Golf Instruction
Learn to Swing Like Rickie Fowler
Rickie Fowler is one of the best young golfers in the world – on that point there can be no debate. Fowler has gone from a kid with a world of potential and a short list of accomplishments, to a player who is well-established at the top of the game.
His PLAYERS Championship title in 2015 ranks as his biggest breakthrough to date, although he also posted excellent finishes in each of the four majors in 2014 and as of the publishing of this article currently sits at No. 5 in the OWGR.
With an exciting playing style and plenty of personality, Fowler seems destined to remain a star on TOUR for years to come.
Since Rickie been on the worldwide golf scene for several years, it is easy to forget that Fowler is just 26 years of age. He won the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year award in 2010, and recorded his first career TOUR victory in 2012.
It has been a steady climb up the ranks for Fowler, but his performances in the last 18 months have really pushed him into very elite company. While it is hard to pinpoint exactly one thing that has led Fowler to his recent success, it seems likely that his partnership with coach Butch Harmon has had plenty to do with it.
Now let’s take a moment to break down the keys to his success so you can learn to swing like Rickie Fowler and perhaps gain a feel for some of his success in your own golf game.
Simplifying His Swing
Although Rickie Fowler had plenty of success during his amateur career—and in the early stages of his pro career—his swing was far from textbook. There was a large loop at the top of his swing, and he kept the club head well to the outside of his hands during the takeaway.
This meant that his swing was always heavily reliant on great timing. When his timing was good, he could play high quality golf. When that timing was off, however, he would struggle to compete.
[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpiRcrCRdO8&start=3&end=572&width=742&height=558¢ervid=1[/embedyt]
In working with Butch Harmon, Fowler has successfully simplified his swing, and the results speak for themselves. With the loop at the top of the swing a thing of the past, Fowler has been highly consistent over the last two seasons. He still owns all of his natural talent, of course, but now he has a swing that allows that talent to shine through on a regular basis.
Free to Be Athletic
The athleticism possessed by Rickie Fowler has been well-documented throughout his career, and it is certainly one of the main reasons for his success. Now that his swing has been simplified, he is free to be athletic without having to force the club into awkward positions.
As you watch him swing in videos like this one, you will notice how free and easy his motion is these days:
[embedyt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fmqptzNT8c&start=6&end=50&width=742&height=419¢ervid=1[/embedyt]
Without the loop or quirky takeaway to throw him off track, he is able to fire his hips freely through the hitting area – resulting in plenty of power, even though at just 5′ 9″ and 150 lbs Fowler is a relatively small guy compared to many others on TOUR.
Emphasis on the Takeaway
Without being present for Rickie’s practice sessions with Butch, it’s hard to say for sure exactly what they have worked on. However, it is pretty obvious that Harmon has worked with Fowler on improving his takeaway.
The takeaway he is using now is a pretty standard move, keeping the club in a neutral position. In fact, Fowler can even be seen making practice takeaways before many of his shots, proof that this is a portion of his swing receiving significant attention.
If you would like to improve your own golf swing, you should learn from the effort that Rickie is putting into his takeaway. Many amateur golfers ignore the takeaway, worrying about the top of the backswing or the impact position instead. In reality, if you can fix the takeaway, the top of your swing and your impact position just might take care of themselves. It is difficult – or impossible – to fix your swing once it really speeds up, so setting the club on the right path during your takeaway is extremely important. Put in some driving range work on improving your takeaway fundamentals and you will be rewarded with better ball striking in the near future.
Confidence to Burn
You can also learn another lesson from Rickie Fowler that can be applied to your own game, but this one has nothing to do with your golf swing. Rather, it’s a mental game tip, relating to confidence. When you hear Fowler talk about his game, it’s evident right off the bat that he is fully confident in his own abilities. That’s not to say that he is arrogant or cocky – he actually has a reputation for being a likable, friendly person both on the course and off. However, Rickie not afraid to believe in himself when it comes to competing with the best players in the world.
Out here grinding with Butchie #TeamHarmon #TheFlo 📷cred CH3 A photo posted by Rickie Fowler (@rickiefowler) on
The average amateur golfer struggles with a major confidence crisis. Most golfers think they are no good, and they let themselves believe that each time they head to the first tee. How can you expect to succeed when you are telling yourself that you aren’t very good? It doesn’t matter what kind of golfer you are at the moment – you have to believe in your ability to get better.
If you don’t have any great golf memories to draw on in order to gain confidence, find that confidence from other areas of your life. Have you learned a skill at some point in your life that took some hard work and dedication? You probably have. Think back on something else that you had to practice in order to learn, and use that experience to give you confidence on the course. After all, if you could learn those other skills, why can’t you learn to play better golf?
It is not a surprise to find Rickie Fowler near the top of the World Golf Rankings in 2015. He has been a star in the making for several years, and he has been proving his abilities over the last couple of PGA TOUR seasons. Thanks to some important swing changes that have allowed him to perform more consistently, it is very likely that Fowler will be a staple at the top of the game well into the future.
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