Golfer Shannon Tan’s art of the drive: The opening act sets the tone

Over a decade in age and nearly 20cm in height separate Bryson DeChambeau and Shannon Tan, but they are both trying to learn the same art – gaining more swing speed and distance.

Two-time US Open champion DeChambeau, known as “The Scientist” for his analytical approach to golf, once gained 22kg by drinking six to eight protein shakes and consuming 6,000 calories daily in pursuit of added distance.

The American boasts an average driving distance of 322.5 yards (294.9m) in the 2024 LIV Golf League season. 

In a bid to gain distance in 2023, Tan, who used to hit 230 yards, turned to DeChambeau’s YouTube channel for inspiration. 

The drive is one part of the equation in the complex game of golf, but it is an important one.

The 20-year-old Tan said: “Ultimately it helps you get in a good position. A good tee shot is definitely quite important.

“Accuracy off the tee is one of the most important things to put the ball in position.”

Through the videos, Tan has learnt how to increase her swing speed to gain distance.

She added: “A lot of it was finding speed pockets within the swing and how to transition at the top, and fire the lower body more efficiently.”

Studying specific data was key to unlocking distance. She focused on three things: clubhead speed, ball speed and the angle of attack.

The angle of attack – which players create when they move the clubhead through the impact position – affects the spin and trajectory of the shot.

Explaining that the ball goes further when it is hit upwards, Tan has increased her angle of attack from one to three to four degrees.

Clubhead speed – how fast the club is travelling when it reaches the ball – is another important factor as it translates to ball speed and further distances.

Tan did a lot of speed stick exercises, like using three different weighted sticks to mimic her swing, and drills to improve on this. Within three to four months, she increased her driving distance from 230 to 260 yards and brought her swing speed from 90mph (145kmh) to 98mph.

She rewarded herself by getting a mullet haircut, similar to what one of her favourite golfers, Cameron Smith, sports.

Driving and ball-striking are now some of her stronger suits in her first season as a pro in 2024.

With the Titleist TSR3 driver and Pro V1 balls as her choice of weapon and ammunition, Tan’s average driving distance of 257.29 yards places her within the top half of players on the Ladies European Tour this season.

Her driving accuracy is even more impressive as she ranks third, hitting 85.14 per cent of fairways, while she is first in total driving strokes gained.

There is no elaborate ritual to Tan’s driving – she simply looks at where she wants to start her ball before picking a target and aiming for it.

Her calm demeanour is also an advantage. The drive is the shot that starts the round and can give even the world’s best jitters. Men’s world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said he could not feel his arms when he stepped up on the first tee at the 2021 Ryder Cup. But the last time Tan remembers feeling nervous on the first tee was when she was eight or nine years old.

She said: “There are some people who get nervous at the first tee but I’ve done it so many times that I’m used to it and it’s the norm.”

Having adapted well to life on tour, Tan is eager to continue improving and sees the Olympics as a perfect opportunity to learn from the best.

She said: “I’m very keen to observe the golfers on the range, and at the gym, to see exactly how they prepare for tournament golf.

“Outside of my world of golf, it will be incredible to see the best athletes in the world as they prepare to deliver.”