Bob Toski comments in back of latest Golf Digest

So much respect for Toski, at 93, one of the last guys around from Hogan, Snead, etc... primes.

However he said that:"Dustin Johnson is going to have arthritis before he is 50, the way he shuts the clubface at the top. Hogan said you never see a good player with a closed face. And the kid Matthew Wolff - that swing won't last"

I think he is wrong and probably would have said the same thing about Jim Furyk 25 years ago. The thing is though he doesn't have to worry about being right or wrong because when Dustin is 50 or Wolff is even 35, he won't be around. to be proven wrong.

There are many ways to swing a club and I don't think everyone should be pigeon-holed into some textbook swing.

I don't get the reference. Was Toski accused of mismarking or something?

Edit: So I googled it. I had never heard of this.

Toski? Wasn't he the guy that investigated the Zodiac?

There probably is some truth to the thought that some swings will age better than others. Your body cant do the same stuff as you get older. Though i'm sure guys as good as Johnson will figure it out

It’s not like he hasn’t been around the game. He has some basis for his opinions.

Time will tell.

Back in Toski's era, a shut face like Dustin's would have caused driving problems with persimmon heads. But with 460 cc titanium, Dustin can play a blocking fade with no worries.

Toski has been around forever and just get off his lawn

Arth-a-ritis!

Now that I think about it maybe Toski is part of that "legacy" syndrome. LOLOLOLOLOLOL.

Arnold Palmer was kind of shut at the top, hit more of a block draw though. That and his intent to keep his head rock still resulted in his unique follow-thru, IMO.

Ah, give him a break.

Golf is just one big opinion anyway.

Who?

Is that a joke?

i am not sure how i feel about dustin but i am a big fan of his game and his swing. arthritis? i am not sure but there is no doubt that dustin's swing produces. i like these "home-made" swings. i think someone said that golf is about being comfortable in your own skin.

His last PGA tour win was 66 years ago. I'm guessing there might be a few people on here, myself included, who were thinking the same thing.

It's just an opinion.

DJ may never win another major. Just an opinion.

I’m closed at the top and a similar age to DJ...should I start taking medication for arthritis now?

DJ and Wolf are too supple to get these issues later in life due to their swings..they may get it..just because life is ffffed up. Toski is the best though but likes to say stuff lol

Agreed - how could he with Bryson in the field ?

Well, if Dustin does get arthritis at 50, he'll have enough money in the bank to retire comfortably. Toski's entitled to his opinion and time will tell if he was right. As long as Dustin is comfortable in his choices, what does it really matter what someone else thinks about it. Most professional golfers are putting their bodies in jeopardy with the hours and hours of hitting balls, driving their iron shots into the ground. It's jarring on the body. Some bodies handle it better than others and you really don't know until you get older how it will affect you. We live with the results and adjust as we go.

I'm just curious why the club head material or size would have caused problems?

I would think if you put a 1950s era Driver in DJs hand, after 5-10 practice balls, he would be hitting it fine.

DJ does the same thing when swinging a 3 wood and wouldn't a modern 3 wood be close to the same size as a persimmon era driver?

DJ doesn't listen to Toski ...https://www.golfdigest.com/story/dustin-johnson-hit-jack-nicklaus-old-1-iron-and-persimmon-driver-really-really-far

Yeah that's kind of what I figured. A pure hit is a pure hit no matter the material, club length, head size, etc...

I don't know about the arthritis. But I agree with him on Wolff. I see that swing breaking down at some point. I could be wrong, and I would be OK with that. I mean, Fuyrk's swing is a flying octopus and it has not broken down. So, who knows.

Bob is right, Dustin just needs to get nice and square at the top like Jason Day since Jason never has any health problems.

Because even Dustin misses the middle of the face sometimes, and with the old wood clubs that was punished excessively. You can get away with it today.

With wood, you get scared of that miss, and you have to make some adjustments, ie: you don't go after it all the time. Try playing in hickory tournaments and you'll understand.

On the other hand, there is no reason for Dustin to change something that has worked for him since he started playing the game.

Why would Wolff's swing not last? The back swing is a little weird but simple ala Furyk. The downswing is explosive with crazy rotation. This is the part that might not last because of his back.

I said it before - Phil has had very good advisers because he has been healthy (except arthritis which I think is genetic) for 20+ years. No knee, shoulder or back issues.

Ever heard of a guy named Lee Trevino?

Lol!

Honestly, I would only trust a sports doctor or someone with training in the field with something like an arthritis prediction. If DJ's wrist position is not causing any premature wear and tear on the cartilage in the joint, then he is it not at risk because of his swing. Every other form of arthritis is not related to or caused by wear and tear and thus can't be predicted in that way. This sounds to me more like "old man has old opinions" than anything else.

He was also the most highly regarded instructors for decades. Along with Jim Flick. Funny how Butch is so highly regarded still using that logic.