At times this season, Viktor Hovland’s iron play has been strong enough to keep him afloat. In just eight measured rounds, he’s gained more than seven strokes on approach and recorded a top-10 finish.
The driver, though? That has been the club making him work to keep his head above water.
So when a video surfaced of Hovland on the range wearing inflatable pool swimmies strapped to both arms, it did not feel completely random.
It looks ridiculous.
It is also kind of brilliant.
What the swimmies actually do
Some of the smartest players and coaches I know use random objects to make a golf concept stick.
Golf “feels” are difficult. When something is slightly off, exaggeration can make the correction obvious. Just look at Justin Rose on the driving range with his pump drill.
Call them swimmies, floaties or whatever you prefer. They’re there to help Hovland recreate a feel he’s been struggling to find.
He said he felt he was pulling his arms too aggressively in transition and losing the space he used to maintain. When that space disappears, the swing narrows. The club can steepen and with a driver in your hands, it will turn into a big miss.
The swimmies create a physical barrier. If the arms collapse inward, he’ll know it. This barrier encourages extension, better structure and a swing that works around the body.
Conceptually, it is not much different from placing a Tour Striker ball or a headcover between your forearms. The difference is that the swimmies exaggerate the feel. I like that they’re stuck to you. You can think about the swing itself instead of trying not to drop a headcover or squeeze a ball. It helps with maintaning speed and making practice translate to the course.
Final thoughts
Getting better at golf usually starts with looking a little worse.
In Hovland’s case, it just happens to look like open swim at the YMCA.
Regardless, who are we to say it isn’t exactly what he needs? It may look silly. It may also work.
My 11-year-old son has been itching to start his first business. I am starting to think a box of inflatable swimmies at the driving range might just do the trick.
If you need a pair, let us know.
Scott
4 months ago
Once had a teaching pro recommend this to me so I didn’t alligator arm my swing or pull them too close to my body with a more baseball swing. Wonder if this is similar to what you get from those little balls you try to hold in your arms during a swing.