I’ve been watching videos of Nelly Korda and they reminded me of something interesting about how we study the best players in the world.
Most of the time when golfers want to learn from pros, the attention goes straight to names like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. That makes sense. They are incredible players and there is plenty to learn from watching them.
But if you want to study one of the most consistent players in golf, Nelly Korda is a great place to look.
Her game is built around control, smart decisions and repeatable scoring shots. Watching her talk through a few practice sessions recently, three things stood out that are worth copying.
She rarely swings at 100 percent
In a video Korda did with Grant Horvat, she mentioned that a full pitching wedge for her is around 125 yards and can reach about 130 when adrenaline kicks in during competition. What stood out more was the way she described how she swings the club.
Instead of going all out, she explained that she tends to stay in more of a 90 percent range with her scoring clubs.
A swing that is slightly under maximum effort is far easier to repeat. Contact becomes more consistent, trajectory stabilizes and distance control improves. Many amateurs chase distance, even with wedges, but backing off slightly can help you deliver a square clubface.
She decides how the ball should fly before choosing the club
Another thing that stood out to me is how she approaches shot selection. While most amateurs look at the yardage and choose a club, her selection process is quite different.
In one example, she was hitting from about 89 yards with the ball below her feet and wind was involved. Under calmer conditions, she said she might hit a higher shot with a 58-degree wedge to land the ball softly.
Because of the lie and the wind, though, she changed the plan. Instead, she chose a 54-degree wedge and played a more controlled knockdown shot to keep the flight lower and reduce spin.
The decision began with how the ball needed to travel and how it should behave when it landed. The club selection came after that. Thinking about trajectory, spin and landing conditions first is a habit worth picking up.
She practices multiple shots to the same distance
The most interesting insight for me was when she explained how she liked to practice.
Rather than standing on the range and hitting the same club over and over, she prefers to hit several different shots to the same target. She might hit one with a pitching wedge, another with a 54-degree wedge and another with a 58-degree wedge.
The yardage stays the same but the trajectory, spin and club change.
I’ve heard a lot of mixed advice about the most effective way to practice and the way Korda practices is interesting to me. Many professionals will tell you never to hit the same target twice. For some golfers, that’s just not an effective way to learn.
This approach is a perfect hybrid option. You don’t change the target but you change your method and you develop skills in a deeper way because of it.
Final thoughts
Working on small tweaks like this can help you gain more control on the golf course. Take information from the professionals like Korda whenever you can and use it to your advantage.
Top Photo Caption: Nelly Korda has one of the best swings in golf. (GETTY IMAGES/Julio Aguilar)
John
3 months ago
Great article!