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One Simple, Yet Powerful, Tip From Jack Nicklaus We Should All Follow

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

With Jack Nicklaus's Memorial being held this week at his famed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, I’ve been reflecting on some of the best tips and secrets I’ve heard over the years from one of the best of all time. Like many 40-plus year old golfers, books like Jack's Golf My Way were required reading for me. To this day, I still turn to some of the countless tips and concepts I learned from Jack.
Steady Head
One of Jack's most simple yet powerful tips is the idea of the head staying steady both at address, as we move back to the top and especially down and through impact.
Jack say's...
"Every golfer should understand that golf is a game of balance, rhythm and timing. You have to swing the club. To do that, your body must be in position, beginning with your head, which needs to start behind the ball and stay there all the way through impact."
To add to Jack's thoughts, I feel it's important for me to dispel a common golf myth…
"Keep your Head Down" is NOT the same thing as "Keep your Head Steady." The head may in fact rotate some as you go back. This slight rotation of the head will help you rotate your torso properly, and get yourself loaded, and into a powerful position at the top. Nicklaus famously imparted a slight turning or rotating of his head as he turned back. This allowed him to clear his shoulders and make a solid turn back as he moved up to the top.
Nicklaus once said…
"I played with Sam Snead when I was 16 and watched that little cocking of his head. I thought...if it's good enough for Sam, it's good enough for me."
One of the most important moments in the swing, where keeping that head steady and back really matters, is at impact. Doing so will allow you to fully release the club after impact, which is a sign of fluid, continuous motion from beginning to end.
Many amateurs move laterally, or sway, as they go back. Some do so as they are coming down from the top. And some do so in both instances. An unsteady head is without question a contributing factor to this.
To this day, and many years after his prime, the Golden Bear remains one of the best examples of what proper execution of even the simplest of fundamentals can do for your game.
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.

Meet Brendon

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