ShareThisBy JIM SUTTIE
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Recently when I was giving a lesson, my student told me he was trying to swing the "model swing".
There is no model swing that fits all golfers, I told him.
After all, Lee Trevino, Jim Furyk, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Tiger Woods all look different when they swing a club.
Why do golfers look different? Obviously their body build is different _ short arms vs. long arms, short legs vs. long legs, flexibility, weight, etc.
Your physical characteristics determine to a large degree how you will swing. Your body will let you move in a direction of least resistance.
If you have limited flexibility in your torso, how can you copy a model that involves turning your shoulders 100 degrees?
Or, how do you get your arms to go up if you have a thick chest and short arms, or how can you restrict your hip turn if your hips are already somewhat inflexible?
You can't.
Golfers move differently and look different because of their body and the type of shot they want to hit. Tempo, swing speeds, and individual club acceleration differ from golfer to golfer based on the strengths and weaknesses of his or her body.
Swing mechanics and grip type also have a big influence on how you swing a golf club. For example, Corey Pavin has a weak grip and hits a hook. His grip type makes his swing favor a hand and arm release. While, Paul Azinger and Lee Trevino have strong grips that force them to use their bodies a lot in order to hit a fade. Golfers, generally and subconsciously, react to their ball flight by building into their swing either hook fundamentals or fade fundamentals.
The other influence you might have when learning your swing is the geographical area where you grew up. If you grew up in a windy environment you probably developed a flat swing that favored a low hook. Or, if you grew up in lush fairways with no wind you probably developed a high swing. Your swing concepts could be flawed and you could have been taught incorrectly.
My advice is to be yourself. Don't try to copy a mythical model swing that would be difficult, if not impossible to replicate. Match up those fundamentals that fit your swing, physical characteristics and desired ball flight.
(Dr. Jim Suttie, the 2000 PGA Teacher of the Year, is director of instruction at The Club at TwinEagles in North Naples, Fla. and at Cog Hill Golf Club in Lemont, Ill. To learn more about his instruction philosophy check out his new book, "Your Perfect Swing" and "Paper Tiger," by Tom Coyne. Suttie is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and coaches the Florida Gulf Coast University men's golf team. E-mail him at jmsuttie@aol.com.)
