Why Jordan Spieth's Weird Swing Works So Well | Golf Digest

[@TheGwhitey]

His "chicken wing" is a product of his grip and his bowed left wrist prior to impact, by keeping that left arm bent it stops the club face flipping over through impact. The reason people think the chicken wing is bad is because most amateurs come into impact with an open face and a chicken wing would hold it open meaning slice city, Jordan does the opposite he squares it early then holds off the flipping over of the club face. I love his swing it has such great rhythm and is perfectly on plane with a club face square to the path, I may be biased though as he is my favourite player!

[@ScratchArkkitehti]

Either you wing or you clear hips like DJ with that shut face.

[@thomaskp1]

TheGwhitey is at HMT and wl at the time of the train station where are you at the station where you can go

[@vanislefan]

People forget that Calvin Peete was the straightest driver on Tour and his left arm was more bent than Jordan's. He also was one of the top money winners in his heyday.

[@cgasucks]

and Peete's left arm is bent because of an accident long ago and has no choice of having that chicken wing through impact for him.

[@zgmorris13]

Difference is Jordan is almost at the bottom of the PGA tour in fairways made over the last year and half. He’s not even in the top 200! All while hitting it 30 yards shorter off the tee than big hitters hitters like Dustin and Cameron Champ.

[@MarkSmithhhh]

He had to bend it didn't he

[@neilcandeloramusic]

Am I the only one who feel like they’d didn’t actually explain anything?

[@udayaai]

They didn't really go on detail here but Jordan's swing is basically delaying the rotation of the wrist after impact. He kept his arms controlled (hence the chicken wing analogy) instead of rotating it like Rory, Phil, Tiger. If that still doesnt make sense, look at his left arm after impact, its reasonably ahead of his right arm for longer period than other golfers. A golfer that keep his hand straight would have his right arm rotated, almost straight and his left elbow down, but Jordan is the opposite.

[@halshuford541]

Yeah! What is the advantage?

[@ryo0ka936]

@@halshuford541 as far as the video goes the advantage is that it allows Jordan to control the ball flight better in exchange for the mileage

[@mylesfecundo8240]

They should’ve explain why his left arm bent is it that or arm problem

[@lukeiverson8303]

Since Jordan is my favorite player, I've studied his swing many times. I also realized (as a 12 year old golfer) I also have a bit of a chicken wing. It hips me have a bit more of a natural feel

[@naveedzaman9072]

Luke Iverson Really! You too!!

[@jdeazley44]

Jordan spieth's swing is sponsored by KFC

[@lionelmessi-qd6nv]

Lol

[@adamrasmussen1839]

So are his Major wins 🤪

[@SearchBucket2]

People obsess way too much over technique. It's the player that wins the tournament; his consistency, his strategy, planning, homework, competitive ability, and in Jordan's case, his putting! Of course, many will carry on obsessing with technique, or more recently ridiculous "body-building" antics, and get nowhere. It's a cognitive failing ..... most gains from chasing such "ideals" are just temporary confidence boosters and are always time-limited.

[@yaDmere]

SearchBucket2 exactly. There’s a reason tour pros can change their swing and continue to be tour pro

[@wyattreese3652]

But there has to be technique for you to be good you can just go out there and hit golf balls

[@AaIRoIN]

Who cares how it looks if you can win as much as he does

[@justasking2171]

AaIRoIN well he changed his swing and look at him now

[@wade5307]

Exactly. Wayne Gretzky wasn’t the greatest skater and wasn’t very strong in the upper body, but the man scored almost 1000 more points in his career than anyone else who’s ever played the game of hockey.

[@MarkSmith-lz5rk]

@@wade5307 yeah and let's not forget happy Gilmores swing

[@rickmarcus]

Jordan's left arm reminds me of my own. I have erb's palsy and due to that i can not get my left arm to get completely straight I also have a "chicken wing." Its funny yet also so awesome to see someone with a similar setup to mine do so well in golf.

[@davidbarnard5873]

I shoot 1 or 2 over regularly and can say it's about putting that ball in the hole any way you can, doesn't matter how so if you find something that works more power to you

[@grahamjones7371]

Simple he does what he does because he is a Left Hander playing Right! His strength and co-ordination is in his left arm/hand/shoulder etc Personally when he was at his best winning the Masters, I thought he had more right side width going back giving him the time and space to use his strong left side going through.

[@firstname7330]

Left arm straight is taught to keep consistency. If you are taught left arm bent just 2 degrees, and do that all the time, then you will also have consistency.

[@dannorthcott6032]

One of the keys to this move through impact is that Jordan (despite playing right handed) is left hand dominant... throws with his left hand... similar to a lot of modern day players who have their dominant hand as their lead hand.. Sergio, Henrik, Phil are all examples... that is not to say that this move cant be taught and learned by players who's trail hand is dominant.. it's just more natural for these guys

[@notafanatic]

100%, this is the case for me personally too

[@Hammy135]

His coach says he has a large amount of club face rotation. Speith goes on to say it’s an advantage for him because it means he has a very small amount of club face rotation.

[@jondana2217]

he puts good that's why he wins period

[@garthdownton8645]

. He commits to the swing then just goes and finds it . Without a tremendous short game you wouldn't even know who he is! But there are many greats that played that way !

[@chrish4723]

So does the club face rotate thru impact as the coach explained or remain square long thru impact as Jordan claims? I’ve been working very hard to eliminate a chicken wing, it hasn’t been consistent for me. But that is only one of many issues :-/

[@mackinnleyyarbrough4267]

Jordan also won the Master's and the FedEx cup.

[@mackinnleyyarbrough4267]

In 2015

[@bobt5778]

Driver and iron swings shouldn't be side by side, since there are slight setup differences.

[@rdk2894]

if there's nothing wrong dont change it

[@InspireMe819]

Its all about risk breaking

[@specialvon2202]

Centuries of players and teachers have been right especially if you consider the skill of players like Old Tom

[@Justwanthavefun_100]

No such thing is best or bad swing 😂 Whom winning and which swing working for you then is good swing 🥰

[@chrishealey9303]

Got to have tour pro timing to pull this off just like Phil and his hinge and hold short game

[@kalaharisafari7648]

How does Jordan have to have tour pro timing to pull this off if his club face stays square for longer? 24 handicapper are you?🤣😂🤣

[@chrishealey9303]

@@kalaharisafari7648 for ball striking and club path. Holding the face for longer won’t make you a tour pro. It’s not the magic answer. Just look at how he’s hit it for 2 years. Scratch handicap btw dopey

[@kalaharisafari7648]

@@chrishealey9303 ha ha if you were a scratch golfer then you would have picked up what Jordan said in the video as to why he using the “chicken wing” but I am afraid the 24 handicap in you is so obvious🤣😂🤣

[@froyo999]

My ankle hurts watching him😜

[@jamesmowery4307]

I never heard them explain anything

[@benstiller14]

One year ago

[@davidrosenfeld8576]

I don't really think his "chicken wing" is a problem because he keeps it consistent throughout much of his swing, unlike the amateur golfer who sets up kind of stiffly with both arms and then winces and collapses at the ball. The thing that LOOKS weird is how long he seems to keep it AFTER he hits the ball

[@sevman7]

Wolfe. That’s all I have to say

[@lgeiger]

I don't consider Jordan Spieth's swing as weird. Jim Furyk's swing is weird. And this guy holds the PGA record for the round with the lowest score. You have to find YOUR swing. It's the same in every sport. Look at Nadal, Djokovic and Federer in tennis. All three have totally different forehand styles and still every single one of them is a legend. Would Nadal be that great with a Federer swing? Definitely not. Or a Roger Federer with a Nadal swing? Probably not either.

[@justinking7549]

I want to meet Jordan speeth

[@kirenkee7198]

Minion colours lol

[@firstname7330]

According to Ken Camroux-Taylor, it's all in the hips!

[@johnnyparker9928]

If it works DON'T FIX IT.

[@swingeasyguy]

watch Moe Norman, least amount of face rotation, and straightest hitter of all time.

[@Kaludjer12]

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[@Kanye-east197]

Me and Jordan have the same swing lol

[@pedrosmith1525]

damn, i didn't realize everyone in the comment section was a pga swing-instructor........

[@benjamincypress83]

My name is Alex Regan and this is the black tapes podcast.

[@tatchy1001]

Hilarious that they compare his swing to Adam Scott while claiming it is a more accurate swing yet Scott actually hits a higher number of fairways hahahahah

[@tperri123]

That is hardly a chicken wing.

[@rkb929]

Same. You read my mind.

[@bobscottjnr]

This is not a chicken wing.

[@carsonkubicki1770]

No way I’m trying this.. my game is crappy enough.

[@JJG86]

Not so well lately

[@daviddo2443]

The absorbed steam socioeconomically guard because soy counterintuitively fetch apud a hard ex-husband. spicy, steady distribution

[@sappermade6012]

I don’t think he cares lol

[@jaydenslyer6377]

This didn’t age well

[@justasking2171]

Wnats you see science of golf it makes u not want to play anymore

[@pdubb4]

Stay on topic , pointless video!

[@GregGaba]

All bullshit. Set the club at the top, match impact angles to weight transfer and it ALL of this other discussion is propaganda.

[@rick5787]

I find him rolling over his left foot to be more weird than the very little chicken wing action he has going on.

[@davetheplugpalumbo1621]

I agree that foot roll is so unique

[@specialvon2202]

Also Jordan has had many many rounds where he was wild off the tee a lot

[@Joeybago12]

My swing is slightly over the top, upper body dominant. But after 7 years (started at 23) with a pretty good short game, i can consistently shoot low 80s and break 80 a few times a year. I encourage people to practice and find what works for them while gathering tips as they go. Its truly trial and error. Don't get stuck on a particular swing or a "pretty" swing

[@bobIsCoolhaha]

For most people, fixing an over the top transition will significantly improve their capabilities to score. I understand what you are saying, but I urge people not to apply blanket statements on how to improve their game. Pay a professional teacher.

[@Joeybago12]

@@bobIsCoolhaha no thanks. You can't fix 15 years of a baseball swing on a working man's salary. And not even close to retirement lol. I'm a 4 handicap now with a backyard swing and have shot under par multiple times.

[@Joeybago12]

@@bobIsCoolhaha I know a lot of guys who get lesson after lesson and have played since highschool and I consistently beat them.

[@bobIsCoolhaha]

I’m sorry. I’m not sure what point you are trying to make in relation to my reply. I simply am stating a blanket statement of not fixing something inherently wrong in a swing shouldn’t be a go to approach in golf. Might be the right approach for you, but shouldn’t be applied to everyone.

[@bobIsCoolhaha]

@@Joeybago12 I'm lost, but ok.

[@kravdraa7]

If there is one thing consistent throughout golf and the 'teaching' of the swing, it is the endless drivel people come up with to explain things! Certainly, there are the mechanics of it, which is reliant entirely on physiology and the anatomy of the human body and will vary between players, but mainly it is whether someone is a 'ball player', or not. If they are, then practice makes perfect, if they're not, no amount of practice will ever alter the fact.

[@pTrr]

well put! i agree. some ppl are not cut out to play golf ...

[@Formercollegestudent12345]

Now that’s not true. No one is born to do anything. He is just keeping the face square throughout his whole swing. Not that wild of a concept. The club face rotates but it’s more vertical rotation, increasing loft as opposed to horizontal rotation which changes face angle (draw/fade) he takes the hands out of the swing and uses his body to direct the shot based upon how much knee bend he has at impact which ultimately influences the amount of loft on his club. More knee bend equals the club traveling further down the line this a lower more delofted face, to promate a fade ball flight and less knee bend means less shaft lean but more speed through the ball due to the club being released slightly earlier in the swing i.e high draw

[@jeffy10028]

Jordan is ranked 98th on tour in driving distance, exactly average, not "top third". Jordan doesn't "defy" a century of players and history, plenty of greats have a bent left arm at impact: Craig Wood, Byron Nelson, Babe Zaharias, Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer, Bob Goalby, Miller Barber, Lanny Wadkins, Jerry Pate, Nancy Lopez, Calvin Peete, Retief Goosen, etc., and Jordan and McCormick are right: it is more stable. Also, the correct ball flight laws were known well before doppler radar launch monitors like TrackMan: see "Search for the Perfect Swing" published in 1968, for example. John Jacobs botched them in "Practical Golf", published in 1972, and apparently more folks listened to him than the researchers.

[@dongsoolee2191]

Yes, you are right. I think golf digest changes their statistics up a little bit, like in the Justin Thomas smash factor, some of their calculations were incorrect.

[@Randsurfer]

No, as of last week (July 9, 2017), Spieth was #30 in driving distance out of about 200 pga pros. That puts him in the top 1/6. His average is 291. The longest, Dustin J. is 303, only 12 yards longer... but most of the guys in the top 10 are a mere 5 yards longer than Spieth. He is plenty long and longer than most. www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.317.html

[@jeffy10028]

The stat you linked to is for "all drives", which includes layups with irons and hybrids. Looking at the "measured drives" stats, which is intended to capture just tee shots with a driver, he is ranked T98th. His club head speed and ball speed ranks are even lower at 122nd (112.5 mph) and 106th (168.3 mph), respectively. He may be "plenty long", but he is no longer than average. www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.101.html www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02401.html www.pgatour.com/stats/stat.02402.html

[@bogee4u]

Two time US Open winner Curtis Strange had a pronounced bent left arm.

[@cjs83172]

And another U.S. Open champion, Ed Furgol (1954 at Baltusrol), had a withered left arm that he literally could not straighten as a result of injuries suffered in a fall as a child because his left elbow never healed correctly.

[@ABQSentinel]

I think the biggest issue with keeping the left arm straight (for RH golfers) is not because it is the BEST way to swing, but rather because it is relatively easy to do. Keep your arm straight--that's it, that's all you have to remember for that part of the equation. However, if you allow your arm to bend the way Jordan does, it's going to be VERY difficult to replicate consistently again and again and again, especially for new players.

[@ohyeahyeah3808]

ABQSentinel agreed

[@sloebone7399]

Talk about all the fundamentals you want, Jordan keeps the clubface moving square to the target through the ball and down the line, which is the goal of any good golf swing. It reminds me of Calvin Peete who couldn’t turn the club over through impact due to an injury. Cal had that chicken wing move too and he was one of the straightest hitters on tour.

[@08jag81]

He keeps the same left arm radius, the same angle of bend during the swing, so it's no different than a straight left arm.

[@revysingh]

This video did not age well. Jordan Spieth has since abandoned this swing.

[@magnusvanoordt2137]

I think the question at the end was answered by Jordan over the last 2 years

[@choochoo9788]

this aged terribly

[@stevenpadilla4294]

That’s Byron Nelson’s swing.. now I want some chicken wings

[@hummerman62]

Never is the old adage, "You drive for show, and put for dough", more apt, its getting the ball into the hole where he's better than most at..

[@jay8819]

Martin IBirder yeah, I've seen people smash it over 300 yards, then five putt on the green. There's no point in it

[@derekchavez5745]

Drive to get laid putt to get paid

[@TheLasVegasElite]

You can’t putt your way to the green in 2, both as important as each other

[@hansonma9553]

I love all the keyboard teachers

[@garrettnobles8956]

His swing works so well because of his wedge play and putting...his swing is by far the worst part of his game. That being said I think it's far to late to make drastic changes to it and I hope he sticks with it and owns it.

[@loganchapman4044]

I slice more when I bend my arm

[@kenbehzadi1185]

No chicken wing here! Chicken wing is left elbow away from body after impact!! That is so tiny here

[@jay8819]

ken behzadi chicken Wing, is just any bending at all, as opposed to straight. Didn't you watch the video!

[@rkb929]

Same same

[@onionfarmercarmen]

I love Jordan Spieth. He is a real talent with great hand eye coordination, a fearless competitor, a grinder, a focused student of the game, an intelligent pro with very high golfing IQ and just an awesome golfer. But his swing is one of the weaker parts of his game. But I do love his swing...very unique

[@rjh7030]

ha nobody is talking about if he's a gravity player i do it and he looks just like me slow tempo high arc on heels at impact try it out the swing is amazing with les then a month practice i was hitting so pure

[@SvingitGolf]

I have a bent lead arm but not chicken wing like JOrdan. It more tucked to the body. I have always had it since I started play golf back in 1997.

[@lovetogolf4184]

I do this because I can't keep a straight left arm, I'm 53 and it's just fine.

[@johnnyappleseed6960]

Because it's simple, and naturally his....That's why his doesn't listen to anyone but his coach since the age of 12. He doesn't need complicated swing theory jammed into his brain..(And neither do you.)... He doesn't have to look like Hogan, or Nelson, or Tiger Woods swinging the club, because he's not Hogan, or any other legend of the game, for that matter....He doesn't need what others consider to be a perfect swing....His is exactly perfect for him, with its own unique qualities and faults.....Faults that are known to him, and that are easily correct by himself, or his long time coach in a simple session.... Take Jordan's story on his Swing as the 1st lesson in golf....

[@zachbut13]

People are missing the point of this video entirely. Most amateurs struggle either with an open club face or an out-to-in swing...or both. A “chicken wing” will exaggerate that; which is why most coaches try to correct it. Jordan is Jordan. You’re not Jordan Spieth. So you shouldn’t try to swing like him.

[@adrianmartinelli9799]

Calin Peete had connection what Spieth is doing is making something simple difficult !

[@STEVE-lk2ft]

Anyone notice chicken wing occurs way after impact?

[@blackumbrella6199]

I was surprised to see the world's top swing coaches gather here.

[@RasNobu]

Left-handed right-hander

[@bigdogpete43]

Funny thing about golf. It is not how, it is how many.

[@TranelHawkins]

The chicken wing is not the problem? M

[@DASH1ful]

obviously you don't want try to extend your left arm thru the ball; but simple fact is that the upper of his left arm does not connect with his left side. and the upper part of his his left leg does not move into a level left position at the top.

[@BuckeyeFanATW]

What accent does that teacher guy have

[@radioneer]

So impressive. Love this clip!

[@RobertJohanssonRBImGuy]

Goes really well with this crap btw for him now

[@Ligerpride]

Didn't Nicklaus have a touch of the bent left elbow?

[@tlefco]

No

[@wreckim]

"Innovate"? Huh? If there's almost nothing about Speith that's innovative; it's his calmness in the face of complete bedlam and disarray, plain guts, and that incredible putting stroke that's been his secret sauce. The guy has the 'IT' factor in spades...that self-belief was tested--not at the 12th in the Masters...but following that debacle over the months since. Grade? A++. It's a treat to watch the kid play...but he's no innovation...he's old school.

[@mikhailsmirnov8299]

whatever he does, he perfectly squares a club at the moment of impact. golf isn't about a swing - it's about delivering the f* ball to the f* hole. So he deserves to be be at the place he takes. Try to reach his results with your 'perfect' swing!

[@RobertJohanssonRBImGuy]

Lost his game thanks to it, good riddance

[@strappernick9891]

It is unusual for a top class player. I have tried the less-straight left arm theory. It does have merits. I think for some players the rigid left arm is a power leak factor because they take the thought to the extreme and their bodies can't handle it.

[@iki8404]

as long as it's not chicken win after impact, getting loose on the backswing is just a question of avoiding tension... there's no "chicken wing" in Jordan Spieth's swing...

[@bradcarter6286]

Weird? I wouldn't say weird. Different yes. Almost a stiff swing when compared to other young pros. But the simplicity he has works

[@mattflenniken3981]

Science-if you hold your club out straight with your arm you can rotate it approximately 325 degrees if you bend your elbow a bit holding it out one can rotate it only 45 degrees; less rotational ability lends to less inaccuracy. A folding forward elbow is a fulcrum as well -thus a supply of speed

[@jdheelfan]

Jordan you should turn with your legs more to avoid back issues down the road. See Bubba Watson swing for an example.

[@nrs_207]

Most of this is pure garbage. Yes it works for him, but he’s not “innovating.” He wins because he has an amazing short game and is fairly consistent with the long game. Don’t tell me Tiger or Jack would’ve been better if they chicken winged it. They’d wipe the floor with Spieth if given the same equipment in their primes. He’s a great player, but the chicken wing is not some new model everyone should be following. You need to do what conforms to the mechanics of your body. There’s a reason they don’t teach cookie cutter swings like they did at one point.

[@specialvon2202]

And if a clubface angle was 85 percent responsible for where a shot goes then the slice would be much less common than it currently is

[@hamchillyvlog6034]

well he is lefty, He is the backhand player like Phil, you would find this left arm movement in back handed PingPong.

[@cokerboy700]

So nice working at trinity forest. Wondered where those divots came from on number 11 Golf digest.

[@jbohardy]

i use the chicken wing with drives and approach shots, straight left for irons and long shots off the turf.

[@swingtrade2]

So well till now. He is done. That grip requires 'wrong action' somewhere and that is now raising its head.

[@specialvon2202]

His chicken wing doesn't create any power it only creates a little more consistency

[@FamousFeuds]

Lol it ain't working too good now doe

[@alejandrohualdez5550]

It worked for Lee Trevino!!!

[@66ott7]

Trevino never chicken winged. I urge you to go back and look at his swing, particularly vintage Trevino. Furthest thing from a chicken wing was Lee's swing. It was brilliant and beautiful.

[@rossm4313]

Not everything is in the swing. I think everything is in the head.