How many golf swings do you have?

[Bakemono36]

I have 5 different swings. One for woods/hybrids, one for irons, one for chipping, one for pitching and one for putting.
Those different types of shots require a slightly different swing.
Granted, it isnt a major difference, but there is a difference. I could never swing my woods/hybrids the way that I do my irons and get good results.

 

[TheTrueReview]

As one person here alluded to I think your pal may have 'lost in translation' some meaning.

The mere change of ball position can create the 'illusion' in your mind's eye that you have a different swing. If you put the ball at your left big toe with a driver then indeed you will have a much more sweeping to upper cut club head at impact, but if you take that driver and put it back in the middle of your stance like a 56* then you are going to hit down on it now matter how hard you try and hit it on the upswing. Follow? I guess you can call it a 'different swing', but in reality nothing has changed except for where you position the ball in your setup.

I don't think any reputable PGA teaching professional would advocate having a bag full of different swings. Sure, the short game has a ton of little nuances, but full swings by and large are the same, just adjustments in setup and ball position.

Perhaps everyone looks at it a bit differently, but I 'feel' that all my full shots are identical in swing path, but different in ball position as it progresses down through the short irons from the driver.

 

[Cray]

I played two weeks ago and had 86 different swings.:laugh:

Seriously, I have two different swings. It depends on if the ball is on a tee or not.

I am a sweeper. So if it is on a tee I tend to sweep the ball. When it is on the ground I tend to hit down on it.

 

[rtbrps3383]

Thanks guys for your responses. It has been an interesting discussion. Just goes to show what a great game golf is. Damn drunken scotsmen - grrr. There is more than one way to hit that stupid little ball. My buddy and I think we're almost on the same page, just different terminology. I'll confirm this when he visits in March.
Meanwhile, practice, practice, practice, etc.......

 

[SilverUberXeno]

Well, if you get your irons MOI matched, and then have the lies adjusted appropriately, you can actually have ONE swing for all of them

 

[SolderJockey]

Basically two. A full swing for woods and irons, (the sweeping/hitting down
part happens automatically because of shaft length and ball position)and
a half swing knockdown/punch shot for most shots inside 100 yards or
hitting out of the rough.