Joaquin Niemann: Man Of Steel

Iron play is a strength of my game. Let’s make it one of yours, too.

It’s called The Grid, a ball-striking challenge that has amassed more than two million views on Golf Digest’s YouTube Channel. The task for The Grid’s competitors – which has included Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Scottie Scheffler – is to hit a ball into a 10-yard target area on command using whichever club they wish. The goal is to hit all 10 different landing areas, presented in random order, in as few attempts as possible. A perfect score is 10 attempts. Rahm and DeChambeau did it in 17 shots. Scheffler carded a 15. When Joaquín Niemann tried it, he needed only 11. 

“I can’t believe I missed one. I should’ve gotten a 10.” Niemann says.

With the possible exception of Scheffler, Niemann might be the best pure ball-striker in the game. Even his fellow pros think so. “He’s an absolute flusher,” says 2022 Open Championship winner Cam Smith, who plays with Niemann on the LIV Golf League. “He hits it on the screws every time.” 

It’s a skill Niemann credits to his technique. As an undersized guy compared to many of his peers, 69-kilogram Niemann initially focused on swing speed to keep up with the distance of bigger players. Soon, however, he realised more speed couldn’t make up for the distance lost when he hit the ball off-centre. Now he has developed a series of checkpoints in his swing that help him get the best of both worlds – good speed and pure contact. The result is lasered iron shots. On the following pages, he’ll share some advice to help the rest of us get the same.

See it
‘Before every shot, I picture the flight I want to see. This is not a time to think. It’s a time to see the shot and be athletic.’

Hold it
‘I always try to pose my finish. If you can hold it easily for three seconds, your balance is good. It’s easier to hit the ball better that way.’

Niemann’s Performance on the Grid