Tips from Nelly Korda: Small Targets, Lies, and Wedges
On a hole at his club, Chris Trott plays a few shots with Nelly Korda and asks her questions at each stage: teeing off on an intimidating hole, managing nerves, analyzing a wedge shot, and then an uphill chip on Bermuda grass.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
On a tee shot between bunkers and water, Nelly Korda finds her footing a small target and plays a lower-lofted driver that she knows she can hit straight, teeing off from a lower tee. When she's feeling nervous, she focuses on her setup and on what makes a good shot, rather than on her mistakes. She doesn't play just a slight draw: With two tricks up his sleeve, you never know which one he'll pull out when the pressure's on. His advice to fans: Know your game and keep it simple. She also explains that a fitting led her to switch to the TP5x, which gives her more distance off the driver and more spin around the greens.
When hitting a wedge shot, the first criterion is the lie: A ball on a downhill slope loses spin, comes out lower, and cuts through the wind; when she and her caddie were talking only about the club and the wind, she hit the ball too far. To reduce the spin, she Swing less hard and use a longer club, and prefers wedges that are a little worn. She’s okay with making mistakes: fear makes you stiff. Around the green, on an uphill slope covered in Bermuda grass, she plays a bump-and-run shot with a 50-degree wedge, with the bounce, not the leading edge, ball positioned slightly back, narrow stance, weight on the front foot, and keep turning.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- If you're having a tough start, choose a small target and a shot you know you can hit straight.
- Focus on your preparation and on what makes a good shot.
- Before hitting a wedge shot, first assess the lie, then the club, and finally the wind.
- To reduce spin, swing more gently and use a club one size larger.
- Around the green, choose a shot with a high success rate, such as the bump-and-run.
- Hold the ball slightly behind you, use a narrow stance, shift your weight to your front foot, use the bounce, and keep turning.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Keep two possible moves in mind under pressure without knowing which one will come out.
- Think about your mistakes rather than your successes.
- Ignore the tie when analyzing the move.
- Hitting a wedge with a wider loft too hard: too much spin.
- Use the leading edge for a chip shot on Bermuda: the club digs in.
- To freeze up out of fear of making a mistake.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Drives toward a small target, tee lower
- Downhill wedges to feel the ball lose spin
- Same distance with a longer club while swinging less hard
- Bump and run at 50 on an uphill slope, weight on the front foot
Your Questions
How does Nelly Korda handle her nerves at the tee?
She sets a small goal for herself, focuses on her preparation and on what makes a good shot, and pushes thoughts of mistakes out of her mind.
Why does she only play for a draw?
Because with two tricks up her sleeve, you never know which one she'll pull out when the pressure's on. She knows she can count on her draw.
How do you reduce spin on a wedge shot?
Hit the ball less hard and use a longer club: the harder you hit, the more spin you generate. She also prefers wedges that are a little worn.
How do you chip uphill on Bermuda grass?
Use the club's bounce—not the leading edge—to dig into the grain. Position the ball slightly back, take a narrow stance, shift your weight to your front foot, and maintain a continuous rotation.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Nelly Korda). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.