3 things every golfer can learn from Chris Gotterup’s unique swing
Welcome to Play Smart, GOLF.com’s regular game improvement column that will help you play smarter, better golf.
Chris Gotterup had a better Fourth of July weekend than most. With the win at the John Deere Classic, the 27-year-old claimed his third PGA Tour title of the season (and fifth in the last 12 months), which dropped him to seventh place on the OWGR and earned him $1.58 million for his efforts. Not bad for a week’s work.
The interesting thing about Gotterup is that when you first saw him swing, you wouldn’t peg him as a Tour pro. It’s a powerful move, but it’s not one that will be taught in educational institutions across the country. It is the textbook definition of “at home.”
But while Gotterup’s swing may not be the norm, that doesn’t mean he isn’t constantly working on improving and refining it. From a young age, the New Jersey native has worked with GOLF Top 100 instructor Jason Birnbaum as the duo has carefully crafted moves that can compete with the best players in the world.
“We really took what he did naturally and just tried to add to it and complement that energy,” Birnbaum said.
Earlier this year, we sat down with Birnbaum to chat about his top student’s swing — and find out what everyday golfers can learn from it. Check it out below.
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1. Swipe hard
When Gotterup first saw Birnbaum, he only knew how to skate at one speed: fast. And that’s something all young golfers should strive for.
Oftentimes, recreational players spend years trying to create the perfect swing before they learn to create speed. According to Birnbaum, that’s backwards. It’s much easier to learn to control speed than it is to add it after years of doing careful, controlled swings.
“Too many beginners try to be perfect, and then once they feel like they have control, they try to add speed,” says Birnbaum. “Speed should come first.”
At a time when distance is more important than ever, learning to walk fast is a must. Don’t be afraid to go all out and learn how to create that speed. There is always time to refine it later.
A recipe that worked for Gotterup. It can work for you, too.
2. Don’t be afraid of a firm grip
One of the most notable features of Gotterup’s swing is his incredibly strong grip. Birnbaum says it’s something he’s had since childhood, and it’s a big reason he’s been able to eliminate right-handed misses while generating great power.
But Birnbaum also cautions against judging his swing by one position. Many golfers see the amount of extension, or “cup,” in Gotterup’s lead arm at the top of the backswing, as well as the steep path into the ball. But according to Birnbaum, a lot of that seems to be the result of his catch.
“The tighter the grip, the tighter the wrist,” says Birnbaum. “The number of cups he has is almost deceiving because his grip is so strong.”
A firm grip can help generate power, so don’t shy away from it. If you choose a strong grip, however, remember that there are certain matchups you need to use to make it work. Gotterup matches these matchups to perfection, and it’s one of the reasons why he can play at such a high level with such an unusual looking swing.
3. Work over fashion
With so much technology available these days, it’s easy to think that every swing test site should look like a book, but Birnbaum doesn’t see it that way.
While many swing experts focus on Gotterup’s downfall, Birnbaum insists that appearances can be deceiving. What matters is whether the club delivers a consistent strike, not whether the frame from the backswing looks unusual.
“Sometimes pictures lie,” Birnbaum said. “We can look at video that looks steep, and TrackMan’s numbers are perfect.”
For Birnbaum, open monitoring data and ball flight always trumps beauty. If the swing is repeatable, produces the right numbers and creates the desired shot, there is little reason to rush cosmetic changes just because the position looks different than another tour player.
