Golf can be a frustrating game!
Maybe you are the type of golfer who has read hours and hours of golf tips, spent time at the range practicing drill after drill and yet your handicap stays the same. You just can’t seem to make a breakthrough with the traditional golf swing and the traditional golf instruction.
You have heard it all:
- Your grip should look like this.
- You need to setup with 50/50 weight and make sure you are aligned straight.
- Keep this arm straight, but bend this arm like this.
- Keep your head behind the ball, but make sure you get your weight forward.
- In your down swing, make sure you supinate your lead wrist.
Yes, hours and hours of trying to perfect this rather difficult motion, which leads to many frustrating rounds of golf and disappointing scores.
So maybe you have reached the point of trying something different. Maybe an alternative golf swing that moves away from many of the traditional patience of advice or golf tips that have led you nowhere, but to a game filled with many frustrations.
Below, I will provide 5 quality options for alternative golf swings. I have discovered these swings in my own journey to play my best golf possible. Several of the options below, I have experimented with and will give you some tips and thoughts on each of the swings detailed below.
Here are the 5 Quality Options for Alternative Golf Swings:
- The Channel Lock Golf Swing
- Jim Venetos Golf Swing
- Single Plane Swing by Todd Graves
- Stack and Tilt
- The A Swing by David Leadbetter
Each of the options above range in just how far they get away from the traditional golf swing. I have put them in order from the most alternative to the least alternative and more similar to the traditional instruction.
You can make the choice after reading some of the details below on what is the best swing for you and what you want to try out.
All of these swings can be explored through quality youtube videos. The great thing about the golf world we live in today is the access to some quality instruction and new thought on how to possibly improve your golf swing.
For each of the alternative swing methods, we will breakdown the following:
- What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
- How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
- What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
- Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
- What additional resources are available to golfers?
The Channel Lock Golf Swing – Alternative Golf Swing Method
What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
The approach in the Channel Lock Golf Swing is to make solid contact by playing the ball off the back foot and then pulling the club straight back instead of swinging back away from you. The thought process is to create solid contact, while using the centrifugal force that can be applied. There is no sideways in the golf swing.
It appears that the golfer is able to get into a quality top of backswing position with plenty of depth that allows the golfer to release and hit the ball solidly. It appears to promote plenty of depth and a quality shoulder turn. The shoulder turn looks greater than 90 degrees.
The momentum of this unique backswing helps create momentum and up to 105 degrees of shoulder turn. There is very little side to side and more of a vertical access in the swing.
How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
In the traditional golf swing, the setup is typically with the ball somewhere closer to the front of the stance with the many recommending the ball be placed off of the front ear or front chest.
This does vary from instructor to instructor, but rarely do you have someone place the ball this far back, maybe occasionally with a wedge someone is trying to flight nice and low.
The ball is played extremely far back in the stance, where it very different takeaway.
What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
The golfer will change their setup to have the ball off of the back foot. The golfer then pulls the club back along the back leg, straight up to the traditional backswing position.
The club will feel heavy at the top of the swing. The golfer then feels after if they are hitting the ball from inside to out, but with the club aimed straight at the target.
Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
There is a great deal of free information on this golf swing. It is interesting to check out the progress over the years of J.H. on his own discovery to a different golf swing. One that he can rely on and trust in.
I would highly recommend checking out this video for a good idea and more in depth review:
What additional resources are available to golfers?
There are limited additional resources at this time.
Jim Venetos Golf Swing – Alternative Golf Swing Method
What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
The swing philosophy of Jim Venetos can be summed up in one word: stillness. Jim Venetos believes in placing 70 percent of the weight on the front foot at setup and keeping it there throughout the swing.
The whole premise of this swing is to make solid contact every time and hit a nice 2-3 yard draw. He believes in pre setting positions with the shoulders closed, weight forward and then a simple swing with one swing thought: staying still. It is a left sided swing that allows the golfer to hit from the inside.
Jim Venetos Review – How He Can Help Your Game!
How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
The traditional golf swing puts plenty of emphasis on moving this arm here or this arm there and then shifting your weight while making sure you get back to a quality position at impact.
Jim Venetos discovered this swing on his own after taking lessons from many of the best instructors in his journey of golf. He wants the golfer to remain still and use the forces that will allow excellent club speed by pre setting and then allowing the positions to naturally happen.
What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
The golfer will make the majority of the adjustments at setup. He or she will set 70% of the weight forward, close the shoulders down and then swing along that shoulder line.
This will help create an inside to outside path and one that produces a slight draw. If you don’t make solid contact or don’t hit a slight draw, the main issue is you didn’t stay still.
Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
There are many great videos that Jim Venetos has put out there. Here is an excellent video of Jim covering the base fundamentals:
What additional resources are available to golfers?
Jim Venetos offers an academy where he will coach you along the journey for a monthly fee that is quite affordable. He truly seems invested in his students and like someone that loves the game of golf and helping people with this alternative golf swing.
Single Plane Golf Swing by Todd Graves – Alternative Golf Swing Method
What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
The philosophy of this swing approach is based on Mo Norman’s approach to the golf swing. Mo Norman is known as one of the best ball strikers of all time, who had amazing consistency in his swing. He used a single plane golf swing that consisted of straight arms at address and a rather simple approach to the game.
How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
The majority of traditional instruction has the golfer setup in what promotes a two plane swing. The arms and the club do not form a straight line as they do in the Todd Graves approach. Graves was fortunate to spend quality time with Mo Norman and bases his approach on his learning during this time.
On today’s PGA Tour, you will find Bryson DeChambeua has this straight arm and club approach to the game. He is known for this science based approach and simple golf swing.
What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
The setup is completely different starting with the grip, the alignment of the arms and the clubs in a straight line and the width of the stance. The overall motion is different, but still looks somewhat the same.
Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
There are plenty of free videos online. I would recommend starting with this video, which provides a quality overview of this systematic approach:
What additional resources are available to golfers?
There are also many paid resources that Todd Graves offers and even one on one coaching for a more expensive monthly fee.
Stack and Tilt – Alternative Golf Swing Method
What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
This swing philosophy is based on three fundamentals: The golfer needs to strike hte ground consistently in the same spot, the golfer must be able to control the curve of hte ball, and the golfer needs enough power to play the course at a high level.
Mike Bennet and Andy Plummer, after years of frustration with their own game, created this system to help the golfer hit a slight draw, while never curving over the target line.
Stack and Tilt is best known for placing weight on the front side and keeping it there throughout the swing. It was the first major teaching approach that didn’t have the golfers transferring weight from neutral, to back, to front.
How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
The golfer at setup places 55% of the weight on the front foot. Utilizing different tilts, the golfer keeps their head centered with the weight forward. This swing promotes an inside out path that allows the draw shot to be the stock shot.
Almost all traditional instruction promotes the shifting of the weight with the premise that the golfer needs the power to hit the ball.
What I like most about this approach is the solid contact the golfer is able to create and the ease it is to hit a draw.
What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
The setup with the weigh forward is the greatest, single adjustment that hte golfer will make. He or she must also learn to tilt to keep the head centered, thus creating the best chance of controlling the low point of the golf swing.
Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
While there isn’t a great deal of free stack and tilt videos, recently Tom Saguot has provided a great deal of information.
I would recommend this video below to gain a better understanding of this approach:
What additional resources are available to golfers?
The Stack and Tilt official site does offer a great deal of information in their videos for a m;onthly fee. You can also check out the Stack and Tilt certified teachers throughout the world in an interactive map.
The A Swing by David Leadbetter – Alternative Golf Swing Method
What is the swing philosophy of this swing method?
This A Swing by David Leadbetter is an Alternative Swing that encourages the golfer to make a unique backswing, which promotes shallowing of the club and reducing the over the top move that many high handicap amateurs struggle with.
How is this swing method different from traditional golf instruction?
The backswing is totally different as the club stays outside the hand and the club is across the line at the top of the backswing. Once again the main thought is the golfer can now shallow the club and swing from the inside out.
What adjustments does the golfer need to make?
The backswing needs to shift dramatically. It becomes a completely different feel on the way back and then stopping short of where the golfer may have completed the backswing prior.
The goal is to reduce the over the top movement and getting to this position in the backswing makes it much more difficult to come over the top. The club stays outside the hands and it appears to be across the line at the top of the backswing.
Is there free material to further dive into this swing method?
There are some decent free resources out there that a golfer can tap into. I would recommend this video below:
What additional resources are available to golfers?
There is a book available on Amazon that provides of the details.
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.