Prettiest, most enviable golf swing by era

[Jtgavigan]

A few weeks ago, I started a thread about the best ball strikers by era. So, slightly different twist. I was just watching the BMW Championship and the announcers talked about how Adam Scott's swing is the "gold standard" right now. I would agree as his swing is so gorgeous. 

 

So, by era, here are some players I am thinking about who had pretty or aesthetically nice swings that we would all love to have.

 

Pre 1950: Bobby Jones

1950s and 1960s - Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Gene Littler

1970s - Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller

1980s and 1990s - Steve Elkington,  Davis Love III, Payne Stewart (Fred Couples has maybe the sweetest tempo ever, but that outside/drop inside move is less enviable)

2000s - Ernie Els, Retief Goosen,  Tiger Woods (Butch Harmon edition), Luke Donald

2010s to today - Rory McIlroy,  Adam Scott

 

What do you guys think?

[mahonie]

Pretty good list there...like the other thread, I’d have to put Faldo in there and Seve and Ollie (irons).

 

Els is easily my favourite swing ever.

[Hankshank]

Bobby Jones, Boom boom, Big Easy and Rory

Edited August 29, 2020 by Hankshank

[stingerfade]

Bobby jones, Snead, Peter Thompson, Davis love, els, Scott, oosthuizen, Rory 

[farmer]

Tommy Bolt, Horton Smith, Greg Norman, Larry Mize, Adam Scott, Frank Beard, Hal Sutton

[widow-maker]

Oosthuizen has to be in there if you're talking pretty swings.  Gene Littler from the 60's.  Snead and Hogan should both be in there.   Els and Couples had those easy swings that still produced a lot of power.  Corey Connors is a guy on tour today that's got a really pretty swing. 

[MUNIGRIT]

Tom Purtzer, ELK, Mac OG, Grant Waite.

[miamistomp]

1940's Nelson

50's Snead. Bolt

60's Mickey Wright

[bscinstnct]

LO got a very nice swing 

 

500 yard drive!

 

 

[straightshot7]

Furyk, Wolff, Moe, Tevino, Gainey

Edited August 29, 2020 by straightshot7

[Medson]

25 minutes ago, straightshot7 said:

Furyk, Wolff, Moe, Tevino, Gainey

Oh boy ... Wolff has a solid down swing. His upswing. 

[doublehans]

Not sure how Luke Donald gets on any list. Sorry.  Sure, there's some rhythm to it thats fun. But the swing itself, nah.

 

Retief was a good call. His is often underrated. No back issues, who knows (and hey strange how many of these sweet swingers have back issues......)

 

Lots of other good names already mentioned (wouldnt say Retief is the best, just a good call). I'd add Schwartzel, one of purest swings out there.

 

 

 

[Strategery]

Snead, Weiskopf, [gap], Scott, Oosthuizen, Schwartzel.

[Underdog1924]

Morikawa

[deejaid]

For me, hands down Tommy Armour.

 

 

[8milespast]

Schwartzel has the best swing ever 

[LeoLeo99]

I'd take Snead's swing.  Looks effortless and easy on the body.  

[Emthree]

Tiger's Haney swing was a work of art. I've still not seen anyone strike irons better than he did during that period.

 

Rory's Driver swing these days is pretty much unbeatable.

[Nels55]

Eamon Darcy!

 

[ALIF]

Cameron Champ.

[Duct Tape]

Justin Rose

[Body_Visions]

Every time these type threads come up, I am always amazed that Faldo never gets a mention.  It’s always the same three, and I can’t imagine a more rhythmic, better tempo swing than Faldo.  

 

Can’t believe someone mentioned him here, and I will second it.   

 

 

[naval2006]

OP,

I love your 1970s picks. 

 

Tom Purtzer was THE swing in the early 90s by Golf Digest Standard. 

[Body_Visions]

Purtzer was awesome.  

 

I guess im all over the place, as I like Price and Olazabal as well.

 

 

[dlygrisse]

Bobby Jones

Sam Snead

wieskopf

Couples/Payne Stewart

Ernie

Scott

[alcap26]

I always wonder why Watson and Nicklaus get left out of these lists.  I mean Jack is the Greatest of all time and that swing with the high fade is a thing of beauty (from someone that fights a hook)

 

snead easy on body and very smooth

Faldo was a machine

Stewart had a timeless swing

I actually like that move Boom Boom puts on the ball

Els

 

never was an Elkington fan.  

[The Mad Bomber]

Cameron Champ's swing is so good. That is effortless power. You can't believe he's around 130 when you look at that action. I wouldn't say it's the prettiest of all time but it's pleasing to watch.

My favourite has always been Adam Scott for the record. 

[Steele47]

Early 80's.   Bobby Clampett.  

[80sFredriksson]

55 minutes ago, The Mad Bomber said:

Cameron Champ's swing is so good. That is effortless power. You can't believe he's around 130 when you look at that action. I wouldn't say it's the prettiest of all time but it's pleasing to watch.

My favourite has always been Adam Scott for the record. 

Champs swing is incredible, his driver cant be longer than 44 inches and still gets such smooth 130mphs its sick, compare with Bryson lol

[Hankshank]

5 hours ago, Strategery said:

Snead, Weiskopf, [gap], Scott, Oosthuizen, Schwartzel.

Big Easy can probably fill a part of the gap if you’re a SA swing fan.

Edited August 30, 2020 by Hankshank