Great Swings
Components of the Best Golf Swings on the PGA Tour
Golfers come in all shapes and sizes. Each has a different experience level, background, and training. Some received training from golf professionals, others from family or friends, and some received no instruction at all. Under all of these circumstances, golfers develop a swing. Ingrained from repetition, a golfer’s swing becomes like their signature or fingerprint: uniquely his or hers.
Despite this phenomenon, there are some great swings that appear to be perfect, both visually as well as by the results they bring. As a result, as golfers hone their swing, and learn to value and appreciate the uniqueness that they bring to the game through that special swing, all should nevertheless try to incorporate some of these important fundamentals found in the golf swings of the PGA Tour’s best golfers.
Adam Scott
Adam Scott is a decorated professional golfer. At age 36, he has won 29 professional events, the capstone being his victory at Augusta in 2013. Indeed, from May to August 2014, Scott was ranked as the world’s best golfer. Another feather in his cap is that he has what some golf commentators describe as a perfect golf swing. A few of the fundamentals in Scott’s swing, as reported by Golf Digest, include the following. (1) At address and impact, his club shaft remains at the same angle. This means he has kept his golf club on plane. (2) He gets a huge turn, both in the back and through-swing. On the back swing, he turns his upper body hard against his lower body to create torque. And on his through swing, his chest turns a full 180 degrees from address, allowing full, clean follow through to promote maximum power.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy stands at only five feet, nine inches and weighs only 161 pounds. Yet, he is one of the top golfers of his time. He has twenty professional wins, including three majors. This makes him one of only three players, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods being the other two, to win three majors by the age of 25. Furthermore, he has at one time or another been ranked as the world number one golfer for 95 weeks. He knows a thing or two about swinging a golf club. Here are some fundamentals pointed out by Golf Digest. (1) At takeaway, Rory’s club-head, arms and shoulders move together, and he does not begin to hinge his wrist until the club shaft is parallel with the ground. (2) His golf swing has great rhythm. This means that it’s smooth, and that he’s relaxed–there’s no major pauses or rushed aspects of his swing. (3) He keeps his left arm straight (right handed golfer) in his back swing. (4) He maintains great balance throughout his swing, always holding the finish. He does not fall back off a shot.
Justin Rose
In professional golf circles, Justin Rose’s golf swing is greatly admired. As a result, amateur golfers definitely have a few things they can learn from this PGA tour golfer who has 19 wins, including the 2013 US Open. Golf Monthly explores some of the fundamentals he employs in his swing. (1) Rose relies on what he calls “triggers” in the swing to ensure he strikes the ball properly and consistently. They are check points in a way that help him make sure he is swinging smoothly and powerfully. (2) One of these triggers is by getting the golf club to move first in his backswing before starting to wind up his body. (3) Another trigger for him is to feel as though his left arm is pulling across his chest during the back swing and then keeping that left arm tight against the torso on the down swing. (4) He keeps a low hand position, especially with his irons, by feeling in his swing as though the heel of the club is going to dig into the turf. This leaves plenty of room to get the club head through the ball.
Every golf swing is unique. Golfers need to find the right balance between valuing the uniqueness of their swing and yet adopting key fundamentals that will improve it.
