A familiar throwing motion as a golf-swing cue

Ahead of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, PGA Tour golfer Denny McCarthy and caddie Geno Bonnalie were seen playing catch with baseball gloves. As Alex Myers reported in Golf Digest on October 22, 2026, McCarthy says the activity helps him feel a move into his left side during his golf swing. The article also references instructor Mike Malaska, who has used throwing a ball as a teaching analogy for the swing.

An essential distinction: this is a player's description of a personal feel, not a controlled biomechanical experiment. The report does not show that playing catch improved McCarthy's clubhead speed, shot dispersion or tournament results.

Why the throwing analogy may be useful

During a natural throw, people face a target, organize their movement and finish the action without consciously instructing every joint. Golf also involves coordinating the legs, torso, arms and club. A familiar movement can make a coaching cue easier to understand. But throwing and golf swings are not mechanically identical: the club moves on a different arc and must meet a stationary ball at a specific location.

For a right-handed golfer, the lead side is the left; for a left-handed golfer, it is the right. Changes in pressure under the feet and rotation of the torso are related, but should not be reduced to one violent sideways shift. McCarthy's description is not an instruction to thrust the pelvis toward the target or lunge onto the front foot.

Try a gentle observation session

The following is a GOLFTWITT editorial self-check, not a research-validated golf training protocol.

1. Establish a baseline. At a driving range that permits full shots, make six comfortable short swings with a familiar iron. Notice strike quality, starting direction and how balanced the finish feels. Avoid changing multiple swing elements at once.

2. Explore the action without a club. In a clear, safe area, gently toss a lightweight, soft ball to a partner several times. Notice how you turn toward the target and how the motion finishes. Do not throw hard or force a twist through discomfort.

3. Pick up your iron again. Rehearse a few slow half-swings without a ball. Select one simple cue, such as a smooth turn toward the target. Do not reproduce baseball arm mechanics literally.

4. Hit six more routine shots. Compare solid-contact frequency, consistency of starting line and balance at the finish. Six shots offer a rough observation only; even an apparent improvement cannot establish that the throwing exercise caused it.

When to drop the cue

If the throwing image makes your arms rush, your balance deteriorate or your strikes less reliable, set it aside. Stop if you feel pain in the back, shoulders or knees, and seek qualified individual advice if movement is restricted. Keep a safe distance from others.

The takeaway

Malaska has used throwing as a teaching analogy; McCarthy describes its personal value for his feel. Neither point establishes a universal golf fix or promises extra yards. The useful question is whether the cue helps you make a calmer, more repeatable swing.

Source: Alex Myers, Golf Digest, October 22, 2026: https://www.golfdigest.com/post/can-playing-catch-help-your-golf-swing . The photograph is illustrative and does not depict McCarthy or the catch drill.