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Target FocusSwing and Swing Plane All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 23 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Hitter vs. Thrower Swing: The Real Differences

Are you focusing on the ball or the target? For Jérémy (Golf by Jérémy), this intention changes the entire swing. After defining the two approaches, he compares, phase by phase, the swing of the “hitter” and that of the “pitcher,” and explains where to start to transition from one to the other.

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Jeremy Goergen
Jeremy Goergen · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

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What the lesson shows

The batter He is focused on the ball. At address, he lowers his head toward it, bends his knees deeply, spreads his arms wide, and tenses up. As he swings through, he raises his arms upward, rotates, and transfers weight minimally; his chin blocks his shoulder, so he straightens up. On the return, he lowers his arms and body to meet the ball: if he goes too low, he scrapes the ground; if not low enough, he taps the ball. Once the ball is hit, he has no reason to follow through: his arms quickly tuck in to his left, behind him, resulting in shots that veer left and repeated impacts on his wrists, elbows, and shoulders.

The pitcher is facing the target. He stands up straight to look at it, with his head above his shoulders and his arms hanging loosely at his sides. His momentum carries him backward and wraps around the body: the word “lift” should be avoided. On the downswing, the body moves toward the target and the arms follow, using the weight of the clubhead. The motion cannot stop at impact: extend toward the target and finish facing the target, balanced on the front leg. For a change, Jérémy recommends working on the beginning and the end: the setup, followed by the urge to finish toward the target.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Film yourself and compare your swing to the two profiles described.
  2. At address, stand up straight enough to see the target, with your head above your shoulders.
  3. Move closer to the ball so that your arms hang straight down from your shoulders, without any tension.
  4. Remember to take your backswing rather than raising the club.
  5. On the return stroke, let your body move toward the target and let your arms follow.
  6. Follow through with the clubhead toward the target and finish facing the target, on your front leg.

Key Takeaways

Intention—whether it's the ball or the target—determines the entire swing.
The batter leans over the ball, with his arms extended away from his body and tense.
The thrower stands up straight to look at the target, with arms relaxed and held level with the shoulders.
The momentum is directed backward and wraps around the body; it does not “rise.”.
The batter stops after impact; the pitcher follows through toward the target.
First, we'll change the layout and the finish.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Lower your head toward the ball and spread your arms apart at address.
  • Raise your arms straight up in the backswing, without turning.
  • Straighten up as you go up, then lean back toward the ball as you come down.
  • Stop the movement immediately after impact.
  • Keep your arms to your left behind you instead of extending them toward the target.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Film yourself from the front and in profile to identify your style
  2. Setup: Look at the target before taking your position
  3. Swing made with the sole intention of ending up facing the target
  4. Compare contacts before and after

Your Questions

How do I know if I'm a batter or a pitcher?

Look at your stance and finish. A player who leans over the ball, with arms outstretched and tense, and stops his swing immediately after impact, is typically in batting mode.

The club goes all the way up during the backswing, so why not just say “up”?

For Jérémy, the momentum comes from behind; since the arms can’t extend infinitely, the club wraps around the body and gives the impression of rising. Thinking “rise” prompts you to raise your arms.

Where should I start if I want to become a pitcher?

From start to finish: a higher, more relaxed stance, followed by the desire to complete the movement toward the target. What happens in between depends largely on this.

Does the "hitter" mode pose a physical risk?

According to the video, repeated impacts with the ground can cause vibrations that travel up to the wrists, elbows, and shoulders, especially on a hard surface and with a steel handle.

Learn More

All “Target Intention” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Swing and Swing Plane” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Alignment Rod and Swing Plane: The Complete ExerciseAn alignment rod extending from the club shaft, pointing toward a line of clubs on the ground at the halfway point of the backswing and downswing: a reference point for the plane, the path, and the wrists. Clubface at the Start of the Backswing: Keep It Looking at the BallAt the start of the backswing, the clubface should still be looking at the ball when your hands pass your back thigh; otherwise the swing gets too flat. 3 Downswing Exercises: Weight Transfer, Sequence, PlaneThree exercises without overcorrection: heel tap (recovering balance), two sticks (hip-to-torso sequence), left hand on right elbow (over the top). Jeremy GoergenAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Jérémy Goergen). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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