Hello, Daily Duffer readers! Sarah Chen here, and I’m thrilled to share some insights from Min Woo Lee’s fantastic performance at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he finished T2 to kickstart his 2024 season. Min Woo’s success wasn’t just about his powerful swing; it was also a masterclass in equipment optimization and understanding what you need to play your best. This is a topic I cover extensively with my students, from aspiring professionals to weekend warriors: how to truly dial in your equipment and why it matters.
One of the most exciting takeaways from Min Woo’s week was his willingness to make strategic changes to his bag. As he explained, he wasn’t just chasing the latest trend; he was actively seeking solutions to specific feel issues in his swing. This is a crucial lesson for all of us!
Understanding Your Driver: Feel and Performance
Min Woo made a significant driver change, swapping his trusty Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond for the brand’s new Quantum TD-TD driver. While he acknowledged his previous driver was performing well, a recent experience highlighted a subtle but important feel issue.
“Didn’t drive it that well, especially when I was somewhat in contention. Just wanted to feel a little bit more of the club when I was swinging. It was a little bit whippy for me I guess with the swing speed that I have.“
This quote perfectly illustrates a point I often make to my students: equipment isn’t just about distance or ball speed; it’s also about feel and control. A shaft that feels “whippy” for a high swing speed player like Min Woo can lead to timing issues and inconsistency, especially under pressure. Even if the numbers look good on a launch monitor, if the feel isn’t right, it can impact confidence and performance on the course.
Try This: The “Feel Check” Drill
Here’s a drill you can try to better understand your driver’s feel: Take 5-10 swings on the range with your current driver, focusing intently on the sensation of the clubhead throughout your swing – from the top of your backswing to impact and follow-through. Does it feel stable? Does it feel like you can consistently find the center of the face? Now, if you have access to a demo club with a slightly different shaft flex (even just one step stiffer or softer), hit a few balls with that. Pay attention to the subtle differences in feel. You might be surprised at how much a minor change can influence your perception of control.
Min Woo also mentioned another interesting motivator for his driver change: witnessing a peer’s success.
“A lot of it was playing with Chris Gotterup. He won last week and he just had the ball on a string with low spin with similar speeds, I guess. Yeah, just wanted to try it out and yeah, worked out this week.“
This highlights the psychological aspect of equipment. Seeing another player with similar characteristics achieve great results with a particular club can be a powerful motivator to try something new. It’s also a testament to the importance of continually exploring options, even if you’re already playing well. Min Woo’s strategic driver switch paid off, as he ranked 26th for Strokes Gained: Off The Tee at Pebble Beach.
The Art of the Putter Change: Consistency Over Perfection
Beyond the driver, Min Woo also put a new, unreleased Callaway prototype putter, affectionately dubbed “TRTL” (Turtle), into play. Putter changes can often be the most personal and impactful. What resonated with Min Woo about this new putter isn’t just about holy grail perfection, but about forgiveness and consistency.
“I feel like even the putts that I didn’t hit perfect, they somewhat got close and that’s what I was trying to strive for. Yeah, it’s a good step. They’re both going to be in the bag for a while.“
This is a profound statement for all golfers. We all strive for perfect putts, but the reality is, even the best players don’t hit the sweet spot every single time. A putter that minimizes the penalty for off-center strikes – allowing those “not perfect” putts to still get close – is a game-changer. This concept of forgiveness is paramount in golf. Forgiveness in a putter means more consistent speed control and better line retention, even on minor mis-hits. For the average golfer, this translates directly into fewer three-putts and more confidence on the greens.
Here’s a Drill: The “Gate Drill” for Forgiveness
Place two tees in the ground slightly wider than your putter head, forming a “gate.” Now, practice putting through this gate, focusing on hitting the ball squarely. The goal isn’t just to make the putt, but to consistently swing cleanly through the gate without hitting the tees. Once you’re comfortable, try moving the ball slightly off-center of the putter face (towards the heel or toe) and still attempt to putt through the gate. A forgiving putter will still get the ball rolling online with decent speed, even from these slightly imperfect strikes. This drill helps you identify if your putter is truly forgiving on mis-hits and encourages a consistent stroke.
Another Drill: The “2-Ball Distance Control” Drill
Grab two golf balls. Pick a target hole on the practice green. Hit your first putt, focusing on making it. Now, immediately hit your second putt, aiming to stop it right next to your first ball, no matter where it ended up. The goal here is to develop a consistent feel for distance and learn how your putter reacts to different stroke lengths. This also helps you understand how consistent your ball speed is on successive putts, which is vital for minimizing three-putts.
Min Woo’s putter switch delivered tangible results, as he ranked an impressive 2nd for Strokes Gained: Putting in California. That’s a phenomenal improvement that contributed significantly to his T2 finish.
Your Takeaway: The Power of Intentional Equipment Choices
Min Woo Lee’s week at Pebble Beach wasn’t just about incredible golf; it was a powerful demonstration of how intentional equipment choices can elevate your game. He didn’t just passively accept what he had; he actively sought improvements based on feel, performance, and the results he observed from others. The key lesson here is not necessarily to rush out and buy the newest clubs, but to understand your own game and be open to finding tools that better support it.
In my teaching experience, many golfers settle for clubs that aren’t truly optimized for their swing. They might have grown up with a certain brand or been given a set, but haven’t truly explored what could enhance their performance. Just like we work on our swing mechanics, short game, and mental approach, we should also regularly evaluate our equipment.
So, take a page from Min Woo’s book. Pay attention to how your clubs feel, how they perform under pressure, and what subtle improvements might be available to you. You might find that a strategic adjustment, even a seemingly small one, can unlock a new level of confidence and lower your scores. Keep practicing, keep learning, and keep striving for that next level in your game!
