I’ve looked for years at Jack Nicklaus’ golf swing, going so far as to say that the Golden Bear had the closest setup to an optimal one that I could find.
Close behind Jack though, and one of the first swingers I ever looked at, is Ben Hogan. The problem I always had with Hogan was all of the anti-hook features built into his swing, features that probably created an army of slicers after he released his “5 Lessons” book.
I always used to say that I hadn’t invented anything when developing the MCS Classic Golf Swing models that I have presented throughout the years.
All I did was compare the setups of the greatest champions of golf from the Classic Golf Swing eras (and some Classic swingers from this modern era), from which I took setup principles to apply to what I was currently developing.
After a lifetime in sports, I am still confused by the golf myth that in order to swing a golf downward, you must push upwards from the ground.
It is easily the silliest and most “debunkable” myth, as well, which makes me wonder why swing analysts are pushing this.
I have made an important breakthrough in my theory work, I believe, that finally solves the issue of the setup.
I think it’s been about a week since a little nugget of an idea landed in my brain and began to change the way I look at the setup for a golf swing.
First off, let me say that the last two or three weeks have been amazing with regards to my swing research, notably the Jack Nicklaus-inspired setup and swing action.
The funny thing is you often don’t notice what other golfers are doing with their swings or setups until you have actually done or worked on similar things, and with Rory McIlroy, I noticed something at a glance looking at his setup and swing from this year’s Dubai Invitational event.
You’ll all by now be familiar with the concept upon which I’ve been working with regards to swing modeling – that is, swinging in a manner that emulates the Iron Byron or any other swinging machine or robot.
What this would entail is in reaching the optimal in three processes (the setup, back pivot and down swing) with maximum stability in the leading foot and head positions throughout.
I came across a video clip on Youtube – it is a home movie taken in 1956 at a golf club called Lakeview, with Sammy Snead, Porkie Oliver and Moe Norman hitting shots in an exhibition round.
I have already shown WAX Nation Moe’s swing from the 50’s where he had a conventional Classic Golf Swing action complete with the full hip and leg action with a lifting leading heel, and he’s doing the same in this clip.
I don’t think I’ve ever showcased Al Geiberger, the original “Mr. 59” and someone who had a golf swing model that was near bang-on, as you will observe.
There are only a couple of critiques I would have of the setup and pivot action but, other than that, there’s not really anything at which to pick.
I have talked about how, when I began my golf swing research, I had chosen Moe Norman’s swing to study because of how it was always being called the “perfect swing.”
I have of course concluded that, while he could strike a ball nearly perfectly straight time after time, it wasn’t an optimal golf swing.
It is now becoming evident to me that, out of all of the issues that people investigate with regards to swing modelling (ball position, stance, etc.), the grip is most overlooked part of it all.
I have spent years believing simply because he set the standard over a century ago that Harry Vardon’s grip was the correct one to employ.
WAX Golf 