Nelly Korda, the world’s number 1 golfer, has carved out quite a reputation on the LPGA Tour. The 26-year-old holds 15 wins with a driving distance of 269.79 yards. With all this success, many fans have been curious about her approach to the game, particularly in light of the increasing emphasis on analytics in the professional golfing world. Does she also rely on Bryson DeChambeau’s trusted technology? Not so much 

She joined Gary Williams on the Golf Channel’s newly launched podcast to reflect on her 2024 season and talk about what 2025 might hold. It was during this conversation that Williams, just like any devoted fan, asked her about the role data plays in her game. In response, she stated that she hadn’t abandoned her original approach.

“Not at all, I think it actually makes me feel a little bit more technical. I have a trackman; I don’t use it. I have a quad; I don’t really use it. They just kind of sit pretty in my garage,” she laughingly emphasizing her preference for instinct over intricate numbers.

She explained, “I’ve always been that kind of person that wants to envision her shots.” She shies away from taking a deep dive into the analytics, and numbers. Why? “I don’t want to lose my feel and how I envision my shots because I feel like when I start to put numbers and give technical feel, I lose my feel,” Korda shared. And for her, losing that feeling is a big no-no! “That’s not how I was raised and that’s not how I started playing the game,” she said, clearing her perception. LIV golfer, Bryson DeChambeau’s mindset stands in sharp contrast to Nelly Korda’s philosophy.

The 2x US Open winner is a self-proclaimed “launch monitor junkie,” and his scientific, data-centric approach is widely recognized in the golfing community. Known as the Scientist, he is often seen glued to his launch monitors and is famously known for using the GCQuad at almost every event. According to him, it helps him with detailed analytics about ball and club head performance. 

This discussion makes us wonder, if not technical, what approach Korda follows to be at the top of her game. 

What’s Nelly Korda’s approach to staying at the top?

When it comes to golf, Nelly Korda knows how to make the most of each tee box. She believes that mastering different shots is key, and the good news is you don’t need to be a pro to do it! After winning the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club in June 2021, she leaned on some reliable tee shots to find the fairway and stretch her drives when needed. 

Her first go-to is the power shot. To really crank up those yards, she suggests adjusting your weight to your back foot—about 70%. No GCQuad is needed, it’s all about catching the ball on the upswing, ideally placing it close to your left heel. This setup not only promotes solid extension for longer drives but also makes you feel ready to unleash a powerful shot.

Another part of her routine is the one-handed drill she swears by. 2x major winner emphasizes the importance of checking your alignment before teeing off—think feet, hips, shoulders, and clubface. This exercise helps her maintain a solid swing plane. Lastly, every golfer dreams of hitting that big, high draw. Her stock shot starts slightly right off the target and curves back, and it’s all about having the right swing path and clubface alignment at impact.

Basically, her whole vibe of just feeling the game stands in stark contrast to DeChambeau’s super-detailed data crunching. They’re pretty much on opposite ends of the spectrum! As golf keeps evolving, what do you think whose game approach will run longer?