Nelly Korda's Golf Warm-Up: From the Chip to a Fluid Swing
How do Nelly Korda and Jessica Korda prepare before a round? Tiny chips with the wedge, arriving two hours before the start, and then two images from their coach, Jamie Mulligan: “pushing toward the target” for Jessica, and “the stone and the string” for Nelly.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
The two sisters start with a wedge (54° or 58°) and tiny potato chips, to get her body moving, then gradually increases the length of her swings depending on how she feels. Nelly arrives at the golf course two hours before her tee time, eats, warms up for half an hour, and then heads to the driving range one hour before his departure. The number of balls depends mainly on the temperature: in warm weather, five minutes may be enough; in cold weather, it takes much longer.
Their coach, Jamie Mulligan, first observes how Jessica brings her lower body toward the ball. If she moves too early in the morning, he helps her load up and then gently pushes her toward the target, so she can feel her body guiding the downswing. With Nelly, he draws on an image from Ernest Jones: The club is a rock tied to the end of a string. You control its rise, let it come back down, then repeat the motion with the ball, imagining that it isn't there—it's simply in the way. All of this in a relaxed atmosphere: For Nelly, the more relaxed she is, the better she plays.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Arrive early: Nelly arrives two hours before her tee time and heads to the driving range an hour before.
- Start with a wedge of very small chips.
- Gradually increase the length of your strokes based on how you feel.
- Using a 9-iron, take a practice swing while visualizing a “rock and string”: control the club’s upward motion, then let it come back down.
- Stand over the ball, imagine it isn't there, and repeat the same motion.
- If your body feels stiff, focus on your lower body as it pushes toward the target during the downswing.
- Stay relaxed between shots.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Perform a series of full swings starting with the very first ball.
- Keep the warm-up the same length regardless of the weather.
- Wanting to hit the ball instead of letting the club fall.
- A passive lower body during the downswing.
- Getting nervous before the start.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Short wedge shots, followed by increasingly longer shots
- “Stone and string” practice swings, without a ball
- The same motion with the ball, ignoring the ball
- A relaxing break between shots
Your Questions
Which club does Nelly Korda start her warm-up with?
Using a wedge—either a 54° or 58°, depending on the video—she starts with very short chips to get her body moving. She then gradually increases the distance of her shots based on how she feels.
How long before she leaves does she arrive at the driving range?
She arrives at the golf course two hours early, eats, warms up for half an hour, and then goes to the driving range an hour before her tee time. The length of the session depends mainly on the temperature.
What does “the stone and the string” mean?
An image by Ernest Jones adapted by Jamie Mulligan: the shaft is a string, and the clubhead is a stone. You control the upward motion, then let the club fall back down. Nelly describes a very fluid sensation, as if gravity were doing the work.
How do you transition from this exercise to the ball?
After a practice swing, stand over the ball, imagining that it isn't there, and repeat the same motion. The ball is simply in the path of the club.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Nelly Korda). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.