The fiery Spaniard focuses on putting and “warming up the machine”
By: Garrett Johnston
It’s hard to believe that this is only Jon Rahm’s third full season on the PGA Tour. The 24-year-old budding superstar is no stranger to delivering on big stages, as the Spaniard has three victories to his name, two top-five finishes in major championships and he dispatched Tiger Woods in Ryder Cup singles last fall in Paris.
Furthermore, since January 2017 he’s won seven times around the world. The former Arizona State standout seems destined for big moments in golf and exhibits a fearless and confident attitude. For all of his talent and intangibles, Rahm still puts in the work. Let’s get to know his pre-round practice routine.
Golf Range Magazine: How do you spend your time on the practice range before a round, do you get technical?
Jon Rahm: The only thing I try to get technical with on with my pre-round routine is getting the speed with my putter.
That’s the absolute most important thing for me pre-round is getting the feel of the greens and the speed. The rest of my practice warm up is exactly that, just getting warmed up.
On the range I’m hitting all kinds of shots: high fades, low fades, high draws, low draws. The biggest thing I’m doing is getting my body to move around honestly, there’s nothing special to it.
The only thing I really and consistently focus on is trying to gauge how the greens are rolling and how fast or how slow.
GRM: Do you like to hit a certain number of drivers, irons, etc.?
JR: A number in my head? Oh no. I honestly start on the range and I hit about 50 yard shots with only my left hand and a 56 degree wedge, just to start warming up. Then I hit a couple with my right arm only and then I go. Then I alternate between three-quarter shots and full shots, three quarter shots and full shots, with every club. I don’t count the balls or anything. If it happens that it’s similar everyday that’s great. I just warm up the machine, that’s all you need to do, nothing special.
GRM: What should golf instructors pass on to their students about the way you practice?
JR: It’s definitely the need to focus on the putting green, especially when it’s early in the morning. It’s easy to be surprised by the speeds you see on the greens if you don’t really focus on getting good practice time in there.
You have to make sure you get used to whatever speed the greens are at that day.
The earlier you do this, the better. This way you can enjoy the time on the greens during the round, instead of being stressed by the speed and pace control all day.
GRM: What’s the major difference between how you approach practice and how you approach pre-round routines?
JR: When golfers warm up before a round, my advice would be try not to get tired out and don’t overdo it. It doesn’t make sense to expend too much energy on that. Just be smart about the things you focus on.
