Billy Casper: A Classic Swing

It should be apparent after watching so many of these swing analysis videos that there are similarities in the swings of the great players prior to 1970 that are so prevalent that we can call the end result “the classic swing”. The list is fairly short but all of the items are integral parts of the whole.
1. Deep right hip and leg movement in the backswing.
2. Takeaway either straight back or inward.
3. Hands move out toward the ball in transition.
4. The head is significantly lower at impact than it was at address.
5. Hips stay in the box (deep) in the forward swing.
6. There is an aggressive lateral drive of the hips in the forward swing as well as an aggressive rotation.
7. The right upper arm moves in front of the right hip in the forward swing (the sidearm throwing motion).
8. The body is well open at impact.
9. The hands, arms and club exit to the left
Billy Casper’s swing does all these things. It is no wonder that he hit the ball well enough to win 51 PGA Tour events and 3 majors. While Casper was renowned for his short game and putting, we know now that the great champions separated themselves from their competitors more through their approach shots and driving than from shots on and around the greens. From 1964-1970 Casper won 27 events, more than twice the number that Player and Palmer won combined. He won majors 11 years apart, and had 11 children while he was doing it! If you watch any interviews with him it is obvious that he was a sweetheart of a guy and surely he will be sorely missed.

[@scottjames6037]

One of the greatest swings in my opinion

[@darryljt]

I love the old swings of the past. The move to the ball on the downswing is timeless.

[@DonkeyKongBMAC]

Great video

[@wadeoden8464]

saw him win at the US Senior Open here in MN at Hazeltine in 1983 when I was 11. I think I saw Miller Barber there too. As a young golfer I was taken aback at how FAST a pro swings a golf club, never mind their age and the rudimentary understanding of physical training in relation to golf back then.

[@jimmyvespegolf3834]

Great analysis. Easy to see why Casper was able to win the big ones. Quick question: Looking at Tiger in the early 2000s and now, one thing I notice is at address how his hips.appear to be too far back (same thing you see with McIlroy). It seems Tiger fights this position the rest of the swing, and isn't able to compress like he use to and extend through the shot. Injuries aside, I strongly feel he needs to adopt the setup he had when he was younger, which more lines up with what we see with Casper, Hogan etc.

[@QuantumRadii]

Look how flat is that wood Casper is swing? They don’t make clubs like that any longer. I think the change is lie angle and length has really altered the swing mechanics of today’s players.

[@Scatterpattern]

How cool is Gay Brewer’s downswing?!?

[@bjohnson515]

Instead of Brewer.....how about Knudson, Souchak, Jerry Barber?

[@imherenow87]

Wayne Def has never blown up in popularity because he talks down so many confusing lines, takes too long to explain his too many ideas, contradicts himself and attempts to sound superior - all extremely irritating and lacking a central point to what actually makes the best ball strikers - the best ball strikers, period

[@waynedefrancesco4423]

James: I'm 66 years old, and while I had a decent playing career (too injury prone to get to Tour level) I never intended to be a golf instructor. I have no interest in "blowing up in popularity", and I do these videos because I'm interested in the subject. I had to completely overhaul my swing in the late 80's after spinal fusion surgery, and I worked hard to keep playing at the highest level I could. One thing I truly know is that golf is a humbling game, and thus I try to keep my analysis objective and leave out the judgement. After all, if I'm analyzing a player's swing it's because that player has been way more successful than I ever was. I'm not sure why you think I'm trying to "sound superior". I'm not trying to sound like anything other than offering observations on what I think is going on in these swings.