Best Swing for Amateurs?

[CalBoomer]

In the latest issue of Golf magazine, the top 100 teachers allegedly voted Steve Stricker as having the best overall swing and the one best suited for amateurs to copy. His swing is then analyzed in more detail and praised for being an almost perfect one-plane swing. Elsewhere they recommend what I would call a 3/4 backswing for control and power. Finally, stack and tilt is recommended as a cure for chunked irons. Kinda weird for me since I had incorporated all of these things into my game for just those reasons over the past 2 years. And I have improved a lot (about 8 on the index). I'd be interested what other people think.

[iacas]

There's no "one best swing." Different people do things differently and any "swing" needs a wide-ish range of variances and allowances to account for individuals.

I thought the article was typical of a golf magazine, and I'll leave it at that...

[CalBoomer]

There's no "one best swing." Different people do things differently and any "swing" needs a wide-ish range of variances and allowances to account for individuals.

I certainly agree with both of your points, especially one person having the "best" swing. I was more interested in engendering some discussion about the one-plane swing for amateurs. If you were teaching someone from absolute scratch, with no previous habits of any kind, how would you feel about one-plane vs. two plane?

[soloredd]

I think a good teacher would fit the swing to match the player's ability. That's the problem - too many times someone will say, "Hey, you should swing like this, it's better." Well, what might be better for one player might not be for the next. Stricker does have a nice swing, though.

[tshapiro]

I actually think Michelle Wie. All I would say is watch how the hips initiate the downswing, watch the extension through impact, watch the balanced finish, and look at those fantastic legs

[O.B. Right]

I actually think Michelle Wie. All I would say is watch how the hips initiate the downswing, watch the extension through impact, watch the balanced finish, and look at those fantastic legs

I was thinking exactly this the other day . . not about Michelle Wie but about the LPGA being a fantastic place to look for swings to copy. I don't actually try to copy anybody's swing exactly - but, if I did, I think I would try to copy Stephanie Sparks.

[CrazyXGolfer]

Adam Scotts golf swing, is by far the best golf swing ive ever seen! This is who ive been trying to model my golf swing off.
His set up would have to be the best in the world imho.

[The Recreational Golfer]

The swing I use when I just flush it and the ball takes off straight and high is the one I'm trying to copy. I've tried to copy what I see some pro do and it just messes me up.

[WUTiger]

... Elsewhere they recommend what I would call a 3/4 backswing for control and power. ...

A few years back, I went to a 13/16 swing (a bit past 3/4). When I have time to play, it helps me with control and good movement through the ball. A 3/4 swing has similarities to a karate punch - short takeaway and explosive follow-through.

One consideration should be the amount of raw athleticism you have. I probably rank about the 48th percentile here. So, I need a swing that's reliable - I don't have the balance to control a "big swing." The "big swing" was the rage in the 1980s, and I basically lost a decade as far as reasonable swing-shaping goes. Another factor is flexibility and overall physical condition. Some people - especially those over 40 - have past sports or work injuries that may limit their swing motion. I've been diagnosed with an arthritic right hip, so I really have to work on flexibility. The athletic training people are also doing research on fast twitch vs. slow twitch muscle fiber mix. Fast twitch = sprinter, slow twitch = marathoner. Haven't seen any studies on muscle fiber ratio and golf swing type, but it might be interesting.

and iacas noted, There's no "one best swing." Different people do things differently and any "swing" needs a wide-ish range of variances and allowances to account for individuals.

A co-worker has started playing golf, and is taking lessons. Two months in, he has already made a variance adjustment on his grip - going from strong to neutral to stop hooking the ball.

[Brakkus]

It could depend on your past athletic pursuits.I mean I drew comparisons from my tennis forehand so the one-plane route made sense.Funny I was talking with a playing partner of mine who had said the pro had taken a third of his backswing out.I said that in tennis the only thing I remember reading on coaching regarding the backswing was to turn your left shoulder sideways to the net then rotate.I never worried about length of backswing.
Something that I have been working on is to stop trying to keep turning so far and just let the shoulders turn comfortably and then rotate like a forehand pointed at the ground.Bingo solid shots.For an amateur I would say any swing method you choose the best thing you can get right from the start is to turn within your your own body flexibility.It will save you so much pain from bad ballstriking.

[allin]

I think a good teacher would fit the swing to match the player's ability. That's the problem - too many times someone will say, "Hey, you should swing like this, it's better." Well, what might be better for one player might not be for the next. Stricker does have a nice swing, though.

Exactly, the swing I need at my age with my beat up body is not the same swing I would have needed if I had started playing as a young person.

[kennay92]

it doesnt even seem like he creates a whole bunch of speed or lag? Wonder where he gets his power? Maybe what lag he does make he holds it real well.