What Chris Gotterup's Homegrown Swing Teaches Us About Playing Our Own Game

There's something deeply satisfying about watching a player succeed with a swing that doesn't belong in a textbook. Chris Gotterup's move through the ball won't be plastered on instruction posters or dissected in certification seminars, yet here he is—seventh in the world rankings, three PGA Tour victories in 2026, and $1.58 million richer after his John Deere Classic triumph over the Fourth of July weekend.

I've spent years walking fairways from the Scottish links to the sandhills of Nebraska, and if there's one thing those travels have taught me, it's that golf rewards authenticity. Gotterup's journey with GOLF Top 100 Teacher Jason Birnbaum offers a masterclass in building on what you already do well, rather than tearing it down and starting over.

Speed First, Refinement Later

When Gotterup first started working with Birnbaum as a teenager, he possessed one undeniable trait: he swung hard. Not controlled hard. Not measured hard. Just fast, uninhibited, and powerful.

"Too many amateurs are trying to be perfect, and then once they feel like they have control, they try to add speed," Birnbaum explains. "Speed really should be first."

This runs counter to how most recreational golfers approach improvement. We spend months—sometimes years—trying to groove positions, check angles, and build mechanically sound movements. Only then do we attempt to add power, often finding that our careful, controlled swings resist acceleration.

Birnbaum's philosophy flips this conventional wisdom on its head. Learn to generate speed first. The control comes later, and it's far easier to refine velocity than to manufacture it after years of cautious swings. In an era where distance matters more than ever, this lesson carries real weight.

The Case for a Strong Grip

Watch Gotterup address the ball, and one feature jumps out immediately: his exceptionally strong grip. It's been a signature of his game since childhood, and rather than "fixing" it to match conventional standards, Birnbaum and Gotterup have leaned into its advantages.

That strong grip has helped the 27-year-old New Jersey native eliminate the big miss to the right while generating tremendous power through impact. It's a perfect example of the principle that guided their entire partnership: take what he did naturally well and complement those strengths.

But Birnbaum offers an important caution against judging any swing by isolated positions. Many observers notice the significant extension—or "cup"—in Gotterup's lead wrist at the top of his backswing, along with what appears to be a steep path into the ball. According to Birnbaum, much of that appearance is simply a consequence of his grip, not a flaw requiring correction.

Your Swing Is Your Own

Standing on the first tee of any course I visit, I'm reminded that golf is ultimately a personal conversation between player and landscape. The clubs in your bag, the thoughts in your head, the mechanics of your motion—they're yours alone.

Gotterup's success illuminates a truth that too often gets lost in the pursuit of technical perfection: there are many ways to get the ball from tee to hole. His swing wouldn't be taught in academies across the country, yet it has produced five PGA Tour victories over the past twelve months and elevated him into the world's top ten.

"We took what he did naturally well and just tried to add to it and complement those strengths," Birnbaum says of their long-term approach.

This philosophy doesn't mean abandoning instruction or ignoring fundamentals. It means recognizing that your natural tendencies—the quirks and idiosyncrasies you've developed over years of playing—might be assets worth building upon rather than obstacles to overcome.

Key Takeaways

• Prioritize speed development: Learning to swing fast should come before learning to swing pretty. Control is easier to add than velocity.
• Don't fear unconventional positions: Gotterup's strong grip would make traditionalists wince, but it's been instrumental in his success.
• Build on your strengths: Rather than rebuilding from scratch, identify what you do naturally well and find ways to complement those tendencies.
• Judge the whole swing, not isolated positions: What looks "wrong" in a freeze-frame might be perfectly functional within the context of a complete motion.

Gotterup's story is a reminder that the best swing for you is the one that produces consistent results while honoring your natural athleticism. In a sport that often fetishizes conformity, there's something refreshing about a player who has thrived by being unapologetically himself.