Great swing. That full lower body pivot and heel lift provides a lot of power with less stress on the back than trying to turn against a 'static' lower body. Nicklaus did it too. I'd like to see more young pros adopt that approach.
Snead's power secret. Slam the left heel hard into the ground when you've got the club past horizontal, which creates a force that is vertical upward. At the same time bring your arms down as hard as you can. By doing this you create a simultaneous downward force. Just watch the first 40 seconds of the video, at full speed, and sense the tremendous opposing forces. Then you learn that accuracy is something you don't think about, it just happens as you learn to make the same power moves in the proper time.
I watched Sam play 36 holes up close at a US Open qualifier in 1970. He was 58 years old at the time, playing a course he'd never seen before. I don't recall him missing a single fairway.
I wish someone had more video of his iron shots. We always talk about Hogan's swing and rightfully so, but Snead's swing was so athletic and he made it look effortless
Brad Carter I’ve deduced that the one of the reasons why Hogan’s swing is so highly regarded and rightly so, is because of two things I’ve noticed...1. He remained mysterious which makes us want to know more about him and study his swing...like there was some secret no one else had about how to swing a club. 2. Sam wasn’t AS eloquent in explaining the swing. He simply executed the swing to near perfection. If given a choice, I’d take Sam’s swing over Hogan’s any day.
What you see with Snead so clearly is arm flow, supported by body movement, very similar to the arm flow you see with Mickelson, and the consistent power and solidness of contact are similar as well. If you put together what he said about the various aspects of his swing from the things he said on camera and in his books, it has a lot do with both the light grip and the rotation of forearms (sometimes he puts it as the "rolling of hands" or "snap of hands") to get the club on plane, with power building and being applied efficiently and smoothly. There’s something about getting it exactly right that gives you a feeling of efficient speed that is completely unimpeded, no interference at all, in a true swinging motion. It's typically neglected in instruction today, but it's a feature in one great swing after another. Even Nicklaus, in his '79-'80 revamp, focused on it (along with a couple of other compatible factors).
Might be right. He has great rhythm and his position are great. Chi chi thought he was the best player ever, and said he would fly the ball 280 with the old clubs.
I really like Snead's hip action. To me, it looks like he turns his hips along with the upper body together... right from the start of the swing. Huge hip turn!
A few things that stood out to me: a) how fast he swung in his younger days. Tiger Woods had nothing on him when it comes to unleashing at the ball with everything you have. b) at the height of his backswing, his right leg is slanted quite a bit towards the target- he's really using the leg to pivot around, and has all his weight (almost) going down into that leg. It almost looks like a reverse pivot. I see that in Hogan as well. c) the path his club seems to take is flat, then looping up to a position more above his head, where he then wraps the club well past parallel around his head, until it points right of the target, and then he drops it down and really comes "around" his body when he swings through impact, exiting well to the left. d) at the start of his downswing, he really pins that right elbow down into his right hip- it looks like this is what helps him to "shallow" the club plane into impact. What beautiful rhythm he had!
Gatsby O'Connor hang on a second. Snead was a great and his swing was loose and absolutely stunning. Powerful and fluid. But Tiger has always had an incredible swing whether it be as an amateur where he went 6 years either winning the U.S. amateur or U.S. Jr. Am.
His rhythm was the best I've ever seen, but I've always thought the best part of his swing was the transition to the downswing. He always squared up the face of the club perfectly, allowing him to make a powerful attack. It's a classic "body" swing that was far better in the old days with the clubs they had.
Though he always starts it back on an inside plane, I'm sure I caught a couple iron shots where he came down 'over the top' to produce an outside/in club path. Perhaps he was trying to cut those shots. Still think he and Fred Couples have the best swings. His flexibility was legendary into his 70's. He could kick the top of a door jam with ease. I've heard he was 'ribald' at times, but never swore on the course (unlike Woods). Great golfer!
Sam Snead had just a great swing. If I or anybody try to copy as much as I/we can, Sam's swing, we are on the right track. I love GOLF! It's just a SUPER sport, game, or whatever we name it. Keep swinging!
Yes, your correct emncaity, a slight heel lift has help me out a lot especially with the long irons and driver. The reson a lot of golfers have problems with long irons, 3 woods, and their drivers is that they don't rotate the hips enough in the back swing, and as a result, the club cuts across the ball slicing it.
What 90% of the pros do not do today, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, and Jack Nicklaus all did: The left heel lifted in response to the knee moving behind the ball on the backswing, naturally - and slammed down to the ground, a split second after the club reached the peak of the back swing, momentarily pausing in order that gravity crushed down onto the swing like a giant wave comes crashing down from a Tsunami. Properly placed, the swing looked effortless and glassy smooth for all three of these greats, especially for Slamming Slammy!
Fantastic talent. Missed meeting Sam Snead at the '97 players championship by a few minutes. He was helping VJ hit wedge shots. That would have been great to see! I did get to meet Byron Nelson who was as kind as you always hear.
His and Nicklaus' are the best and most effective swings alltime. Smooth, in tempo and free to rotate. Gotta see more active legs on the driving range...
If you want to learn how to play golf watch as many Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus lesson videos as possible. If you want to be confused and over thinking your golf swing watch the golf fix on the golf channel! Sam and Jack combined to win 25 majors and 155 tournaments. How many wins does Michael Breed have?
pvtcartman Nicklaus took lessons from Grout at one of the best courses in America. Scioto CC isn't a public hackers paradise lol. So I'm not sure what you are referring to as smuck? Palmer never altered his swing much bc he learned it from his dad. However, Nicklaus won more than both Snead and Palmer bc he found a great instructor in Jack Grout.
Not only does it not hinder, sometimes it helps. Depending on the posture and plane of the individual player, a moderate lift of the left heel (in reaction to the movement of the rest of the body, not as a forced move) can allow the hips to turn rather than tilt, as Nicklaus describes with some of his '79-'80 swing changes that left him hitting the ball more cleanly and with more versatility than he'd ever had before.
My two favorite swings of all time are Sam Snead and Bobby Jones. Both had superb rhythm and always seemed so loose yet in control at the same time. Most of the people I see on the course and on tv lash at the ball and look like they're about to swing out of their shoes. It's all about rhythm folks.
While I see this is a very old post, I greatly agree. Both were all about timing and rhythm, not to mention creating a swing for a lifetime that did not involve placing undue stress on the lower back, hips, and knees. Currently watching Bryson Dechambeau, I'd bet he has maybe 4-5 more good years before the injuries start taking over.
Was reading one of his books. He said he used to hit it 350 with a brassie and a wooden shaft before he had any money to buy good clubs. This is with no lessons and he was 17. He knew how to swing the club out of the womb. Pure talent
You know when I first heard of sam snead? When i live in HIS HOUSE in hot springs, va on the one street that runs through ashwood; I lived in the victorian white house that had, in its kitchen, a breakfast nook that has the "S" letter enscribed in its one support. Those were the best times of my life for the friends I had. I sincerely wish I would have kept those OLD golf clubs out in the shack in the back; we didnt have an Ebay then :)
His hip turn was the key. Not many guys open up like that going back anymore. I think his right hip controlled his backswing. Almost impossible to get stuck from there.
@emncaity Yes I do believe taking the club from the inside to out is a great way to swing the club. It's easier to make a loop in the swing weather you take the club outside in like couples or inside then out like Snead or Nicklaus. Incidentally they were two of the greatest 5 golfers to ever play the game. Snead's move allowed a more free arm swing because the elbows were away from the body early in the down swing compared to getting stuck with a outside in swing. Jim McLean agrees...
Both were very good ball strikers, the reason why the left foot sometimes came up was to facilitate a better shoulder turn on a steeper angle. Lifting the left foot does not interfere with the fundamentals of the swing. Hogan in his five lessons book makes mention of lifting the left foot, so long as does not interfere or hinder other parts of the swing
If you can get a good shoulder turn and drop the club into position, letting you legs start the downswing you are in good shape. I think alot of people turn their shoulders first on the downswing causeing an inconsistant strike and they should consentrate on making a good shoulder turn then letting the legs hips start and the hands drop naturally.
@jkiene Looping to the outside is a good way to swing the club? I think this may be a case of taking a quirk and making a recommended technique out of it. Snead's rhythm and the pure swinging motion of his arms and club (not to mention huge clearance with the lower body) allowed him to overcome what would otherwise be an over-the-top move that causes people a lot of grief.
He actually takes the club back way to the inside then outside on the down swing, like swinging a sledge hammer 3:21 and 4:04 and especially 4:20 This is opposite from a swinger like Miller Barber. This swing was probably developed because his club was too heavy as a youngster. A great way to learn how to swing the club.
I think I can hear the ball crackle on some of these, even without the sound. The guy was pure murder. In '37, he won the tour's long-drive contest with three shots averaging over 320, with that old equipment (modern tour players tested on equipment from the '60s hit it about 250-260 on average). It wasn't unusual for guys like him (or de Vicenzo, or a few others) to pipe it out there 350 or more. Try it sometime with balata and persimmon from 60 or more years ago.
Looks like he is starting his downswing with his left knee as the distance between both knees increases. He may have then concentrated on his hips. That is difficult to do. It gets difficult as you get about 100 yards out and a three quarter swing. If you look at Tiger at his best he definitely started his downswing with his hips fractionally before he had finished his backswing. Hogan in 5 lessons said the same thing. The only mystery in golf is how to start your downswing but it is probably all tied in with body shape. The only other mystery is whether right at the start of your swing as soon as your shoulders start rotating, should your hips go with them or should you let your shoulders pull your hips around. I have never really been able to get a concrete answer on either one.
It doesn't get much better than this, look how deep the hips pivot, for all of you trying to resist the turn in the hips stop now !! Sam Snead was Winning events into his 60s power comes from rotation Sam Snead did this better than most. Modern day players would do well to copy this hip action.
He reminds me of a young Tiger the way he snaps the left knee straighter to trigger the downswing (or seems to?) - amazing power! Remember, Slammin' Sam nailed his drives an average of 270-280yds with an old persimmon...I'd be happy with that with the latest Titleist driver! - Timeless class.
Martyn Lee Snead was one of the longest in the world in his prime. I think Tiger's early amateur swing was modeled after Sam Snead. I know Earl Woods was his swing coach before he was world famous and his 1st swing indeed resembles Snead.
Sneads hips don't fully turn until the top of his backswing. You can see how little his hips turn at first from the front on view. He is focused on making a full shoulder turn on the backswing and firing his hips on the downswing. No one comes close to Snead but Fred Couples and Geoff Ogilvy are similar.
@jkiene Incidentally, Nicklaus did this too--more noticeably when he was young (check the photos in The Greatest Game of All, for instance, and remember he hit mostly fades)--but I know of no prominent teacher who would advise seeking it out as something you want to _try_ to do. All of which is to say, as with other great players, it's not positions or isolated moves you want to try to copy, because any single one of them might not be ideal, but the feel and flow of the whole swing.
Notice how much movement there is. Left heal comes off the ground. Very fluid motion. Now days they teach a very rigid, still, robotic like motion that is strenuous and difficult to keep up. This is why the number one player in the world is someone different just about every few months. We have forgotten the simplicity of these very natural swings.
Yes, my mistake, his spine is tilting away from the target, not left at impact. At impact his spine was actually moving away from the target and extending as he faced the target on his follow through....
You are absolutely right modern teachers have fucked so many people up with the "modern" golf swing in which the weight shifts back and comes forward...Sam's swing was simple and powerful, weight forward, left shoulder pointed down, spine tilted left at impact...His body never moved off the ball...You are right, he and Hogan had it figured out...they owned their swings
I hit the ball higher than Nicklaus, with low spinning modern balls and lower spinning drivers. It carries a good 250 and doesn't roll. Only good thing about it is I can get over a 100 foot tall tree with a 3 iron, and even on really fast greens my ball stops quite quickly, sometimes spinning back with a 3 iron on soft greens. At least I know how to control curve on the ball, so it doesn't spin way out of bounds lol.
Thank's for posting this bunch of clips: I try to copy it, but unfortunately I'm not that intelligent, I suppose. Well, I must promote another clip that has so few viewers. And I wonder why? Because Jack N. and Sam S. had a similar left foot at back swing (lift the heal). See clip: Jack Nicklaus (Young) Driver FO. Sam & Jack - that's power!
The point here folks is that if you want to play great golf, work on rhythm, grace, tempo and balance. It'll do a hundred times more for your game than worrying about the technical aspects of your swing.
I agree that modern teaching has messed some things up, mostly the learning process in my opinion. You mention his spine tilting LEFT at impact? I don't quite see that...I see it definately tilting away from the target.
you are so right- the modern teacher's should be sued for the garbage they have taught golfders the past twenty years- and i am only 28 years old- try hitting the old clubs es[pecially a 2-iron while not turning your hips- impossible
james douris it's all a money thing these days. Everyone has knowledge to give if you have money to pay. There was a time in America when the top amateur golfers could tee it up just about anywhere no matter who they knew or how much money they had. Same with instructors.
Paul Edmondson he is a fantastic golfer. But I'm going to be better. I'm already as good as him but I need to really work on consistency. I can rightfully be cocky about this because I didn't learn perfect dynamics from a shmuck. Sammy is one of my greatest idols along with Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, and Jordan Spieth. They truly have great swings. I also like Harry Vardon, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Davis Love III, Ben Hogan, and Tiger Woods of course haha.
I'd take either one of those swings. They're not as completely different as they've been discussed. Every good swing has a lot of common elements, and a lot of the discussion by 'philes focuses really intensely on differences that aren't really all that significant.
That'd be news to him and the people he played with, since he thought he played a draw as his go-to (and so did they). He did pull it slightly, though.
He closed his stance and came over the top a bit, so he hit a pull-draw. Very powerful shot, and very low flighted, which explains why he was such a long hitter into the wind.
Left hip and left knee move out of the way at the speed of Woods or Nicklaus, in the younger Snead--no matter what fawning announcers say about Woods having the "fastest hip clearance in history" (not even close to true). But to Sam, this was just a natural consequence of what any athletic person would do when trying to swing the club with force. He said once he was aware of the clearing, and he'd describe it in his instructional books, but never worked a day in his life on using his legs.
Great words of golf advice: Don't watch bullshit videos teaching you the golf swing. If you're going to watch any videos watch swing analysis' of this guy and World #1 , 2 , 3, etc.. Find similarities and differences. Pick and choose what you believe is correct. Find a PROFESSIONAL golf instructor who actually knows what the f*** they're talking about like my dad or the head pro and your golf course. Even he might not have all that great dynamics and swing theory but learn a lot and apply a lot and fail a lot. I mean it. Failure is the key to success. If failure bothers you, don't let it stop you. Let it rage that burning fire of passion and desire to become the best, know the best, and make other people the best. Remember my name, seriously.
Andrew Manzano well at least you are bleeping out the curse words. But seriously... why even use them? I admire your confidence, but to be important in golf doesn't require any of us to remember your name. Winning USGA amateurs and contending on the PGA tour would tell everyone your name. My advice is to go prove yourself and stop telling you tubers to remember your name lol. Winning is the only thing to solidify your ambitions
Outside of Mike Austin, the closest thing to the most powerful and efficient motion a human body can make hitting a golf ball. Snead might be in the top ten nearly every week if he played today. Much easier on the joints than Tiger's swing.
ive made more than a hundred videos of my swing and put them on dvd and no matter what i do im lifting my head on the backswing, bending my left arm on backswing, and throwing shoulder hands and club way outside on downswing, exact opposite of what the greats do. Please someone help me
You are probably lifting the club up over your right shoulder. As you pick up the club like that your head is going right up with it. Swing around so that your left arm is snug right across your chest and no higher. As far as over the top goes...start your downswing by shifting your hips to the left. That is absolutely essential....No one who starts with his hands, arms or shoulders can possibly hit from the inside. Start learning without a ball...just swing the club smoothly. Then hit little part shots and as you get the feel keep moving up to a longer swing.
its ok for your head to raise slightly against your tall right side in the backswing - focussing on trying to keep your left arm rigid will probably hurt your game - again little to worry about if its a little flex against the tension. when you get to the top you are initiating your downswing by turning, you need to get the right side under - look at how from the top of the backswing Sam Sneads right elbow drops. also google for Joe Novaks excellent book 'Golf can be an easy Game' - there are a few sources online that have a free downloadable e-book of this. An excellent place to start for a novice.
james ruhnke James is bang on - no good shot can start without a big shift to the left on the downswing. just as almost all of your weight should be on the right leg BEFORE you move the club back - almost all the weight should be on the left BEFORE you bring the club down (reality is the timings are very close). for reference see sneads huge hip shift across to the left as he begins to swing down. beautiful.
it's not your head lifting independently, well i doubt it anyway, i've never seen it before. normally you raise out of your posture slightly in an attempt to get a bigger turn or get your arms back further, then the trouble is you'll have to lunge down at the ball a little to get back to where you were. hard to say though without seeing your swing, pm it to me if you can, filmed from behind you in line with your hands.
Blake, your best bet would be to see your local teaching pro. Most of the advice you'll get here is no doubt well intentioned, but might not hit the mark.
they are actually increasing their forward flexion so they don’t.come out of their posture too soon and early extend and then have to straighten the Rt arm too soon....if they did that they wouldn’t be pros
Spinning a pendulum by holding the string on your fingers by flexing your wrist and compare the holding place to your sternum in the golf swing, you will know how and why.
His stance was always closed. He hit more of a pull draw because he came over the top a bit, but it was a powerful shot and he used it well. He wasn't just long hitter, he did so into headwinds as well, that's because his pull draw was so low that it would bore through the wind easily. I close my stance a bit on my better shots and it helps me hit it way straighter.
well, said. I agree but would add that along with a full shoulder turn is weight shifting completely on your back leg in the back-swing. As long as you STAY IN BALANCE (the biggest mistake i see with hackers is poor or inconsistent set-up and a lack of balance) and do what you mentioned your should have a great swing.
i'm gonna stop taking lessons and watch this video 2 hrs before i play every time. classic brilliance!
One of the most natural swings I have ever seen. Joy to watch.
Great swing. That full lower body pivot and heel lift provides a lot of power with less stress on the back than trying to turn against a 'static' lower body. Nicklaus did it too. I'd like to see more young pros adopt that approach.
My favorite swing of all, simply perfection.
Greatest swing of all time....in fact, so good that no other swing is second!
Snead's power secret. Slam the left heel hard into the ground when you've got the club past horizontal, which creates a force that is vertical upward. At the same time bring your arms down as hard as you can. By doing this you create a simultaneous downward force. Just watch the first 40 seconds of the video, at full speed, and sense the tremendous opposing forces. Then you learn that accuracy is something you don't think about, it just happens as you learn to make the same power moves in the proper time.
I watched Sam play 36 holes up close at a US Open qualifier in 1970. He was 58 years old at the time, playing a course he'd never seen before. I don't recall him missing a single fairway.
I wish someone had more video of his iron shots. We always talk about Hogan's swing and rightfully so, but Snead's swing was so athletic and he made it look effortless
Brad Carter I’ve deduced that the one of the reasons why Hogan’s swing is so highly regarded and rightly so, is because of two things I’ve noticed...1. He remained mysterious which makes us want to know more about him and study his swing...like there was some secret no one else had about how to swing a club. 2. Sam wasn’t AS eloquent in explaining the swing. He simply executed the swing to near perfection. If given a choice, I’d take Sam’s swing over Hogan’s any day.
Smoothest and most beautiful swing ever in my opinion
What a beautiful swing. Simply perfect all the time.
what a great compilation. thanks so much for putting it together
The Squat + Rythm = Perfection
What you see with Snead so clearly is arm flow, supported by body movement, very similar to the arm flow you see with Mickelson, and the consistent power and solidness of contact are similar as well. If you put together what he said about the various aspects of his swing from the things he said on camera and in his books, it has a lot do with both the light grip and the rotation of forearms (sometimes he puts it as the "rolling of hands" or "snap of hands") to get the club on plane, with power building and being applied efficiently and smoothly. There’s something about getting it exactly right that gives you a feeling of efficient speed that is completely unimpeded, no interference at all, in a true swinging motion.
It's typically neglected in instruction today, but it's a feature in one great swing after another. Even Nicklaus, in his '79-'80 revamp, focused on it (along with a couple of other compatible factors).
I don’t know why you’d put Phil and Snead in the same sentence especially when it comes to driving
Thanks for this! 1:57 - 2:30 absolutely priceless.
Greatest swing of all time, IMO...
And it's not even close, IMO.
Might be right. He has great rhythm and his position are great. Chi chi thought he was the best player ever, and said he would fly the ball 280 with the old clubs.
Watching this every day, my swing is getting better just from watching Sam's swing!
I really like Snead's hip action. To me, it looks like he turns his hips along with the upper body together... right from the start of the swing. Huge hip turn!
What a beautiful swing.
What a beautiful swing!
0:42 - Snead's pelvis thrust at exactly the right moment in the golf swing was outstanding!
it's cool to see this guy's using the Gankas swing
combine his swing with fred couples' swing and ya got about 80 years of pure fluid beauty.
A few things that stood out to me: a) how fast he swung in his younger days. Tiger Woods had nothing on him when it comes to unleashing at the ball with everything you have. b) at the height of his backswing, his right leg is slanted quite a bit towards the target- he's really using the leg to pivot around, and has all his weight (almost) going down into that leg. It almost looks like a reverse pivot. I see that in Hogan as well. c) the path his club seems to take is flat, then looping up to a position more above his head, where he then wraps the club well past parallel around his head, until it points right of the target, and then he drops it down and really comes "around" his body when he swings through impact, exiting well to the left. d) at the start of his downswing, he really pins that right elbow down into his right hip- it looks like this is what helps him to "shallow" the club plane into impact. What beautiful rhythm he had!
Gatsby O'Connor hang on a second. Snead was a great and his swing was loose and absolutely stunning. Powerful and fluid. But Tiger has always had an incredible swing whether it be as an amateur where he went 6 years either winning the U.S. amateur or U.S. Jr. Am.
His rhythm was the best I've ever seen, but I've always thought the best part of his swing was the transition to the downswing. He always squared up the face of the club perfectly, allowing him to make a powerful attack. It's a classic "body" swing that was far better in the old days with the clubs they had.
Though he always starts it back on an inside plane, I'm sure I caught a couple iron shots where he came down 'over the top' to produce an outside/in club path. Perhaps he was trying to cut those shots. Still think he and Fred Couples have the best swings. His flexibility was legendary into his 70's. He could kick the top of a door jam with ease. I've heard he was 'ribald' at times, but never swore on the course (unlike Woods). Great golfer!
Sam Snead had just a great swing. If I or anybody try to copy as much as I/we can, Sam's swing, we are on the right track.
I love GOLF! It's just a SUPER sport, game, or whatever we name it. Keep swinging!
He really hit the shit out of the ball
Love the way he plants his left foot and then releases and postures up against it.
Yes, your correct emncaity, a slight heel lift has help me out a lot especially with the long irons and driver. The reson a lot of golfers have problems with long irons, 3 woods, and their drivers is that they don't rotate the hips enough in the back swing, and as a result, the club cuts across the ball slicing it.
Raw God given talent.
What 90% of the pros do not do today, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, and Jack Nicklaus all did: The left heel lifted in response to the knee moving behind the ball on the backswing, naturally - and slammed down to the ground, a split second after the club reached the peak of the back swing, momentarily pausing in order that gravity crushed down onto the swing like a giant wave comes crashing down from a Tsunami. Properly placed, the swing looked effortless and glassy smooth for all three of these greats, especially for Slamming Slammy!
Fantastic talent. Missed meeting Sam Snead at the '97 players championship by a few minutes. He was helping VJ hit wedge shots. That would have been great to see! I did get to meet Byron Nelson who was as kind as you always hear.
His and Nicklaus' are the best and most effective swings alltime. Smooth, in tempo and free to rotate. Gotta see more active legs on the driving range...
If you want to learn how to play golf watch as many Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus lesson videos as possible. If you want to be confused and over thinking your golf swing watch the golf fix on the golf channel! Sam and Jack combined to win 25 majors and 155 tournaments. How many wins does Michael Breed have?
Yep.
100% fact.
Michael Breed is pretty good at describing recovery shot options which I appreciate because I do not put much thought into them on the range.
I will choose Snead every single time. What a great golf swing.
pvtcartman Nicklaus took lessons from Grout at one of the best courses in America. Scioto CC isn't a public hackers paradise lol. So I'm not sure what you are referring to as smuck? Palmer never altered his swing much bc he learned it from his dad. However, Nicklaus won more than both Snead and Palmer bc he found a great instructor in Jack Grout.
Sam's swing looks so effortless. I love his full finish. His arms look like noodles swinging the club.
Probably favourite swing along with Geoff Ogilvy.
Not only does it not hinder, sometimes it helps. Depending on the posture and plane of the individual player, a moderate lift of the left heel (in reaction to the movement of the rest of the body, not as a forced move) can allow the hips to turn rather than tilt, as Nicklaus describes with some of his '79-'80 swing changes that left him hitting the ball more cleanly and with more versatility than he'd ever had before.
Now that IS a steady head!!!
My two favorite swings of all time are Sam Snead and Bobby Jones. Both had superb rhythm and always seemed so loose yet in control at the same time. Most of the people I see on the course and on tv lash at the ball and look like they're about to swing out of their shoes. It's all about rhythm folks.
While I see this is a very old post, I greatly agree. Both were all about timing and rhythm, not to mention creating a swing for a lifetime that did not involve placing undue stress on the lower back, hips, and knees. Currently watching Bryson Dechambeau, I'd bet he has maybe 4-5 more good years before the injuries start taking over.
great vid
Was reading one of his books. He said he used to hit it 350 with a brassie and a wooden shaft before he had any money to buy good clubs. This is with no lessons and he was 17. He knew how to swing the club out of the womb. Pure talent
When they asked 5 time British open winner Peter Thomson who was the best golf he had seen ,he said Snead.
Not quite, early on he picked up much of his swing from his older brother Homer who was actually much longer than Sam was
You know when I first heard of sam snead? When i live in HIS HOUSE in hot springs, va on the one street that runs through ashwood; I lived in the victorian white house that had, in its kitchen, a breakfast nook that has the "S" letter enscribed in its one support. Those were the best times of my life for the friends I had.
I sincerely wish I would have kept those OLD golf clubs out in the shack in the back; we didnt have an Ebay then :)
I absolutely love his swing, look closely and you'll see a it in Paul Lawrie, Nick Faldo and Ernie Els swing too....
Top of his swing and how he squats down is alot like Els. Els had a straighter elbow, but alot is similar.
4:31 I'm definitely wearing a kilt and sombrero next time I'm in a best ball tournament...
@MrHullum I’m recovering from hernia surgery and came across your comment. Thanks for the laugh and the pain😎
See that little wiggle in his hips/legs before he starts his backswing? Not the waggle, the wiggle. Fixes everything.
Best swing of all time
His hip turn was the key. Not many guys open up like that going back anymore. I think his right hip controlled his backswing. Almost impossible to get stuck from there.
@emncaity Yes I do believe taking the club from the inside to out is a great way to swing the club. It's easier to make a loop in the swing weather you take the club outside in like couples or inside then out like Snead or Nicklaus. Incidentally they were two of the greatest 5 golfers to ever play the game. Snead's move allowed a more free arm swing because the elbows were away from the body early in the down swing compared to getting stuck with a outside in swing. Jim McLean agrees...
Sweet!
Both were very good ball strikers, the reason why the left foot sometimes came up was to facilitate a better shoulder turn on a steeper angle. Lifting the left foot does not interfere with the fundamentals of the swing. Hogan in his five lessons book makes mention of lifting the left foot, so long as does not interfere or hinder other parts of the swing
If you can get a good shoulder turn and drop the club into position, letting you legs start the downswing you are in good shape. I think alot of people turn their shoulders first on the downswing causeing an inconsistant strike and they should consentrate on making a good shoulder turn then letting the legs hips start and the hands drop naturally.
great swing amazing player still holds the record for most pga tour wins
He technically still got it. With the actual formula, Snead would have lose four wins (PGA tournament format).
@jkiene
Looping to the outside is a good way to swing the club? I think this may be a case of taking a quirk and making a recommended technique out of it. Snead's rhythm and the pure swinging motion of his arms and club (not to mention huge clearance with the lower body) allowed him to overcome what would otherwise be an over-the-top move that causes people a lot of grief.
This swing is up there with Hogan, Rory, vintage Tiger, and Jack!
He actually takes the club back way to the inside then outside on the down swing, like swinging a sledge hammer 3:21 and 4:04 and especially 4:20 This is opposite from a swinger like Miller Barber. This swing was probably developed because his club was too heavy as a youngster. A great way to learn how to swing the club.
I think I can hear the ball crackle on some of these, even without the sound. The guy was pure murder. In '37, he won the tour's long-drive contest with three shots averaging over 320, with that old equipment (modern tour players tested on equipment from the '60s hit it about 250-260 on average). It wasn't unusual for guys like him (or de Vicenzo, or a few others) to pipe it out there 350 or more. Try it sometime with balata and persimmon from 60 or more years ago.
I hear a lot of Sam Snead in Tchaikovsky.
Young Snead is SO much like the younger Els (mid-20s or so). Els needs to go find that again.
king!
2nd one is at the first tee of the old white course
o: I have an old copy of "how to Hit a Golf Ball from any sort of life" Never thought golf could be so interesting.
nice
Looks like he is starting his downswing with his left knee as the distance between both knees increases. He may have then concentrated on his hips. That is difficult to do. It gets difficult as you get about 100 yards out and a three quarter swing. If you look at Tiger at his best he definitely started his downswing with his hips fractionally before he had finished his backswing. Hogan in 5 lessons said the same thing. The only mystery in golf is how to start your downswing but it is probably all tied in with body shape. The only other mystery is whether right at the start of your swing as soon as your shoulders start rotating, should your hips go with them or should you let your shoulders pull your hips around. I have never really been able to get a concrete answer on either one.
It doesn't get much better than this, look how deep the hips pivot, for all of you trying to resist the turn in the hips stop now !! Sam Snead was Winning events into his 60s power comes from rotation Sam Snead did this better than most. Modern day players would do well to copy this hip action.
He reminds me of a young Tiger the way he snaps the left knee straighter to trigger the downswing (or seems to?) - amazing power! Remember, Slammin' Sam nailed his drives an average of 270-280yds with an old persimmon...I'd be happy with that with the latest Titleist driver! - Timeless class.
Martyn Lee Snead was one of the longest in the world in his prime. I think Tiger's early amateur swing was modeled after Sam Snead. I know Earl Woods was his swing coach before he was world famous and his 1st swing indeed resembles Snead.
Sneads hips don't fully turn until the top of his backswing. You can see how little his hips turn at first from the front on view. He is focused on making a full shoulder turn on the backswing and firing his hips on the downswing. No one comes close to Snead but Fred Couples and Geoff Ogilvy are similar.
@jkiene
Incidentally, Nicklaus did this too--more noticeably when he was young (check the photos in The Greatest Game of All, for instance, and remember he hit mostly fades)--but I know of no prominent teacher who would advise seeking it out as something you want to _try_ to do. All of which is to say, as with other great players, it's not positions or isolated moves you want to try to copy, because any single one of them might not be ideal, but the feel and flow of the whole swing.
Makes me want to hit golf balls after more than 15 years.
Notice how much movement there is. Left heal comes off the ground. Very fluid motion. Now days they teach a very rigid, still, robotic like motion that is strenuous and difficult to keep up. This is why the number one player in the world is someone different just about every few months. We have forgotten the simplicity of these very natural swings.
Methodic L I was thinking the exact same thing. He rotates his hips a TON compared to today’s players and it looks so fluid. Beautiful!
Yes, my mistake, his spine is tilting away from the target, not left at impact. At impact his spine was actually moving away from the target and extending as he faced the target on his follow through....
love the swing but you need incredible flexibility if you want to copy it , not available for me !
@jkiene LOL ..Not wanting to retain the mental image...most pros looked the other way when Barber teed off.
You are absolutely right modern teachers have fucked so many people up with the "modern" golf swing in which the weight shifts back and comes forward...Sam's swing was simple and powerful, weight forward, left shoulder pointed down, spine tilted left at impact...His body never moved off the ball...You are right, he and Hogan had it figured out...they owned their swings
God, I miss the days of the low ball flight. It looks so much nicer.
I hit the ball higher than Nicklaus, with low spinning modern balls and lower spinning drivers. It carries a good 250 and doesn't roll. Only good thing about it is I can get over a 100 foot tall tree with a 3 iron, and even on really fast greens my ball stops quite quickly, sometimes spinning back with a 3 iron on soft greens. At least I know how to control curve on the ball, so it doesn't spin way out of bounds lol.
Thank's for posting this bunch of clips: I try to copy it, but unfortunately I'm not that intelligent, I suppose. Well, I must promote another clip that has so few viewers. And I wonder why? Because Jack N. and Sam S. had a similar left foot at back swing (lift the heal). See clip: Jack Nicklaus (Young) Driver FO. Sam & Jack - that's power!
Very similar to the classic Bobby Jones swing…am I wrong?
The point here folks is that if you want to play great golf, work on rhythm, grace, tempo and balance. It'll do a hundred times more for your game than worrying about the technical aspects of your swing.
I agree that modern teaching has messed some things up, mostly the learning process in my opinion. You mention his spine tilting LEFT at impact? I don't quite see that...I see it definately tilting away from the target.
All the power is generated in the lower body. The back has nothing to do with it. His upper body is quiet and he could replicate it over and over.
you are so right- the modern teacher's should be sued for the garbage they have taught golfders the past twenty years- and i am only 28 years old- try hitting the old clubs es[pecially a 2-iron while not turning your hips- impossible
james douris it's all a money thing these days. Everyone has knowledge to give if you have money to pay. There was a time in America when the top amateur golfers could tee it up just about anywhere no matter who they knew or how much money they had. Same with instructors.
Who can say "I was better than Sam Snead"... NOBODY.😎
Paul Edmondson he is a fantastic golfer. But I'm going to be better. I'm already as good as him but I need to really work on consistency. I can rightfully be cocky about this because I didn't learn perfect dynamics from a shmuck. Sammy is one of my greatest idols along with Dustin Johnson, Jason Day, and Jordan Spieth. They truly have great swings. I also like Harry Vardon, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Gary Player, Davis Love III, Ben Hogan, and Tiger Woods of course haha.
Go get 'em kid!!
wow his keft leg lifts and knee points to the right
ha...that's pretty funny.
true, and tiger is still trying to beat the golden bear's record for most majors
I'd take either one of those swings. They're not as completely different as they've been discussed. Every good swing has a lot of common elements, and a lot of the discussion by 'philes focuses really intensely on differences that aren't really all that significant.
The "Stllness" of Sneads body is often missed by the body people.
Shoulda told him to argue with Nicklaus and Snead. They acknowledged "coil" in the swing, but not by artificially restricting hip turn.
i see alot of sam snead in freddie couples
Sam will murder Fred for sure.
His "stock" shot was a gentle pull/cut.
He liked to draw the ball
That'd be news to him and the people he played with, since he thought he played a draw as his go-to (and so did they). He did pull it slightly, though.
He closed his stance and came over the top a bit, so he hit a pull-draw. Very powerful shot, and very low flighted, which explains why he was such a long hitter into the wind.
Left hip and left knee move out of the way at the speed of Woods or Nicklaus, in the younger Snead--no matter what fawning announcers say about Woods having the "fastest hip clearance in history" (not even close to true). But to Sam, this was just a natural consequence of what any athletic person would do when trying to swing the club with force. He said once he was aware of the clearing, and he'd describe it in his instructional books, but never worked a day in his life on using his legs.
Great words of golf advice: Don't watch bullshit videos teaching you the golf swing. If you're going to watch any videos watch swing analysis' of this guy and World #1 , 2 , 3, etc.. Find similarities and differences. Pick and choose what you believe is correct. Find a PROFESSIONAL golf instructor who actually knows what the f*** they're talking about like my dad or the head pro and your golf course. Even he might not have all that great dynamics and swing theory but learn a lot and apply a lot and fail a lot. I mean it. Failure is the key to success. If failure bothers you, don't let it stop you. Let it rage that burning fire of passion and desire to become the best, know the best, and make other people the best. Remember my name, seriously.
Andrew Manzano well at least you are bleeping out the curse words. But seriously... why even use them? I admire your confidence, but to be important in golf doesn't require any of us to remember your name. Winning USGA amateurs and contending on the PGA tour would tell everyone your name. My advice is to go prove yourself and stop telling you tubers to remember your name lol. Winning is the only thing to solidify your ambitions
Outside of Mike Austin, the closest thing to the most powerful and efficient motion a human body can make hitting a golf ball.
Snead might be in the top ten nearly every week if he played today. Much easier on the joints than Tiger's swing.
Snead outhit Austin, so no "outside of Mike Austin" needed.
ive made more than a hundred videos of my swing and put them on dvd and no matter what i do im lifting my head on the backswing, bending my left arm on backswing, and throwing shoulder hands and club way outside on downswing, exact opposite of what the greats do. Please someone help me
You are probably lifting the club up over your right shoulder. As you pick up the club like that your head is going right up with it. Swing around so that your left arm is snug right across your chest and no higher. As far as over the top goes...start your downswing by shifting your hips to the left. That is absolutely essential....No one who starts with his hands, arms or shoulders can possibly hit from the inside. Start learning without a ball...just swing the club smoothly. Then hit little part shots and as you get the feel keep moving up to a longer swing.
its ok for your head to raise slightly against your tall right side in the backswing - focussing on trying to keep your left arm rigid will probably hurt your game - again little to worry about if its a little flex against the tension. when you get to the top you are initiating your downswing by turning, you need to get the right side under - look at how from the top of the backswing Sam Sneads right elbow drops. also google for Joe Novaks excellent book 'Golf can be an easy Game' - there are a few sources online that have a free downloadable e-book of this. An excellent place to start for a novice.
james ruhnke James is bang on - no good shot can start without a big shift to the left on the downswing. just as almost all of your weight should be on the right leg BEFORE you move the club back - almost all the weight should be on the left BEFORE you bring the club down (reality is the timings are very close). for reference see sneads huge hip shift across to the left as he begins to swing down. beautiful.
it's not your head lifting independently, well i doubt it anyway, i've never seen it before. normally you raise out of your posture slightly in an attempt to get a bigger turn or get your arms back further, then the trouble is you'll have to lunge down at the ball a little to get back to where you were. hard to say though without seeing your swing, pm it to me if you can, filmed from behind you in line with your hands.
Blake, your best bet would be to see your local teaching pro. Most of the advice you'll get here is no doubt well intentioned, but might not hit the mark.
No kidding. Or Strauss.
all the greats lower their heads in downswing how and why please
they are actually increasing their forward flexion so they don’t.come out of their posture too soon and early extend and then have to straighten the Rt arm too soon....if they did that they wouldn’t be pros
Spinning a pendulum by holding the string on your fingers by flexing your wrist and compare the holding place to your sternum in the golf swing, you will know how and why.
It looks like he was lined up to hit a draw and he did.
His stance was always closed. He hit more of a pull draw because he came over the top a bit, but it was a powerful shot and he used it well. He wasn't just long hitter, he did so into headwinds as well, that's because his pull draw was so low that it would bore through the wind easily. I close my stance a bit on my better shots and it helps me hit it way straighter.
well, said. I agree but would add that along with a full shoulder turn is weight shifting completely on your back leg in the back-swing. As long as you STAY IN BALANCE (the biggest mistake i see with hackers is poor or inconsistent set-up and a lack of balance) and do what you mentioned your should have a great swing.
loose and fluid
A lot of pressure @ 4:34 teeing off with a fat guy wearing a kilt and a sombrero on the 1st tee.