Best YouTube swing summary/primer for a complete novice?

[betarhoalphadelta]

So the golf-centric YouTube world, as far as I can tell, is targeting folks like, well, us. People who are golf nuts, who have at least some basic understanding of how to swing a golf club because we've been playing for years or decades. Content is full of jargon, of technical talk, and is mostly to teach people how to break existing bad habits in ONE area of a swing and replace them with better ones. 

 

The question is whether there's any content out there for a complete and total newbie. Someone who has never swung a club, or maybe has been to the range and/or the course a handful of times in total. Something that isn't overwhelmingly technical, isn't full of Gears stuff like the AMG folks (who are awesome of course, but aren't for that audience), and even good content like Padraig's videos are full of jargon and "feels" rather than basics. The goal is to explain everything from grip to setup to basic backswing/downswing/follow through movements, and explained in a very basic first-timer way. Including newbie things like putting / reading putts, short game, golf course etiquette, and the like are great if they exist as well. 

 

Let's say you have a niece or nephew who wants to pick up the game. Their parents don't know enough to teach them, and they live too far away for you to take them to the range/course yourself. But you want them to understand the basics so they start off with good habits rather than typical novice swing problems. 

 

Is there a good video or series of videos that you'd recommend?

 

[GAGolfer1]

I would recommend to start with more “athletic” styles like AMG and Zen Golf and shy away from more technical instruction 

[CasualLie]

Malaska M System.  If starts right with the fundamentals of wrist movements from putter to wedge to iron.  Get this right and it will save a ton of headaches down the road.

 

Then it moves on to things like pivot and so on...

[fairways4life]

There's this video of tiger swinging in super slow motion. It's been posted for years and I still sometimes refer back to it when I'm feeling out of sorts. There's no words, so there aren't any swing tips or anything. But it's just a good visual reference of the golf swing that someone new to golf can sit and watch and gain an understanding of what it is they are needing to do. 

 

 

[Bobbyjoegrooves]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HMX0z8RWOt0

There are more powerful statements in the first 5 minutes, and more useful science/truth in this 30 minute video, than in 30 hours of random golf garbage on YouTube IMHO. No solutions are offered, but OP asked for swing summary/primer….and this video is at least 3 coats of primer. 

[Chunkitgood]

Clay Ballard YouTube video something like “the simple golf swing.”

 

If you want to mess them up go somewhere that talks a lot about the static “fundamentals,” the grip, how the wrists work, etc.  IMHO.

[Nickc]

For a complete method check out the old Michael McTeigue VHS series someone loaded on youtube. Think 8 or 9 videos in all. There is also a book to accompany them.

The only thing he does not cover is the grip .. basically (well in the book) says lots of other info on the type of grip you can use..and indeed there is.

BTW worth getting the book.

Here is a link to the intro VHS (ignore the cheesy music) 

 

Not a lot of jargon just simple exercises to build a straight forward type swing IMO

 

Edited April 16, 2022 by Nickc

[ChaosTheory]

My adult daughter wanted to play in a corporate outing.  I had her watch Brian Sparks and then meet me on the range.  We just tried to apply his idea.  She did well.

 

To me, this is one of the best golf videos ever made for beginners and high handicappers.

 

 

[reefrash1043]

13 hours ago, Bobbyjoegrooves said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HMX0z8RWOt0

There are more powerful statements in the first 5 minutes, and more useful science/truth in this 30 minute video, than in 30 hours of random golf garbage on YouTube IMHO. No solutions are offered, but OP asked for swing summary/primer….and this video is at least 3 coats of primer. 

 

Ive heard about this. Need to check it out.

[BrianMcG]

Golf My Way by Jack Nicklaus

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5c-g6Q1N7Q

[Nels55]

Ron Sisson has a lot of youtube videos and the concept might be a good way for a beginner to get started:

 

[Nickc]

14 hours ago, Bobbyjoegrooves said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HMX0z8RWOt0

There are more powerful statements in the first 5 minutes, and more useful science/truth in this 30 minute video, than in 30 hours of random golf garbage on YouTube IMHO. No solutions are offered, but OP asked for swing summary/primer….and this video is at least 3 coats of primer. 

Very Interesting - a long ad for their training aid though!

BTW another option is Pete Cowen's Pyramid of Learning which now seems to be loaded on YouTube

Edited April 16, 2022 by Nickc

[Fuscinator]

If I were starting someone off, I'd have them swing all their clubs, back and forth, over and over again, until it was actually a swing. Then, I'd show them this video and tell them "do that with those."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OStvJf9qdUA

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 4/15/2022 at 8:00 PM, Chunkitgood said:

Clay Ballard YouTube video something like “the simple golf swing.”

 

If you want to mess them up go somewhere that talks a lot about the static “fundamentals,” the grip, how the wrists work, etc.  IMHO.

 

Thanks. I think that's a good one that can help teach simple movement and feels. I also like that it's a lot of things that don't require a club, a range, etc... It's for my 14yo son, and he's at his mom's house ~60% of the time, so I don't get a lot of time to actually take him to the range or course. But he's hooked on the game, and so I want to give him something that's simple and easy to comprehend. 

 

I mentioned the grip because he plays with a crazy strong right hand lol... Was hoping someone else could explain to him why that's not optimal. Like most 14yo kids, he's going to trust some random Youtuber more than me lol 😉

 

[Ghostwedge]

On 4/16/2022 at 10:03 AM, Snowman9000 said:

My adult daughter wanted to play in a corporate outing.  I had her watch Brian Sparks and then meet me on the range.  We just tried to apply his idea.  She did well.

 

To me, this is one of the best golf videos ever made for beginners and high handicappers.

 

 

This guy just passed away recently. No WRXer would get caught doing his dance thing either but you made a great call having your daughter study his basic swing keys. 

 

 

[Lobby]

On 4/16/2022 at 10:03 AM, Snowman9000 said:

My adult daughter wanted to play in a corporate outing.  I had her watch Brian Sparks and then meet me on the range.  We just tried to apply his idea.  She did well.

 

To me, this is one of the best golf videos ever made for beginners and high handicappers.

 

 

Cool!

[Krt22]

https://video.rebelliongolf.com/programs/collection-eezu4kysdy4?categoryId=4642&permalink=0-setup-intro-v1mov-565d3f

 

https://rebelliongolf.com/videos/efficient-swing/

 

Not youtube, but well worth the $$. They may spend a little more time early trying to figure things out, but they will save a lot of time later by not having to unlearn bad habits

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

27 minutes ago, Krt22 said:

https://video.rebelliongolf.com/programs/collection-eezu4kysdy4?categoryId=4642&permalink=0-setup-intro-v1mov-565d3f

 

https://rebelliongolf.com/videos/efficient-swing/

 

Not youtube, but well worth the $$. They may spend a little more time early trying to figure things out, but they will save a lot of time later by not having to unlearn bad habits

 

 

Ahh, I didn't know Monte had free content. I've already got the Early Extension vid, the UTB 2.0, and Wedges. But the grip & setup would be great for my son... And free, so I just added that to my catalog. Saw that the original UTB is now free too... 

 

And maybe I should use it to brush up on my own grip and setup fundamentals lol...

[Chunkitgood]

On 4/18/2022 at 12:27 PM, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Thanks. I think that's a good one that can help teach simple movement and feels. I also like that it's a lot of things that don't require a club, a range, etc... It's for my 14yo son, and he's at his mom's house ~60% of the time, so I don't get a lot of time to actually take him to the range or course. But he's hooked on the game, and so I want to give him something that's simple and easy to comprehend. 

 

I mentioned the grip because he plays with a crazy strong right hand lol... Was hoping someone else could explain to him why that's not optimal. Like most 14yo kids, he's going to trust some random Youtuber more than me lol 😉

 

This might be helpful

 

 

[RobertBaron]

I know David Leadbetter gets a lot sh*t these days, but I stumbled across this video last night and idk I think it’s a pretty damn good path to get started. Maybe a bit too technical but I think it’s a pretty compressed timeline in the video. Stretching out the lessons over a couple of months to a beginner would probably get them to a pretty enjoyable place to play golf on a regular basis. 
 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by RobertBaron

[SHAFUA]

On 4/18/2022 at 6:27 PM, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Thanks. I think that's a good one that can help teach simple movement and feels. I also like that it's a lot of things that don't require a club, a range, etc... It's for my 14yo son, and he's at his mom's house ~60% of the time, so I don't get a lot of time to actually take him to the range or course. But he's hooked on the game, and so I want to give him something that's simple and easy to comprehend. 

 

I mentioned the grip because he plays with a crazy strong right hand lol... Was hoping someone else could explain to him why that's not optimal. Like most 14yo kids, he's going to trust some random Youtuber more than me lol 😉

 

 

hes starting to play the game like many other great players do …. He’s found the way where kids will be able to hit it the furthest that’s a good thing! as he’s worked out probably the optimum way for him to hit the ball the furthest! 

 

speak to pro golfers who started in their teens or younger and a lot of them say they worked out that a strong grip and a big hook was the best way to start playing think Rahm and Rory are both players who worked the game out that way 

 

at 14 just let him play I know a 3 handicap golfer who has the same grip as him 

 

if you change that grip though remember he will have to probably have to change his swing path ideas… rotate more etc (working on the assumption he’s a drawer/hooker here mind) 

 

the pro that would probably interest a teen the most is Jake Hutt though look on his instagram or YouTube channel 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by SHAFUA

[BigEx44]

On 4/16/2022 at 11:03 AM, Snowman9000 said:

My adult daughter wanted to play in a corporate outing.  I had her watch Brian Sparks and then meet me on the range.  We just tried to apply his idea.  She did well.

 

To me, this is one of the best golf videos ever made for beginners and high handicappers.

 

 

 

I love that video.    It's what started me down the road to my current swing and away from my previous Moe Norman single  plane swing.

[BigEx44]

On 4/19/2022 at 4:51 PM, Ghostwedge said:

This guy just passed away recently. No WRXer would get caught doing his dance thing either but you made a great call having your daughter study his basic swing keys. 

 

 

 

I'm a WRXer and I do that dance thingy.  It added rhythm and tempo to my thing.  

[tm3]

9 hours ago, RobertBaron said:

I know David Leadbetter gets a lot sh*t these days, but I stumbled across this video last night and idk I think it’s a pretty damn good path to get started. Maybe a bit too technical but I think it’s a pretty compressed timeline in the video. Stretching out the lessons over a couple of months to a beginner would probably get them to a pretty enjoyable place to play golf on a regular basis. 
 

 

That's what I started with.

 

Some would say that is an endorsement.

 

Others would say run away.

[JungleJimbo]

On 4/16/2022 at 5:54 AM, betarhoalphadelta said:

So the golf-centric YouTube world, as far as I can tell, is targeting folks like, well, us. People who are golf nuts, who have at least some basic understanding of how to swing a golf club because we've been playing for years or decades. Content is full of jargon, of technical talk, and is mostly to teach people how to break existing bad habits in ONE area of a swing and replace them with better ones. 

 

The question is whether there's any content out there for a complete and total newbie. Someone who has never swung a club, or maybe has been to the range and/or the course a handful of times in total. Something that isn't overwhelmingly technical, isn't full of Gears stuff like the AMG folks (who are awesome of course, but aren't for that audience), and even good content like Padraig's videos are full of jargon and "feels" rather than basics. The goal is to explain everything from grip to setup to basic backswing/downswing/follow through movements, and explained in a very basic first-timer way. Including newbie things like putting / reading putts, short game, golf course etiquette, and the like are great if they exist as well. 

 

Let's say you have a niece or nephew who wants to pick up the game. Their parents don't know enough to teach them, and they live too far away for you to take them to the range/course yourself. But you want them to understand the basics so they start off with good habits rather than typical novice swing problems. 

 

Is there a good video or series of videos that you'd recommend?

 

@betarhoalphadelta Rick Shiels has a few playlists that you might find helpful / interesting for your newbies:

(A) PlayList "The complete golf swing guide" (~6 videos): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG1vJJAceYM&list=PLKnkfgDBi62mkWMNmNipPUUep6vcj8nYm 

(B) PlayList "Golf Coaching Videos" (~230 videos): 
https://www.youtube.com/user/RickShielsPGAGolf/playlists
 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by JungleJimbo

[T2WIN]

On 4/15/2022 at 8:40 PM, fairways4life said:

There's this video of tiger swinging in super slow motion. It's been posted for years and I still sometimes refer back to it when I'm feeling out of sorts. There's no words, so there aren't any swing tips or anything. But it's just a good visual reference of the golf swing that someone new to golf can sit and watch and gain an understanding of what it is they are needing to do. 

 

 

Great Video here for those looking for help on the driver swing to compare to yours. 

[T2WIN]

On 4/15/2022 at 11:00 PM, Chunkitgood said:

Clay Ballard YouTube video something like “the simple golf swing.”

 

If you want to mess them up go somewhere that talks a lot about the static “fundamentals,” the grip, how the wrists work, etc.  IMHO.

This guy is very helpful here. He has a lot of great videos. Goes through them well. 

[Binson]

Manuel de la Torre series 

[Nels55]

On 4/19/2022 at 1:51 PM, Ghostwedge said:

This guy just passed away recently. No WRXer would get caught doing his dance thing either but you made a great call having your daughter study his basic swing keys. 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, BigEx44 said:

 

I'm a WRXer and I do that dance thingy.  It added rhythm and tempo to my thing.  

There are WRXers and then there are Real WRXers!

 

[DShepley]

George Knudson!