow my body to respond to the swinging of the club and that the way my body moved might be different from the way someone else’s body moved. Is that a method?
Steve
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Steve. You’re fine.
James
Dec 15, 2014 at 2:45 pm
With the injuries I sustained playing baseball, no way I could ever swing the beautiful perfect swing that everyone strives for in a swing model. However, I figured out I have a personal swing model and I stick to that. I can make little tweaks now and again but the basic model I have developed for myself stays the same even if it isn’t pretty. Got me down to scratch so I’m good with it. I believe one has to understand the fundamental concepts of the golf swing then tailor it for what they can do. Once you have it, stick with it only making small tweaks.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:45 pm
James- if you’ve found what works for you then you’re fine!
other paul
Dec 15, 2014 at 2:09 pm
I have no idea if my instructor has a model or not. I just go in for a lesson and he asks if I have issues. And I list my issues and what I try and do about them. He tells me how to fix it and I drop 5 more shots. Took 5 lessons and now I shoot in the low to mid 70s. Going to start on my official handicap this spring when the snow is gone.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:45 pm
Other- stick with his ideas regardless
TheFightingEdFioris
Dec 15, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Love the end of this LOL
“As a teacher, if you DO teach a swing model, half your students will love you and half will hate you. If you DON’T teach a swing model, half your students will love you and half will hate you!”
Very, Very true. I may be puring every one of them, but I HATE when my teacher holds my head during my swing. Damn him!
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:46 pm
Ed- agree.
marcel
Dec 15, 2014 at 11:58 pm
if the teacher is holding your head during your swing then you have no core – not legs and no glut… meaning you cannot back swing nor follow thru on the same path without changing height and spine angle… your golf suffers… Bless your coach and start bucket drills and lots of squats man – like lots of squats in gym
Tom Stickney
Dec 16, 2014 at 12:30 am
Mar- core exercises are key for stability
Observer
Dec 21, 2014 at 12:41 am
If he’s holding your head to try to stop it from moving in some particular way, but can’t explain to you why its moving in the first place, or can’t explain why it shouldn’t be moving then it may not be worth following his advice/sticking with him.
Don’t know if you’ve heard of the push vs pull theory of muscles and movement, but if something it being moved in a undesired way it could be because something is pushing on it while pulling might be the more sound action. Here is an example with regard to your head. If you push your left shoulder away from the target (as some instructors and players advocate) that is going to push other parts of the body (like your head), but if you pull a part of the right side of your body behind you(towards your heel) (like your right ab(s), shoulder blade, lat, etc) different muscles will activate and your head will be more likely to maintain position. Now weather that works with whatever other actions (or compensations) you have as part of your swing is another topic.
David Gebhardt PGA
Dec 15, 2014 at 12:20 pm
I find that I adapt to the physical and mental needs of each student and have a base model.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:46 pm
David- that’s why you’re successful on the lesson tee
B-Haf
Dec 15, 2014 at 12:10 pm
A lot of people harp on Tiger not fitting with Foley’s swing principles. Pretty sure it worked in 2013 when he was healthy (won almost a 1/3 of his starts and was player of the year). Did the swing style influence his injuries in 2014? That’s the question.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:46 pm
B– wish we could find out.
DF
Dec 15, 2014 at 11:11 am
Could you please define the term “swing model”? If a coach had a particular way of teaching grip, backswing, plane etc is that a “model”?
Each coach has concepts that he considers fundamentals, that doesn’t make them necessarily have a model. Take Ballard for example. Do Parnevik, Strange, Sutton or Rocco’s swing look the same? Not really but they supposedly use the same “model”.
And Butch is not a “model” teacher ? He teaches most of his players strong grip, wide stance, head movement etc. Isn’t that a “model”? Are you aware that Ballard and Butch teach essentially the same stuff but you labeled one a “model” teacher ?
CD
Dec 15, 2014 at 1:57 pm
Great response.
In my opinion there are a range of variables that work but there is a narrower range (still fairly wide) that works really well or people have found to work well. Or with a smaller group of people. Why would a human being not have a preference or series of preferences? Like a tennis grip maybe. People can still be ‘unorthodox’ or have ‘style’ or creativity. Model and method in golf seem to be very dirty words, perhaps the only art/subject/sport/thing in the world where method is derided. Bizarre.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:48 pm
Cd- we only want to put people in models that work for them.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:48 pm
DF– Ballard is much more rigid on what things must happen within his teaching. Like his stuff.
Justin
Dec 28, 2014 at 11:27 am
I look at it this way: a swing model is like a football coach that only wants to run a certain type of offense or defense. If he doesn’t have the kind of players needed to make his scheme work, it generally fails.
Butch is akin to the football coach that adapts his scheme to his personnel. He takes what the golfer has currently and makes it better (or more efficient). In football, regardless of scheme, there are core principals, like how to read a coverage, make a tackle, etc., while the scheme is different. There are core principals in golf- Posture, Grip, Address- but the scheme, your swing, is adaptive to the individual.
D Louis
Dec 15, 2014 at 10:55 am
Great article Tom, as a teacher also, I agree 100%…hopefully the 50% that love you make it worthwhile.
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:49 pm
D- 50% success rate makes me a stud in the baseball world! Ha.
JT
Dec 15, 2014 at 10:37 am
Great article, completely agree, if you can’t buy in, why are you paying the individual for instruction?
Tom Stickney
Dec 15, 2014 at 7:49 pm
Jt- you must buy in 100%. Agree.