In the world of golf, power isn't always determined by size. You don't need to be as big as Bryson DeChambeau to exert tremendous power on the golf course. 20-year-old amateur Luke Clanton is a prime example - he weighs only 160 pounds, but can easily hit the ball 320 yards, which is amazing.
Once again, Galileo sports has decided to wear its trench coat and detective hat to unravel this mystery. In this blog, we will expose the truth behind Luke Clanton’ amazing golf skills, unearthing how to realize his Perfect golf technique . We will also offer a tip on achieving a hyper-realistic golf skills like him!
First, let’s learn a bit about this influential figure.
Clanton is a student at Florida State University. As the world's top amateur golfer, he showed his strength in several tour events in the summer of 2024.
In July 2022, in the first round of the U.S. Junior Championship Match Play, Li Zhengqian faced Luke Clanton and lost 4 of the first 5 holes. Luke Clanton made consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes to end the battle and won a big victory with 7 holes and 5 holes remaining. On May 29, 2024, in the NCAA Championship held in La Costa, Luke Clanton of Florida State University shot 71 and tied for second place. On July 5, at the John Deere Classic, amateur Luke Clanton tied for fourth place. On July 8, at the John Deere Classic, Luke Clanton ranked second. On August 15, 2024, in the second round of the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play, Luke Clanton finished fifth at the PGA Tour Wyndham Championship and ranked first in the amateur world rankings this week. He won 4 holes and 3 holes against Dylan McDermott to pass the first round.
Not only did he tie for 41st in the U.S. Open, he also achieved consecutive top 10 results at Rocket Mortgage and John Deere Classic. In the John Deere competition, he shot an amazing score of 63 in both the first and last rounds, showing his extraordinary potential.
What amazed people even more was his driving distance. A 160-pound body usually doesn't make people think of long driving distance, but Clanton's driving average reached 320 yards, which is a result that only top tour players can achieve. This made many people start to wonder, how can a small man emit such powerful power?
Clanton's coach Jeff Leishman breaks down where Clanton's power comes from. He points out that Clanton maximizes his power output through three key techniques that are valuable for any golfer looking to increase distance off the tee.
Leishman emphasizes that the width of your stance is critical to power transfer. Traditionally, golfers are taught to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart, but many pros today stand much wider than shoulder-width. By widening his stance, Clanton is able to transfer more power through the ground to the club, increasing the power of his shots. Regular golfers can also increase power by slightly widening their stance, which allows them to more effectively use the ground's reaction force.
Clanton's power also comes from his amazing rotation. Leishman explains that during the backswing, Clanton accumulates more energy by rotating his hips and chest more. His hips are closed 48 degrees at the top and open 56 degrees at impact, while his chest is closed 110 degrees at the top and open 50 degrees at impact. This rapid rotation allows his body to complete a large rotation in less than 0.2 seconds, generating huge ball speed.
Leishman pointed out that Clanton made full use of the reaction force of the ground to increase his impact power. On the downward swing, Clanton used his left leg to press the ground, causing his left hip to open up and drive the power of the whole body to focus on the moment of impact. Leishman suggested that golfers who want to improve their strength can practice this power transfer by imitating the way they press on the bathroom scale while standing. The key is to gradually transfer weight from the right foot to the left foot and use the reaction force of the ground to drive the rotation of the hips and body.
Clanton's success broke the traditional concept of golf power. Small players like Justin Thomas and Min Woo Lee have proven that size can be overcome by using technique and physical efficiency. Through precise movements and scientific training, any player can improve their driving distance, regardless of their size.
For amateur players, Clanton's story is a revelation. With the right technique, you don't need to be huge or strong to hit the same long tee shots as the pros.
With a focus on stance, rotation and ground reaction, any player can push the limits of their power. Clanton's performance proved to the world that small people can also exert great power on the course: it was not only a victory of skill, but also a reinterpretation of the core concept of golf.
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