Lydia Ko's Swings Over the Years: Proves Simple Can Be Superior
February 2, 2025: Lydia Ko of New Zealand on the 1st tee during final round of Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, FL. Romeo T Guzman/CSM Orlando USA - ZUMAcg2_ 20250202_faf_cg2_022 Copyright: xRomeoxGuzmanx
February 2, 2025: Lydia Ko of New Zealand on the 1st tee during final round of Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions held at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, FL. Romeo T Guzman/CSM Orlando USA - ZUMAcg2_ 20250202_faf_cg2_022 Copyright: xRomeoxGuzmanx
Lydia Ko's journey back to the top wasn't about adding complexity. It was about taking it away. The three-time major champion rediscovered her form by simplifying her swing, a crucial change that ended a frustrating win drought and proved that less is more.
Breaking down her swing
Coached by the likes of David Leadbetter and Sean Foley, Lydia Ko's swing was a big part of why she became one of the youngest winners on the LPGA Tour.
It all began in 2020. While her game was heading in the right direction, alignment was a major issue. That was one thing she worked with Foley on.
April 24, 2025, The Woodlands, Texas, USA: LYDIA KO NZL tees off on the 2nd hole during the first round of the 2025 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The Woodlands USA - ZUMAp213 20250424_znp_p213_099 Copyright: xLynnxPenningtonx
April 24, 2025, The Woodlands, Texas, USA: LYDIA KO NZL tees off on the 2nd hole during the first round of the 2025 Chevron Championship at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The Woodlands USA - ZUMAp213 20250424_znp_p213_099 Copyright: xLynnxPenningtonx
Her development focused on removing excess movement, maintaining tempo, and creating a clear sequence in her swing.
As Ko explained, "I have a tendency to aim a little right, so I’m making sure that my alignment is good. We noticed that when my alignment is off, I make compensations in my swing.”
Ko and Foley worked on the backswing as well, not going too technical. "[We’ve worked on] putting me in a position at the top of my backswing where I feel like I can hit the shape that I want to hit it, putting it in a strong position. That makes it super simple without getting super technical and position-related."
This simpler approach gave her better ball control during tournaments.
However, It's Not Just About the Technique For Lydia Ko
Foley and Ko worked not just on the physical aspects of the swing, but mental blocks that the pro golfer faced.
"I think sometimes I have a tendency to overthink things. It’s just one swing thought or one feeling that really helps me. Day by day, or week. By week it could be different."
Instead of the technique, Ko tries to go by how she feels when it comes to her swing.
"Sometimes I’ll have a shot or a hole where I don’t feel comfortable, but I need to focus more on my feel."
Up until 2017, Ko had 14 wins on the LPGA Tour, including two major championships. Interestingly, around this time, she fiddled with her swing, but that was followed by a win drought that lasted all the way till 2021, when she won the Lotte Championship.
That's around the time she worked with Foley for her swing, going on to win 7 LPGA Tour events, including one major.
Written by
Aditi Singh
Edited by
Siddharth Shirwadkar