Opinion & Analysis
3 reasons why you shouldn’t model your golf swing after a Tour player’s swing
Are you attempting to model your swing after a tour player? In my experience, that is not a good idea. There are at least three reasons why.
1. You don’t have the talent
Please do not be offended, but let’s be honest. I accepted this fact myself years ago. We as everyday golfers have very little in common with touring professionals, aside from that we both put our pants on one leg at a time. Tour players are vastly different than we are for several reasons. They have, for the most part, played golf their entire life. The game has become as natural as breathing to them. They are also talented athletes who possess physical qualities that most of us do not possess. Those qualities include physical strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, stamina, dexterity, and rhythm all working in perfect balance. They are mentally, neurologically, and emotionally wired for competition. In the event that you are a scratch player, even then, you are still lightyears away from the Tour Pro level of talent. Be realistic with who you are as a golfer before you try to precisely emulate a golfer of supreme gifts and talents.
2. You don’t play by position
The golf swing is an entire motion in which you pass through a series of positions seamlessly from beginning to end. In the event that a position is incorrect, the proper way to modify it is to change the motion rather than attempting to achieve a position. In the past, the positions through which a golfer passed as they swung the club were not visible to the naked eye. That changed with the advent of the slow-motion video-camera, which gave teachers a tool they could use to help their students bridge the gap between feel and real.
At the very same time, the video-camera also bred the culture of monkey-see monkey-do, where players were encouraged to adopt isolated positions in the golf swing. The camera has since become a “crutch” for less progressive teachers whose approach became comparing a student’s swing to a Tour Professional.
After seeing their swing, a student might ask, “What am I doing wrong?” The teacher might show the student a stop-action picture of Jordan Spieth or any other professional model and then point out the difference between their two positions. “You should look like Jordan right here,” the teacher might say as he points at the screen. And then he sends the student off to work on duplicating that same position.
What does your common sense tell you? Can you think of any other sport where you would focus on achieving a specific position within a given motion? Baseball? Tennis? Hockey? Of course not, and so why would golf be any different? I’m sorry, but that isn’t teaching. The monkey-see-monkey-do approach produces students who are obsessed with achieving a position that they believe is going to lead them to the “promised land. “What they don’t know, until they arrive there, is that that road leads to nothing more than a dead end. Instead, focus on the actual motion of the golf swing and how you can improve impact with the golf ball; this is what actually matters and can help you improve.
3. No two golf swings are alike
The biomechanics of each and every golfer are different. Based on this principle, the attempt to copy another player’s swing makes no sense once it is understood that there are simply too many variables. They include:
- Height
- Build
- Arm Length
- Hand Size
- Torso Length
- Leg Length
- Physical Strength
- Flexibility
- Nervous System
- Athleticism
- Mental Acuity
These are just a few of the many variables that make each player’s swing unique. And while there may be two swings that look alike, for example, Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at one point in time, they are in their own ways very different.
In Summary
- There is nothing wrong with using a professional swing model for purposes of general comparison, provided you do not attempt to duplicate a specific position.
- The best approach when working toward eliminating a fault in your swing is not to focus on a specific position in the model’s swing, but rather to mimic the total swing motion in the area of concern.
- In the end, the best approach is not to try and copy another player’s swing.
Your “natural swing” must fit within the perimeters of your own biomechanics. As Popeye, the Sailor Man once said, “I yam what I yam.” Popeye had it right. You are what you are, and that is all you can be. Your goal then should be to create a better you, not a new you!
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 PGA Championship betting preview: Rising star ready to join the immortals at Valhalla
The second major of the 2024 season is upon us as the world’s best players will tee it up this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky to compete for the Wanamaker Trophy.
The last time we saw Valhalla host a major championship, Rory McIlroy fended off Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Rickie Fowler and the creeping darkness that was descending upon the golf course. The Northern Irishman had the golf world in the palm of his hand, joining only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as players who’d won four major championships by the time they were 25 years old.
Valhalla is named after the great hall described in Norse mythology where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the Gods. The course is a Jack Nicklaus-design that has ranked among Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Courses” for three decades.
Valhalla Golf Club is a par-71 measuring 7,542 yards with Zoysia fairways and Bentgrass greens. The course has rolling hills and dangerous streams scattered throughout and the signature 13th hole is picturesque with limestone and unique bunkering protecting the green. The 2024 PGA Championship will mark the fourth time Valhalla has hosted the event.
The field this week will consist of 156 players, including 16 PGA Champions and 33 Major Champions.
Past Winners of the PGA Championship
- 2023: Brooks Koepka (-9) Oak Hill
- 2022: Justin Thomas (-5) Southern Hills
- 2021: Phil Mickelson (-6) Kiawah Island
- 2020: Collin Morikawa (-13) TPC Harding Park
- 2019: Brooks Koepka (-8) Bethpage Black
- 2018: Brooks Koepka (-16) Bellerive
- 2017: Justin Thomas (-8) Quail Hollow
- 2016: Jimmy Walker (-14) Baltusrol
- 2015: Jason Day (-20) Whistling Straits
- 2014: Rory McIlroy (-16) Valhalla
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 Valhalla
Let’s take a look at five key metrics for Oak Hill to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
1. Strokes Gained: Approach
Valhalla will play as a true all-around test of golf for the world’s best. Of course, it will take strong approach play to win a major championship.
Strokes Gained: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Shane Lowry (+1.25)
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.09)
- Jordan Smith (+1.05)
- Tom Hoge (+.96)
- Corey Conners (+.94)
2. Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Valhalla will play long and the rough will be penal. Players who are incredibly short off the tee and/or have a hard time hitting fairways will be all but eliminated from contention this week at the PGA Championship.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Bryson DeChambeau (+1.47)
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.11)
- Keith Mitchell (+.90)
- Alejandro Tosti (+.89)
- Ludvig Aberg (+.82)
Strokes Gained: Total on Nickalus Designs
Valhalla is a classic Nicklaus Design. Players who play well at Nicklaus designs should have an advantage coming into this major championship.
Strokes Gained: Total on Nicklaus Designs over past 36 rounds:
- Jon Rahm (+2.56)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.48)
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.35)
- Collin Morikawa (+1.79)
- Shane Lowry (+1.57)
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green on Very Long Courses
Valhalla is going to play extremely long this week. Players who have had success playing very long golf courses should be better equipped to handle the conditions of this major championship.
Strokes Gained: Total on Very Long Courses Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.44)
- Rory McIlroy (+2.24)
- Will Zalatoris (+1.78)
- Viktor Hovland (+1.69)
- Xander Schauffele (+1.60)
Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships
One factor that tends to play a large role in deciding major championships is which players have played well in previous majors leading up to the event.
Strokes Gained: Total in Major Championships over past 20 rounds:
- Scottie Scheffler (+3.14)
- Will Zalatoris (+2.64)
- Rory McIlroy (+2.49)
- Xander Schauffele (+2.48)
- Tommy Fleetwood (2.09)
Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass Greens
Valhalla features pure Bentgrass putting surfaces. Players who are comfortable putting on this surface will have an advantage on the greens.
Strokes Gained: Putting on Bentgrass Greens over Past 24 Rounds:
- Ludvig Aberg (+1.12)
- Denny McCarthy (+1.08)
- Matt Fitzpatrick (+0.99)
- Justin Rose (+0.93)
- J.T. Poston (0.87)
Strokes Gained: Total on Zoysia Fairways
Valhalla features Zoysia fairways. Players who are comfortable playing on this surface will have an advantage on the field.
Strokes Gained: Total on Zoysia Fairways over past 36 rounds:
- Justin Thomas (+1.53)
- Will Zalatoris (+1.47)
- Xander Schauffele (+1.40)
- Brooks Koepka (+1.35)
- Rory McIlroy (+1.23)
2024 PGA Championship Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (25%), SG: Off the Tee (22%), SG: T2G on Very Long Courses (12%), SG: Putting on Bentgrass (+12%), SG: Total on Nicklaus Designs (12%). SG: Total on Zoysia Fairways (8%), and SG: Total in Major Championships (8%).
- Brooks Koepka
- Xander Schauffele
- Rory McIlroy
- Scottie Scheffler
- Bryson DeChambeau
- Shane Lowry
- Alex Noren
- Will Zalatoris
- Cameron Young
- Keith Mitchell
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Billy Horschel
- Patrick Cantlay
- Viktor Hovland
- Adam Schenk
- Chris Kirk
- Sahith Theegala
- Min Woo Lee
- Joaquin Niemann
- Justin Thomas
2024 PGA Championship Picks
Ludvig Aberg +1800 (BetMGM)
At The Masters, Ludvig Aberg announced to the golf world that he’s no longer an “up and coming” player. He’s one of the best players in the game of golf, regardless of experience.
Augusta National gave Aberg some necessary scar tissue and showed him what being in contention at a major championship felt like down the stretch. Unsurprisingly, he made a costly mistake, hitting it in the water left of the 11th hole, but showed his resilience by immediately bouncing back. He went on to birdie two of his next three holes and finished in solo second by three shots. With the type of demeanor that remains cool in pressure situations, I believe Ludvig has the right mental game to win a major at this point in his career.
Aberg has not finished outside of the top-25 in his past eight starts, which includes two runner-up finishes at both a “Signature Event” and a major championship. The 24-year-old is absolutely dominant with his driver, which will give him a major advantage this week. In the field he ranks, in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, and has gained strokes in the category in each of his past ten starts. Aberg is already one of the best drivers of the golf ball on the planet.
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the great hall where the souls of Vikings feasted and celebrated with the Gods. The Swedes, who are of Old Norse origin, were the last of the three Scandinavian Kingdoms to abandon the Old Norse Gods. A Swede played a major role in the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, and I believe another, Ludvig Aberg, will be the one to conquer Valhalla in 2024.
Bryson DeChambeau +2800 (BetMGM)
Bryson DeChambeau is one of the few players in the world that I believe has the game to go blow-for-blow with Scottie Scheffler. Although he isn’t as consistent as Scheffler, when he’s at his best, Bryson has the talent to beat him.
At The Masters, DeChambeau put forth a valiant effort at a golf course that simply does not suit his game. Valhalla, on the other hand, is a course that should be perfect for the 30-year-old. His ability to overpower a golf course with his driver will be a serious weapon this week.
Bryson has had some success at Jack Nicklaus designs throughout his career as he won the Memorial at Muirfield Village back in 2018. He’s also had incredible results on Bentgrass greens for the entirety of his professional career. Of his 10 wins, nine of them have come on Bentgrass greens, with the only exception being the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. He also has second place finishes at Medinah and TPC Summerlin, which feature Bentgrass greens.
Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to argue that Bryson isn’t one of the most exciting and important players in the game of golf. He’s also one of the best players in the world. A second major is coming soon for DeChambeau, and I believe he should be amongst the favorites to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy this week.
Patrick Cantlay +4000 (FanDuel)
There’s no way of getting around it: Patrick Cantlay has been dissapointing in major championships throughout his professional career. He’s been one of the top players on Tour for a handful of years and has yet to truly contend at a major championship, with the arguable exception of the 2019 Masters.
Despite not winning majors, Cantlay has won some big events. The 32-year-old has won two BMW Championships, two Memorial Tournaments as well as a Tour Championship. His victories at Memorial indicate how much Cantlay loves Nicklaus designs, where he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total over his past 36 rounds behind only Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm.
Cantlay also loves Bentgrass greens. Six of Cantlay’s seven individual wins on the PGA Tour have come on Bentgrass greens and he also was one of the best putters at the 2023 Ryder cup at Marco Simone (also Bentgrass). At Caves Valley (2021 BMW Championship), he gained over 12 strokes putting to outduel another Bentgrass specialist, Bryson DeChambeau.
Cantlay finished 22nd in The Masters, which was a solid result considering how many elite players struggled that week. He also has two top-ten finishes in his past five PGA Championships. He’s undeniably one of the best players in the field, therefore, it comes down to believing Cantlay has the mental fortitude to win a major, which I do.
Joaquin Niemann +4000 (BetMGM)
I believe Joaquin Niemann is one of the best players in the world. He has three worldwide wins since December and has continued to improve over the course of his impressive career thus far. Still only 25, the Chilean has all the tools to be a serious contender in major championships for years to come.
Niemann has been the best player on LIV this season. Plenty will argue with the format or source of the money on LIV, but no one can argue that beating players such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith is an unremarkable achievement. Niemann is an elite driver of the golf ball who hits it farther than just about anyone in the field not named Bryson DeChambeau or (arguably) Rory McIlroy.
Niemann is another player who has been fantastic throughout his career on Bentgrass greens. Prior to leaving the PGA Tour, Bentgrass was the only green surface in which Joaco was a positive putter. It’s clearly a surface that he is very comfortable putting on and should fare around and on the greens this week.
Niemann is a perfect fit for Valhalla. His low and penetrating ball flight will get him plenty of runout this week on the fairways and he should have shorter shots into the green complexes than his competitors. To this point in his career, the former top ranked amateur in the world (2018) has been underwhelming in major championships, but I don’t believe that will last much longer. Joaquin Niemann is a major championship caliber player and has a real chance to contend this week at Valhalla.
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In my last post, I explained the basic performance dynamics of “smash factor” and “gear effect” as they apply to your wedges and your wedge play success. If you missed that post, you can read it here.
At the end of that post, I promised “part 2” of this discussion of what makes a wedge work the way it does. So, let’s dive into the other two components of any wedge – the shaft and the grip.
It’s long been said that the shaft is “the engine of the golf club.” The shaft (and grip) are your only connection to all the technologies that are packed into the head of any golf club, whether it be a driver, fairway, hybrid, iron, wedge or even putter.
And you cannot ignore those two components of your wedges if your goal is optimizing your performance.
I’ve long been an advocate of what I call a “seamless transition” from your irons into your wedges, so that the feel and performance do not disconnect when you choose a gap wedge, for example, instead of your iron-set-matching “P-club.” In today’s golf equipment marketplace, more and more golfers are making the investment of time and money to experience an iron fitting, going through trial and error and launch monitor measuring to get just the right shaft in their irons.
But then so many of those same golfers just go into a store and choose wedges off the retail display, with no similar science involved at all. And that’s why I see so many golfers with a huge disconnect between their custom-fitted irons, often with lighter and/or softer graphite or light steel shafts . . . and their off-the-rack wedges with the stock stiff steel ‘wedge flex’ shaft common to those stock offerings.
If your wedge shafts are significantly heavier and stiffer than the shafts in your irons, it is physically impossible for you to make the same swing. Period.
To quickly improve your wedge play, one of the first things you can do is have your wedges re-shafted with the same or similar shaft that is in your irons.
There’s another side of that shaft weight equation; if you don’t have the forearm and hand strength of a PGA Tour professional, you simply cannot “handle” the same weight shaft that those guys play to master the myriad of ‘touch shots’ around the greens.
Now, let’s move on to the third and other key component of your wedges – the grips. If those are not similar in shape and feel to the grips on your irons, you have another disconnect. Have your grips checked by a qualified golf club professionals to make sure you are in sync there.
The one caveat to that advice is that I am a proponent of a reduced taper in your wedge grips – putting two to four more layers of tape under the lower hand, or selecting one of the many reduced taper grips on the market. That accomplishes two goals for your scoring.
First, it helps reduce overactive hands in your full and near-full wedge swings. Quiet hands are key to good wedge shots.
And secondly, it provides a more consistent feel of the wedge in your hands as you grip down for those shorter and more delicate shots around the greens. And you should always grip down as you get into those touch shots. I call it “getting closer to your work.”
So, if you will spend as much time selecting the shafts and grips for your wedges as you do choosing the brand, model, and loft of them, your scoring range performance will get better.
More from the Wedge Guy
- The Wedge Guy: What really makes a wedge work? Part 1
- The Wedge Guy: The easiest-to-learn golf basic
- The Wedge Guy: Golf mastery begins with your wedge game
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19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 Wells Fargo Championship betting preview: Tommy Fleetwood ready to finally land maiden PGA Tour title
The PGA Tour season ramps back up this week for another “signature event,” as golf fans look forward to the year’s second major championship next week.
After two weaker-field events in the Zurich Classic and the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, most of the best players in the world will head to historic Quail Hollow for one of the best non-major tournaments of the year.
Last season, Wyndham Clark won the event by four shots.
Quail Hollow is a par-71 measuring 7,521 yards that features Bermudagrass greens. The tree-lined, parkland style course can play quite difficult and features one of the most difficult three-hole stretches in golf known as “The Green Mile,” which makes up holes 16-18: two mammoth par 4s and a 221-yard par 3. All three holes have an average score over par, and water is in play in each of the last five holes on the course.
The field is excellent this week with 68 golfers teeing it up without a cut. All of the golfers who’ve qualified are set to tee it up, with the exception of Scottie Scheffler, who is expecting the birth of his first child.
Past Winners at Quail Hollow
- 2023: Wyndham Clark (-19)
- 2022: Max Homa (-8)
- 2021: Rory McIlroy (-10)
- 2019: Max Homa (-15)
- 2018: Jason Day (-12)
- 2017: Justin Thomas (-8) (PGA Championship)
- 2016: James Hahn (-9)
- 2015: Rory McIlroy (-21)
Key Stats For Quail Hollow
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes gained: Approach will be extremely important this week as second shots at Quail Hollow can be very difficult.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Akshay Bhatia (+1.16)
- Tom Hoge (+1.12)
- Corey Conners (+1.01)
- Shane Lowry (+0.93)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.82)
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Quail Hollow is a long course on which it is important to play from the fairway. Both distance and accuracy are important, as shorter tee shots will result in approach shots from 200 or more yards. With most of the holes heavily tree lined, errant drives will create some real trouble for the players.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Past 24 Rounds:
- Ludvig Aberg (+0.73)
- Rory McIlroy (+0.69)
- Xander Schauffele (+0.62)
- Viktor Hovland (+0.58)
- Chris Kirk (+0.52)
Proximity: 175-200
The 175-200 range is key at Quail Hollow. Players who can hit their long irons well will rise to the top of the leaderboard.
Proximity: 175-200+ over past 24 rounds:
- Cameron Young (28’2″)
- Akshay Bhatia (29’6″)
- Ludvig Aberg (+30’6″)
- Sam Burns (+30’6″)
- Collin Morikawa (+30’9″)
SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs
Players who thrive on Tom Fazio designs get a bump for me at Quail Hollow this week.
SG: Total on Tom Fazio Designs over past 36 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.10)
- Rory McIlroy (+1.95)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.68)
- Austin Eckroat (+1.60)
- Will Zalatoris (+1.57)
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass)
Strokes Gained: Putting has historically graded out as the most important statistic at Quail Hollow. While it isn’t always predictable, I do want to have it in the model to bump up golfers who prefer to putt on Bermudagrass.
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bermudagrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Taylor Moore (+0.82)
- Nick Dunlap (+.76)
- Wyndham Clark (+.69)
- Emiliano Grillo (+.64)
- Cam Davis (+.61)
Course History
This stat will incorporate players that have played well in the past at Quail Hollow.
Course History over past 36 rounds (per round):
- Rory McIlroy (+2.50)
- Justin Thomas (+1.96)
- Jason Day (+1.92)
- Rickie Fowler (+1.83)
- Viktor Hovland (+1.78)
Wells Fargo Championship Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: Off the Tee (23%), SG: Total on Fazio designs (12%), Proximity: 175-200 (12%), SG: Putting Bermuda grass (12%), and Course History (14%).
- Wyndham Clark
- Rory McIlroy
- Xander Schauffele
- Shane Lowry
- Hideki Matsuyama
- Viktor Hovland
- Cameron Young
- Austin Eckroat
- Byeong Hun An
- Justin Thomas
2024 Wells Fargo Championship Picks
Tommy Fleetwood +2500 (DraftKings)
I know many out there have Tommy fatigue when it comes to betting, which is completely understandable given his lack of ability to win on the PGA Tour thus far in his career. However, history has shown us that players with Fleetwood’s talent eventually break though, and I believe for Tommy, it’s just a matter of time.
Fleetwood has been excellent on Tom Fazio designs. Over his past 36 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on Fazio tracks. He’s also been incredibly reliable off the tee this season. He’s gained strokes in the category in eight of his past nine starts, including at The Masters, the PLAYERS and the three “signature events” of the season. Tommy is a golfer built for tougher courses and can grind it out in difficult conditions.
Last year, Fleetwood was the first-round leader at this event, firing a Thursday 65. He finished the event in a tie for 5th place.
For those worried about Fleetwood’s disappointing start his last time out at Harbour Town, he’s bounced back nicely after plenty of poor outings this season. His T7 at the Valero Texas Open was after a MC and T35 in his prior two starts and his win at the Dubai Invitational came after a T47 at the Sentry.
I expect Tommy to bounce back this week and contend at Quail Hollow.
Justin Thomas +3000 (DraftKings)
It’s been a rough couple of years for Justin Thomas, but I don’t believe things are quite as bad as they seem for JT. He got caught in the bad side of the draw at Augusta for last month’s Masters and has gained strokes on approach in seven of his nine starts in 2024.
Thomas may have found something in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage. He finished T5 at a course that he isn’t the best fit for on paper. He also finally got the putter working and ranked 15th in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week.
The two-time PGA champion captured the first of his two major championships at Quail Hollow back in 2017, and some good vibes from the course may be enough to get JT out of his slump.
Thomas hasn’t won an event in just about two years. However, I still believe that will change soon as he’s been one of the most prolific winners throughout his PGA Tour career. Since 2015, he has 15 PGA Tour wins.
Course history is pretty sticky at Quail Hollow, with players who like the course playing well there on a regular basis. In addition to JT’s PGA Championship win in 2017, he went 4-1 at the 2022 Presidents Cup and finished T14 at the event last year despite being in poor form. Thomas can return as one of the top players on the PGA Tour with a win at a “signature event” this week.
Cameron Young +3500 (DraftKings)
For many golf bettors, it’s been frustrating backing Cam Young this season. His talent is undeniable, and one of the best and most consistent performers on the PGA Tour. He just hasn’t broken through with a victory yet. Quail Hollow has been a great place for elite players to get their first victory. Rory McIlroy, Anthony Kim, Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark all notched their first PGA Tour win at Quail.
Throughout Cam Young’s career, he has thrived at tougher courses with strong fields. This season, he finished T16 at Riviera and T9 at Augusta National, demonstrating his preference of a tough test. His ability to hit the ball long and straight off the tee make him an ideal fit for Quail Hollow, despite playing pretty poorly his first time out in 2023 (T59). Young should be comfortable playing in the region as he played his college golf at Wake Forest, which is about an hour’s drive from Quail Hollow.
The 26-year-old has played well at Tom Fazio designs in the past and ranks 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total on those courses in his last 36 rounds. Perhaps most importantly, this season, Young is the best player on the PGA Tour in terms of proximity from 175-200 in the fairway, which is where a plurality and many crucial shots will come from this week.
Young is an elite talent and Quail Hollow has been kind to players of his ilk who’ve yet to win on Tour.
Byeong Hun An +5000 (FanDuel)
Byeong Hun An missed some opportunities last weekend at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. He finished T4 and played some outstanding golf, but a couple of missed short putts prevented him from getting to the winning score of -23. Despite not getting the win, it’s hard to view An’s performance as anything other than an overwhelming success. It was An’s fourth top-ten finish of the season.
Last week, An gained 6.5 strokes ball striking, which was 7th in the field. He also ranked 12th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th for Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The South Korean has been hitting the ball so well from tee to green all season long and he now heads to a golf course that should reward his precision.
An’s driver and long irons are absolute weapons. At Quail Hollow, players will see plenty of approach shots from the 175-200 range as well as some from 200+. In his past 24 rounds, Ben ranks 3rd in the field in proximity from 175-200 and 12th in proximity from 200+. Playing in an event that will not end up being a “birdie” fest should help An, who can separate from the field with his strong tee to green play. The putter may not always cooperate but getting to -15 is much easier than getting to -23 for elite ball strikers who tend to struggle on the greens.
Winning a “signature event” feels like a tall task for An this week with so many elite players in the field. However, he’s finished T16 at the Genesis Invitational, T16 at The Masters and T8 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The 32-year-old’s game has improved drastically this season and I believe he’s ready to get the biggest win of his career.
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Pingback: 3 reasons why you shouldn’t model your golf swing after a Tour player’s swing - ClickitGolf
lance
Sep 7, 2018 at 1:50 pm
I went for lessons from a Top 100 Golf Instructor who also helped a top tour pro with his golf swing. I got parts of that top pro’s swing into my swing and I am so happy with my semi-pro golf swing.
shawn
Sep 8, 2018 at 1:50 pm
So tell us… are you half-lance and half-tiger ….????
NTL2
Sep 6, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Golf is all about hand eye coordination. Athleticism can help no doubt but if you have mediocre hand eye coordination you will not have a great swing.
shawn
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:03 pm
Only eyes and hands? You forgot feet, legs, hips, torso and arms… where all the problems occur… 😮
Bob Jones
Sep 6, 2018 at 11:40 am
Good advice.
shawn
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:04 pm
…. and everybody reading the article will bookmark it under “Advice”… 😛
John
Sep 6, 2018 at 8:58 am
Hahaha…. hilarious
Tour pros have physical strength, flexibility, stamina….
Last I saw…tour pros were just golfers…not elite CrossFit people.
Bob Denby
Sep 6, 2018 at 10:46 am
The DYNAMICS of the ‘energy transfer’ (between the club and the ball) at impact are all that matter, however achieved. There are too many glaring differences between the pros to justify anything more than attempting to copy any of them in any but the most general way (how often is Craig Stadler used as a model?). How we get to ‘impact’ is all that counts.
stevet
Sep 6, 2018 at 3:41 pm
How we get to ‘impact’ is the Kinetic Chain dynamics that occurs between the ground and feet all the way to the wrists and hands. Impact is a minor 50/10,000th consequence of the golf swing.
greg
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:20 pm
Fully clothed tour pros don’t fully reveal their physical attributes … except for Phil…
RQ
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Yes… Phil’s tour body has matured perfectly over the years ….
Daniel
Sep 6, 2018 at 7:28 pm
So you dont think tour players have increased strength flexibility and stamina.. especially compared to the average amateur golfer.. ill bet greg norman still blows all of us out of the water in those aspects, and he doesnt even play anymore… stupid comment
Coop
Sep 6, 2018 at 8:08 am
Great article Rod. General stuff is ok, but getting into specific positions within the motion and you’re on shaky ground. One thing leads to another, leads to another.. and so much of what we see is simple cause and effect. You can’t shoehorn tour player moves (e.g. shallowing the shaft, using the ground, holding lag…) into a < 1.5 second motions. So much of what we see in pros' swings is pure natural athletic sense and actions and reactions – the "correct" positions then show up.
shawn
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:08 pm
… and then there is the tried and true approach of trial and error and error and error method …. 😀
Jack
Sep 6, 2018 at 4:09 am
LOL true and not true, but mostly true. Most people would give up golf before they could get their swing to look like a pro’s, much less be a poor man’s version of one. I’ve gone down that road, and although my swing still looks nothing like a pro’s, it’s better in some ways but still so far from it and my game suffered hugely for a long while. It’s probably useless for weekend warriors to expect to achieve that kind of change and still enjoy golf. To be a handicapped golfer you can have imperfect swings. If we had great swings we’d be pro’s, and well like the author said we will never be.
Cod
Sep 6, 2018 at 3:18 am
What a load of codswallop
shawn
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:09 pm
… nonsense… !!!!!
Daniel Forbes
Sep 6, 2018 at 7:29 pm
Why???
XOXO
Sep 6, 2018 at 3:02 am
Didn’t almost all of the current PGA tour players live in an age in which they had cameras and teaching pros who used cameras/videos to teach and shape theirs swings?
I was an ex-minor league baseball player, and through my playing career (HS, college, pro) cameras, videos and photos were used to illustrate proper positions when you are doing things right in the swing.
I think emulating someone’s swing is wrong because of the parameters listed, but learning from it to achieve a better swing is certainly not
greg
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:29 pm
“proper positions” = snapshot stills = statue positions
All athletics is dynamic, not static. The mind only feels motion.
XOXO
Sep 6, 2018 at 10:44 pm
“statue positions” to know where you are during the swing, and to “feel” that position in an effort to achieve a better dynamic swing. Like baseball. Or a basketball player looking at still shots of their shooting elbow.
Sometimes trying or even forcing these positions and sometimes exaggerating them through practice leads to better dynamic motion and performance.
I dont think the guy who comes over the top will ever hit a golf ball any better performance-wise doing what he does dynamically. So how does he learn? Watch a split second movement in motion from a teacher or live tv? I don’t think he will even capture what is being done accomplished
reggie
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:48 am
I model my golf swing after the Tour player’s swing… but I start with the clubs, shafts, balls, shoes, clothes… and that’s about as far as I get… 🙁
greg
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:15 pm
LOL
Caroline
Sep 6, 2018 at 12:12 am
Hitting the ball clean going toward where you want it to go and distance you want it to go is the right swing for you…finding a way to hit the ball the same every swing is the answer…Moe Norman knew that his right hand came back to the same position 99.9% of the time in effect tossing the ball toward his target every time…
greg
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Moe Norman altered his swing for his portly old age body. He had to add his right hand into the downswing because he couldn’t hit the ball over 200 yards. It didn’t work.
jack
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:19 pm
How can you say that about Moe “Pipeline” Norman… the Greatest Ball Striker of All Time … according to him.
JM
Sep 5, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Physical qualities are not talent. This article is ridiculous in certain parts. What’s wrong with emulating parts of their swings if its achievable. Being realistic doesn’t mean you have to accept less than your best or can’t set reach/stretch goals. How about a more positive attitude towards improvement instead of this condescending article. Plenty of good things to copy in tour pros swings for the average golfer, tempo, clubhead path, sequence of motion, etc. Who do propose they attempt to emulate as an alternative?
SImmm
Sep 6, 2018 at 12:05 am
There are a million golf instructors out there that love your reply…..
freowho
Sep 6, 2018 at 3:32 am
Physical qualities are talent! Do you think a 2 foot midget with incredible skill could hit the ball as far as Dustin Johnson?
PineStreetGolf
Sep 6, 2018 at 8:38 am
Yes, that midgets nam is Justin Thomas
Julie
Sep 5, 2018 at 7:13 pm
Btsgolf.com for information
chris
Sep 5, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Test for adults who want to take up golf. Stand naked in front of a full length mirror and ask yourself the question: “Is that an athletic golf body, or what?”
J
Sep 5, 2018 at 7:43 pm
Exactly my point. If a fat or old person who doesn’t exercise tried to copy a NBA or NFL “juke” move, he would break his own ankles.
“natural swing” = practice short game and putting if you cant see your belt at address.
greg
Sep 6, 2018 at 1:26 pm
Fat and old adults who attempt golf live in a fantasy world where the entry fee is a set of golf clubs and green fees… they litter the golf courses flailing!
orville
Sep 5, 2018 at 6:54 pm
The guy at the golf store sold me a set of clubs that he said were powerful and straight and that’s why I bought them. They are no good and I want to get my money back. Golf is tough.
Ab
Sep 6, 2018 at 12:15 am
Oh shuddup you Nancy
RQ
Sep 6, 2018 at 5:59 pm
Ab = Nancy2… sooo obvious
J
Sep 5, 2018 at 6:42 pm
If you have a fat belly where you can’t see your belt buckle or over 45 years old and do not exercise, this article applies.
K
Sep 6, 2018 at 6:15 pm
check.. check… and check…. now where do I get my Tour player’s swing?? 😎
Carson Henry
Sep 5, 2018 at 4:59 pm
Fantastic article
Scott
Sep 5, 2018 at 4:21 pm
Yes, yes, and yes.
BJ
Sep 5, 2018 at 4:19 pm
I would also add that, especially for iron and wedge play, effective launch conditions are related to ball speed. And for that reason, attempting to achieve “tour pro” like impact if you don’t have tour pro speed is fraught with danger.
Mike the OK Golfer
Sep 6, 2018 at 2:46 pm
Yes, but what of Calvin Peete or Paul Goydos? Not a lot of “tour pro speed” there. And yet, obviously tremendous impact, Peete was world #1 for a time, I believe.
Bryson DeShamwow
Sep 5, 2018 at 3:44 pm
Nothing you write will tell me that my perfect replica of Furyk’s swing with custom single length Miura’s isn’t what is best for me. Who cares if I take 6 hours a round and shoot 130’s, you’re a joke Rod.