Instruction
The A Swing: A simpler way to swing
As a golf instructor, you are always trying to improve your knowledge and understanding of the golf swing in order to help your students improve the efficiency of their swing as well as their ball striking consistency. No matter the player’s talent level, I’ve also come to understand how important it is to keep the approach of improving a player’s action as simple as possible.
During my 20+ year association with David Leadbetter and our elite worldwide Leadbetter teaching staff, we are consistently pushing the limits on how to simplify the complex game of golf. It’s a teaching culture within the Leadbetter organization inspired by David himself, and is fully captured in his new book “The A Swing.”
The A Swing is very much an evolution of David’s teaching philosophy, and emphasizes the synchronization between the three key fundamentals of the swing:
- Setup
- Body turn
- Club swing
What sets the A Swing approach apart is how simple it is for any player to understand, feel, and ultimately execute. Since first discussing and implementing some of the A Swing concepts with David in 2012, we have seen some dramatic improvements at every level with our players. Lydia Ko, the world’s No. 1-ranked female golfer, has been working with David and I since the Fall of 2013 has many A Swing traits that blend perfectly with her effortless swing rhythm.
Traditional Backswing
Photo Credit: The A Swing by David Leadbetter. St Martins Press, 2015
A Swing Backswing
Photo Credit: The A Swing by David Leadbetter. St Martins Press, 2015
The whole essence of the A Swing is based on synchronization. To me, synchronizing the swing’s two main components — torso rotation and the arm/club action — is paramount in good ball striking, regardless of the philosophy one follows.
In most cases in the golf swing, poor body motion is directly related to arms, hands and a club that are out of position. This can be observed if a player makes a simple pivot motion with their arms folded across their chest, where they would wind up going back, transition going forward, and then unwind to a balanced finish. More often than not, it looks technically correct. Yet take the same player and put a club in their hand, and the body motion looks totally different.
Related: Visit the A Swing Website
Watch the video below with Brett Meyer of the Leadbetter Golf Academy to see the incredible results of one student who worked with David on The A Swing.
The goal with the A Swing is to develop a powerful, balanced torso motion using ground force, and compliment it with a simple arm action. What we are suggesting is eliminating wasted motion with the hands and arms in order to create great synchronization going back and coming down. In our biomechanical testing, we have found that on average the butt of the club travels 20 percent less than a conventional, on-plane backswing. This savings is huge as far as synchronization is concerned, and really allows the arms/club and body to arrive at their destination at the top almost in tandem. It also encourages an in-sync downswing, and allows the body to work more effectively.
In all our testing with players of different levels, we have found the transfer of energy throughout the swing to be much more efficient. In many cases, we have seen not only improvement in accuracy (wouldn’t most players settle for that?), but also increased ball speed as a result of more center-face contact.
In addition to conceptualizing the A Swing approach, there are complimentary drills to help speed up the learning process to grasp this alternative backswing, thereby setting up a powerful, on-plane downswing. Depending on the needs of my clients, who typically struggle to find time to practice, I can implant a segment or a full compliment of the A Swing knowing that with minor changes, they will see immediate results.
It’s all about getting better and as an instructor it’s been great to see real improvement among our players of all ages and abilities with the A Swing.
There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.
And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.
But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.
When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.
Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.
For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!
Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.
Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.
If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.
1. Cultural mindset
What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!
It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.
2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling
Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.
3. Learning theory basics
It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.
As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.
So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!
Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.
The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.
Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)
Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.
What Woad did:
• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances
• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins
• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets
• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”
Why most golfers mess this up:
• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”
• Distance becomes more important than accuracy
• They try to be heroic instead of smart
ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.
The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire
Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.
How she responded to pressure:
• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th
• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys
• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th
• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked
What amateurs do wrong:
• Get conservative when they should be aggressive
• Try to force magic when steady play would win
• Panic when someone else makes a move
ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.
Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game
Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.
Her mental approach:
• Focused on her process, not the competition
• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)
• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”
Her physical execution:
• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)
• Methodical iron play
• Steady putting
• Everything effective, nothing spectacular
ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.
Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built
The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”
Her winning mindset:
• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself
• Focused on playing well and contending
• Made winning a byproduct of a good process
• Built confidence through recent experiences:
- Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
- Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
- Each experience prepared her for the next
What this means for you:
• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up
• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine
• Commit to every shot
• Stay present in the moment
ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.
The Real Lesson
Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.
The fundamentals that won:
• Hit more fairways
• Find more greens
• Make the putts you should make
• Stay patient under pressure
That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.
FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!
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Bob J
Mar 10, 2017 at 1:28 am
Fascinating to read all the “gurus” here who know better than some of golf’s most accomplished teachers. LOL.
Ben B
May 5, 2016 at 12:48 am
I have never been a good golfer, and have never really believed in Leadbetter’s teaching. At 70 years old, I saw several videos on the A Swing, and without much practice, went to the driving range at a local course and hit about 10 balls with what I imagined the A Swing to be, and got called to first tee with my guys. Shot the best I had in years, and I am not good, mid 90’s, over the top. With his swing, I was less prone to come over the top due to the limited backswing alone.
Steve Wozeniak PGA
Sep 25, 2015 at 12:44 pm
I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Lydia told these clowns to take this A swing and shove it………she tried it for a bit missed cuts and hit it like a dog, anyone that knows the golf swing laughs and this stuff…….Lydia is back swinging like Hogan, Ben that is!!!!!!
Anyone that has “written” 40 books about the golf swing is confused……
Tommy P
Jul 5, 2015 at 2:39 pm
I’m 82 and used to be a 10. Did not play for awhile and had trouble getting my swing back. Even before buying the book, just looking at the Utubes I was able to right away hit real good shots. You guys who are talking the swing down do not have the ability to follow directions.
Mike
Jun 22, 2015 at 9:49 am
Have not bought the book, just watched various videos to get the concept. Took what I perceived as the proper move to the range. Have to tell you there is something there ( for me at least) I am an 8 handicapper, always working on a new “move”. Don’t kid yourself, it takes some work to get it (at least for me it did). Probably have hit 1000 balls using the A swing. I am a believer. At least for me, I think there is something there. On the course by drives are longer, I am playing with guys a lot younger (I am 67) and I am up with them and past on occasions. I won the super seniors long drive contest last year at our State Match play with a 286 yard drive so I was not short to begin with. But my drives are more penetrating and I have a little draw I never had. So at least for me I will continue working on this technique.
Mike T
May 30, 2015 at 10:57 pm
A fully cupped wrist at the top? I’ve done that and it sucks big time. It’s all just to sell a new book? Bogus. They don’t even explain what the A in the A Swing is… I can think of one thing.
Susinto
May 29, 2015 at 5:34 am
Bought it 2 weeks ago, i didnt change all my swings to A swing, but it did enhance the “feel” part of my golf game. I was/am a very mechanical swinger., able to make me enhance the feel part of my swing, i give this book 10/10, also considering only 10% fee of local pro for 1 hour. Would recomend it to all my near kin, those wo want to pick up golf at full speed.
Video on youtube and limits of budget and also pros in my country – indonesia, doesnt help my game much. After reading this book on kindle, i now can hit my shot higher with more spin, higher flush shot percentange on my 6&5 iron, hybrid and 5 wood, with a few adjustment made.
According to me, the current world no.1 (yes Rory) has the same swing as the A swing. Look at the 1st part of upswing till the shaft is parallel to the ground. Its definitely A swing. More apparent on titleist Rory (less bulky Rory), than the nike Rory (muscleman Rory)
Cheers
gvogel
May 25, 2015 at 8:42 am
Two words: Jimmy Bruen.
Five words: Phil Rogers helicopter wedge swing.
Heli
May 25, 2015 at 10:57 am
Bernhard Langer helicopter too?
Tim
Jul 13, 2015 at 4:05 pm
I don’t see much video or read much about Phil Rodgers anymore, but he schooled Jack Nicklaus on the wedge game. Jack was never very good in that area (didn’t need to be compared to the rest of the field) but when he needed help he went to Phil. I still use his figure 8 flop shot a lot around the green-side rough.
Jayw
May 25, 2015 at 8:32 am
There is a huge improvement in the transition from the top of the back swing to down swing in the video on the right. In the left video the initial move that the golfer makes in the transition of the downswing is with his shoulders, hand, and arms, and immediately he starts the typical over the top casting. The club starts an outside-in club path and the ball flight is from left to right. In the video on the right, the golfer starts the downswing from the ground up. His transition starts with a drop of his hands and arms. At impact the club path is much more down the line to inside out. No casting whatsoever. This is absolutely a night and day difference.
joe
May 25, 2015 at 3:26 am
Is this not Jim Fury’s swing?
Flop
May 25, 2015 at 12:57 am
This is a total FLOP.
The guy in the video is simply getting a couple of basic, standard swing tips, just to straighten him out a little bit, because his usual, upright, steep swing is a bit over the top (pun intended) and can be easily fixed without all this A-swing bull sheet. And the new swing really isn’t that much of an improvement, as can be witnessed in the video, which is a terrible example of a video to show, by the way. If the student all of a sudden started hitting perfect little baby draws and his swing looked totally different to his original swing, I would have been impressed, but alas, as it stands now, it’s really just barely an improvement. F
Jayw
May 24, 2015 at 9:38 am
According to the book by Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code, Greatness isn’t born. It’s grown. There is no talent without hard work. Also, the most successful tour players think and talk positive. Everything that’s related to the game of golf is expensive. That’s the way it’s always been and most likely always will be. The A Swing by David Leadbetter is less than 20 bucks on Amazon. And ships free with prime. 1/2 dozen (6) top quality brand name golf balls cost about that much.
Joe
May 24, 2015 at 6:24 am
I’m an 8.5 hdcp. I like to tinker. I realize this “tinkering” may limit serious progress. That said, this A Swing has been enjoyable. The book (Kindle version) is a relatively quick read and there are plenty of videos on line to help with visuals. After just one range session, I would say it seems repeatable. To me, being one that doesn’t practice, that “repeatability” is important. I will definately continue with it….I hope I don’t get caught between swings and that my glutes fire.
JSteinmann
May 23, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Everyone has a gimmick to sell books and videos. Golf instruction is all about making money and selling hopes and dreams presented as secrets and shortcuts to replace what is simply talent and hard work.
MHendon
May 23, 2015 at 10:24 pm
Well said
Bob J
Mar 10, 2017 at 1:17 am
Hogwash
Jayw
May 23, 2015 at 7:54 am
I like what I see so far about the A Swing. It looks like a simple swing, and easy to maintain. I’m going to read the book to see if it’s for me or not. It’ll be a good read. I like learning about the golf swing. If I like it I’ll pursue it further, if not that’s ok, at the very least I will have additional knowledge. I was watching a Bobby Jones series on the golf channel one time an he said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In the A Swing video David was saying that the A swing is an Alternate method that may help some people that have difficulty with other swing types, etc. He made it clear that the A swing wasn’t for everyone or that it was not a cure all exact method. A lot of people have been using the conventional method for years and struggle with it and don’t improve. I don’t believe that the natural golf swing, or, single plane swing is the same as the A swing. Just to name a few of the differences that I see, in the single plane swing you spread your stance very wide, and place the ball more forward and out away from you so that you reach for the ball. Also, you rotate your hands and the clubhead on the backswing. I don’t see any of that in the A swing. The single plane is different and some like it. I always like to take a positive approach and take as much good out of something and someone as possible. I see only good things from A Swing that will help a lot of people that struggle with other swing types. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Dudley Rogers
May 22, 2015 at 7:24 pm
It’s “…has been working with David and me…” not “with David and I”
other paul
May 22, 2015 at 7:21 pm
I am not sure what is with all the people on here calling it a shank. I think to many (not enough…?) people are reading Kelvin Miyahira’s stuff.
Jonny B
May 22, 2015 at 3:38 pm
Looks a lot like Ryan Moore’s swing.
MartyMoose
May 22, 2015 at 9:47 am
I’ll stick with the traditional backswing. The “A Swing” backswing has pull hook written all over it.
Guru
May 22, 2015 at 8:14 am
I hate that they tout this as revolutionary and try to add Lydia’s name to it.
The concept is simple. For those that are ‘hitters’ and not ‘swingers,’ you often put your lead arm on your chest at the top of the backswing, which gets your arms behind your chest in terms of sync and are too shallow coming into the ball, so trying to get the shaft parallel up top gets you out of whack. Come across the line to sync up. That is the A swing. Just saved you a ton of money.
Lydia is a swinger, and she does nothing close to the A swing. A hitters swing will always limit your distance vs a swingers swing, but is easier to learn IMO. Choose wisely and please don’t waste your money on these hacks
Bob J
Mar 10, 2017 at 1:23 am
Says the hack
ML
May 21, 2015 at 10:48 pm
Nearly impossible to make those changes In a couple “hours” by a 16 handicap
Couple years maybe
The guys a shill…. Now way
snowman
May 21, 2015 at 9:41 pm
This is very well may be a good way to teach/swing….But be on alert for the upcoming Ledbetter Infomercial/DVDs etc, etc that will hype this thing as “revolutionary” and all for three easy payments of 49.99. I love capitalism, and Ledbetter has stamped his name on lots of ‘golf stuff’ over the years.
Todd
May 21, 2015 at 7:12 pm
How do you determine when the body rotation and arm swing are “synchronized”? Can it be measured with a 3D motion measurement system? Is there a visual confirmation that can be gained from video? Seems awfully subjective to determine if there are no absolute tests for being “in sync”.
Desmond
May 21, 2015 at 4:26 pm
After watching the video, I do not see this “A Swing” as revolutionary only because I’ve seen much of it over the last 2 years. The backswing, with the left arm more against the chest, is what my instructor is teaching. It’s more forearms against the ribcage and lead arm more against chest, no need to separate, please quiet the hands and wrists (as most golfers move arms and wrists too much).I need to study this downswing more as more info is needed, but perhaps Leds took recent biomechanical studies, worked on it as other instructors I’ve read and visited, and voila! we have a “packaged” Alternative swing to which he can attract students. It’s a good gig, and better than “swing in the barrel Leds” of the ’90’s, which screwed up a lot of golfers with the spin move who took the barrell image literally.
What I’d like to see is the student on the left who was taught and videoed with Led’s traditional system, and then the same student on the right with the “A Swing.”
lance sedevie
May 21, 2015 at 3:39 pm
This pattern is the same as Brian Manzella’s soft draw pattern which works great and has been out for years. Nothing revolutionary to be seen here.
Anthony
May 21, 2015 at 3:27 pm
ok, so cross the line at the top? What about for us that do not slice the ball? in your traditional vs A swing picture, the traditional is right on plane at the top (traditionally speaking) and the A swing is crossing the line. Everything else being neutral, crossing the line at the top will get give the ball more draw/hook spin and reduce the slice. Crossing the line at the top taught to people who slice the ball, especially when they slice the ball because they are too laid off at the top. And the goal when teaching people to cross the line is that they move from their laid off move, to BEING ON PLANE, even though they feel they are crossing the line ( that is what is getting them on plane).
In the video you posted, before the lesson the guy is severely laid off at the top with an opened face (he is not on plane with a face square to the plane like in your traditional picture). After the lesson he looks like the traditional picture at the top of his swing(as he is on plane traditionally speaking), he is not crossing the line?
So is the A swing just telling you to get on plane at the top or cross the line? If it says to cross the line, he is not crossing the line at the top of his swing in this video. If A swing tells you to cross the line at the top, is that encouraged for someone who already hits draws?
Jake
May 21, 2015 at 11:58 am
This article seems like an advertisement for the book? Here’s some valueless fluff, now go buy my book. Poor.
Greg V
May 21, 2015 at 10:37 am
There are A swing videos by David Leadbetter on the current iPad Golf Digest edition.
My take is that the A swing is a shortened version of the type of outside/inside swing such as Jim Furyk makes. For many amateurs who fight a slice, over the top move, the A swing looks like it could provide positive benefits.
However, when you take a wonderfully natural swing which has worked at the highest level of women’s golf – Lydia Ko – and attempt to fit her action into the A swing paradigm, I believe that you are making a big mistake. My fear is that Lydia will start playing “golf swing”, instead of playing golf. That mistake has already been made by Michelle Wie and Suzanne Pettersen.
I hope that the effort to fit Lydia’s move into a “swing paradigm” is not the cause of Lydia’s recent substandard play, but I fear that it might be.
Jeff
May 21, 2015 at 9:49 am
Is this new swing motion basically a single plane swing with the club across the line or am I missing something. I’m curious because the photo of the A swing in the article looks exactly like my swing but as one plane swing and slightly across the line as I start down my hands track perfectly to the ball and the shaft flattens. All sounds good so far but the two problems are if the shaft flattens to long I can leave the face open with an inside path and if I try to square early I can get a little steep with an early release. It seems to me that this A Swing adds a bigger element of timing than if the shaft were on plane. Any suggestions Mr.Hogan.