As a teaching professional, I’ve had the privilege of working with golfers at every level, from weekend enthusiasts to touring pros. One thing I’ve learned is that there’s always something new to discover, even from the game’s best. Today, let’s dive into the swing of one of the PGA Tour’s most exciting young talents: Cameron Young. At 28 years old, Young has rapidly established himself as a premier player, recently culminating in a dramatic victory at the Players Championship. His journey from a standout amateur to a Ryder Cup hero, including a 3-1-0 record and a decisive singles win over Justin Rose at Bethpage Black, shows his immense talent.
Cameron’s swing is often described as “explosive,” and for good reason! He possesses a remarkable ability to generate power while maintaining control. While you might not be built like the “exceptionally strong and athletic” Young, as the article mentions, we can certainly learn from his fundamental movements and adapt them to our own game. I believe anyone can improve with proper instruction and dedication.
Let’s break down a few key positions in Cam’s swing and see how they can help you unlock more consistency and power.
1. The Athletic Setup
Many golfers mistakenly believe that a more upright posture is always better. While it can be for some, Cameron Young demonstrates that a slightly more bent-over posture can lead to a very “tight” and powerful swing. The source article notes:
“At just under 6 feet and exceptionally strong and athletic, Young bends forward and reaches for the ball more than most shorter players, who utilize a more upright posture to give them freedom to turn back and through. It helps Cam keep his swing as tight as a drum.”
What does this mean for you? If you find your swing feeling “flappy” or disconnected, exploring a slightly deeper bend from the hips might help. You want to feel athletic, like you’re ready to jump. Your arms should hang freely from your shoulders, with a comfortable reach to the ball, but without straining or collapsing your posture.
Try this drill: Stand without a club, bend from your hips until you feel a slight stretch in your hamstrings, and let your arms hang. Now, pretend you’re holding a club and gently make a practice swing. Does it feel more compact and controlled? This “athletic ready” position is crucial for building a powerful turn.
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Mark Newcombe/visionsingolf.com
2. The Controlled Takeaway
One common mistake I see is golfers instantly rolling the clubface open on the takeaway, trying to “set” their wrists too early. Cameron Young does the opposite, opting for what the article describes as “an up-and-out clubhead with little clubface rotation.” This keeps the club and his body connected and makes his swing incredibly stable.
“Cam’s takeaway features an up-and-out clubhead with little clubface rotation. Players who do this will generally rotate their left arm and clubface late in the backswing. A very anti-left move. Hook it too much? Try this!”
If you’re someone who battles a hook, this takeaway principle can be a game-changer. By delaying that clubface rotation, you keep the club on a better plane and avoid bringing your hands too far inside too quickly. This “anti-left” approach can help you square the clubface more consistently, leading to straighter shots.
Here’s a drill for you: Place an alignment stick or even another club on the ground just outside your target line, parallel to it, about one clubhead width away from your ball. As you start your takeaway, focus on keeping the clubhead outside that line for the initial part of your backswing. This encourages the “up-and-out” motion and minimizes early clubface rotation. Check your clubface at hip height – it should ideally be parallel to your spine angle, or slightly closed, not wide open to the sky.
3. Power from the Top: Compact and Deep
Cameron’s position at the top might look compact, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s lacking power. The article highlights that despite minimal wrist cock and maintained right knee flex, “he turns tremendously and swings his left arm deep into and up his chest.” This combination creates a coil of immense power at the top, ready to unleash on the downswing.
Many amateur golfers try to achieve more distance by over-swinging or lifting their arms excessively. Cam’s example shows us that a powerful turn of the body, allowing the left arm to swing “deep into and up his chest,” is far more effective than just lifting the club higher. And that maintained right knee flex? It’s crucial for supporting that powerful turn and ensuring you don’t sway off the ball.
Try this: Focus on your body turn during your backswing. Instead of thinking about how high your hands go, imagine your lead shoulder rotating underneath your chin. While doing this, try to feel like you’re resisting with your right leg, maintaining that knee flex. This gives you a stable, powerful base to turn around. Video yourself from behind to see how deep your left arm swings across your chest – you might be surprised how much more turn you can get!
Unleashing the Downswing
Once you’ve built that powerful coil, it’s time to unleash it. Young’s downswing is characterized by a rapid chest unwind, leveraging his strong legs and body. The article mentions: “His hips are already open, with his chest close behind.” This sequence, lower body leading the upper body, is a hallmark of truly powerful and efficient ball striking.
“Young quickly unwinds his chest, leveraging his strong legs, upper body and arms to pull the club down forcefully into the classic “through the forearm” position.”
This “through the forearm” position is what we often refer to as maintaining lag – the angle between your lead arm and the club shaft – for as long as possible. It’s not something you actively create with your hands, but rather a natural result of your body unwinding efficiently from the ground up.
Cameron Young’s success, including his six-shot victory at the Wyndham Championship where he tied the tournament record at 22 under par, and his impressive 18 cuts made in 25 starts in his breakout year, is a testament to the effectiveness of these core swing principles. His significant improvement in putting also shows that even the best are always refining their game.
By focusing on an athletic setup, a controlled takeaway, and a powerful body turn, you can start to incorporate elements of Cameron Young’s explosive swing into your own game. Remember, golf is a journey of improvement. Keep practicing, stay encouraging to yourself, and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve!
