I have spent much of the past couple of years just focusing on swing models and tinkering, but as recently as 2022, I was still banging drives of 330 yards and upwards with off the rack drivers.

This is the proof that my model search ended a while ago, but it took my being satisfied that I had looked into everything I possibly could, at which point I began to look back through my swing archive (2010-2024 is a lot of clips) and break down exactly what the optimal swing model looks like.

Some of you will remember my disappointment with the SC300i launch monitor that I had purchased, as it was short-measuring my distances by about 10% off when I could verify an exact distance with my laser range finder and the launch monitor estimated the yardage.

That was with all clubs, so a 200 yard 6 iron would have read around 180 yards on the monitor.

None of this is really relevant to the topic at hand, but it was when I went looking for a certain clip in my archives for the below offering, I noticed how, now that I have a definable setup for the optimal golf swing, I was nearly nailing that setup 3 years ago during my swing sessions.

The only changes I would make on the dtl view is more verticality in the arms, and in the face-on, perhaps having the head a tad more to my right, but if someone showed up to my range setting up like the above, I’d immediately be interested in their ball-striking.

That setup is very close to optimal.

Here’s a 330 yard drive from May 2022 that the launch monitor measured at 297 yards, which would be exactly 33 yards short or 10% off 330.

I was using a Ping G20 driver, 8.5 degrees with an S-Flex shaft, regular length, and of course standard range balls:

I hit another drive to the mounds while facing the camera, and the disgust you hear in my voice is not at the swing nor the distance, rather the likely around 300 yard reading the SC300i gave me when I glanced back at it.

Again, a pretty close to optimal setup, better grip than I had in the previous years (it’s probably weaker now, we’ll soon find out), but the pivot isn’t quite what I would be doing now.

I’d want a little more straightening of the right leg on the back pivot but my head position likely had something to do with it, because hand-eye coordination kicks in once you’re in motion, and unconscious adjustments occur.

Now, if you can show me another swing model that lets middle-aged, overweight and out of shape guys drive the ball 330 yards without hurting themselves or contorting into fantastic positions, I would love to see it.

And this isn’t even the best I think one can set up and swing, just close to it.

Because it’s not really yours truly’s athletic gift that is doing that, it’s the swing model.

If you’d taught me this setup and pivot action of the Classic Golf Swing in my mid-20s when I was just discovering golf, who knows how far I would have sent it?