Okay, so today’s the day I’m diving into trying to emulate Nelly Korda’s swing. I’ve been watching her highlights for weeks, and I’m finally ready to see if I can steal some of her magic (spoiler: probably not, but gotta try!).
Warm-up & Analysis: First things first, I hit the range and did some basic stretching and easy swings with my wedge. Then, I started recording my swing from different angles. Compared it side-by-side with Nelly’s. The first thing that jumped out was her incredible balance and how effortless her swing looks. She’s got that smooth tempo that’s just… chef’s kiss.
Key Takeaways:
- Her takeaway is wider and slower than mine. I tend to snatch the club back too quickly.
- She maintains a really stable lower body throughout the swing. I sway a bit too much.
- Her release is so powerful and complete. I often cut across the ball, leading to a weak fade.
Drill Time: Armed with these observations, I started with a takeaway drill. I placed an alignment stick on the ground pointing where my clubhead should be at the beginning of the swing. Slow and wide, focusing on feeling the stretch in my lats. Did about 20 reps of that, then moved onto half swings, trying to maintain that wide takeaway and stable lower body.
Lower Body Focus: Next up, I tried a drill where I imagined I was standing in a barrel. This helped me keep my lower body centered and prevent that swaying motion. It felt weird at first, almost like I was restricted, but after a few swings, I started to feel more connected to the ground.
Release Work: Finally, I worked on my release. I focused on feeling the clubhead release fully through the ball, almost like I was throwing the club at the target. This helped me get rid of that cut across the ball and started producing a more powerful, drawing ball flight. This part was tough, and I really had to exaggerate the feeling of turning my wrists over.
Full Swings & Adjustments: After about an hour of drills, I started hitting some full swings. It wasn’t perfect, not even close, but I could definitely feel the improvements. My ball flight was straighter, and I was getting more distance. I still need to work on maintaining that stable lower body throughout the entire swing, but it’s a work in progress.
Video Review & Cool Down: I recorded my swing again after the practice session and compared it to the first recording. There was a slight improvement in my takeaway and release. I definitely didn’t magically transform into Nelly Korda, but I felt like I moved a step in the right direction. Finished with some stretching and a good cool down.
Final Thoughts: Emulating a pro’s swing is HARD. But it’s also a great way to identify weaknesses in your own swing and work on specific areas for improvement. I’ll definitely keep working on these drills and see if I can continue to incorporate some of Nelly’s swing characteristics into my game. Next time, maybe I’ll try to copy her putting stroke… Wish me luck!