Should you alter your swing?

I wonder with the growing popularity of swing coaches and the Internet with all the video, should one alter their "natural" swing.

People like Nicklaus, Hogan, Tiger have natural "correct" swings not like Snead with his pull, and Lee with his fade, and Arnold with his unorthodox follow thru..(and lest we forget Furyk and Perry with their adaptive swings)

Should someone tamper with their swing or adapt?

Only if they want to improve Don't kid yourself about the "natural" swings of the pros. Some of these guys have insane natural talent, but most developed their swings with thousands of hours on the practice range with the best golf coaches in the world. I say we could learn alot from doing the same.

I don't think I'd call Tiger's swing "natural" - he's changed it a bunch over the years and probably was coached into having a great swing as a kid. At any rate, as for changing your swing - most definately if it's for the better. If it takes timing issues or other things that lead to inconsistancy out of the equation - most definately. But, don't change something just becuase your favorite player does something a certain way. Make sure it works for you and will make you a better ball striker in the long run.

There is nothing innate about the golf swing. Tiger's dad played, he watched, he emulated. Other pro's came up as caddies and watched better golfers and emulated.

Just because there is an influx of new golfers who never caddied or had fathers that played and need to use the internet does not make the pros and those who have gone before "natural." The current process is simply different. Watch the video of someone better and emulate. It is not representative or fair to state a pro's swing is "natural" considering the huge ammount of work and study, whatever the method, that they have done. -E

That encapsulates the pursuit of the golf swing better than any sentence I have ever read.

What is instinctive to the novice is to hit out hard from the top as this feels like a power move but in reality is a golf swing killer. People make golf like swing motions all the time such as chopping a tree or making a body punch. All those things require precise body/arm moves in sequence. When we hit from the top we throw our golf swing out of sequence; having said that everyone has a natural swing that fits them and will work well but it may take some instruction and practice to find it and then hone it. Take a look at Reinmonth's book "Tension Free Golf", very little golf instruction beyond the set up and grip as a relaxed move, he feels, will allow your natural swing to happen.

I am an old Jim Mcclellan fan and I agree with him swinging into one position after another is worthless golf instruction. Your best players all started at a young age when they were not strong enough to manipulate and control the club with their hands and arms. Thus, they had to use their bodies and flexibility to swing the club and they do it well. They can gain from instruction by changing a position because that does not alter their basically good athletic swing. People who start later in life and have middle age flexibility coupled with a strong urge to control and manipulate the golf club can and are hurt by position based instruction which destoys what natural swing they really have.

Tiger Woods has what, 66 wins? How many, 13-14 Majors?

He has totally re-tooled his swing at least 3 times since he's turned pro. The golf swing - even for the pros - is ever evolving. We turn less, we're less flexible, we get old (dammit, I hate that) ...

My point is, we change our swings unconsiously, at times. If you feel a swing change - or an element of it - will improve your game, by all means do it. But not alone. Have someone else (a pro) watch, listen, learn, teach. Tiger didn't make these changes in his pro career because he was bored; he expected better results. And he didn't make those changes alone. Any swing change for you (and me) should have the same expectations. Thanks!

I am going to try to answer what I think was the intent of the original question...
Obviously, there are certain, fundamental actions to the golf swing that have to be incorporated. However, I don't think you necessarily need to change your swing so much as aspects of it.
I took a few lessons and the pro told me that my swing was reasonable sound. I play a little "tall" and I am sure I am not on the perfect plane, but rather than deconstruct my whole swing, he made minor adjustments which helped my swing work better.
The key is consistency.

I know, I know, "the exception that proves the rule..."

But who allowed Furyk to keep that crazy swing of his? I'm frankly surprised that some swing coach 20 years ago didn't coach him out of the weird motion he has in the transition from his backswing to downswing.

Regardless, he has built a successful career with that swing (here's where someone will say "Well, he would have been MORE successful if he had fixed his swing...").

Yes, yes and yes.When Jack saw Lee Trevino swing for the first time he said to himself "this guy is gonna be trouble" because he swung the same every single shot.

If you always know where the ball is going you will be a player.

When I say "natural..I mean "not coached"

I can appreciate your skepticism about "coaching", getting professional lessons, making swing changes and all that. I really do. But it is also likely the reason we are both double digit handicaps as well


I want to get better and I am willing to pay top dollar for lessons to make it happen. I am so tired of playing bogey golf. Its time to learn how to play the game properly. I think a steady diet of lessons, practice time, playing time, and physical conditioning would help me personally. Problem is, I am a working out of state and change jobs frequently. Rates at the only public course on island (Nantucket) is $125/round. It blows. Heading back home for good in the next year and the first thing on my to do list is to find a good instructor.

Changing your swing is nothing but pain and heartache but it is the only way most of us can truly get better. I took lessons for about six months at McGetrick Academy in Denver, best money I ever spent. Although going through that process was a nightmare. That was a few years ago and now I am on the cusp of getting more lessons to get my swing back in shape. I hate sucking.....

Changing a workable golf swing is liking trying to push on a balloon. For every improvement there is a corresponding side effect to deal with.

I tried making my swing flatter and started dipping my right shoulder without knowing it. I suffered through two years of bad ball contact, inadequate release, and other side effects before an instructor caught the mistake.

Don't do it.