What you can learn from Jim Furyk's unique twist

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Jim Furyk has been a fixture on the PGA Tour for the past 30 years. In that time he has won 17 times with his most notable success coming at the 2003 US Open. Since then he has broken 60 twice and remains the only player to record 58 on Tour.

He was the captain of the team that lost the Ryder Cup in Paris in 2018 and now he will be the captain of the American Presidents Cup team. Throughout his 30-year career Furyk has only had one skating coach, his father Mike, which explains his longevity. It is not very common but it has been standing for a long time. He has always been very short but his accuracy and ability to find fairways and greens is amazing.

Mike Furyk on his son's turn

“My son Jim has an under/overswing. That means his hips turn during the backswing and roll during follow through, causing the ball to fly from left to right.

His hands are so close to his body when he talks, the club has nowhere to go but the back street. That creates his 'loop' as he has to drop the club in flight during the downswing and turn his hips quickly to get the club through his body.

“The difference between Jim's swing years ago and his current swing is significant. Near the top, his hands often came over his head, the club pointed to the right of the target. Since then, Jim's skating has grown. Now his hands are behind his head, and the club is pointing towards the target.

This cut swing may not be the best in distance but playing from the middle of the fairway has helped Jim finish in the top 10 23 times in the Majors.”

No two swings are the same.

Watching Jim Furyk swing, one of the most unique on TOUR. pic.twitter.com/lXp9I10kBA

– PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 21, 2018

Mark Immelman on Furyk's turn

“Let's follow Jim's path, as he returns the club with the hole parallel to the ground and the face down.

As we continue to move backwards the hands begin to move slowly upwards and will continue to do this – the left arm is across the body, the right elbow is behind him and there is no wrist hinge and hip rotation. . He actually raises his arms to the sky.

“As he swings there is the death of the club, the left arm crosses the whole body and his right elbow is almost behind his crazy body but as he approaches the point of contact his arms are parallel to the body and his elbow. he lines up the ball and Jim hits it every time.”

Jim Furyk on his curve

“Your way down will determine a lot about where the ball will go. A great lesson I learned as a little kid was, my dad gave me a lesson in our kitchen before I went to high school, and he talked about the golf ball. When I practice, I always put the stick on the floor, or use it as a metal ruler, just to keep it straight.

“So when I train, I know I'm in good alignment, I know I'm heading where I want to and that makes a difference. Then I know that when I'm out on the course and I hit a bad shot left or right, I always ask myself, was I aiming there? Did I make a bad swing? When I practice I put something down for alignment so I know I'm pulling off something different. I know it's not my alignment.

“It could be my place for football. It could be other things. It might be my swing but I can figure out other things. If I know where I'm positioned, and I know that I'm moving the ball to the right, I know that my swing is from the inside to get a good start on the ball. If I start the ball to the left, my swing comes from the outside, it meets the ball. So it doesn't matter what my swing does when I come back.

“It is important how my swing does when I pass, when I hit the ball. It can be easy for some people to return the club straight. To me, my swing feels straight back and straight. It just happens, it doesn't feel like turning me on. It sounds right back. So where the ball hits is a product of your swing. Where the ball turns is a product of where your face is. So if my ball goes from right to left, I know the face was a little bit closed.”