Did you ever know that Mike Austin was a famous American golfer? Did you know about the Mike Austin Golf swing. If you don’t know how to swing a golf club well and want to master it, you will be in for an amazing surprise. You will be rethinking most of the things you’ve been taught about golf swing. This is a great eye opener.
Mike Austin holds the Guinness Book of World Records record for the longest driving distance in an official golf tournament. Guinness was able to verify the drive by multiple witnesses. It’s not just a fairy tale. He hit the shot at the U.S. Senior Open in 1974, which is now the US Seniors Championship. This event was a significant one on the Champions Tour. Mike, 64, was an older player. The drive traveled 515 meters! It was taken at the Wintergreen Golf Course, now the fifth hole. The course has been renamed the Desert Rose. It is a par 4 at 450 yards. Mike was hitting drives of 400+ yards all day. Chandler Harper, one of Mike’s playing partners (winner in the 1950 PGA Championship), said something similar to Mike when he stepped up to the 14th tee. “Mike, let’s see you really let one go”. Mike unleashed an epic drive that reached the front of the green at the 450-yard hole.
It was found on the next box after they had run 65 yards to the green. This is a total of 515 yards. The wind was blowing down, at approximately 27 to 35 mph, according the meteorologists. Las Vegas also has some elevation (approx 2,000 feet). You can’t deny it! This is crazy! Also consider the fact that he was using a persimmon headed (wood) driver with 10 degree loft and 43 ½ inch extra stiff steel shaft, and a 100 compression balata golf ball. They are far less efficient than the lighter and more advanced graphite shafts with high-tech driver heads and longer flying balls. The bottom line is his shot was a spectacular one. According to experts, a swing speed of between 160 and 155 mph can be achieved with the right trajectory and impact. Mike says he was able to measure such speed swinging during the 1930’s using strobe light photography which is capable of measuring speeds accurately. His swing speed was 133 mph at 75, which is faster than any other tour players, Bubba Watson or John Daly. Hmmm. Hmmmm. Mike, at 75 years of age was swinging for all current PGA Tour members! Mike Austin is another stat. Mike Austin was 78 when he participated in 12 long drives as a member the 350 club, a group that consists of long-driving drivers. His average speed was 307 yards/drive at this age. And, perhaps even more remarkable, he NEVER missed THE GRID! He is precise AND long.
The story begins in a certain way with the record drive. Mike Austin wasn’t just a strong man with an ability to hit a golf ball. He was also a great golfer. His background was in science, and he studied kinesiology, the study of human movement. All of his knowledge was applied to the study of golf swings, in which he learned how each part of the body works to create the best possible swing. Because you use the joints the way they were intended, this swing won’t be too hard on your spine or joints. Even more confusing is that Mike’s instruction is completely contrary to the current teachings of most professional golfers (a.k.a. Modern swing
Two things convinced me to look into his swing technique. You will be able to see his graceful, balanced swing when you view it (Mike Austin’s golf swing – Young Mike Austin). You won’t find the long-driving swing here. A second reason is that it was clear to me (at least for now) that he had a different understanding of the swing than other golf instructors.
If you want to be able to strike the ball straight and long, then learn as much about Mike Austin’s golf swing. While there are pros that teach his system, many disagree on how to do it. Everyone tries to create something new. Mike was right. Look into Mike Austin’s golf swing. All the best with your golfing.