Jim McLean Golf Swing Analysis- Bruce Lietzke

www.jimmclean.com/
McLean analyzes Bruce Lietzke's golf swing. Bruce and Jim attended the University of Houston and played on the golf team.

[@dr.reidsheftalltruthinscie2007]

Wow.. I sure have increased respect for Jim McLean after watching this.. I always thought he was an overdetailed- celebrity teacher if you know what I mean... But he NAILED what makes Lietzeke so great. Nice job Jim...

[@aaronweis6774]

Had the pleasure of watching Bruce Lietzke at the 3M open in 2000. My Dad and i stood behind him as he teed off with a driver. His ball-flight was something i will never forget. The most perfect, predictable five yard fade. Thanks to Jim McLean for helping players to understand that the swing is flexible. If it is your swing, own it.

[@TheNightstalker67]

Jim- Thank you for doing this. I got to meet Bruce before he passed away, his brother ( also his caddy) had worked at our club and Bruce came down and did a memorial tournament for his brother. He was a true gentleman and we watched him hit shots on the par 3 - beat the pro and we could not touch him!

[@ericcopeman7882]

In the mid seventies he was one of the longest hitters on the tour also. Very smooth and relaxed power!

[@STEVE-lk2ft]

It’s stunning to me that 99% of teachers don’t differentiate the hand/arm plain from the shaft plain. All these so-called over the top PGA swings still shallow the shaft on the downswing regardless of what plain or path their arms/hands take.

[@bighank99]

Lietzke, Furyk - wonderful athletes and unique swings. Jim, I disagree with using the railway workers sledge hammer analogy. Their job was to smash the spike DOWN into the ground. If you have ever taken a heavy axe or hammer and swung so as to throw the hammer down the fairway to the target, you'll notice that the body reacts in such a way as to find the swing plane naturally. There isn't need for a looping action at all. And you can hit the spike every time as well. This is a great drill.

[@dukane14]

Great rhythm... beautiful... so free... I'm gonna try and copy this...

[@RK831]

So if Bruce's maintenance-free is so good, why not teach it?

[@pb12661]

Bruce Lietzke's favorite golf course was Muirfield Village. RIP

[@stevebag3720]

That was torture listening to that. Just like Stadler and Sneed all three have a hand path that looks over the top but there shaft and club head immediately in the downswing get on a shallower plane than the hand path. Over the top with the shaft is the curse of amateur golfers. Sneed would always emphasize feeling what your club head is doing at the top or in the transition and had a beautiful shaft position when his left arm was parallel to the ground in the down swing.

[@CaptainAndrewWiggins]

how jim, can i find that slot? pls tell me.

[@chriscreasy7729]

Looks like viktor hovland.

[@MrLuigiFercotti]

One thing worth noting, his grip is somewhat weak, the back of his left hand is pointing to the target. Therefore, even with the bowed wrist, is clubface is only slightly closed. Combining a bowed left wrist with a strong grip is not such a good combination.

[@hutzman7664]

Absolutely beautiful motion!

[@batman48195]

Thanks Jim! I always liked Bruce. Seemed like a guy anyone could hang out with.

[@eggsmann594]

RIP Bruce Lietzke, but the Walrus is my go to 'swing emulator' idol ! Where his X factor looks almost non-existent - it's there in the realm of mass velocity of the celestial bodies where just one inch of difference gets you astronomical distance.

[@08jag81]

Palmer's swing was an inside to square as well.

[@GC-hw9ju]

This is the golf swing that all teachers should be trying to teach amateurs. I am a +1 and would kill for that position and flight.

[@justjames1111]

Another great analysis Jim, the amount of work you put in no wonder you're so highly regarded. One thing I did notice is that Bruce flattens the shaft in the transition/downswing which it appears to me is due to a great transition move to his left side. It's late and not a lot but it's there, and would explain the power fade he favoured. Is the flattening of the shaft in your opinion a 'fundamental' of great ball-striking Jim?

[@McLeanGolf]

Bruce said that didn't you want a flat left wrist at impact so it didn't hurt having it flat at the top. Pretty simple for Bruce

[@strappernick9891]

I sure do miss Bruce Lietzke on Tour. Great analysis by Jim. It was a swing worth looking at, any unusual action is in my opinion. I'm always intrigued by the unusual.

[@barkingspider403]

I would leave this up to Jim to answer, but I don't think his grip is that weak. I suspect golfers are just too accustomed to all the strong grips in the game today. Also this swing is much more teachable than the PC down the line stuff that's taught these days. If you hand people a club and ask them to swing, they're far more likely to swing like this than they are to contort their bodies to do what the instructor wants--not always a good thing, but useful in this case.

[@dr.reidsheftalltruthinscie2007]

Jim McLean.. Jim.. Thank you for this... I used to hook (or draw) every shot and could shoot even par in tournaments mostly because of my short game. Then I said ''enough!'' and started to think how I could make golf easier. (I have never taken lessons. played from 11 - 14 years old ; got to a 2 handicap and quit for other sports) then took it up at age 47 again after med school, surgery residency, etc. During my time away I played once every 10 years but always shot in mid 70s (at weddings, etc)). Then played on tour in Asia for 9 years- after starting back for one year- with some success even with my hook (reg tour then senior). A month ago is when I said ''enough!'' and started to copy Bruce Lietzke because he said he never hit a hook his whole life and we are the same height t 6'2''. Now I do it like Lietzke (as best as I can) and hit 2 more greens per round (sometimes all 18). I hit a beautiful little fade on every shot now ; like 5 yards on my driver down to 1 yard on my 9 iron. I don''t mis-hit anymore either because I am coming into the ball from''higher out'' if you know what I mean. I wish I had known this when I started on tour. Now 59 years old...

[@bhags59]

Reid Sheftall man just read your story. You’re quite an incredible man. Amazing, I mean absolutely amazing story. Such humility and grace and your charitable donations through your work in Cambodia is just outstanding. You’re truly 1 in a million!

[@dr.reidsheftalltruthinscie2007]

@@bhags59 Gosh. Thanks, Brett. I'm just seeing your comment tonight, two years after you wrote it. I wish they had notified me earlier so I could have thanked you then.

[@bhags59]

@@dr.reidsheftalltruthinscie2007 you’re so welcome, Reid! Happy Sunday to you!

[@sunfish340]

RIP Bruce - you are already missed. I always wanted to meet you some day. You were one of my favorites & a car guy too - like me.

[@bjmorris64]

Ray Floyd took it back inside. It is my natural path back as well (I spent 5 years trying to "fix" it with little success). My biggest problem is losing my posture during the downswing. Which Lietzke maintains so well.

[@wodenoftheangles3339]

I estimate that approximately 25% of golfers are naturally under-over swingers.

[@jeffballard7631]

Love this! Thank you.

[@MrPholding]

How much left to right did his ball move say with a driver?

[@petmart]

Ridiculous. Very possible to teach both swings, although Furyk gives up too much power. Talk to Kelvin Miyahira, he knows how to do it. Wouldn't slide laterally as much as Bruce does, btw, or stand as close as Furyk.

[@parkersmithphoto]

Yeah, cause "Top Ten on the All Time Money List" Jim Furyk needs your advice. And Bruce "Eleven Straight Years with a PGA Tour Victory" Lietzke needs your help, too.

[@geesecougar2]

Jim, what did Bruce tell you about the subject of the bowed left wrist at the top?

[@super20dan]

same here[i used to hook every shot and knew there had to be a better way. i studied bruce,s swing and now hit a fade every time. weak left hand grip is my key for this

[@LittleLeakyPowerFade]

Another convert to the Lietzke fade... nice.