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Nelly Korda’s Swing Tempo Tips

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Golf Tips: Copy Nelly Korda’s Swing Tempo With These 3 Keys

By Brendon Elliott, PGA

Published on Saturday, April 20, 2024

With no disrespect to Scottie Scheffler and his dominance in the men’s game, Nelly Korda may be the best golfer on the planet right now. Going for her fifth straight win this week at The Chevron Championship, the LPGA’s first major of the year, Nelly sits in a very familiar place near the top of the leaderboard.

One of the most striking things about Nelly’s swing is its fluidity. Her motion is smooth and graceful, with no wasted or unnecessary movements. Her natural rhythm and tempo allow her to generate power without sacrificing accuracy.

Another key element of Nelly’s swing is her balance. She maintains a stable base throughout her swing, which allows her to continually make solid contact and control her shot trajectory. Her weight shift is subtle and controlled, which helps her to maintain her balance and generate power.

Nelly’s swing also features a high level of coordination between her upper body and lower body. Her hips and shoulders rotate in a way that creates proper resistance between each other, allowing her to generate torque and power. Her arms and hands remain relaxed and passive, allowing the club head to do the work.

Of course, Nelly’s swing didn’t develop overnight. It has taken years of hard work and dedication to reach the level of proficiency that she now possesses. The following three tips can help you find better balance, fluidity, and rhythm in your swing, but, just like with Nelly, it will take some time to really get things dialed in.

Focus on your posture

Maintaining good posture from set up and throughout your swing is essential for achieving balance and fluidity. As you get set, focus on keeping your spine and sternum steady and over the ball, with your weight evenly distributed and your feet shoulder-width apart. This will help you maintain your balance throughout the swing.

As you move throughout your swing, always try to maintain that feeling of centeredness, with those critical points of the spine and sternum steady and over the ball.

Practice your transition

Many golfers lose rhythm and fluidity during the transition between the backswing and downswing.

Nelly Korda of the United States plays her shot from the third tee during the second round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 18, 2022 in Naples, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

To improve this, practice your transition by slowing down your swing and focusing on the smoothness of the movement. Once you have mastered a slow and smooth transition, gradually increase your speed until you can maintain the same fluidity at a faster pace.

Use your hips correctly

A consistent and solid golf swing relies heavily on using your hips correctly. This helps generate power and maintain fluidity. Additionally, it allows for a consistent strike at impact and a reliable shot shape. Check out this sequence from Nelly:

Notice Nelly rotating her hips throughout the swing, starting with her backswing and continuing through to your follow-through. As you swing back, your hips should rotate around 45 degrees, with your upper torso rotating an additional 45 degrees beyond that. That resistance between your upper body, rotating closer to 90 degrees, and your 45-degree hip turn creates the wind-up, which is necessary for you to be powerful once you transition down from the top of the swing.

As you unwind in the downswing, your hips must lead the way and rotate out of the way so that your hands and club can approach the ball from the inside. Hips that do not clear properly in the downswing create problems with consistency in your swing.

Catch some coverage of The Chevron Championship this weekend . . . there’s a lot you can learn from one of the LPGA’s stars who’s on an unreal run!

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Try This Drill to Cure Your Slice

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Golf Tips

Published on Tuesday, April 2, 2024

The slice is enemy No. 1 for a lot of golfers. And it’s easy to see why.

A slice curves away from the target pretty quickly and zaps distance, making tee shots and approach shots less likely to find the fairway and green. The result? Higher scores.

Slicing the ball is a common fault because it’s a combination of a lot of common miscues but none more prevalent than an over-the-top backswing and open clubface at impact. Those two combined make it easy for the ball to spin left to right (for righties, opposite for lefties), and away from the target.

The good part about a slice though, is just like any swing fault, it can be fixed with the right prescription. We asked Jimmy Wisinski, the PGA of America Director of Instruction at Kent Country Club in Michigan, to share a drill on how the combat the dreaded slice.

Jimmy delivered with a great alignment-stick drill that you can do the next time you hit the range:

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Drain Putts Like Tiger Woods

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Struggling On The Greens? This Putting Drill Can Help Instantly

By Brendon Elliott, PGA

Published on Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Beyond some standard fundamentals, the art of putting is as individual as a fingerprint.

We all have unique factors influencing our approach to putting: our height, body type, tempo at which we walk and talk and, most impactfully, how we see a putt with our eyes all influence what we do with the flat stick, whether we know it or not.

We often force ourselves into a setup position that is too “squared off” or “technically sound” to allow our eyes to see that critical starting spot to roll the ball over just after impact.

Our brain, or subconscious, will actually reroute the putter on the downstroke if it feels that something is “off” visually when you make those last few looks with your eyes down the target line. This will lead to often funky-looking strokes and a potential massive loss of confidence.

If you’ve been experiencing some struggles on the green, not to fear. This drill below can help right away.

Find your spot
  • With three golf balls, start with a putt of 6 feet on the practice green.
  • Really focus on your putting line. Take a trip around the hole and see the line from all sides.
  • Once you are confident on the line, find a point on your line about 4-6 inches past your ball and align the mark on your golf ball to that point. Pro tip: Using your golf ball mark is a critical part to being a good putter!
  • As you start to get set up to the ball, make it a point to feel comfortable with what you see with your eyes as you are over the ball. How does the line on the ball look in relation to that intermediate starting point? How does your putter head look with regard to the ball and your intermediate starting point? Adjust your body, line, or even your putter head if it seems off a bit.
  • It is critical to get your setup conditions correct in terms of what you see as you are over the ball and not necessarily in a way that feels more “technically sound.” Your eyes and instincts, unique to you, are far more critical in allowing you to roll the ball end over end and over that intermediate spot on your line.

Once you start continuously rolling the ball over that intermediate spot on your line, this drill will allow you to putt with more confidence and think less about how technically sound your putting may be. Technique is essential, but it often handcuffs golfers by not allowing them to stroke the putt freely and confidently!

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Swing Tips from a Super Bowl Champion

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A Swing Tip You Can Learn From the NFL Quarterbacks Who Played in the Super Bowl

By Ryan Adams, PGA

Published on Sunday, January 28, 2024

A thrilling match-up for Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11 ended as it should.

With drama.

The Kansas City Chiefs won their second straight Super Bowl, defeating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on a short pass play in overtime. The game was fun to watch, with high-flying offenses, stout defenses, plenty of storylines . . . and how could we forget Taylor Swift?

Believe it or not, though, there’s also a little golf lesson you can learn from the quarterbacks playing in today’s game.

Did you see how Patrick Mahomes (above) of the Chiefs and Brock Purdy of the 49ers were making their throwing motions? Well, there’s a lot of similarities between the way these quarterbacks sling it and how to create more powerful strikes with every club.

Let’s break it down.

Wind up and weight transfer

The first step for a quarterback is winding up their upper body and then transferring weight to the front foot to fire a pass. That’s a lot like the golf swing if you think about it: You make a full turn and then transfer your weigh to the lead side to maximize power. Look at Mahomes below as he steps into a pass:

He can’t make this throw without transferring his weight to the lead side. When they weren’t under pressure during the Super Bowl, Mahomes and Purdy started throws by stepping into them, and not hanging back. When you hang back on your trail side, there’s no energy going to the ball (or in the quarterbacks’ case, the pass) which makes it harder to create good contact.

Try this: Make practice swings with a full turn (shoulder under chin) and then on your downswing, take a step with your lead foot like you’re throwing a football or baseball. You’ll understand the proper sequence a lot better.

Unwind the lower body

Once you’ve made that first step, it’s time to unwind the lower body. You’ll see in the Super Bowl that the quarterbacks create space with their lower body by opening their hips and firing through with their upper body. Without that, it’s nearly impossible for them to make a proper move and throw the ball. Look at Purdy unwindingfor a big throw here:

Same goes for your golf swing. There’s no way for you to hit the ball squarely without unwinding and rotating your hips to clear out space for the arms, hands and club. Not only are you clearing out space but because you made that move we described above in the first step, your sequence is right on and that means really good contact with the ball.

Try this: To understand this hip clear-out, get in stance and then take your lead hand and press it into your lead hip. You should feel an open rotation, or a “clearing out” of your lower body. Another way to think about this is if you had a belt on and tugged it with your lead hand. Attempt hitting a few half shots with this idea in place with your wedges.

Hopefully this two-part tip is something that will help you, like it helps these great quarterbacks on the NFL’s biggest stage.

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The Coat Hanger Drill

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A coat hanger can help straighten up your wrists and eliminate any scooping in your swing.

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Preparing for a Big Shot? Use Phil’s Formula to Perform

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By Keith Stewart, PGA
Published on 
There comes a moment in every round where we really need to hit a pressure filled shot. Watching the 103rd PGA Championship yesterday, Phil’s game was wavering after the wayward tee shot on the 13th hole. Over the next couple of challenging moments, he hit some average shots. With Brooks Koepka’s birdie on the 16th hole, Phil’s lead was gone.
Phil completed the Par 5 16th without a birdie. The success of the entire day now hinged on the next iron shot. The most difficult hole on the course was parred by Brooks. Phil had to match his score or even try to beat it. With his most committed swing of the day, Phil drew a straight line to the flag with his shot tracer. The pressure of the moment and the difficulty of that play could have easily caused him to guide the swing. When belief mattered most, Mickelson moved through it with confidence.
Within that crucial moment, what can we learn from Phil’s focus and commitment? Any expert instructor can teach positions in the golf swing. Being labeled a “coach” implies a little more. PGA Coaches don’t just teach their students the golf swing, they also coach them on how to use it. When preparing for one of those pressure filled shots, use Phil’s formula to perform.
  • Proper preparation starts with a powerful mindset. Dottie Pepper commented during the
    telecast about Phil meditating. Behind those sunglasses, Phil filters out the noise and focuses on the target. Creating self-belief comes from a having a relaxed mind. Practices like meditation or just simply calming your thought process is the first successful step to pulling off the play.
  • Select the club you can swing. One of the worst mistakes we can make in these situations is trying to hit half shots. This is a very important point. Changing the speed and length of your swing will create more stress in an already super stressful situation. Correct club selection can actually help remove anxiety from the shot.
  • When it comes time to hit the ball, use your routine. You have a routine for a reason. Sticking to that routine for hours during a round of golf is impossible. We all have moments when we stray from our process. For this shot make it your best routine of the day. Do that and you’ll be really ready.
  • Envision the shot as you walk into the ball. If you don’t see it, you cannot create it. You see great players do this on television all the time.
  • Now you’re ready. Once you’re in the address position and ready to go; swing it. You chose that club for a very specific reason, now follow through on that intent. Make a complete swing. Hold your finish until the ball lands near your target.
These specific keys will allow you to perform your best under the tensest of times. Watch the coverage today. Now that you’re aware of what it takes to perform like Phil on the 17 th tee, observe all the contenders. Personality plays a part in this process too. Follow your favorite golfer and watch their routine. Their process will no doubt contain these five points.
As a PGA Coach, here’s one more tip on this subject. Screen shot this article. Save it in the pictures on your phone. Then when you practice, you can use that picture as a checklist. Start to incorporate each of the five keys into your pre-shot routine. Build a successful process on the range. One you can use like Phil when you have to perform under pressure.
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Stay Centered Drill

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Stay Centered and Balanced with this Drill from PGA Coach Cathy Kim

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If you’re a golfer that has a hard time staying centered in the golf swing, PGA Coach Cathy Kim has a great drill for you.
Some golfers tend to move their head from side to side or shift their weight too much in the swing. It typically means the weight is rolling in their feet.
If you struggle with this problem, try going to the opposite end of the spectrum and taking some swings with your feet together. Hitting some shots on the range with your shoes side-by-side will help you feel the way your body moves and eliminate the sway in your swing. Ultimately, the drill will help teach your body to move and rotate properly without losing your balance.
Once you’ve centered and balanced your golf swing, you can attack your tempo with another great tip from Kim.
If you’re looking for a golf coach to help take your game to the next level, PGA.com/Coach is a great place to start.
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Operation 36 Golf

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Operation 36 Announces Bold Initiative to Create 1,000,000 New Golfers

Operation 36 Announces Bold Initiative to Create 1,000,000 New Golfers

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Matt Reagan, PGA
Co-Founder and CEO, Operation 36 Golf

Garner-based golf player development program, Operation 36, announced its bold initiative to grow the game of golf in a wildly impactful and measurable way over the next five years.

Co-Founders Matt Reagan, PGA, and Ryan Dailey, PGA have made Operation 36 well known because of their very different approach to teaching beginner golfers. Traditional wisdom says new players should get private golf lessons, and stay on the practice range until they are good enough to get on the course.

Operation 36 takes the traditional model and flips it on its head. All new players begin on the course.  Instead of starting at the tee box, they play from 25 yards away from the hole. Once the player shoots par (36) from 25 yards, they back up to 50 yards, and so on, until they are shooting even par (36) from the full tee box.  It’s timely, it’s fun, and it provides step by step improvement.

This golf program was initially seen as only a Junior Program that had caught fire as the standard for introducing any beginner to the game, including adults. It is now taught by nearly 700 coaches across the world at over 450 facilities with over 28,000 golfers.

Now the company has set an even bigger initiative.

Co-Founder Matt Reagan said, “There is a problem with how golfers are introduced to the game.   It is our mission to give these new golfers the best program and technology possible to make becoming a life-long golfer a fun experience.  Our team has been hard at work over the last 10 years to build the programs, technology, training, and network to help carry out this mission.  We believe the foundation is in place to set our big Network-wide goal. We are going to introduce 1,000,000 new golfers to the game and get them to shoot even par (36) for 9 holes by the end of 2025!  The best part is we can guide golfers and actually measure it with our technology. We will be the first company in golf that is able to accurately measure and relay the impact to the public. It can’t happen unless we pull everyone into the mission to grow the game.  From Golf Pros as program leaders to existing golfers as influencers, we want everyone to have a complete plan to pull someone new into the sport. Over the coming months, we will be focused on continued growth and aligning with industry partners to bring the 1,000,000 new golfers goal to life!”

Operation 36 recently launched a new website, as well as a Program Map. Families who want to get involved with a program can now easily connect with a local Operation 36 coach.  In the coming months, the company will be rolling out more tools to attract families to learn to play golf.

The mission at Operation 36 is to design the #1 Programs and Technology to introduce and progress a beginner in playing the game of golf.