From hitting balls in the garden at the age of 5, to a professional golfer playing in the European Tour, Castore Golf athlete Nick Bachem, is a DP World Tour Rookie Winner with a drive for better.
We chatted to Nick Bachem about his journey into Golf, touching on his top golf swing tips and advice for those starting out in their golfing journey.
Read on to learn more.
Talk us through your journey into professional golf, when did you first become interested in the sport?
My dad played a little bit of golf when I was growing up, so we always had golf clubs back home - I have been hitting balls in the garden from such a young age. From the age of 5 years old, I have loved playing any kind of sport. Instead of waiting for friends to play football or table tennis, I was just happy to have a sport that I could do on my own. At first golf was a sport I used to kill some time, but then I started to fall in love with it, and from then on I have consistently tried different kind of sports - but I always stuck with golf.
What 4 golf swing tips would you give to beginners starting out in their career?
Tip 1:
Hit it hard - I think for beginners starting out in their golfing journey, it's really important to learn how to hit the ball hard and move your body fast. You’re always going to figure out a way to hit it straight, but it is much better if you know how to move quick and hit it far and hard. Then you can learn how to hit it straight.
Tip 2:
Have fun - that is the most important part of golf. Make sure you're around people who enjoy playing golf as much as you do. This means you play more - and playing more makes you better.
Tip 3:
Brush up on the golf basics. Your alignment, your grip, and your posture. If you stand properly over the ball, it's much easier to move.
Tip 4:
If you want to progress and get better, you must practice chipping and putting. This helps mix up your training.
What drills do you find most effective for improving your swing?
If you want to learn how to improve your golf swing, my advice is, practice with a ball between your elbow, this helps you to feel more connected. Or place a towel under your arm. This helps to keep your swing based on the rotation of your upper body and lower body.
For putting, my tip is to have a mirror or something that you can check your alignment and eye position - making sure you’re standing over the ball as consistently as possible.
How do you plan your shots on a new course?
I like to plan my shots on a new course pretty simply. I aim to not try anything too crazy and instead hit the ball where I can see it. Then from there, I aim for the middle of the green - this is never too hard if you have a putter in hand.
How do you prepare mentally for a game?
Mentally I like to prepare for a match by just being focussed and having fun. I try to focus on a couple of things that I can do that are not related to the score. There are so many variations in golf that you can’t really control, so your attitude is very important. Focus on being positive no matter what happens - keep two or three thoughts or mantras in your head and stick to them.
Outside of the course, what exercise regimes do you carry out to remain at the top of your game?
I like working out a lot - this helps me to feel fit and strong in golf. A lot of the movements in golf are based around the core and the legs. Stability of the legs is crucial for maintaining a strong swing.
Keeping a varied plan and trialling different sports makes you a better athlete - if you're capable of doing a lot of different kind of sports, these skills are easily transferable back to golf.
I really like to play table tennis, and I love to surf - not only is keeping a varied training regime a lot of fun - which always helps - keeping a diverse plan also enables you learn so much about your body. Ultimately, putting your body in new situations always makes you better.
How do you change your strategy based on weather conditions?
I often interchange my play based on the weather conditions that day. If it’s windy, I carefully consider where the pin positions are before deciding how aggressive I hit it off the tee. If it’s a downwind and the pin is short, I try not to be too close to the hole.
In general, when the weather is bad, I enjoy playing. Mentally you have to stay calm and accept you can’t control what is going on around you - this mental calmness means you have a very good chance at playing well. My advice is, if the weather is rubbish and everything feels stressful, try to remain calm and just go with it.
What’s your approach to the off-season?
In the off-season I have a break from golf. Being a professional golfer is amazing - that said, it's super important to remove yourself from the golf world for a period of time. The off-season is the perfect time to try different activities. In general, in my off-season I spend my time surfing, visiting new places, meeting new people and working out quite a lot to prepare for all my tournaments when the new season starts. Mentally the off-season is crucial - when I return to golf after a break, it allows me to fall completely in love with the sport again and makes it much more enjoyable.
The one motto you live by?
The one motto I live by is - have fun. The most important aspect of everything I do is having fun. My career involves a lot of practice and travelling, so enjoying the moment and staying positive makes it much more enjoyable. Have the time of your life, enjoy what you do, and work your ass off!
What does Better Never Stops mean to you?
Better Never Stops screams resilience. I think in sport and life in general, Better Never Stops drives people to just keep going. For me, Better Never Stops is about figuring out how to enjoy the tough times. When you’re not playing the way you want to play or life outside of the golf course isn’t the best, its important to find a way to keep going and make the situation better again. Enjoy the grind, trust the process - things will get better.
How do you rise above setbacks and plateaus in progress?
For me life and golf is a big adventure and process. Setbacks are always going to happen, but you can always learn something from them and grow from them. If everything went perfect all the time, it would be pretty boring!
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