Mike Austin’s Golf Swing

Written by Larry Keltto on June 14, 2011 in Active Hands, Active Legs, Full Shoulder Turn, Head Dip, Long Backswing, Square Stance, To the Inside on Takeaway, Uncategorized - 3 Comments

The Guinness Book of World Records credits Mike Austin with the longest drive ever in competitive golf. At age 64, on September 25, 1974 at the U.S. National Senors Open Championship at Winterwood Golf Course (now called Desert Rose) in Las Vegas, Austin hit a 515-yard drive on the par-4 465-yard fifth hole. Austin did it with a 43.5″ steel-shafted persimmon wood driver with a balata ball.

Austin’s power and feats have developed a cult-like following, and a cottage industry has developed around his swing.

As I look at Austin’s swing, I see a phenomenal athlete with some freakish physical skills. Austin’s swing is worth studying if you’re an aspiring long-drive champion, but I don’t see a swing that translates well to the golfer who has average physical gifts.

(Moe Norman is another phenomenal ball-striker whose swing has been commercialized. I think the appeal of Norman’s swing to the golfing masses is that his swing doesn’t require exceptional flexibility and timing.)

Mike Austin swing sequence

Characteristics of Mike Austin’s Golf Swing

• Square stance

• Full shoulder turn

• High hands at the top of the backswing

• Left heel comes off the ground in the backswing

• Clubshaft points right of the target at the top of his backswing

• A downswing sequence that begins with compression into the ground and moves up

• In the downswing, the spine tilts away from the target until very late in the swing

• High hands at the top of the backswing and in the finish

Here’s a detailed analysis of Austin’s swing.

Here’s an article about Austin’s career.

Compare Mike Austin’s Golf Swing To

• Arnold Palmer (sequence of the downswing)
• Ben Hogan (brings club inside to start the backswing)
• Jack Nicklaus (high hands at the top of the backswing and in the finish, full backswing, left heel off the ground in the backswing, lateral move in the downswing)

Video Vault of Mike Austin’s Golf Swing

Mike Austin golf swing montage:

Mike Austin swing collection:

Mike Austin swinging while wearing a skeleton suit:

Mike Austin iron swings:

Here’s the swing of Jaacob Bowden, who is trying to make it in professional golf using the Austin swing:

You Might Also Be Interested In:

In Search of the Greatest Golf Swing: Chasing the Legend of Mike Austin, the Man Who Launched the World’s Longest Drive, and Taught Me to Hit Like a Pro

Mike Austin’s Golf Swing