(And what it can teach the rest of us about power, precision, and playing to your strengths)
Let’s be honest—most of us were taught that more backswing equals more distance. Pull it back to parallel. Load up like you’re about to launch a javelin. That’s how you bomb it, right?
And then Jon Rahm shows up, casually hitting 320-yard nukes with a swing that looks like someone hit pause halfway through.
It doesn’t make sense—until it does.
“I Didn’t Take a Full Swing Because My Ankle Couldn’t Take It.”
Jon Rahm was born with a club foot. Within 20 minutes of being born, doctors had to break and cast his right ankle. That ankle never fully developed the stability or mobility needed for a full, traditional backswing. So he didn’t force one.
Instead, he built his swing around his body—not the other way around.
“I learned at a very young age that I’m going to be more efficient at creating power and be consistent from a short swing,” Rahm said. “If I take it to parallel, it might create more speed, but I have no stability. My ankle just can’t take it.”
That limitation? It became his advantage.
The Kinematic Chain: Rahm’s Real Superpower
Here’s where it gets nerdy—but in a good way.
Rahm’s short swing isn’t just about protecting his ankle. It’s about efficiency. His power comes from something called the kinematic sequence—a perfectly timed chain reaction where the hips fire first, then the torso, then the arms, then the hands.
He’s so fast and efficient that he’s practically at impact before some of us finish our takeaway.
Golf instructor John Novosel Jr. summed it up best: “Jon Rahm is back to impact before most golfers complete their backswings.”
So while the swing looks short, the real story is how fast everything happens. It’s like watching a firecracker go off in slow motion.
How Rahm Uses the Ground (So You Don’t Have To Swing Out of Your Shoes)
Rahm doesn’t just swing his arms—he launches off the ground.
In slow-mo footage from the 2021 U.S. Open, you can see him shift pressure onto his front side before his arms even start coming down. It’s like his lower body is two steps ahead of the rest of his swing.
His training? Lots of explosive jump work. Picture half-squat jumps and med-ball slams. That power from the ground gets translated directly into the ball. And because his swing is so stable and compact, it doesn’t leak energy like a wobbly hose.
A Short Swing That’s Still Lightning Fast
Rahm’s backswing may be abbreviated, but it’s quick—like, “slingshot being pulled back” quick.
And that’s key.
Biomechanically speaking, the speed of the backswing can create a “counter-movement effect,” similar to coiling a spring or squatting before jumping. The faster that backswing loads, the more energy gets transferred into the downswing.
More load. More snap. More distance. Less drama.
That Little Foot Tap? It’s Not Just a Quirk
Watch closely before Rahm starts his swing. You’ll see a tiny tap of his lead foot—a rhythm move that sets the chain reaction in motion.
It’s his way of staying balanced and ensuring his weight transfers properly to his trail side. Without it, he risks getting stuck or overloading too soon.
It’s small. But it matters. Like, “315-yard drive” kind of matters.
The Wrist Secret (And Why It Works for Rahm)
Most of us try to square the clubface with brute force. Rahm? He does it with wrist angles and timing that are, frankly, wild.
He arches his lead wrist more than most, creating a flat, strong position at the top that helps him deliver the clubface squarely—even with that compact motion. That wrist action, paired with his body rotation and side bend, generates some serious torque.
Also worth noting: Rahm uses a weak left hand grip, which is unusual for power players. But again, it works for him.
What Do You Bench, Bro? Doesn’t Matter.
Rahm’s speed doesn’t come from gym-bro biceps or monster deadlifts. It comes from mobility, sequencing, and specific training that focuses on moving well, moving weight, and moving fast.
In one documented training session, Rahm hit a ridiculous 144 mph with a weighted club. That’s not just tour-level fast—it’s freakish.
His workouts, designed with coach Spencer Tatum, are tailored to his unique swing and body structure. And clearly, they’re working.
“Swing Your Swing”: Rahm’s (Surprisingly Grounded) Philosophy
If you take nothing else from Rahm’s swing, take this:
“Just swing your swing,” he says. “Do what you can do. That’s the best thing.”
This isn’t just motivational poster fluff. It’s a reminder that trying to mimic someone else’s full turn or perfect plane might not work for you. Your swing should reflect your body, your limits, and your strengths.
Because when you build a swing around what your body can actually do… turns out, it can go pretty far.