5 Shocking Ways Charles Barkley Finally Fixed His Infamous Golf Shot (And His Current Handicap In 2025)

For decades, Charles Barkley’s golf shot was a source of global amusement, a cringe-worthy spectacle defined by a notorious ‘hitch’ that made the ball fly anywhere but straight. However, as of late 2024 and heading into the 2025 golf season, the narrative has completely changed. Sir Charles has not only fixed his infamous swing but has transformed into a respectable celebrity golfer, regularly competing in the American Century Championship and silencing his critics with genuinely good shots. This article dives deep into the breakthrough, the secret coach, and the simple mechanical change that cured one of golf's most famous cases of the yips.

The transformation is one of the most compelling sports redemption stories outside of a professional comeback. The former NBA MVP’s quest to conquer his golf demons involved years of public ridicule, a reality TV show, and finally, a quiet, effective fix that has allowed him to play with newfound freedom and confidence. Here is the definitive breakdown of how Charles Barkley went from a punchline to a legitimate contender in celebrity golf.

The Life and Legacy of Sir Charles: Charles Wade Barkley Biography

Charles Wade Barkley, affectionately known by his nicknames "Sir Charles," "Chuck," and "The Round Mound of Rebound," is one of the most dominant and charismatic figures in basketball history. His journey from an undersized power forward to an NBA icon and a prominent television personality laid the groundwork for his equally public, albeit much more frustrating, golf career.

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• Full Name: Charles Wade Barkley
• Born: February 20, 1963 (Age 62 in 2025)
• Hometown: Leeds, Alabama
• Height/Weight: Listed at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), though often cited as closer to 6 ft 4 in, and played at around 250 lbs.
• NBA Career: 1984–2000
• Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets
• Key Career Highlights:
  • 11x NBA All-Star
  • 1x NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) (1993)
  • 11x All-NBA Team selection
  • NBA Rebounding Leader (1987) – the shortest player in league history to achieve this.
  • 2x Olympic Gold Medalist (1992 Dream Team, 1996)
  • Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2006)
• Current Role: Highly popular and Emmy Award-winning television analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA and CBS Sports.

The Infamous Golf Swing: Why Did Charles Barkley’s Shot Break?

For years, Charles Barkley's golf swing was characterized by what is known in golf circles as the "yips"—an involuntary jerking or twitching motion, particularly in the short game, that prevents a smooth swing. For Barkley, this manifested as a dramatic, full-swing "hitch."

The hitch occurred right at the top of his backswing or during the transition. Instead of a fluid, continuous motion, Barkley would pause abruptly, causing his arms and hands to disconnect from his body's rotation. This resulted in wild, unpredictable shots, often shanked or topped, making him a viral star for all the wrong reasons.

Golf pros and analysts attributed the problem to a severe case of performance anxiety, where the pressure of being watched—especially in celebrity events like the American Century Championship—triggered a mental block that physically manifested in the swing. The result was a swing index that once reportedly hovered around a dismal 3.14, dragged down by low scores on tempo and upper body movement.

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Despite the ridicule, Barkley never gave up. He dedicated himself to fixing the problem, famously working with legendary coach Hank Haney for a period, which was documented on a reality TV show. While Haney helped, the true, lasting fix came later from a different instructor.

The 5 Breakthroughs That Cured Barkley’s Yips and Fixed His Shot

The real turning point in the Charles Barkley golf story came when he began working with short game guru and former PGA Tour winner, Stan Utley. Utley, known for his ability to simplify the game, was the key to unlocking Sir Charles's potential. The breakthrough wasn't a complex mechanical overhaul, but a simple mental and physical reset focused on rhythm and momentum.

1. The Stan Utley Simple Fix: Removing the Pause

Stan Utley’s core insight was that the hitch was a reaction to the fear of missing, not a lack of physical ability. The simple, revolutionary tip was to focus on a continuous, rhythmic motion. Utley instructed Barkley to keep the club moving from the moment he addressed the ball, effectively eliminating the opportunity for the mental block—the "hitch"—to occur at the top of the swing. The focus shifted from precision to tempo.

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2. Focusing on the Short Game and Feel

Utley is a short game specialist, and by improving Barkley’s chipping and putting, he built confidence from the ground up. This foundation of "feel" helped translate a smoother motion to the full swing. By no longer fearing the short shots, the pressure on the tee box was subtly reduced.

3. Embracing the New Swing in Competition

The true test came in high-pressure tournaments. Recent performances at the American Century Championship (ACC) in Lake Tahoe have demonstrated the fix is permanent. In the 2024 ACC, Barkley had a "historically good golf week," finishing 58th and showing flashes of brilliance, including an unreal eagle shot.

4. A Shift in Mindset and Public Perception

The biggest change is arguably mental. Barkley now plays with a visible sense of enjoyment and freedom. He is no longer the golfer whose swing was a painful struggle but a competitor whose improved game is celebrated. This positive feedback loop reinforces the new, fluid motion.

5. The Elimination of the "Hitch"

The most satisfying result is the visual evidence. Footage from 2024 and 2025 events shows a swing that is remarkably fluid, without the signature pause. While it's not a textbook PGA Tour swing, it is repeatable, consistent, and most importantly, effective. He is now hitting the ball with power and direction, a testament to Utley's simple, yet profound, coaching.

Charles Barkley’s Current Golf Handicap and Tournament Performance (2025)

Barkley’s golf handicap has been a subject of much debate and is the clearest metric of his dramatic improvement. His journey is a classic example of a high-handicap player drastically improving their game.

The Handicap Evolution:

Historically, Charles Barkley’s handicap was estimated to be around 28, placing him among the highest-handicap celebrities.

Following his work with Stan Utley and his run of good play, his reported handicap has dramatically decreased. While the official number at the American Century Championship is often kept private or calculated differently for the tournament's Modified Stableford scoring format, reports now place his handicap in the low double digits, often cited around 10. Barkley himself has even claimed to be playing at a single-digit handicap, though 10 is the more widely accepted and reported figure for his current level of play.

Recent Tournament Highlights:

His performance at the American Century Championship (ACC) is the benchmark for his progress. In recent years, he has consistently climbed the leaderboard, moving out of the bottom tier of competitors. His ability to card an eagle and string together multiple good rounds demonstrates that the old, unreliable swing is largely a thing of the past. The focus is no longer on *if* he can hit the ball, but how high he can finish against other top celebrity golfers like Steph Curry and Tony Romo.

The story of Charles Barkley’s golf shot is more than just a sports footnote; it is a lesson in perseverance and the power of a simple, effective fix. He proved that even the most ingrained, public flaws can be overcome with the right coaching and a commitment to changing the mental game.