Anthony Kim is back! Here’s 3 things we see in his new swing

It’s perhaps the worst kept secret in professional golf, but Anthony Kim is making his return to professional golf this week in Jeddah. This brings with it many, many questions, and we got an answer to one of them on Tuesday.

What does his swing look like?

The former PGA Tour phenom is in Saudi Arabia to compete as a wildcard in the LIV Golf League’s third event of the season, and thanks to videos posted on social media by coaches Andy Carter and Claude Harmon, we got a pretty good look at the 38-year-old’s swing. (Yes, he is really 38. We checked.)

A caveat before we dive in further: this is a small sample size of evidence and it’s easy to perform on the driving range when the pressure is off. That said, there are some good indicators as to what we can expect from Kim’s comeback.

Anthony Kim swing analysis

Here are three things we learned…

1. It’s still very short! Maybe even shorter?

If you can remember Kim from his PGA Tour days, you’ll probably know he had a shorter-than-normal backswing. Well, it’s no surprise that’s still a feature.

If anything, his backswing might even be shorter than it used to be. Again, it’s hard to compare when he’s on the range, but he’s certainly keeping things compact, and that’s no bad thing.

Kim was never a player who had loads of hip rotation. Whilst that might not lend itself to tons of power, it helps him keep things on plane. That’s not changed in 2024.

Will he have the power to keep up in the modern game? For what it’s worth, Kim averaged just under 290 yards off the tee in 2010, the last year he won on tour. If he was to hit that number now, it would have him around the middle of the pack compared to his new LIV Golf competitors, keeping up with the likes of Lee Westwood and Branden Grace.

Of course, Kim is using new kit which is going to fly further, so he may well be one of the longer players on the circuit. Time will tell.

Is this swing even shorter than before?! Just surreal to see AK back in 2024. pic.twitter.com/4MlU2Yx9ZM

— Lewis Fraser (@lewisfras98) February 27, 2024

2. He’s still choking down on the grip

Another Anthony Kim giveaway is where his hands are on the grip. Unlike almost every other pro golfer, Kim was famous for having his hands about halfway down the grip, even on his driver.

Interestingly, Kim told golf.com back in his first stint as a competitive golfer, that he grips down out of necessity. He explained that he has a short torso and long arms, so if he was to grip the club normally, he would be too far away from the ball.

It will certainly help with control and although he might sacrifice some distance, it’s worth it.

• Opinion: Kim’s off to LIV – and we wouldn’t have it any other way

• WITB: What clubs will AK use in his comeback?

• McEwan: Kim was never a golf great – so what gives?

• Anthony Kim: The story so far of golf’s biggest enigma

3. His divots tell their own story

You can tell an awful lot about a golfer by the divots they make.

If they’re deep and pointing in several directions, there’s a good chance that golfer is struggling. AK’s divots are certainly not that!

If you’re a golf nerd like me, you’ll find that image deeply satisfying.

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Lewis Fraser As bunkered’s Performance Editor, Lewis oversees the content that’s designed to make you a better player. From the latest gear to tuition, nutrition, strategy and more, he’s the man. A graduate of the University of Stirling, Lewis joined bunkered in 2021. Formerly a caddie at Castle Stuart Golf Links, he is a member of Bathgate Golf Club where he plays off four.

Performance Editor