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Five Lessons You Can Learn From Ernie Els' Swing

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

One name that's firmly in contention at the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is the legendary Ernie Els.
Rightly named the 'Big Easy' due to his buttery swing, Els has left an indelible mark on the golf world throughout his Hall of Fame career. His journey is a testament to his skill and dedication, with an impressive record of 75 worldwide professional wins and four major championships.
Els' golf swing is a fascinating study, unique in its smoothness and grace. It has captivated players and fans alike, offering a wealth of lessons for aspiring golfers. Here's what we can learn:
Tempo
Ernie's golf swing is a testament to the power of rhythm and grace over brute force. It's a valuable lesson for golfers, showing that by prioritizing fluidity and tempo, they can gain better control and consistency in their game.
Attention to set up fundamentals
Additionally, Els' swing demonstrates the importance of a balanced and stable setup. His posture and alignment are consistently solid, providing a strong foundation for his swing. This underscores the significance of proper setup and alignment in executing a successful shot. By emulating Els' attention to these fundamental aspects, golfers can enhance their own performance on the course.
The importance of "staying relaxed"
Els' golf swing exemplifies the value of a relaxed and tension-free approach. His smooth and unhurried swing is a testament to the benefits of staying loose and free of unnecessary tension. This serves as a reminder to golfers to avoid gripping the club too tightly or introducing unnecessary tension into their swing. By maintaining a relaxed and fluid motion, golfers can achieve greater consistency and rhythm in their swings.
A wide swing arc
Ernie's swing also includes a wide and consistent arc, which is important to his easy tempo and distance. His swing features a full and unrestricted motion, maximizing the potential for clubhead speed and distance. By maintaining a wide arc throughout the swing, Els generates significant power and achieves a fluid, connected motion. Golfers can benefit from this lesson by concentrating on developing a wide and consistent swing arc, ultimately leading to improved ball striking and distance.
Proper swing sequencing on the downswing, to the finish
Another notable aspect of Ernie Els' golf swing is his exceptional timing and release. He has a remarkable ability to synchronize his upper and lower body movements, resulting in a seamless transfer of energy through impact. This synchronization allows him to generate significant power without sacrificing accuracy. Golfers can learn from this by focusing on the coordination of their body movements and the timing of their release, ultimately leading to more powerful and controlled shots.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

After 16 remarkable years of nurturing young talent and fostering a love for golf through The Little Linksters Golf Academy, Brendon Elliott is excited to announce the transition of leadership to esteemed Coach Ricky Collado in 2025. As the baton is passed, Coach Ricky will take charge of all operations and become the primary point of contact for any Linksters-related inquiries. As Brendon steps into a new chapter, the focus will shift to launching and growing BE A GOLFER, a new academy dedicated to competitive teenage golfers. This initiative will continue both in-person and remote coaching, harnessing years of expertise to nurture the next generation of golfing talent. Further expanding horizons, Brendon will also dedicate time to One More Roll Golf Media. This venture aims to collaborate with various golf media outlets and businesses, delivering high-quality written, video, and voice content. Despite these new ventures, Brendon will remain closely connected with Little Linksters. A commitment to collaboration with Coach Ricky will continue, particularly with projects like the PGA Junior League, ensuring a lasting impact and smooth transition. “I am thrilled about the future of Little Linksters under Coach Ricky Collado’s leadership. This transition marks a change and an exciting new direction for me and the academy. I look forward to contributing my efforts towards developing competitive young golfers and advancing in the golf media landscape.” ~ Brendon R. Elliott, PGA More About Coach Brendon... Brendon Elliott is a distinguished PGA Professional who has received over 25 prestigious industry awards recognizing his contributions and influence in youth golf, most notably, the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. With numerous appearances on the Golf Channel and local news outlets in Florida, Brendon has established himself as a respected educator and influencer in the golf industry. Renowned for his expertise in all aspects of golf, he is a sought-after speaker at golfing events and panels. In the past three years, Brendon has expanded into media, writing for esteemed outlets such as PGA.com, PGA Magazine, Golf.com, GolfWRX.com, RG.org, and many others. Elliott is also part of the “Quiet Please Golf Podcast” crew and hosts a livestream show on the Golf Live App called “Monday Evening Tee Time.” Brendon’s dedication to advancing the sport has made a significant impact on the golf community.

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