For decades, the conventional golf swing has emphasized minimal movement. It’s basically neutral footing in a straight line, and a centered base promoting repeatability.

It actually prioritizes stability over motion, with many coaches discouraging lateral shifts and footwork. But not Rocco Mediate. 

The five-time PGA Tour champion built his career doing almost the opposite. Visually, it breaks nearly every traditional checkpoint. But it proved effective enough to keep him competitive across multiple decades despite chronic back issues.

So, how does it work? Mediate provided a tutorial with the PGA Tour on X. 

“We call it dynamic motion,” Mediate said. “I move everything. I push it [club and hands] left, I move everything behind, and then I move everything up to it. In any athletic motion, if you’re right-handed, you go back here [motions to the right], and you go that way [away towards the left]. You never do this [twist one’s body to the back] when you throw something.” 

There’s a push to the left, then a push to the top, and a push to the base of the ball, sending the ball up and away. The finish is one smooth flick with “no spine interference whatsoever.”

“So, I always move side to side. I move my right foot off the line. Why do you do that, Rocco? Well, it presets right hip, opens up the ribcage. I can turn bigger. Done it for 40 years. It’s physics. The more open you get, the less you can turn.” 

“I just stick with this unique, different thing,” he remarked. 

How Did Rocco Mediate Develop the Swing?

It all began with a moment of realization during his early PGA Tour career in 1986. Mediate qualified for the tour in 1985 and got the card the next year. And when he went into practice, he saw legends like Lanny Wadkins, Tom Watson, and Lee Trevino acing their swings. 

Recalling his stint at the 1986 AT&T championship, Rocco Mediate said, “I walked up and down the range for about an hour. And every time I stopped, I’d watch Lanny [Wadkins] hit balls, and I’d go, ‘Can’t do that!’ I’d watch Tom hit balls, ‘Certainly can’t do that!’ ‘What the heck am I doing here?’” 

“So, I went inside and called Rick Smith. I said, ‘I’m doing fine, but I have no chance to survive. I have to change everything. I need a shot.’ So, I wanna draw the ball… I was kinda swing exaggeration-wise, stayed on my left, club got laid off, shot, and hit little crappy cuts.” 

“There was game, obviously, but my game wouldn’t last at all. So, that’s when we started.”

Rocco Mediate’s swing proves that longevity and effectiveness do not require conformity.

Built on physics and self-awareness, his motion endured where textbook mechanics often fail. And his back? Still fine despite being over 63 years old. 

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu