Alright, let’s talk about this whole Viktor Hovland thing I went through. Wasn’t exactly building a rocket ship, but man, it took some time and effort, mostly ending in frustration if I’m being honest.
It started pretty simply. I was watching some golf, saw Hovland playing. You know how smooth he looks, that swing, just pure. And I thought, yeah, maybe I can pick up something there. Looked kinda straightforward on TV. Famous last words, right?
Getting Started – The Observation Phase
So, first thing, I went online. Watched a ton of videos. Slow motion, face on, down the line, interviews where he maybe talked about it. Trying to break down what he actually does. That little takeaway move, how he sets the club, the transition. Seemed like a few key things I could maybe try.
Made some notes, you know, like:
- Check that wrist position at the top.
- Look at how he rotates through.
- See that stability in his lower body.
Felt like I had a plan. Seemed simple enough on paper, or on the screen anyway.
Hitting the Range – The Reality Check
Then I actually went to the driving range. Got a bucket of balls, feeling pretty optimistic. Stood over the first ball, tried to mimic that takeaway I saw. Felt… weird. Really awkward. Hit the ball, it went sideways. Okay, first try, no big deal.
Tried again. Focused real hard on that specific move. Shank. Okay. Then a top. Then a pull hook. This went on for the whole bucket. Went back a few more times over the next couple of weeks. Same story. I just couldn’t get comfortable trying to copy his positions. My body just didn’t want to move like that.
It was tough. Really tough. You see these pros, and they make it look effortless. But trying to actually replicate even one part of their swing? It messes everything else up if it’s not natural for you. My timing went out the window, lost all sense of where the clubface was.
Figuring Things Out – The Hard Way
Spent maybe a month on this little experiment. Watched more videos, hit more balls. Gotten slightly less awkward with the feeling, but the results were still garbage. If anything, my regular swing started feeling weird too.
That’s when I kinda had to face facts. I’m not Viktor Hovland. Shocker, I know. He’s got his build, his flexibility, years of training to make that move work. Me? I’m just some regular guy trying to hit it straight-ish.
Trying to bolt on parts of someone else’s swing, especially someone playing at that level, it just doesn’t work most of the time. At least, it didn’t work for me. Found out pretty quick that what looks simple on TV is usually the result of incredible athleticism and thousands of hours of practice.
What I Learned
So, what did I get out of all this? Well, mostly a sore back and a slightly lighter wallet from all the range balls. But also, a much bigger appreciation for how unique golf swings are. And how good guys like Hovland actually are.
The main takeaway for me was simple: stop trying to be someone else. Focus on my swing, what works for my body. Maybe take inspiration, sure, but copying wholesale? Nah. Not gonna happen.
Ended up going back to basics, working on my own fundamentals. It’s less glamorous, but my scores started getting better again, slowly but surely. Still enjoy watching Hovland play, the guy’s a stud. But I watch him now knowing that swing is his, not mine. And that’s okay.
