When I watch Scottie Scheffler playing on the PGA Tour each week, I still picture him as an energized seven-year-old buzzing around the practice facilities at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. Back then, he insisted on wearing long pants any time he came to the course. It’s what the pros wore, so Scottie made sure to emulate them — even in the downright oppressive Texas heat. It’s safe to say his practice in imitation paid off. With 22 Tour wins and four major titles (so far), he’s become one of the best players in the modern game and one of the fiercest competitors in all of golf.
What’s funny about Scheffler’s progression from spunky junior to collegiate All-American to World No. 1 is that his swing really hasn’t changed all that much since he was a kid. Sure, he hits it longer and makes a few more birdies, but the DNA of his move is exactly the same — unique footwork and all. When folks ask me how I’ve helped keep Scheffler playing at such a high level, all I can do is laugh. With a student as talented, disciplined and driven as he is, it’s easier than you might think.
These days at Royal Oaks, there’s a new crop of kids who hang out on the range, dreaming of a future in pro golf. Scheffler is still around too. And every time he shows up to work on his game, he makes sure to engage with the kids, just like the pros did back when he was that trouser-clad seven-year-old. The kids may not fully understand it now, but there’s no one better for them to learn from and look up to. Heck, who knows, in 20 years, it may be one of their swings that gets featured in these pages.
Mark Newcombe
Scheffler’s feet are actively engaged with the ground and in great balance. Every line— feet, shoulders, forearms—is perfectly square to the target.
Here he allows pressure to flow to his right side as the club works into a textbook position, with the shaft and left arm forming a line through the hands and down to the ball.
Scheffler’s hips and legs provide sturdy structural support while the upper body winds against them. From here, he can shift his pressure back to the left side and powerfully unwind during the downswing.
The head stays slightly back as the downswing progresses, creating perfect conditions for a powerful strike. The shaft sits perfectly on plane on top of the right forearm.
Scheffler drives hard into the left side while keeping his arms level through impact. The face squares at exactly the right moment, just as the club makes contact with the ball.
The right foot releases toward the left knee and begins to slide back in his signature “Scheffler shuffle.” The right arm extends completely, allowing the clubface to fully release as the body rotates around a steady center, sending the shot right down his target line.
