Case Study: Sportsbox Partner Bryson DeChambeau’s Golf Swing

Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau has one of the most unique swings in golf. What makes his swing work?

Bryson DeChambeau, a two-time major champion, is known for his unorthodox approach to golf, including his single-length irons and uniquely engineered swing. His swing, characterized by its single-plane motion and power-focused mechanics, sets him apart in the golfing world. DeChambeau’s use of a Krank driver and early career signature Payne Stewart-style hat further highlight his distinctive style. Despite these unconventional methods, he remains one of the top golfers globally, continuously pushing the boundaries of the sport. One of Bryson’s biggest assets to his success? His uniquely powerful golf swing. 

We put Bryson’s swing into our full swing analysis. We consider a great, powerful driver swing to have great success in a few categories: Rotations, Horizontals, Verticals, Rotational Speed and Release. Here’s how Bryson does in each category:

According to Sportsbox data, Bryson’s club speed is 128 mph, which ranks in the 96th percentile (%) within the group of his tour pro peers. He is well above the group average of 117 mph. How does he gain his high clubhead speed and where does he differ compared to his peers? Dr. Phil Cheetham analyzes this data set and shares his findings with us. 

Rotations: Bryson has excellent rotational values in both range of motion and speed. His chest and pelvis turn maximums in the backswing are both at the 97th percentile, which is very high, and he has a large maximum X-Factor at the 84th percentile. The large X-Factor means he has the time and separation to use his core to speed up his upper body during the downswing.

Rotational Speed: Looking at his body segment rotational speeds, we see his pelvis turn speed is above average at the 51st percentile, but his chest turn speed is very fast at the 95th percentile. Having such a high chest turn speed after an average pelvis turn speed means he has a huge gain in speed across his core, showing he is using his stomach muscles very powerfully in the downswing. His very high arm speed (92nd percentile) and hand speed (92nd percentile) transfer into his club, resulting in his very high speed at impact of 128 mph.

OVERALL: There is no question of Bryson’s strength, which mostly comes from his excellent rotational motion and speeds. Having 7 PGA Tour wins, 2 Major Championships, and 2 LIV Tour wins under his belt, Bryson DeChambeau is one of the best golfers in the world.