Jack Nicklaus explains what he finds very unusual about Scottie Scheffler’s golf swing

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Jack Nicklaus is quite clearly a huge fan of Scottie Scheffler.

Nicklaus was a dominant force in the game for two decades from the 1960s through to the 1980s.

Meanwhile, Scheffler is just at the start of his journey, as he attempts to become one of the best players of all-time.

The 85-year-old won 18 major championships and 73 PGA Tour titles throughout his career, whilst the man from Dallas has three major titles and 16 PGA Tour wins to his name at the age of 28.

The swings of Nicklaus and Scheffler have been likened before, due to the neutral position of the clubface at the top.

Meanwhile, they appear to be on the same page when it comes to golf course design as well.

Both Scheffler and Nicklaus were against the removal of so many trees at Oakmont during the restoration process.

But how similar are their golf swings? Who better to ask than the man himself – Mr Nicklaus.

Jack Nicklaus on what he finds unusual about Scottie Scheffler’s swing

Scheffler is widely regarded as the best ball-striker in the game.

And Nicklaus held the same title back in his glory days.

So the two players must have similar motions when they swing the club right?

Nicklaus was asked whether Scheffler’s swing is similar to what his was like in his prime.

The Golden Bear responded by saying, “Well, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of resemblance. Well, the swing path is — Scottie’s is very good, and I felt like my swing path was pretty good. Johnny’s swing path was very good. But most good players’ swing path is good. Scottie has an unusual way of coming into the ball and having his right foot slide behind him. But that evidently allows him to get his right hip, not into the shot but out of the way, and allows his hands to stay close to his body and swing down a plane.

“That was one of my keys was always to get my hands as close to my body as I could. I remember Byron Nelson when I went to see him years ago, Jack Grout sent me down to see him, and Byron made one statement, he says, I don’t believe you can ever have your hands too close to your body when you swing, and I feel felt that’s getting your arms and hands underneath you when you swing. Johnny was very much the same way, you were well under the ball and hands were way close to your body. When your hands get away from your body then you make bad swings, and Scottie doesn’t do that.“

That’s a great answer from Nicklaus, and it’s clear that whilst Scheffler possesses some really unusual footwork, he is similar to the greatest of all-time when it comes to control of the clubface.

What Johnny Miller said about Nicklaus and Scheffler’s swings

Johnny Miller was sat alongside Nicklaus during a press conference at Oakmont this afternoon, ahead of the third round of the US Open.

Miller shot a sublime 63 at the 1973 US Open at Oakmont to win the tournament – a round still raved about today.

So he certainly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to what makes a good golf swing.

Miller responded to Nicklaus’s description of Scheffler’s golf swing.

“He said, Yeah, Scottie has got sort of an old-fashioned swing. When you watch his club — most guys are playing, the club is coming in like this and then going that way. He goes like Jack, and even the way I swung with especially my irons, right up the line and right down the line, and it keeps the face square longer, so I think that’s an advantage.

Also, when you’re this way, you can get out of the rough a lot better than guys that are going inside and going through all the grass behind the ball.

Yeah, he’s got some unusual foot work, but a little bit like Calcavecchia and Greg Norman with the right foot coming into the ball. The right foot pulls this way, they pull it in and it sort of hits a high fade. When you make that move with the right foot, pulling it back in the hitting zone, it hits a high fade, which Jack loves that high fade.

Nicklaus responded, “Incidentally, I’ve never heard my swing analyzed that way. He was dead on. That was really good.“

To which Miller said, “Thanks.“

Before Nicklaus replied, “I’ve never heard you do that. Well done.“

The swings if Nicklaus and Scheffler are probably more alike than most people think, and that description from Miller made it very clear as to why that is.