Christo Lamprecht burst onto the scene at Royal Liverpool in July 2023, because the then-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket led The Open by himself after day one.
The novice drove the ball admirably on that Thursday, persistently carrying tee pictures past 330 yards with ease. The laid-back, down-to-earth South African attributed that robust begin to the benign circumstances that morning, as the whole lot appeared to stream properly. However what impressed golf followers essentially the most was his bodily presence. Lamprecht, at 6-foot-8, has the stature to play for the Georgia Tech basketball group and the peak and size to seize rebounds over convention foes at Duke and North Carolina.
He’s a lot happier taking part in golf, although, and he’s an amazing golfer at that. Lamprecht is at present taking part in in PGA Tour Q-School this week, hoping to snag one of many 5 PGA Tour playing cards up for grabs. Via 36 holes, he’s in a tie for twenty third and solely 5 strokes off the lead. Sure, the tall South African can earn full standing on tour with two extra strong rounds.
However earlier than teeing off this week in Ponta Vedra Seashore, Florida, Lamprecht caught up with SB Nation to debate his sport and particularly tackle the query, “How do you could have a lot success being so tall?”
“The nice saying about energy is with nice energy comes nice accountability,” Lamprecht mentioned with a smile.
The South African in contrast his physique to that of a Ferrari engine, explaining how he can hit the ball a rustic mile. The size of his arms and his potential to increase the membership all over permits him to get nice rotation, which generates a ball pace that rivals a Ferrari’s roar. However since he has a lot more room between the highest of his swing and the ball, a lot may go fallacious. That’s why Lamprecht then joked that when he’s off-kilter, he seems like he has a Ferrari engine trapped within the entrance hood of a Toyota Camry.
That’s why Lamprecht doesn’t use a normal size for his golf equipment.
“It’s at all times been a problem,” Lamprecht mentioned of his gear.
“It’s a battle forwards and backwards. These [clubs] are too lengthy. I’m shedding my forgiveness. I’m shedding my really feel for sure golf equipment. So let’s go shorter and let’s determine that out. After which I’ll change it once more. I’ve modified golf equipment within the final 4 years greater than I’ve modified something in my golf swing.”
In case you are a taller participant, maybe 6-foot-4 or increased, then utilizing a normal set won’t pay dividends. You’ll solely battle.
“For a man my top taking part in novice golf, I feel it’s so vital simply to have a set of golf equipment constructed for you slightly bit,” Lamprecht mentioned.
“In the event you actually need to take your golf slightly bit critically and have some enjoyable with it and get to a single-digit handicap or one thing like that, then getting a membership becoming isn’t the top of the world. I feel it’s a fantastic funding for a man who actually desires to get pleasure from his golf and play some good golf, too.”
Membership fittings are nicely definitely worth the funding, particularly whenever you need to purchase a brand new set of irons, a brand new Driver, or a pair of latest wedges. Contemplate it as an experiment of kinds. Professionals at your native membership or golf retailer are at all times keen to help and can take a look at out quite a lot of membership heads, shafts, and shaft lengths to cater to your swing and top. In spite of everything, everybody’s swing and physique construction is totally different, which explains why Arnold Palmer as soon as famously mentioned, “Swing your swing.”
The same factor could be mentioned on your golf equipment too.
Your golf equipment ought to work on your swing and no one else’s as a result of everybody performs the sport otherwise.
However, your golf golf equipment can solely accomplish that a lot. Lamprecht says your setup is one other essential facet for taller gamers.
“The setup is the whole lot for a tall man and for somebody that has to bend over sure methods or has to get in sure positions,” Lamprecht defined.
“That was the largest factor I’ve modified in latest months. So I feel we’ve lengthy levers and it’s a fantastic benefit. However we have to permit our our bodies to get ready the place we are able to use that to one of the best of our potential and most persistently as nicely.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Observe him on X @jack_milko.
