Kirk Junge and his "Setup 4 Impact" Golf Swing

[dlow206]

I've been on the S4I program for about 6 weeks now. This is my S4I setup and swing. Not saying its perfect, but much better than my two plane swing. 

 

 

[inthesand]

Hi folks, i’ve been following this swing off anon for the last three years. My first four years of golf have really been about discovery rather than picking a method. I tried graves I tried Paul Wilson‘s body swing and now I’m looking at Malaska golf. Regardless of what you think there’s more than one way to swing a golf club and so my swing is more of a hybrid of all the things I’ve learned but at this pointI’m probably going to go back to Kirk’s for video feedback. What I like about Kirk in particular that you never seems to try and fit you into a box even though he uses a model swing it’s very customizable.

 

I’d love to hear from big ex What the schedule of the camps are

[Alpha3]

For Several days strengthend in my grip, raised my hands at address. Tried to get hips turned more, and back target before dropping right shoulder and swinging to impact. This has helped my OTT move and I’m hitting the ball better. I hope it’s not just a honeymoon but I like it so far.   I have also worked with the graves brothers and have had a lesson with Paul Wilson.  All great instructors but this seems to meld well with the other ideas.

[BigEx44]

On 10/6/2021 at 3:14 PM, inthesand said:

Hi folks, i’ve been following this swing off anon for the last three years. My first four years of golf have really been about discovery rather than picking a method. I tried graves I tried Paul Wilson‘s body swing and now I’m looking at Malaska golf. Regardless of what you think there’s more than one way to swing a golf club and so my swing is more of a hybrid of all the things I’ve learned but at this pointI’m probably going to go back to Kirk’s for video feedback. What I like about Kirk in particular that you never seems to try and fit you into a box even though he uses a model swing it’s very customizable.

 

I’d love to hear from big ex What the schedule of the camps are

 

Schedule is here:

Schools – Setup 4 Impact

[inthesand]

On 10/8/2021 at 11:07 AM, BigEx44 said:

 

Schedule is here:

Schools – Setup 4 Impact

 

Sorry I mean like day to day schedule.

 

Ian

[canuker]

Going to revive this thread. I'm a beginner golfer who has been drowning in swing videos. How's everyone going with this? Anyone still using it?

I've looked at other swing methods and have been turned off by several, including Venetos, Todd Graves (looks too rigid and awkward. Kirks looks like it is more receptive to athleticism which is important to me).

Considered Stack and Tilt but hear people get sore backs. I also like this guys YT channel and he has developed his own little "system" which im curious to try. 

But so far S4I looks to be the simplest way to hit the ground running. 
 

 

Edited June 21, 2022 by canuker

[ChaosTheory]

12 hours ago, canuker said:

Going to revive this thread. I'm a beginner golfer who has been drowning in swing videos. How's everyone going with this? Anyone still using it?

I've looked at other swing methods and have been turned off by several, including Venetos, Todd Graves (looks too rigid and awkward. Kirks looks like it is more receptive to athleticism which is important to me).

Considered Stack and Tilt but hear people get sore backs. I also like this guys YT channel and he has developed his own little "system" which im curious to try. 

But so far S4I looks to be the simplest way to hit the ground running. 
 

 

I’ve been using the Moe/Graves/Junge type of swing for years and years.  It is simple and it works.

However, you need to find a teacher and take in person lessons.  The method probably doesn’t matter much at this point.  You’re gonna drown in the waters of YouTube videos imo.  

[canuker]

7 hours ago, Snowman9000 said:

I’ve been using the Moe/Graves/Junge type of swing for years and years.  It is simple and it works.

However, you need to find a teacher and take in person lessons.  The method probably doesn’t matter much at this point.  You’re gonna drown in the waters of YouTube videos imo.  

I've already drowned, been resuscitated, and am drowining again 😂

It's in my nature. I go down rabbit holes with the best of em'. But yes, Junge is where I'll be focussing my time. I can worry about speed and flow once I can hit the damn ball lol.  

Edited June 21, 2022 by canuker

[ChaosTheory]

21 minutes ago, canuker said:

I've already drowned, been resuscitated, and am drowining again 😂

It's in my nature. I go down rabbit holes with the best of em'. But yes, Junge is where I'll be focussing my time. I can worry about speed and flow once I can hit the damn ball lol.  

He offers a reasonably priced video review plan you can do.  Or could you get to one of his schools?

[SwingBlues]

On 6/21/2022 at 6:57 AM, Snowman9000 said:

I’ve been using the Moe/Graves/Junge type of swing for years and years.  It is simple and it works.

However, you need to find a teacher and take in person lessons.  The method probably doesn’t matter much at this point.  You’re gonna drown in the waters of YouTube videos imo.  

 

Yep. I've been Moe/Graves for 2 years to the day today. Been the best ball striking years in my life.

 

I think one has to think why you want to switch to a Single Plane, find the "root cause" of the 2 plane "failures". For me, it was the spacing at impact. In my 2 plane days, I swung like Laura Davis (quote from my LPGA instructor) where both feet on toes exactly at impact. However, I never knew WHY and she didn't explain either.

 

SPACING. I didn't learn that until I found Todd's "Rethink" YouTube and the light switched on. I look at the videos of my swing and my body want to go from bent over to standing up and my right foot wanted to leave asap to get left sided. I could play since my timing was good but so inconsistent. I do recall the better days was always when I had the thought to "roll my right foot" into impact... again, never knew why until Todd.

 

I tried Junge's swing and it's not for me. I still have spacing issue there.

 

Play whatever works and everyone's body and movement is different. I am thankful Todd really sorted out a hidden issue thats plagued me all my golfing life. Like I said, playing some of my best golf these 2 years.

 

 

Edited June 22, 2022 by SwingBlues

[Nels55]

If you are toe down at setup you can simply move farther from the ball and at some point the club will sit flat. 

 

I would recommend shooting video from down the line to see where your hands are at impact.  If you setup with your hands higher at address then they are at impact you will very likely invite shanking to the party.  Find out where your hands are at impact and then setup with them at about the same height.  One thing for sure is that if you are coming through the ball with the club toe down your are going to have a lot of problems! 

 

If you are toe down at impact possible fixes are:

Bend the clubs more upright.

Make the clubs longer.

Stand farther from the ball.

 

LOL I have done all of the above at different times and they all work.  

[scopek]

6 hours ago, SwingBlues said:

 

Yep. I've been Moe/Graves for 2 years to the day today. Been the best ball striking years in my life.

 

I think one has to think why you want to switch to a Single Plane, find the "root cause" of the 2 plane "failures". For me, it was the spacing at impact. In my 2 plane days, I swung like Laura Davis (quote from my LPGA instructor) where both feet on toes exactly at impact. However, I never knew WHY and she didn't explain either.

 

SPACING. I didn't learn that until I found Todd's "Rethink" YouTube and the light switched on. I look at the videos of my swing and my body want to go from bent over to standing up and my right foot wanted to leave asap to get left sided. I could play since my timing was good but so inconsistent. I do recall the better days was always when I had the thought to "roll my right foot" into impact... again, never knew why until Todd.

 

I tried Junge's swing and it's not for me. I still have spacing issue there.

 

Play whatever works and everyone's body and movement is different. I am thankful Todd really sorted out a hidden issue thats plagued me all my golfing life. Like I said, playing some of my best golf these 2 years.

 

 

I really like how defined Graves is in how to swing, but I worry about how his swing would impact my right knee with keeping the right foot down. Ever have any knee issues? 

[SwingBlues]

41 minutes ago, scopek said:

I really like how defined Graves is in how to swing, but I worry about how his swing would impact my right knee with keeping the right foot down. Ever have any knee issues? 

 

That's a great question. Here's my take... I have a bad right knee ever since I hurt it while dancing when I was a youth. It got to the point where I stopped skiing and went snowboarding just to protect my knee and not risk an ACL surgery. So I am extremely sensitive in my right knee

 

When I started Graves SPS, I "overcooked" the right foot roll. You see it in all of Moe's videos where he demonstrate the vertical drop and it looks like his right knee is almost on the ground. So I copied it, overcooked it and I tweaked the knee to the point where I had to wear a knee brace for like a month. I knew this was not right...

 

One of the things I really learnt from Todd was to use cell phone camera as feedback and make the correction. Calmed the vertical drop.

 

In hindsight, Moe does the exaggerations on the videos to make a point but he does not actually move that much. Once I made the correction, I have not used that brace since.  

 

I have a regular playing buddy who is also learning Graves SPS. Again, he over did the vertical drop and tweaked his right knee. Wore a brace as well. He even went to the Doc to check his knee. Once I told him to stop and way, way, lessen the vertical drop in transition, he's not wearing a brace and normal now. Zero complaints about his knees.

 

Now I am not saying you should do this - but I think Grave's Coaches via the video feedback will pick up and stop the over exaggeration. I have seen all of Todd's videos and no where does he even go close to how Moe was in the demo - Todd's teaching it right. Unfortunately for me and my bud, we aren't on his Gold program but now we know...

 

PM me if you want to discuss this further, sorry for the threadjack since this is a Junge S4I thread.

[BigEx44]

I'm reviving this thread because I'm back for another try!

 

As the OP, I started this thread back in 2019 after attending one of Kirk Junge's 3 day schools.

 

For whatever reason (now lost to time and my memory) I didn't stick with the swing.

I think part of the reason was back then his training videos and process just didn't click with me.

 

So I ended up moving on to a Julian Mellor/MDLT type of swing.  Julian's swing was great in that it taught me the value of a tension free swing, a release that didn't have me keeping my head down, and he also got me to turn more on my through swing.  It all felt pretty simple and he is a fantastic coach.

 

With his swing philosophy, lessons, and video reviews (all free through his academy), I went from a 14 handicap down to a 9 handicap for a couple of years (2022 & 2023).  I love his stuff.  And he certainly helped me reach my lifelong golf goal of being a single digit handicap golfer, even if only for a day...lol (I picked up golf late in life, my 40's, so the game has always been a struggle for me).  For that I am eternally grateful!

 

But I'm now 67, and the last the last couple of years my handicap has been rising.  I went from a 9 to a 12 in 2024 and now halfway through the 2025 season I'm back up to a 14.  And I'm not sure why.  I don't know if its age related or just my very "handsy" swing finally catching up to me - but I was losing my enthusiasm for playing.  Yes, I'm sure I could go back to Julian and get some great feedback, but I just felt like I needed to try something different.  Maybe I'm a little bored with my current swing and am looking for the hope and excitement around learning something new.  Who knows with my messed-up golf brain!

 

So anyways, a few weeks ago I decided to go in a bit of a different direction and give Kirk Junge's Setup4impact swing another try.  There are a couple of reasons why (beyond me just feeling the need to do something different).

 

1) I like the fact that he says just begin with "setting up for impact" (his grip with hands held higher) and keep everything else you normally do the same.  Kirk says this will get people better right from the start.  No getting worse before you get better.  No "not golfing" for months while you try to learn a new swing.  Just "setup 4 impact" and do everything else you normally do the same.  That made it a real easy transition for me and also let me keep a lot of what I learned from Julian in my brain (other than the setup obviously).  So I started with that new setup a few weeks ago.

 

2) Then rather than a complicated learning process - Kirk simply wants you to begin by mastering his Drill #1 which is a short swing chipping drill (left hand only, right hand only, and both hands together).  It's meant to have you master where you need to be at impact (hips slightly open with shaft lean).  As an "early releaser" who has always struggled to have any shaft lean at impact, it's a good drill for me.  So I joined Kirk's academy in order to get the feedback on that drill (yes, it's a simple drill, but even simple drills can be tough to master without good feedback).  I guess once you master the 1/4 swing chip, he moves you on to longer swings.  In the last two weeks I've been religiously practicing his chipping drill hoping that it will eventually bleed into my full swing as he claims.

 

3) I also like the fact I don't have to throw out what I've learned from Julian Mellor.  In fact, in my mind I'm not doing a 100% different swing - I'm just melding the best of what I'm learning from Kirk with the best of what I learned from Julian.  I plan on remaining a member of Julian's academy too.  I may even show him what I'm doing and see what he thinks.  He's always pretty open to people experimenting with new stuff.

 

And then I had a great day yesterday.  I went and played one of the tougher courses in our area (slope 130), and from a set of tees that are too long for me.  As a "super senior" golfer I normally play tees in the 5.600 to 5,900 yd range.  But yesterday the guys I was with wanted to play tees that were around 6,300 yds.  I bowed to the peer pressure.

 

Despite that - I shot a solid 83 (solid for me at least) including a 39 on the back (first time I've broken 40 for nine holes all summer).  It was without a doubt the best ball striking round I've had in the last two years.  I hit 10 of 14 fairways and the 4 I missed were no trouble in the first cut of rough (I normally average about 6 fairways a round).  It was a very stress-free round.  If I could've made a few 6-10 foot putts, I might've even broken 80.  The highlight for me was a 215 yard 3 wood on a long par 4 to within 15 feet of the cup.  No doubt my best swing of the year.

 

Overall, it was my most satisfying round of the past two summers.  Now maybe it was coincidence, and I was due for a good round no matter what swing I was using - but I can't help but feel the Drill #1 had me feeling a little less "handsy" than normal.  Not that I was consciously trying to do that - but more that it was just happening.

 

So I'm very excited, if only for a day.  Time will tell if any real change is taking place.

 

I'll record my progress here.  For now, I'm just continuing to work on drill #1.  My first video submission to Kirk was good - but he indicated I still have some work to do.  I plan on submitting another video today.  I'm also going to look at experimenting with the Jumbo Max grips Kirk says will help with the swing (I ordered a couple of XS to try out on my clubs).

 

 

Edited July 4 by BigEx44

[nlk10010]

I am contemplating going to a 3-day Kirk Junge school; can you give me an idea if you liked it? Kirk makes a point of implying that he is the only instructor and that you will receive personal instruction from him during the school. Obviously he can't be with everyone all the time, but did you feel that is a fair representation of what you received while you were there? I'm asking because during the last camp I visited (not Junge's) it was a rotation of secondary instructors, the "head" of the School didn't even make an appearance. You'd get a couple of minutes attention then be told to practice for 30-60 minutes, then someone else would come over and take a quick look at your swing.

 

At my age I've reconciled myself to the fact that the most enjoyment I get out of golf (aside from, of course, experiencing the outdoors and the companionship of my playing partners) is hope. I'm always thinking that the key to my game is "just around the corner" and lies with a swing methodology other than the one I'm using at the time, the one that started out in a promising way but deteriorated quickly. Problem is, the methodology that I see as just around the corner is one I've already tried and failed with. But, I think, maybe this time it will work. For some reason they usually do for a bit, then the "magic" goes out of them. But during that brief moment I have hope. 

 

The reason I mention the above is that I once tried joining Kirk's website and sent in a few video lessons, I also more than once tried to emulate his philosophy on my own. Clicked only briefly. But, as I say, the wheel of fate keeps spinning and he's up next. In any case I'd like to go to a School where the primary instructor makes an appearance and actually tries to teach you his method.

 

Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

 

And, BTW, good luck. I happen to really like Junge's approach; it's just too bad I'm not athletic enough to take advantage of it.

 

[BigEx44]

On 7/4/2025 at 6:44 PM, nlk10010 said:

I am contemplating going to a 3-day Kirk Junge school; can you give me an idea if you liked it? Kirk makes a point of implying that he is the only instructor and that you will receive personal instruction from him during the school. Obviously he can't be with everyone all the time, but did you feel that is a fair representation of what you received while you were there? I'm asking because during the last camp I visited (not Junge's) it was a rotation of secondary instructors, the "head" of the School didn't even make an appearance. You'd get a couple of minutes attention then be told to practice for 30-60 minutes, then someone else would come over and take a quick look at your swing.

 

At my age I've reconciled myself to the fact that the most enjoyment I get out of golf (aside from, of course, experiencing the outdoors and the companionship of my playing partners) is hope. I'm always thinking that the key to my game is "just around the corner" and lies with a swing methodology other than the one I'm using at the time, the one that started out in a promising way but deteriorated quickly. Problem is, the methodology that I see as just around the corner is one I've already tried and failed with. But, I think, maybe this time it will work. For some reason they usually do for a bit, then the "magic" goes out of them. But during that brief moment I have hope. 

 

The reason I mention the above is that I once tried joining Kirk's website and sent in a few video lessons, I also more than once tried to emulate his philosophy on my own. Clicked only briefly. But, as I say, the wheel of fate keeps spinning and he's up next. In any case I'd like to go to a School where the primary instructor makes an appearance and actually tries to teach you his method.

 

Any info you can provide would be appreciated.

 

And, BTW, good luck. I happen to really like Junge's approach; it's just too bad I'm not athletic enough to take advantage of it.

 

 

I 100% agree with you on "hope".  I think every golfer needs it no matter their playing ability.  And IMHO, I think Kirk's swing requires less athletic ability than other swings (one of the reasons I'm giving it another try)

 

And yes, I really enjoyed Kirk's school.  He IS the instructor.  He has no assistants or anyone else helping.  You get a full and undiluted Kirk Junge teaching/guiding you.  That's why he limits his schools to 4 or 5 students, to ensure he has plenty of time to spend with everyone.

 

The only way you don't get Kirk is if you sign up for one of his schools in Sanford, NC which are taught by Tony Griffin, the only certified instructor he has.  But it's 100% crystal clear which schools will be taught by Kirk and which ones will be taught by Tony.  I think occasionally Kirk and Tony teach together, but again that's clear from the school signup.  And btw, I've heard nothing but great things about Tony as an instructor.  I'd have no problems taking lessons from him!

 

I just signed up for Kik's 3 day school in Cincinnati on Aug 15-17 (I think he has another the next 3 days too, Aug 18-20).  I'm looking forward to the "hands on" refresher course.

 

Good luck with your journey!  Let me know if you have any other questions.

E

[nlk10010]

Thanks for the response, it really helps.

 

I am also contemplating going to the Cincinnati one, either 15-17 or the one right after that. It's a bit of a shlep for me (I would have to drive ~700 miles) but might be worth it. I know Kirk used to have one in Ohio, taught with someone else, but he doesn't seem to use that site any longer. I'm glad he spends a lot of time with students; he sounds like a genuine, honest guy.

 

Funny enough, one of the things keeping me back is that the course seems to be in the middle of nowhere and the accommodations, locally, are less than, shall we say, "stellar". I'd LOVE to stay downtown at the Art Deco Netherland, but 40 minutes every day back and forth in what I presume would be rush hour is too much. I know it sounds like I'm concentrating on the unimportant, but when you're traveling with someone it suddenly becomes VERY relevant.

 

I will say that Kirk's insistence on concentrating on using mostly the body to rotate, while keeping the arms/wrists loose, has resulted in my being able to generate quite a bit of lag in the down swing. This way I end up hitting down on the ball, which squeezes it; if I get anywhere near the center of the club face of course the ball jumps. I understand you always end up using both body and arms/hands but whenever I even THINK of muscling the ball my swing goes even further into the dumpster. So Kirk's approach agrees with me more than most.

 

If I DO decide to go hope we end up meeting; regardless, good luck to you as well, the journey is the thing! 

[BigEx44]

Armed with my new (renewed) Kirk Junge swing/setup - shot a career best 74 yesterday.

If not for one 3 putt green and a missed 3 foot birdie putt on another hole - I could've shot even par.

I'm on the right track with this swing!

[Ripper212]

1 hour ago, BigEx44 said:

Armed with my new (renewed) Kirk Junge swing/setup - shot a career best 74 yesterday.

If not for one 3 putt green and a missed 3 foot birdie putt on another hole - I could've shot even par.

I'm on the right track with this swing!

Congratulations and hope the golf gods don't punish you for posting this!!

[Bob M]

On 7/4/2025 at 9:55 AM, BigEx44 said:

I'm reviving this thread because I'm back for another try!

 

As the OP, I started this thread back in 2019 after attending one of Kirk Junge's 3 day schools.

 

For whatever reason (now lost to time and my memory) I didn't stick with the swing.

I think part of the reason was back then his training videos and process just didn't click with me.

 

So I ended up moving on to a Julian Mellor/MDLT type of swing.  Julian's swing was great in that it taught me the value of a tension free swing, a release that didn't have me keeping my head down, and he also got me to turn more on my through swing.  It all felt pretty simple and he is a fantastic coach.

 

With his swing philosophy, lessons, and video reviews (all free through his academy), I went from a 14 handicap down to a 9 handicap for a couple of years (2022 & 2023).  I love his stuff.  And he certainly helped me reach my lifelong golf goal of being a single digit handicap golfer, even if only for a day...lol (I picked up golf late in life, my 40's, so the game has always been a struggle for me).  For that I am eternally grateful!

 

But I'm now 67, and the last the last couple of years my handicap has been rising.  I went from a 9 to a 12 in 2024 and now halfway through the 2025 season I'm back up to a 14.  And I'm not sure why.  I don't know if its age related or just my very "handsy" swing finally catching up to me - but I was losing my enthusiasm for playing.  Yes, I'm sure I could go back to Julian and get some great feedback, but I just felt like I needed to try something different.  Maybe I'm a little bored with my current swing and am looking for the hope and excitement around learning something new.  Who knows with my messed-up golf brain!

 

So anyways, a few weeks ago I decided to go in a bit of a different direction and give Kirk Junge's Setup4impact swing another try.  There are a couple of reasons why (beyond me just feeling the need to do something different).

 

1) I like the fact that he says just begin with "setting up for impact" (his grip with hands held higher) and keep everything else you normally do the same.  Kirk says this will get people better right from the start.  No getting worse before you get better.  No "not golfing" for months while you try to learn a new swing.  Just "setup 4 impact" and do everything else you normally do the same.  That made it a real easy transition for me and also let me keep a lot of what I learned from Julian in my brain (other than the setup obviously).  So I started with that new setup a few weeks ago.

 

2) Then rather than a complicated learning process - Kirk simply wants you to begin by mastering his Drill #1 which is a short swing chipping drill (left hand only, right hand only, and both hands together).  It's meant to have you master where you need to be at impact (hips slightly open with shaft lean).  As an "early releaser" who has always struggled to have any shaft lean at impact, it's a good drill for me.  So I joined Kirk's academy in order to get the feedback on that drill (yes, it's a simple drill, but even simple drills can be tough to master without good feedback).  I guess once you master the 1/4 swing chip, he moves you on to longer swings.  In the last two weeks I've been religiously practicing his chipping drill hoping that it will eventually bleed into my full swing as he claims.

 

3) I also like the fact I don't have to throw out what I've learned from Julian Mellor.  In fact, in my mind I'm not doing a 100% different swing - I'm just melding the best of what I'm learning from Kirk with the best of what I learned from Julian.  I plan on remaining a member of Julian's academy too.  I may even show him what I'm doing and see what he thinks.  He's always pretty open to people experimenting with new stuff.

 

And then I had a great day yesterday.  I went and played one of the tougher courses in our area (slope 130), and from a set of tees that are too long for me.  As a "super senior" golfer I normally play tees in the 5.600 to 5,900 yd range.  But yesterday the guys I was with wanted to play tees that were around 6,300 yds.  I bowed to the peer pressure.

 

Despite that - I shot a solid 83 (solid for me at least) including a 39 on the back (first time I've broken 40 for nine holes all summer).  It was without a doubt the best ball striking round I've had in the last two years.  I hit 10 of 14 fairways and the 4 I missed were no trouble in the first cut of rough (I normally average about 6 fairways a round).  It was a very stress-free round.  If I could've made a few 6-10 foot putts, I might've even broken 80.  The highlight for me was a 215 yard 3 wood on a long par 4 to within 15 feet of the cup.  No doubt my best swing of the year.

 

Overall, it was my most satisfying round of the past two summers.  Now maybe it was coincidence, and I was due for a good round no matter what swing I was using - but I can't help but feel the Drill #1 had me feeling a little less "handsy" than normal.  Not that I was consciously trying to do that - but more that it was just happening.

 

So I'm very excited, if only for a day.  Time will tell if any real change is taking place.

 

I'll record my progress here.  For now, I'm just continuing to work on drill #1.  My first video submission to Kirk was good - but he indicated I still have some work to do.  I plan on submitting another video today.  I'm also going to look at experimenting with the Jumbo Max grips Kirk says will help with the swing (I ordered a couple of XS to try out on my clubs).

 

 

Welcome back!!! Glad to hear your doing well with S4I. 

 

I've been using S4I since early 2024, which I learned by joining Kirk's site for about 6-months and working the drills with his feedback. My original reasons for making the switch to a "single plane swing" were because my research suggested that it would be easier on my back and I'd likely be more accurate. Both have proven to be true and I've picked up a bit of distance to boot. I also like that Kirk is open to customizations to fit the individual golfer and I use what I call the "Rocco Mediate customization" meaning that I pull my right foot back on pretty much all full shots which helps me make a fuller back swing and hit a draw.