Xander Schauffele's swing speed: heel lifted
Xander Schauffele talks to PGA Tour Superstore about the gains in speed he’s made after switching coaches and strength trainers. He explains what was wrong with his backswing and demonstrates the heel-lift exercise—provided it’s done correctly.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
The gains from Xander Schauffele come from two sources: the gym, where he strengthened his lower body and core, and his new coach, who helped him swing the club more smoothly. Between 2020 and 2023, his shoulders had flattened out and The club ended up getting knocked off at the top of the swing. He would then have to shift sideways to get the club back on the target line, or the club would drift too far outward on his cuts; he was hitting the driver too steeply and had trouble hitting a draw. Now, The club is more in line with the plan and, if he turns sharply enough on the downhill section, he comes back down behind him, into the “slot.”.
His exercise for gaining speed on a shot: Lift your left heel during the backswing. Many people do it wrong, lifting their heel without shifting their weight to their right hip. You have to turn from the right hip As the heel lifts, then set it back down like a baseball pitcher taking a step, and transfer the force from the ground to the legs, then to the arms, and finally to the ball. The speed completely changed his game: an 9-iron went from about 155 to 160 yards, and a 6-iron exceeded 200 yards with a full swing. The challenge was to master these new distances, with his first good shots sailing over the green.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Film the top of your swing to make sure the club isn't laid off.
- Work on a backswing that keeps the club in the plane.
- When going downhill, turn enough so that the club comes back down behind you.
- For a longer swing, lift your left heel during the backswing while shifting your weight to your right hip.
- Put your heel back down to begin the downswing and push off the ground.
- After increasing your swing speed, recalculate the distance for each club.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Lift your left heel without rotating your right hip.
- Let your shoulders drop, and let the club finish in a laid-off position at the top.
- Shift sideways to bring the club back into the plane.
- Maintain your previous distances after picking up speed.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Swing with the left heel raised while loading the right hip
- Video of the top of the swing to control club position
- List of the new distances, iron by iron
Your Questions
How did Xander Schauffele gain speed?
By combining strength training—to strengthen her lower body and core—with technical work with her new coach to improve the club's form.
How do you properly lift your left heel during the backswing?
Rotate the right hip as the heel lifts. Lifting the heel without engaging the hip puts the player in the wrong position when it's time to plant the foot and strike the ball.
What was the problem with his backswing?
His shoulders had flattened out, and the club was ending up at an awkward angle at the top of the swing. He had to shift sideways to get it back on plane, was hitting the ball too steeply with the driver, and was having trouble hitting a draw.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Xander Schauffele). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.