15 Golfers With Swings That Defied Physics

Golf is supposed to be a game of mechanics, precision, and repetition. But some players seem to have bypassed the golf textbook entirely and still managed to launch towering drives, hit buttery irons, or roll putts like magicians.

From homemade swings to unexplainable body motion, these 15 golfers made you pause and ask, How is that even physically possible? Whether they rewrote the rulebook or tossed it in the trash, their swings made them unforgettable.

15. Tommy Gainey

Aug 3, 2023; Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; Tommy Gainey watches his shot from the 9th fairway during the first round of the Wyndham Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-Imagn Images
David Yeazell-Imagn Images

With a grip that looks like he’s about to wring out a wet towel, Gainey’s swing was anything but textbook. But “Two Gloves” could generate surprising power with that quirky motion.

14. Bubba Watson

Apr 8, 2012; Augusta, GA, USA; Bubba Watson hits his tee shot on the 18th tee box in the first hole of the playoff during the final round of the 2012 The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Michael Madrid-USA TODAY

Bubba never took a lesson, and it shows—in the best possible way. His whippy, lefty swing somehow carved fades, hooks, and shots most players only attempt in video games.

13. Matthew Wolff

Sep 13, 2024; Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA; Matthew Wolff of the RangeGoats GC watches his shot on the fifth hole of the first round of the LIV Golf Chicago tournament at Bolingbrook Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images
Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

That pre-swing leg kick looked like he was warming up for a dance routine. Then he’d unleash a violent move at the ball that somehow produced towering drives and low scores.

12. Jim Furyk

Dec 17, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Jim Furyk chips onto the 18th green during the first round of the PNC Championship golf tournament at Ritz Carlton Golf Club Grande Lakes Orlando Course. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

There’s not a swing coach alive who’d intentionally teach Furyk’s loopy backswing. But the man made it work for decades, racking up wins and millions with that homemade motion.

11. Eamonn Darcy

Eamonn Darcy
eamonndarcy.com

Darcy’s follow-through looked like he was falling backward off a balance beam. Still, the Irishman found a way to hit fairways and post competitive numbers with that funky flow.

10. John Daly

John Daly tees off on 13 during the pro-am of the Galleri Classic at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Daly took the idea of a full turn and dialed it up to 11. That massive backswing looked unsustainable—but somehow, it created effortless bombs with shocking consistency.

9. Lee Trevino

Dec 21, 2024; Orlando, Florida, [USA]; Lee Trevino tees off during the PNC Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Trevino’s open stance and sawed-off finish would make most instructors twitch. But his hand-eye coordination and natural feel turned it into a repeatable groove under pressure.

8. Arnold Palmer

4/10/1992; Augusta, Georgia USA; Arnold Palmer wits to play during round 2 at Augusta National Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Walt Unks -The Augusta Chronicle via USA TODAY NETWORK
The Augusta Chronicle-USA TODAY NETWORK

Arnie’s helicopter follow-through was pure charisma and chaos. It was wild, it was fearless, and it produced some of the most iconic moments in golf history.

7. Charles Barkley

Nov 23, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Charles Barkley before The Match: Tiger vs Phil golf match at Shadow Creek Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

If you’ve ever seen Chuck swing, you know why he’s on this list. It looked like a video buffering mid-motion, but he still somehow moved the ball forward (eventually).

6. Calvin Peete

Sept. 10, 1987; Nashville, TN, USA; Golfing pro Calvin Peete keeps an eye on his drive during the Ted Rhodes Championship Tournament at Harpeth Hills. Peete shot a two-under par 70, five strokes behind leader Jeff Cook of Indianapolis, IN; Mandatory credit: Rick Musacchio-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Peete’s left arm was permanently bent, but his swing was repeatable and ruthlessly accurate. He led the PGA Tour in driving accuracy for years with a move no one else could mimic.

5. Moe Norman

Moe Norman
Facebook | Moe Norman / Graves Golf Academy

Moe’s swing was robotic and stiff, but it delivered machine-like precision. His bizarre setup and motion baffled pros but produced laser-straight shots over and over.

4. Allen Doyle

Allen Doyle
Wikipedia | Pulsar009

Doyle didn’t pick up golf seriously until later in life, and his swing reflected that late start. It was stiff, awkward, and completely effective—especially on the senior tour.

3. Raymond Floyd

Apr 6, 2022; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Raymond Floyd hits out of a bunker on no. 4 during the Par 3 Contest at The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
Michael Madrid-Imagn Images

Floyd’s inside takeaway and abrupt transition defied everything traditional. Yet he struck the ball with such authority and control that nobody dared question it.

Read More: 15 Golfers Everyone Wanted on Their Ryder Cup Team

2. Miller Barber

Miller Barber
eBay | Liquidation Lightning

Nicknamed “Mr. X,” Barber had one of the most unorthodox swings in history. It looked like a three-part mini-series, but it got him 11 PGA Tour wins and tons of respect.

Read More: 13 Golfers Who Never Recovered From a Slump

1. Ho Sung Choi

February 8, 2019; Pebble Beach, CA, USA; Ho-sung Choi hits his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The finish alone made him a viral sensation—part golf swing, part martial arts. Ho Sung’s full-body theatrics made no biomechanical sense, yet he found ways to compete professionally and entertain the world.

Read More: 12 Golfers Who Rubbed People the Wrong Way

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