Second Look at the Unique Venetos Golf Swing
If you visit the Venetos Academy YouTube channel and check out the comments you’ll see a number of golfers have tried and are pleased with the Venetos swing. Among the fans of the JV swing are a golfing buddy who has subscribed to his online insstruction program and found worthwhile Jim’s swing tips. He is currently using Jim’s methods to protect an injured knee that would be harmed by a conventional golf swing.
Tony Roberts of the Lion Golf Academy has done a Venetos swing video review: Jim Venetos’ Golf Swing: Genius or Completely Wrong?
The Genius of the Venetos Golf Swing
In his review Roberts found many things to like about the Venetos method. He likes that it works to eliminate common problems many golfers have: swaying off the ball in their backswing and being unable to shift to their front side in striking the ball. Using his vector analysis system to analyze the Venetos swing in slow-motion, Roberts shows the dynamics of how Venetos’ golf club moves throughout the swing checks all the boxes of proper technique. So, while the Venetos swing is unconventional, the results in how the club moves is in alignment with PGA orthodoxy.
See my earlier review and slow-mo video
of the Jim Venetos Golf Swing
(the video is also lower down this page)
Why the Venetos Swing Might Not Work for You
While praising the Venetos Swing, Roberts believes some golfers may have difficulty successfully applying it to their golf game. The Key to the Venetos Swing is maintaining stillness in the lower body. The advantage is preventing swaying off the ball and reducing the number of swing elements a golfer has to execute properly. But eliminating the body from the swing can reduce the club impact on the ball.
Several years ago when I first tried the Venetos swing I experienced this reality. Even though I felt I was striking the ball solidly, I was losing significant yardage in carry. So, while I liked the thinking behind the Venetos golf swing, losing yardage caused me to abandon it.
In his current Venetos swing review, Roberts identified the element that caused the issue I was having. Roberts noted in his video analysis that Venetos himself has flexible and active hands with good timing. The physics in how JV uses his hands compensates for not having an active lower body in the swing. In my case I’ve never had a good sense of “feel” in my hands and as a senior golfer arthritis has further affected my use of hands and wrists. ff you have “dead” hands like me or in general have some limits in how you use your hands and wrists, you may have trouble using the Venetos Golf Swing.
The Hands and Wrists are critical to the Venetos Golf Swing system
In the following slow-motion video watch how Jim’s hands and wrists move and add leverage to his swing. Note how his wrists bend half-way through his swing and how far the club is taken back over his shoulder.