Paul Lawrie Swing Analysis

Paul Lawrie swing sequence
Paul Lawrie swing sequence

Golf Monthly Top 25 coach Barney Puttick offers his in depth Paul Lawrie swing analysis to find out what you can learn from watching the rhythmical Scot

For me, Paul Lawrie is one of the most underrated major winners of modern times. The longevity of his career points to a world class game. It also happens to be the case, that a quick look at this Paul Lawrie swing analysis shows  he has one of the most technically sound golf swing’s in the world.

As with every good player, the angles he sets at address are very solid. What I really like about the early part of his swing (and you’ll need to take a look at the video that accompanies this piece to see it) is the little forward press he adopts to trigger the golf swing. Too many players stand at address thinking about all sorts of technical aspects and they become rigid and tense. Paul’s forward press keeps his forearms and shoulders relaxed and triggers the wonderful rhythm that has become his trademark.

Importantly, this rhythm is exactly the same no matter which club he is using. He could be holding a driver or a wedge, it’s always the same. What makes his swing so pleasing to the eye is that it looks relatively slow but he accelerates just at the key moment – through impact. This is where some of us go wrong!

The thing I like most about Paul’s swing however, is that he has a classic coil and re-coil – it is the antithesis of stack and tilt. At the top of his backswing, he has coiled up and his weight over his right side then he keeps his right shoulder at the same height in the downswing. In the finish position, look how far forward of the ball position his right shoulder finishes. This is a sign superb flexibility and is undoubtedly one of the reasons he is still going well into his forties.

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If you take one thing from this swing, let it be the unhurried transition from backswing to downswing. There is a flow, a relaxed start to the downswing that means his arms and body work together as he re-coils.

 

Neil Tappin
Digital Editor

In his current role, Neil is responsible for testing drivers and golf balls. Having been a part of the Golf Monthly team for over 15 years and playing off a handicap of 3, he has the experience to compare performance between models, brands and generations. For 2022 he thinks the main trend in drivers is: "In a word, consistency. Whilst all the brands are talking about ball speed (and the new drivers are certainly long), my biggest finding has been how much more consistent the ball flights are. Mishits don't seem to be causing the same level of drop-off or increase in the spin numbers. This means that more shots seem to be flying the way you want them to!" As far as golf balls are concerned the biggest development is in the, "three piece, non-Tour, urethane-covered section. For regular golfers, these models offer superb performance at both ends of the bag without denting your wallet quite as much as the premium Tour-played options."


Originally working with the best coaches in the UK to produce instruction content, he is now the brand's Digital Editor and covers everything from Tour player interviews to gear reviews. In his time at Golf Monthly, he has covered equipment launches that date back well over a decade. He clearly remembers the launch of the Callaway and Nike square drivers as well as the white TaylorMade driver families, such as the RocketBallz! If you take a look at the Golf Monthly YouTube channel, you'll see his equipment videos dating back over a decade! He has also conducted 'What's In The Bag' interviews with many of the game's best players like Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Over the years, Neil has tested a vast array of products in each category and at drastically different price-points. 

Neil is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade Stealth Plus Fairway Wood: Titleist TSR2 Hybrid: Titleist TS3 Irons (4-9): Mizuno JPX 919 Forged Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 46˚, 50˚, 54˚, 60˚ Putter: Odyssey Triple Track Ten Ball: Titleist Pro V1X