Xander Schauffele uses this strange technique for hard contact

Welcome to Play Smarta regular GOLF.com game improvement column that will help you become a smarter and better golfer.

Xander Schauffele had a year for the ages in 2024 after becoming the first golfer since Brooks Koepka to win multiple titles in one season. It was a breakthrough campaign for Schauffele, and one that many have come to expect from him since his early days as a professional.

Watching the 30-year-old play golf, it’s hard to find any weaknesses in his game. The statistics illustrate as much. In all five major strokes gained categories, Schauffele ranked in the top 25 for the 2024 season. In fact, in four of the five, he ranked in the top 10, with his SG: Around the Green ranking (22 ) which was the only one.

For most of Schauffele’s life, he has relied on a single coach to guide him: his father, Stefan. And while Schauffele has opened up his circle and started working with other coaches recently, the DNA of his swing still has Stefani’s fingerprints all over it.

Proper weight shift during the swing is key to efficient power generation and producing consistent contact. Schauffele often uses the popular “step drill” to instill proper technique in his movement—but growing up, Stefan encouraged him to use another unconventional method as well.

“When I was growing up, he wanted me to moan,” Schauffele said GOLF Top 100 Teachers Chris Como.

Like tennis players, Stefan wanted his son to make an audible noise when he made impact with the ball. Why the strange suggestion? Because it helps define your impact.

By making an audible noise on impact, Schauffele is simply adding even more emphasis to the moment of impact. By doing this, he can help teach his mind and body to zero in on the exact moment the club hits the ball.

“He always told me, if you have strong influence, you can get out of a lot of trouble,” Schauffele said. “If you have a lot of good coordination and good leverage to close the door, you can get away with a lot.”

Zephyr Melton

Editor of Golf.com

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Before joining the GOLF team, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists with all lessons and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.