When we think of the smoothest swings in the modern generation, a few names immediately come to mind. Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Adam Scott and Justin Rose are all nominated, but the list wouldn’t be complete without another: Louis Oosthuizen.
Like the other names on the modern Mount Rushmore of smooth swings, Oosthuizen is a great champion; he lifted the Claret jug at St Andrews in 2010 and hit the field by seven shots. He came close a few more times, famously scoring a trio of top-three finishes in the 2021 main season.
Since then, the South African has taken his talents to the LIV golf circuit, and while he’s yet to lift a trophy on the inaugural tournament, his swing is still as enjoyable as ever.
Recently, Oosthuizen joined GOLFDylan Dethier himself in an episode of Warming Up (which you can watch in full below). During their conversation, he shared the origins of his smooth swing.
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2 basics for a smooth swing
Basics aren’t the most fun things to work on, but they are the foundation for any good movement. Need some proof? Look no further than Mr. Oosthuizen – and the consistent numbers he racked up in our Full Swing simulator.
“From Day 1 when I started as a junior I went to a coach and he was great with organization and attitude,” Oosthuizen said. “These have always been the things we’ve worked for and everything has always been close to square one.”
Strong foundations can make up for many physical deficiencies. Even if you’re not the tallest, biggest, or strongest player, when you have strong fundamentals, you can generate a lot of power. Moving your body efficiently can go a long way.
“Good timing and technique,” Oosthuizen said when asked where he gets his strength. “At a young age, because I was small, I didn’t have any power, so I was very skinny, I had a long swing, and over the years as I got a little bit stronger, I could control that. But it’s always been aiming square, just left of the target, maybe, and working from an open position. It hasn’t really been something I’ve had to do in my swing. It’s always been a nice thing to try and try.
If you’re struggling to generate power or make solid contact, break it down to the basics. There’s a good chance that by fixing the little things, you’ll put yourself in a much better position to move it like the pros.
Full Swing KIT Launch Monitor
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