Many golfers see a spectacular shot on TV and think, “I want to try that.” However, according to lesson pro Tatsumi Miura, what you should really copy isn’t the flashy technique—it’s the mindset and preparation that boost success rates.
Professional shots are technically impossible to mimic
When pro tournaments start, conversations during rounds increasingly turn to tournament highlights. “That match was exciting” or “That shot was incredible” often leads to “Maybe I’ll try that swing next time.”
When encountering a similar situation on the course, some players challenge themselves by saying, “Let me try that shot like Player X I saw on TV.” But more often than not, it doesn’t work out, resulting in mistakes.
Does copying pro play actually help you improve? We spoke with Tatsumi Miura, the general manager of Energy Gushikawa Golf Club in Okinawa and a teaching pro.
“Even if you try to copy how tournament pros hit, you can’t replicate the technical aspects,” Miura says.
Watching tournament coverage makes you want to copy pro shots. Photo: PIXTA
“For example, if you see a pro hitting a low, spinning approach and think, ‘I’ll try that next time,’ you probably won’t even know how to execute it. Even if you understand the principle—’this is how the spin works’—not all pros use the same technique. Everyone’s swing is different.”
“If you want to try a shot you’ve never practiced on the course, it’s better to go to the practice range first and experiment with ‘how can I do this?’ If you can do it at the range and feel confident, then try it on the course. But even if you can do it at the range, it doesn’t mean you can do it on the course. You’ll only know if it’s usable after testing it multiple times on the course.”
Copy the strategy and preparation, not the swing
On the other hand, Miura says there are definitely things you can copy.
“What you can copy is putting. When pros miss a putt, the ball always stops within a makeable distance for the next one. Actually, tournament pros don’t often putt thinking ‘I’m going to sink this.’ They putt with a feeling of ‘I hope it gets close’ or ‘I hope it stops.’ And when they miss, they’re already thinking ‘It’s easier to make the next putt if I miss to this side.'”
“You can’t copy the stroke itself, but I hope you copy how they read the line and aim their putts. Instead of only aiming for the hole, they consider the subsequent outcome. This mindset is easy for amateurs to adopt.”
Miura points out that this approach applies not only to putting but also to choosing clubs for approach shots.
“Pros may look like they’re stuffing the pin even on difficult approaches, but actually they’re choosing the method with the highest success rate. It starts with ‘Can I use a putter?’ If not, then a pitch-and-run; if that’s impossible, then a high-lofted, high-spin shot that stops quickly.”
Instead of choosing a difficult shot from the start, pros stack high-success-rate options. This sequence isn’t obvious visually but is crucial.
“And to increase the success rate of each shot, everyone wipes the clubface before hitting. Whether it’s a full swing or a putt, hitting with grass, moisture, or sand on the face can produce unexpected results. Pros always check the condition of the face. These actions aren’t flashy, but they directly affect outcomes.”
When watching tournaments, it’s easy to focus on spectacular shots. But in reality, it’s the accumulation of high-percentage choices and thorough preparation that makes the biggest difference in scoring.
Copying pros isn’t bad in itself. However, whether you focus on technique, mindset, or preparation will change the result. Instead of just copying visible movements, try to see the decisions and intentions before and after each shot. Watching tournaments from that perspective might reveal something new.
