Sometimes I will have students come to me about a video clip they have seen about just 'swinging your swing'. This basically means that there is more than one way to swing a golf club correctly. This is true but to strike a golf ball correctly, certain positions still need to be achieved especially on the downswing. What I would say that can be different but still effective is the movement of the left knee, the arm structure at the top of the backswing and the head position.
Now you will see the movement of the left knee in certain notable players such as Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. Over the years most coaching has tried to limit the amount of movement of the left knee so that it creates more stability and balance through the swing. I do however will often recommend moving the left knee particularly those who have limited movement in their hips and as a way to create power. The key is as long as the left shoulder stays behind the left hip at the top of the swing, you would have not compromised your weight transfer.
The other element that can be different is the top of the swing. Now what you will see with the elite players is a very common first position where the club reaches parallel to the ground. You will see players trying to have the clubface and the hands forming a straight line with the clubface slightly closed. They would have also turned their chest with their arms. Now at the top of the swing, there can be vast changes. You have the classic top position where the shaft is parallel to the target such as Tiger Woods, a swing that doesn't even reach past shoulder height such as Jon Rahm and some where the club is pointing to the right of the target such as Cameron Smith. Put simply as long as the first position is performed correctly, the arms will tend to function with the body for the remainder of the swing.
The last difference that you might see is the head position. You have the very still head of Mark O'Meara and the more recent versions where the head tends to come back and down a little such as Nelly Korda and Jason Day. There is also the violent dropping of the head by Joaquin Niemann during the downswing. Now to put simply, yes the head doesn't have to stay exactly in the same spot but it must still stay within parameters to ensure consistency of contact. You really want to feel that the head stays roughly on the same level during the backswing moving no more than half a head width to the right followed by dropping the head down a little on the downswing. This dropping will happen naturally as when you strike down into the grass, your body will naturally lower.
If you have any further questions about how to design the right swing for you, just contact myself at David Waters Golf.
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