quick coaching

Model Your Game after the Best Players in the World

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Yuka Saso of the Philippines hits her tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the 76th U.S. Women's Open Championship at The Olympic Club on June 06, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Last Friday evening, US Women's Open Champion, Yuka Saso had a side-by-side of her swing compared to that of Rory McIlroy’s played on the Golf Channel. Rory, getting wind of this, shared it on his social media on Saturday night and told the 19-year-old to…

“Go get that trophy.”

Saso later acknowledged that she does indeed study and try to emulate McIlroy’s beautiful swing.
Picking your Model...
The practice of picking a swing to mirror your own after has certainly been something people have done for a very long time. With the ability to do it almost instantaneously through YouTube, Instagram, and other platforms, it's easier than ever to play copycat.
As a coach, I encourage you to absolutely look through some of your favorite swings from the PGA, LPGA, European, or Champions Tours. Before you get started, however, I wanted to share a few tips to ensure you take the necessary steps to get the most benefit from the exercise...
  1. Record your own swing first, from both down-the-line and face-on. Once you have that, give it a good look, and better yet, have a PGA Coach look at it as well. In doing so, you should be looking for some key areas in your swing that need the most TLC. Maybe just 2-3 things to start.
  2. Once you and possibly your coach have determined the areas that need attention, you can now look for a model swing that suits your eye. Be careful however that you choose someone that you have the ability to emulate. For example, if you are 5' 5" and you choose someone like 6' 4' Dustin Johnson, you could find achieving certain positions DJ gets into may not be physically possible for you. Also, consider the flexibility and strength it takes to do things the best players in the world can do throughout their swings. If you are not quite there in these terms, work at that as well...it can only serve you well in the end. If you are purely looking to take the club back wider and smoother or trying to change your path a smidge on the downswing for example, then these little tweaks, and others like these, should be very attainable regardless.
  3. Find software or an app that allows you to do side-by-side comparisons between your swing and your model’s; You should constantly be checking your progress. You should have no problem keeping tabs on your progress with the programs available today
  4. As you progress, make sure you have another pair of eyes looking at how things are going and get their input. Getting the input of a PGA Coach is always advisable.
The search for golf's perfect swing will be a quest that will certainly go on for as long as the game is played. The search for your own "perfect" swing can absolutely be aided by looking for that model to try and emulate
Just ask Yuka Saso— The concept worked out pretty well for the new Major Champion.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

Meet Brendon