Chris Gotterup is not the kind of name you can ignore any longer. Just check out his performances, stats, or how many fans he’s picking up this season. Jim Nantz, for one, raved about this rising pro instead of pros like Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Genesis Scottish Open (the site of Gotterup’s first Tour win this season), saying the one storyline he was pumped about was, “Maybe it is Chris Gotterup. He is in pretty starry company today.” He was. He is.

And apparently others are taking notice, too. Brad Faxon, a former PGA Tour pro turned NBC golf analyst, recently had the chance to watch Chris Gotterup swing ahead of the 2025 BMW Championship. Following their meeting, Faxon posted a video clip of the 26-year-old pro‘s swing on Instagram, showering Gotterup with glowing praise in the update.

“Saw Chris Gotterup on the golf course yesterday, check out this swing…” updates Faxon on Instagram, “I see: A little Nicklaus A little Hogan. A little Sergio. Who do you see?” And his observation isn’t off the mark. Gotterup’s weight shift onto his right leg, echoing the legendary Jack Nicklaus, establishes a solid base for power and balance.

In the transition phase, Gotterup’s extended left arm and wrist angles, which Faxon compared to the iconic ‘Wee Iceman’ Ben Hogan, hint at pinpoint precision and control. Furthermore, Gotterup’s significant lag in the delivery phase, a crucial element in building clubhead speed and power, reminds one of Sergio Garcia.

So, now the first question is: Is this swing helping Gotterup achieve the best version of himself? Well, the stats are in his favor. Gotterup’s impressive top-10 showings in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee (0.578) and Driving Distance (316.4 yards) underscore the remarkable power produced by his swing. Boasting a clubhead speed that’s 4th in the ranks at 124.64 mph, Gotterup regularly fuels long, powerful drives.

His knack for blending distance with accuracy shines through in his Greens in Regulation percentage of 70.82%. On the other hand, Gotterup has achieved 12 top 25s this season, including a win at the Genesis Scottish Open. So, now that the stats are clear, we have another question: how does he hit it so long?

The long-hitter Chris Gotterup has a solution for your driving issues

Chris Gotterup is a force off the tee. We already know his stats in 2025, but in 2024, he ranked sixth on Tour in Driving Distance at 313.3 yards per drive, averaging a whopping 184.93 mph ball speed. “I try to swing pretty hard at it,” Gotterup said following his win at the 2024 Myrtle Beach Classic, preferring power over a smooth swing. His approach to crushing drives is simple: Just make as big a turn as possible and let it rip. For Gotterup, today’s game is about maximizing clubhead speed, and so technique takes a backseat to power.

Gotterup’s secret to crushing drives? Gotterup’s personal preferences play into his powerful swing. He keeps the Velcro strap on his glove unfastened for comfort, saying, “I like it loose… I find it super comfortable.” And in a Golf Digest interview, Gotterup stressed a firm grip despite loose arms. “It’s important to have loose arms but a firm grip,” he said. Gotterup practices swinging hard with a firm grip, using weighted clubs to boost speed.

Gotterup’s technique tweaks contribute to his distance. He straightens his trail leg on the backswing for a bigger turn and lets his lead foot “rip up the turf” through impact, a move shared by pros like Scottie Scheffler and Justin Thomas, “I’m pushing so hard up off the ground with my lead foot that it has no place to go but up and out,” Gotterup says. With clubhead speed among the leaders at 124.6 mph – and up to 125.2 mph when he “cranks it up” – Gotterup’s power is undeniable.

So if you’re looking to amp up your drives and swings, Chris Gotterup’s got some serious juice to draw from; the rising star’s blend of power, technique tweaks, and aggressive swing could be the playbook you need.