There’s something big that sets average golfers apart from the professionals. It’s not just the game, but it’s the swing. You can be as good of a golfer as you want. As an amateur, you most likely won’t reach the level of a professional player without getting instruction at golf colleges. In the meantime, you can look at some of the most famous golf swings below and learn why they are and were able to pull these swings off consistently.
1. Tiger Woods
First up is Tiger Woods. He dominated the PGA Tour for several years, and his swing went through four major stages in his career. His technique changed with the introduction of his different teachers. He started with Rudy Duran and John Anselmo. He continued to improve his swing with Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, and Sean Foley.
2. Fred Couples
Fred Couples always had a powerful drive, and new equipment helped. However, working with Butch Harmon on mechanics was the turning point. His swing is far less dependent on timing. Instead, he focuses on smashing the ball. This doesn’t necessarily mean hitting it hard. Instead, he focuses on trying to compress the ball with a dead-on hit every time he swings.
3. Arnold Palmer
Arnold Palmer had a powerful, sweeping drive. He owned the swing instead of trying to replicate a swing he saw someone else do. He also talked about the importance of having a good grip each time you stepped up to take a swing. He loved to drive the ball, and he loved rising to challenges.
4. Rory McIlory
Rory has a textbook setup for his golf swing with a takeaway that is in rhythm and smooth. He also has a great transition that engages for extra power. He trained his body and his swing to get additional accuracy and distance, and he transitioned his body to match the type of play he wanted to have.
5. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus’s swing is clutch and powerful. He has a flying right elbow when he swings with a powerful follow-through that is easy to spot. He offered great precision and power, but he had a simple swing. He believed that it didn’t have to look perfect to be a good swing, and he made a point to spend the beginning of each season with a swing coach to hone his posture, grip, alignment, and stance.
6. Sam Snead
Sam Snead offers a very fluid and smooth swing. He practiced wrapping the club inside a bit, and his hands always had a slight over-the-top movement to them. He could repeat this swing over and over, and he had a full turn with a follow-through that was very graceful. He used tempo to stay online and maximized his swing speed for a powerful shot.
7. Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan has a very studied swing, and there are entire YouTube channels dedicated to dissecting them. He had a huge amount of power and accuracy with every swing, but it was very simple too. He practiced centering his weight shift and having a fluid motion with the ball. He also found a secret to fix his hook shot and turn it into a fade shot that he never shared with anyone.
8. Phil Mickelson
Phil Mickelson has a slightly more effective and wider backswing than most. He’s also very effective at setting his club and his body on the top of each swing. This golfer is known for having a tiny, high fade on his signature shot, and he brings it off with ease.
9. Steve Stricker
Steve Stricker has one big clue to his swing. The key is fewer moving parts. He does a big body turn with a very stiff-wristed action. This is the direct opposite approach a lot of other professional players have where they maximize their wrist hinge when they go into the backswing to get more leverage when they connect with the ball. This player has a shorter swing with quieter wrists.
10. Mickey Wright
Mickey Wright was known for her powerful swings. She was taught to use her legs when she performed her golf swing to help drive the ball and get the force effort all of the way through each hit. She had great extension because she cleared her body out of the way of each swing so she could easily swing her arms up and extend through her shots.
Learn How to Have a Powerful Swing
Studying at a golf college will teach you how to perfect your swing. You’ll learn about stance, grip, and much more as you learn what goes into making a famous swing.