Scheffler's Coach Breaks Down the Swing Behind Four Majors

Scottie Scheffler's swing has carried him to 22 PGA Tour wins and four major titles, and according to Randy Smith, his coach since childhood at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, the basic shape of that swing has barely changed since Scheffler was a kid on the practice range there.

What are the key positions in Scheffler's swing?

Smith breaks the swing into six checkpoints. At setup, Scheffler's feet, shoulders and forearms sit square to the target with his weight balanced and engaged. In the takeaway, pressure shifts to his right side as the shaft and left arm form a straight line down to the ball.

At the top of the backswing, his hips and legs hold firm while his upper body coils against them, setting up the shift back to the left side that starts the downswing. Smith says the club shaft sits on plane against the right forearm as the downswing begins, with Scheffler's head staying slightly back to support a powerful strike.

What makes his impact and release distinctive?

Through impact, Scheffler drives into his left side with his arms staying level as the clubface squares at the moment of contact. The release features his signature footwork, nicknamed the "Scheffler shuffle": his right foot slides back toward his left knee as his right arm fully extends and his body rotates around a stable center, sending the shot down the target line.

The DNA of Scheffler's move hasn't changed since he was a kid — only the distance and the birdies have.

Smith still works with Scheffler at Royal Oaks, where a younger generation of juniors now watches the World No. 1 practice the same way he once watched the pros there.