The golf swing - different but the same

Watching golf on TV every evening and swing sequences on YouTube it is clear to see that at the top levels of the game there are no two swings the same. Put Tiger Woods golf swing next to that of Jim Furyk and visually the swings are miles apart. On first impressions there is no way in hell Jim Furyk should be competing with Tiger Woods given the difference in golf swing motion between the two. These differences therefore lead us to asking the question, "why do i keep chasing the perfect swing?".

Earlier blog entries that i have published have led to the conclusion that there is no one model. The number of swing theories out there today is uncountable. Each professional seeming to have there own belief on what makes the most efficient action to hit good golf shots. When it comes down to it however the goals of every single coach are very simple and the same:

'To teach every player to have a consistent shot shape & strike through a repetitive
and physically efficient motion. Hitting the ball long enough to get the ball around the
golf course in the lowest possible score'

Now, whatever your teaching philosophy, this is the aim for every golf professional. The magic word in any golfers vocabulary is 'consistency'. If i got a pound for every lesson who came to me seeking just that magic word, then i would already be a rich man. Everybody knows they have the good shot in them, they can kill a 7 iron 160yds or hit the driver with that elusive draw, however doing it on a regular basis and lacking the consistency is the major downfall.

So what makes an efficient and consistent swing? What allows somebody with the golf swing of Jim Furyk to compete with that of a player with the god given athleticism of Tiger Woods? The answer is their swing sequencing on the downswing.

Kinematic Sequence

Ok so Tiger and Furyk's golf swings look nothing alike. However there is one big similarity and that is their kinematic sequences. This is the sequence of movements on the downswing which lead to generating speed and transferring that speed through the body and eventually to the clubhead. Ignore the fact that Jim Furyk looks like he is swinging a lasso around his body, the sequence back to the ball is the same.

Without going into huge detail as to how the sequence works a simple look will show this is what happens:

• The energy builds from the lower body, working from the ground up
• The energy is transferred from the lower body, into the torso
• The energy is then transferred to the arms and hands
• The final energy transference results in the loading of energy into the club/clubhead resulting in the strike of the ball

This sequence applies to all top strikers of the golf ball. if this is created then it will result in you hitting better golf shots. With good kinematic sequencing and good stability through the swing the only factor that can stop good ball striking will be an off - centre strike from the club or poor clubface aim at impact.

The sequence is repetitive throughout good golfswings, the style carried out to get to this sequence however is what can differ. And that is why Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods and compete. 

Entirely different, but exactly the same.

Club player take note

Your lesson to learn from this is that you do not have to have a swing that is a masterpiece. You do not need to swing like Tiger, you do not need to swing like Jim Furyk. You need your swing to simply to be good enough to get the job done. Baring this sequence in mind is great. However a PGA Professional and video analysis will assist you in seeing how close you are to getting the job done. But just remember, your style is great. Your swing can work. You just need to sequence movements correctly.

If you manage that then you too can be completely different but exactly the same :) .

Thanks for reading

Daniel Gale PGA Professional

TPI Certified

Dan is a Class AA PGA Professional & TPI Certified Instructor

Check out his website at www.dangalegolf.com