Over the decades many professionals have tried to emulate Jack Nicklaus’ swing and come up short or developed a bad back.
Pete Cowen takes a close look at one of the game’s greatest swings and explains why Jack’s mechanics generated so much power and how the Likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm deliver the club through impact in a similar way. But the golden bear remains unique.
Many have believed that Jack Nicklaus’ swing was a reverse C but what they failed to see was it was a hip and shoulder angle tilt which did not stress the lower back. What players back in the day failed to appreciate either was just how big and strong Jack was in his prime. He could hold positions others could only dream of due to his size and strength. You need to remember that in 1970 at The Open at St Andrews he drove the 18th green all four rounds with a Persimmon driver and a balata ball. Even players today fail to achieve that, and the hole has not changed in 51 years! Jack was by far the biggest hitter of his era.
Today we hear all about the bowed left wrist of Brooks and Johnson where the face appears stronger. Jack shared the same bowed left wrist but unlike the power hitters of today Nicklaus’s left wrist was bowed due to his right wrist being set on top. He was able to have a flat left wrist in the same position as Brooks and company because of his signature right elbow. He has a strong left wrist when it comes to the change of direction and at impact even though he did not go back with one.
11 Jun 1996: Jack Nicklaus gives a few pointers to Tiger Woods during the practice round of the U.S. Open at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Credit: J.D. Cuban/ALLSPORT
The one thing these two great players have in common is their ability to adapt. If either player has to play in the different eras, they would have found a way to win. Both can hit it high or knock it down and work the ball in either direction. I doubt we will see another player dominate the game as these two have done.
