Scottie Scheffler. Richard Heathcote
Scottie Scheffler won again last weekend. This time, it was the Players Championship. His second win in a month, his sixth time since last February, and his latest return to World No. 1.
Scottie’s rise has prompted a bit of a re-think about the golf swing. Or, perhaps less of a rethink, and more of a reminder.
The defining trait of Scottie Scheffler’s golf swing is his footwork. During his downswing, his trail (right) foot slides towards his left. Greg Norman did something similar, and Scottie himself says it’s become a way that helps him feel athletic through the shot. His feet slide in the same direction as the club when it swings through, which helps transfer his weight and prevent a left miss.
It’s a move that may have been coached out of a player in a bygone era. But Scottie and his long-time coach Randy Smith built around it. And therein lies the lesson, said fellow PGA Tour player Michael S Kim on Twitter.
If I was starting over or raising a junior I don’t think I’d ever teach him to swing it like Scheffler, nor Rahm nor JT. Everybody’s body is different, grew up swinging different. For all you aspiring juniors and ams, don’t try to copy someone else’s swing or their motions. More… https://t.co/BiYtntSzng
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) March 12, 2023
We talk a lot about fundamentals but more and more I wonder what are the fundamentals? Grip? Set up? Alignment? I see 100 different variations among pros. Very weak grip like collin Morikawa? Strong grip like Zach Johnson? Aim way left and hit push cuts like Rahm? Find YOUR niche
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) March 13, 2023
Find *your* best swing, don’t copy others
Kim’s point is a good one: That rather than caring how something should look, the ultimate goal is to meld a swing to your unique body. Everybody is slightly different, which means they’ll be more prone to swing the golf club in slightly different ways.
That doesn’t mean not changing anything ever in your golf swing, but rather, working with a coach to change the important things, without coaching out your good natural tendencies.
After all, it’s your natural tendencies that you’ll default to under pressure. The key to Scheffler’s game isn’t removing them, but rather, learning how to use them.