Anthony Kim: The Rule Breaker of Modern Golf

Why Anthony Kim Fascinates Me

There are certain golfers who become famous because of their technique. Others become famous because of their results. Anthony Kim is one of the rare players who became memorable because of the way he played the game.

What I love about Anthony Kim is that he never seemed obsessed with swing positions. When he spoke about golf, he talked about sensations, athleticism, balance, confidence, and simply getting through the golf ball. That mindset is incredibly refreshing in an era where players often become trapped by endless technical thoughts.

For me, old-school fundamentals are everything. They create the environment where effortless power becomes possible. Anthony Kim is one of the best modern examples of that philosophy in action.

When you study his motion closely, you start seeing a player who breaks many of the conventions of modern instruction while still producing elite-level golf. That’s why I consider him an old-school genius hidden inside a modern player.

The Drill That Reveals Everything

One of the easiest ways to understand Anthony Kim’s swing is to look at the rehearsal drills professionals use before hitting shots.

Modern players frequently rehearse positions that promote a more closed clubface. If you study someone like Ludwig Åberg, for example, you’ll often see a clubface orientation that supports many of the modern power protocols being taught today.

Anthony Kim is different.

When he rehearses his backswing positions, the clubface appears considerably more open. This single observation reveals a completely different approach to generating speed and delivering the club through impact.

The clubface isn’t just a detail. It determines what release patterns become available to a golfer. Anthony Kim’s preferred positions naturally support release protocols that are much closer to the great players of previous generations.

This is one of the main reasons I view him as an old-school player disguised as a modern one.

A Down-the-Line View of Old-School Fundamentals

Looking at Anthony Kim from down the line reveals several characteristics that immediately stand out.

First, his setup is relatively simple. The stance is slightly open, the posture is fairly upright, and there is a noticeable amount of balance toward the heels. These details may seem insignificant, but they create space and freedom throughout the swing.

As the club moves into the backswing, the blade opens more than what many modern instructors would prefer. Again, this isn’t an accident. It is part of a system.

Moving into impact, something else becomes apparent. Anthony Kim is not aggressively driving his lead leg into a locked position. There is still bend present in the lead knee as the club enters the strike zone.

That should sound familiar.

It resembles many of the impact conditions seen in players like Ben Hogan, where consistency of strike was often prioritized over exaggerated modern movement patterns.

Another fascinating detail is how often Kim grips down on the club.

This effectively flattens the playing lie angle and supports a more rotational, snappy release pattern through the ball. It is a subtle adjustment, but one that fits perfectly with the overall philosophy of his swing.

Face-On: Athletic Speed Without Excessive Mechanics

The face-on view might be even more revealing.

One of the first things that stands out is the relatively straight foot positioning. Unlike many modern players who use heavily flared feet, Kim keeps things much simpler.

For golfers interested in older release protocols, this can be extremely valuable. Straighter feet often allow the body to support a more reactive release through impact rather than forcing movement patterns that need to be manufactured.

Despite not being known as a power player in the modern sense, Anthony Kim generated plenty of speed. His driver speed numbers regularly climbed into elite territory, proving that effortless power does not require excessive positions or exaggerated mechanics.

You also notice the absence of extreme shaft lean. The impact conditions look natural, athletic, and repeatable.

There are hints of Ben Hogan. There are hints of Lee Trevino. There are traces of many great old-school players who prioritized movement quality over manufactured positions.

Even the slightly cupped lead wrist tendencies that appear during portions of the motion fit naturally into the overall release protocol.

Everything works together.

The Real Lesson: Feels Over Positions

Perhaps the most valuable lesson Anthony Kim offers has nothing to do with biomechanics.

Over the years, whenever I heard him discuss golf, he rarely focused on technical positions. Instead, he talked about simple feels.

Getting through the ball.

Holding the finish.

Feeling balanced.

Feeling athletic.

Feeling connected to the shot.

That approach is incredibly powerful because it directs attention toward outcomes rather than mechanics.

Of course, Anthony Kim could rely on those feels because his fundamentals were already excellent. But that’s exactly the point.

A good golf swing should eventually become a collection of useful sensations rather than an endless checklist of positions.

The better your foundations become, the more freedom you gain.

What Golfers Can Learn From Anthony Kim

There are several practical ideas golfers can experiment with after studying Anthony Kim’s motion.

A slightly more upright posture can create additional space and freedom throughout the swing.

A little more heel balance at address can improve movement quality and reduce unnecessary compensation patterns.

Most importantly, golfers can experiment with allowing the clubface to open more naturally during the backswing. This encourages release patterns that are often associated with older generations of players and can unlock a more athletic delivery of the club.

What appears to be a delayed release is often the opposite. The release is actually beginning earlier and flowing more naturally through the strike.

In many ways, Anthony Kim represents a fascinating blend between the principles I teach in the Aggressive Fluid Release pattern and the Big Arc Swinger pattern.

That combination creates speed, fluidity, and athletic freedom.

Final Thoughts

Anthony Kim remains one of the most unique swings of the modern era.

While much of today’s instruction focuses on controlling positions, Kim reminds us that great golf can still be built around freedom, athleticism, and simple intentions.

His fundamentals are deeply rooted in old-school golf, even if most people never recognized it.

Study the setup. Study the clubface. Study the release.

But most importantly, study the mindset.

Because the greatest lesson Anthony Kim offers may be that a golf swing should feel athletic rather than mechanical.

And that idea is just as valuable today as it was during the game’s golden eras.

This is basically a representation of the Aggressive Fluid Release pattern inspired by Ben Hogan. The question is – which pattern fits you? Take the test below.

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