My Happy Gilmore Style Swing

[mrroccov]

Hi,

I am new to thesandtrap.com

I had a friend take a video of my swing the other day at a golf outing. I have been doing the Happy Gilmore style swing since I saw the movie come out back in 1996. It is my standard swing. I don't ever do any warm up swings and always hit the ball. I always get people saying it is so easy. Then I tell them to go ahead and try, and they miss terribly.

Please let me know what you think. Enjoy. Also take the poll, and let me know if you think I have a nice swing. Thanks!

Also, feel free to pass the youtube video on, I'm trying to get a lot of views. Thanks!

[Grumpter]

Gilmore keeps the back foot planted. Nice slow motion at 2:29 of this vid

[Elvisliveson]

You don't appear to be generating much power, which is the whole purpose of the Gilmore swing. That's because you do not have the same huge shoulder turn and wide backswing arc that Happy has. You could use a flat-footed, arms only swing that would produce the same result.

[delav]

I'd really like to see a video of the 120 yard pitch that happened next.

[bkoguy07]

I mean good job hitting it but uh yeah I feel like my 9i is farther lol

[parbreaker]

I think many people become at least slightly intrigued about the "happy gilmore" swing at some point or another. The concept behind it is that the extra speed you have from running to the ball will be transferred to the ball and show up with added distance.

I can't remember where I saw it (probably on the golf channel), but they did a test with this swing. They had Padraig Harrington do two driver swings on high speed film. One normal and one running up to the ball. He was able to make solid contact and hit the fairway with both shots. The data showed about a +4mph difference in his swing speed due to running, which equated to about 5-10 extra yards. The general concensus was that that small of a distance gain was not worth the lack of accuracy of a traditional swing.

Now that I've addressed the "theory" of the swing, I'll address the video. It appears to me as though your swing is choppy and abbreviated. This is probably showing up as extra assurance of making contact. The farther you take the club from the ball, the harder it will be to make contact. As has been said, you really lack any shoulder turn and torque to speak of which means you are sacrificing huge amounts of power. Add that to the natural unreliability of the swing, and it doesn't bode well.

Being able to hit the ball reliably with that swing is an indication of good athletics and hand-eye coordination. You should have some nice potential, but I would highly recommend using a more traditional setup and swing.

[Grumpter]

Quote:

I can't remember where I saw it (probably on the golf channel), but they did a test with this swing. They had Padraig Harrington do two driver swings on high speed film. One normal and one running up to the ball. He was able to make solid contact and hit the fairway with both shots. The data showed about a +4mph difference in his swing speed due to running, which equated to about 5-10 extra yards. The general concensus was that that small of a distance gain was not worth the lack of accuracy of a traditional swing.

They should have gotten Aggasi to do the test. He's been practicing the "running shot" since long before Happy came along.

[mdl]

Where's the power?  The whole point of the swing is wind up hard and crush the ball as you step into it and unload.  I can hit my 5i farther than it looks like that ball went.

[rustyredcab]

Well if we played together no one would comment on my swing or my side saddle putting being odd. I like that.

Hey, if golf is supposed to be fun, this looks fun. Probably looked more appropriate when you were 15 years younger. :)