Sergio Garcia’s Golf Swing

Written by Larry Keltto on June 17, 2011 in Active Hands, Full Shoulder Turn, Head Dip, Late Setting of the Wrists, Long Backswing, One-Piece Takeaway, Square Stance, Uncategorized, Wide Takeaway - 9 Comments

Can you imagine how many times Sergio Garcia would have won if he was just an average putter? If you follow professional golf, I’m sure you have asked that question. Garcia’s putting is painful to watch — it’s a golfing-world tragedy that he doesn’t putt well.

It’s sad because Garcia is one of the longest, straightest hitters on tour, and perhaps one of the best ball-strikers of all time.

Characteristics of Sergio Garcia’s Golf Swing

• Hands very close to body at address

• Square stance

• One-piece takeaway

• Wide arc

• Full shoulder turn

• Tremendous lag, late into the swing; hands have to square the clubface quickly at the end

• Significant head dip

Wayne DeFrancesco, who is tremendous at breaking down swings, says of Garcia:

Sergio’s position before transition is perfectly on plane. He drops the club behind him while keeping his arms in front of him. His pivot movement is exceptional and allows the club to find the shaft plane and arc through while leaning well forward. Without this great body movement he would be totally trapped and we would not be looking at his swing. The combination, however, makes him one of the best ball strikers on the planet.

Sergio Garcia Compared to Ben Hogan

You’ve probably heard many times that Garcia’s swing is very similar to Hogan’s. Here’s an amazing graphic that compares the Garcia/Hogan swings (see the top and bottom of the graphic).

Sergio Garcia's lag

Ben Hogan's lag

Lag Envy

Every golfer loves Sergio Garcia’s lag. How can you improve your lag? One of my favorite golf instructors, Shawn Clement, explains in the first half of this video:

Compare Sergio Garcia’s Golf Swing To

• Ben Hogan (in many, many ways)
• Sean O’Hair (excellent width, does not reach parallel, slotting of the club in the downswing)
• Gary Player (hands close to body at address, significant head dip)
• Jim Furyk (hands close to body at address)
• Ben Hogan, Bubba Watson, Suzann Pettersen (lag)

Video Vault of Sergio Garcia’s Golf Swing

Compilation of Garcia’s swing, 2010 U.S. Open:

I love this slow-motion of Garcia hitting an iron, at Turnberry:

A similar video, down the line, at Augusta

Driver, front view (check out the shaft at the :27 mark; unreal)
Driver, back view

Iron, front view:

Wayne DeFrancesco with a fascinating comparison of Garcia’s swing to Gary Player’s

Sergio Garcia’s Golf Swing