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A Lesson from The Legendary Arnold Palmer: Swing Your Swing

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

Arnold Palmer during the 59th Senior PGA Championship held at the PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. April 16-19, 1998. (Photograph by The PGA of America)

Whether it be Tony Finau at the Northern Trust, Anna Nordqvist at the AIG Women's Open or Rob Pampling at the Champions Tour Boeing Classic, we see a uniqueness to many of the modern winners week in and week out on the major professional tours. Not long ago, there was a quest for that ever-elusive, perfect swing.
Today much like was the case in golf’s Golden Era in the ’50s and ’60s, golf swings show a great deal of uniqueness and imagination. 
What many of today’s best players know and master is the ability to stay true to their own swing. They also know how to score and put the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible. 
Arnold Palmers Famous Quote
While there are certain technical aspects that are in every great player’s swing, such as the ability to control the face at impact, and do so consistently, not even that is something that is cookie cutter. 
Some players come over and across the line with a slightly open face to their target line, hitting a cut…others come more from the inside and swing out with a slightly closed clubface and hit a draw. The idea is to groove your swing to the point that it’s repeatable. The great Arnold Palmer famously summed up the idea of embracing your own uniqueness…
"Swing your swing. Not some idea of a swing. Not a swing you saw on TV. Not that swing you wish you had. No, swing your swing. Capable of greatness. Prized only by you. Perfect in its imperfection. Swing your swing. I know, I did."
What’s Most Important 
What is most important for players to understand, from a technical standpoint, is to know the basic fundamentals; What the ball flight laws are and truly have an understanding of the cause and effect between how a club is swung and how the ball reacts based on that swing. This applies to all facets of the game too. From full swing to short game and putting.
We are all different…different body types, heights, weights, strengths, weaknesses and perhaps even an injury or disability we have to work with. I saw a news report just the other day on social media where a gentleman that had no arms and legs taught himself not only how to play the game, but mastered it enough to make a hole in one!
Beyond the mechanics of the game, learning how to play, and more importantly, score, is what’s equally as important. Get the ball in the hole in as few strokes as possible…no matter what. As I’ve pointed out in previous articles, and what I joke with my students about all the time, is the fact that there are no pictures on a scorecard. 
Nobody, besides those who see it, would ever know that you skulled your 9 iron on the par 3 third, to make that hole in one…they would only know you made an ace! And you know what? Do you really even care if the ball only got 2 feet off the ground for your first hole-in-one? 
Learn all you can about the mechanics and technical aspects of the game. Learn how to score. And as Mr. Palmer said, “Swing Your Swing, not some idea of a Swing.”
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.