So, I kept hearing the name Lilia Vu thrown around, you know? Saw some clips, mostly wins and big moments. Got me thinking, what’s she doing right? Especially her nerve, seemed rock solid on the course.
Decided I’d try and figure it out, maybe pick up a thing or two for my own weekend rounds. Started off pretty simple. Pulled up some videos, mostly tournament final rounds. Didn’t look for anything too technical at first, just watched how she walked the course, how she reacted, her setup routine.
Her pre-putt routine caught my eye. Looked consistent, almost automatic. So, next time I was at the practice green, I gave it a shot. Tried to copy the way she stood, the little waggles, the time she took. Felt pretty weird, honestly. Like I was wearing someone else’s shoes. My putts weren’t magically dropping, that’s for sure. Probably looked silly too.
Went back and watched more. This time I focused on her swing, specifically the tempo. Seemed smooth, never rushed, even under pressure. Okay, next trip to the range, I focused only on tempo. Ignored distance, ignored direction, just smooth swings.
- First few swings felt slow, weak.
- Then I started rushing again, falling back into old habits.
- Tried counting in my head, like “one-and-two”. Helped a bit.
- Hit maybe a dozen decent shots that felt smooth, but it took real concentration.
What I figured out
Here’s the thing I learned after spending a few afternoons trying to be Lilia Vu lite: you can’t just copy-paste this stuff. Watching her is one thing, doing it is completely different. All those little movements, the tempo, the routine – it’s baked in from thousands, probably millions, of balls hit. It’s her game, built over years.
Did I suddenly become a great golfer? Nope. Not even close. But focusing on that tempo thing for a while did make me realize how much I usually rush my swing, especially when I get frustrated. So, I didn’t steal her swing, but watching her made me look at my own habits. That’s something, I guess. Still slicing it into the trees, but maybe a tiny bit smoother now. It’s a process, right?
