Scottie Scheffler’s Funky Footwork: A Defiant Response to Nick Faldo’s Critique

Scottie Scheffler’s Funky Footwork: A Defiant Response to Nick Faldo’s Critique

Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, isn’t keen on trying out Scottie Scheffler’s unconventional footwork. “I don’t think I would be a very efficient golfer if I did that,” he remarked. “I don’t think I’d be a pro whatsoever. Could I hit it? Possibly, but it wouldn’t be pretty.” Rahm’s reluctance highlights the peculiarity of Scheffler’s style, often dubbed the “Scheffler slide.”

 

Despite its odd appearance, Scheffler’s unique footwork has yielded remarkable results. He holds the title of world No. 1, has clinched his second Masters title this year, and has dominated nearly every tournament he’s participated in. Yet, his technique continues to spark curiosity and skepticism.

 

Questions abound: What if his right foot didn’t kick back? What if his left foot didn’t twist? What if his swing appeared more conventional? Critics, including six-time major winner and former TV analyst Nick Faldo, have questioned the sustainability of Scheffler’s swing.

 

At a pre-Open Championship press conference at Royal Troon, Scheffler addressed Faldo’s past criticism. “He was one of the guys that was, I think, pretty critical of it,” Scheffler noted. A few years ago, Faldo approached him on the range at the Masters, inquiring about his unorthodox footwork.

 

Scheffler’s response was straightforward: “I don’t really know. Let me hit one normal and see how it goes.” He demonstrated a swing with traditional footwork, but it felt unnatural. “It just feels like I’m locked into the ground. I don’t really feel like I can hit my shots,” he explained. Reverting to his usual style, he concluded, “I just kept moving my feet like I normally do.”

 

A reporter asked whether allowing Scheffler to maintain his unique swing was a sign of a good coach. Scheffler agreed and elaborated on his relationship with his longtime coach, Randy Smith, a GOLF Top 100 Lifetime Achievement Teacher. “Randy, he’s taught me since I was 7. We have definitely made changes to my swing, but that was something that he never changed. He always said that was just the DNA of my swing, and he didn’t want to change what I did to try to work the ball.”

 

Scheffler fondly recalled his early days of learning to play golf. “When I was a kid, I used to play in the house with a ping-pong ball. A ping-pong ball is super spinny. I would learn to curve it from room to room and spin it a lot. That was what was fun for me about the game.”

 

He emphasized his desire to retain the creativity and joy in his game. “As time went on, I didn’t want to turn into a robot. I wanted to do what I thought was fun, and that was seeing and creating and trying to hit shots. I get bored sitting on the driving range trying to hit every shot straight. Sitting there learning how to curve it, learning how to hit shots, that’s more fun for me than it is just sitting there and working on club position.”

 

In essence, Scottie Scheffler’s footwork may be unconventional, but it’s an integral part of his success and the joy he finds in the game.