When one thinks of the high flying and fast paced scenes of a basketball game, it is unlikely that they’ll stop and think “hey, that kind of reminds me of golf.” In the moment, this is true; the sights and sounds you find on a court are way different than those you find on a course. But, peering deeper into this comparison, most people will be surprised to find that these two sports share more similarities than they would expect. While this is true for the culture of the game, which I have written about before, upon further examination, it is also true for the way both games are played. Not the layout and execution of said games, but the preparation, mental, and individual approach to both sports share a lot of the same values and methods.

That being said here are a few of the shared values between basketball and golf on a mechanical level. Here, mechanical is being used as the way athletes approach and execute their game plan mentally and physically, as well as preparation.

Balance

If you ask anyone what helps constitute a good golf swing, one of the first buzzwords to come flying out of their mouth is to have a good foundation. A lot goes into the idea of having a smooth, balanced swing, with feet rooted into the ground keeping your body on a level plane. This is surprisingly similar to the method for creating a jump shot, another way to propel a ball forward, with also a lot of tiny moving parts, but it all starts with having a good foundation. While the subsequent actions for both moves are quite varied, the foundation that it starts with is of utmost importance. And, while there are those players who have perfected the off balance, on the move jump shot, aren’t there those players who have perfected hitting off the uneven lie with an off balance swing? Although the speed and velocity is different, the method of starting the maneuver is quite the same.

Unique

Look up videos of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James shooting jumpers and you will notice immediately how different all their shot forms are. Now, do the same with Jim Furyk, Hideki Matsuyama, and John Daly. Once again, each man does the same task with the same goal but in a completely different way. This variation between swing forms and shot forms is part of the variation that makes these sports so interesting and unique. In other sports, like football, soccer, baseball, and tennis, each person performs an almost identical move. But, here, the players have free reign to develop a swing that feels comfortable and is successful in accomplishing their task, even if it looks a little silly, Jim. Just like golfers have swing coaches whose goal is to fine tune the motion of the pros and help them get the most out of their swing, like the legendary Butch Harmon, shooting coaches are just as prevalent in the NBA, like the deadly accurate Lethal Shooter.

Emphasis on Flexibility

While all sports are benefited by being flexible physically, being well versed and flexible mechanically is a totally different idea. In soccer, football, and baseball, everyone has certain positions that they have to play, and while they may lend a hand around the field here or there, it is pretty cut and dry. In basketball, especially nowadays, players have to be as good at passing and shooting as they are at rebounding and defense. While size will always be a defining factor for who can do what, basketball is becoming more open to players of different sizes with unicorns and small ball becoming so prevalent. In golf, unless you’re playing alternate shot with your weekend buddies, you have to be absolutely fantastic in all aspects of the game to be
great. You can’t be a stellar driver and chipper but expect to get by with crappy irons and a nonexistent putter, just like a basketball player can’t expect to win games if all he does is score and then never play defense.

Speed vs Size vs Accuracy

Basketball used to be a game dominated by the big man, with post plays and skyhooks the most prevalent form of scoring. Now, the game is evolving to be smaller, faster, and more accurate than ever before, with players routinely sinking shots from 30+ feet away. Golf is similarly plagued by a debate whether strength (distance) is “breaking” the game, and more and more courses are benefitting accuracy over distance. The USGA is even looking at changing the modern regulations for clubs and balls, as courses mull over changes that would make long hitters in as tough as spot as those who don’t crush it as far. The Bryson experiment seemed like a turning point for golf, a man whose quest for strength and distance had finally overcome the tribulations and succeeded. But, there were some courses that were invulnerable to his new form, as he was swatted down by some of the bastions like Augusta. It took him years to get his game and his body fine tuned to win another major. This is akin to some of those veteran big men in the league who play the 5 in a traditional and successful manner, like Rudy Gobert, the defensive player of the year just last season. He also struggled with his form for a few years in the short term post-COVID era. That is a crazy comparison.

Mental Fortitude

While physicality will always play a part in the success of a professional athlete, mental strength is what separates the elite from rest of the pack in any sport. Golf is always described as a game that is 99% mental, and time and time again does this anecdote hold up, with some of the game’s best players consistently delivering in crunch time. Basketball is quite similar where the idea of a clutch shot, and the boundless confidence needed to will the ball in, can be the difference between championship gold and going home empty handed. Pull up a video of 19 year old Jordan Spieth chipping in for the win, then the video of Kawhi Leonard hitting that shot against the Sixers. Both unbelievable, and electrifying. Stadium golf will be interesting. Or, a video of Anthony Edwards running around with his team like Tom Kim at the Presidents Cup. Both young stars who love to show emotion and put it all on the floor for their team. While aspects of these spots like free throws and close putts are easy to complete mechanically, it is the mental pressure that turns these once easy shots into difficult, nerve wracking scenarios. And remember, mental fortitude always comes down to reps.

Short Memory Span

Keeping a very short memory span is something that I was first taught in basketball, but it is a lesson that was reintroduced to me through golf. One of the most important things for a shooter to have in basketball is confidence, but that confidence needs to be parted with a short memory. Steph Curry could take 10 shots and miss all of them, but Steve Kerr would only get really mad if he stopped shooting the ball. Being able to “forget” the misses that have already happened, and making sure to keep your mind focused only on the next shot, is key to finding confidence in your form. The same goes for golf. If you watch a pro golfer drop an easy shot, maybe they rushed a putt or duffed a chip, unless it’s Tyrell Hatton, they usually just clean up their mistake and move on. Sometimes they react verbally, but it is quick and not as harsh, and they are able to just keep on pushing. Normally, it is as if the mistake never happened. This strategy is especially important for the amateurs like myself who are quick to punish themselves for dropping strokes and making mistakes that we are, in the end, expected to make both analytically and by way of golf. The pros, who are not expecting to make these mistakes, try as hard as they can to act like the mistake never happened, as mulling over what happened in the past will only detract from the future potential to perform well. And, losing confidence is a surefire way to drop more strokes with mishits and timid play.

Preparation

A pro golfer preparing for a tournament is very close in methodology to how an NBA team scouts out their next opponent. Knowing all the little details the course has, like which lines to play and the best clubs to use at certain times, is almost like reading an opposing team’s strategy. You are on the lookout for areas where they will have the advantage, and think of ways to play conservatively vs aggressive. Think of how an NBA coach will change their lineup depending on which team they are playing, taking some players in and out of rotation and adjusting minutes. It’s reminiscent of how a golfer will rearrange the clubs in their bag to ensure that they are best equipped for the course and conditions that week. An NBA team might need to giver their backup center more minutes when playing against a larger team, as a golfer may need to swap out their 4 iron for a 5 wood to get that extra loft and arc in a course with deep, firm rough. And, of course, any golfer needs to adapt to changes on the fly to recover from wayward shots and to have innate creativity to figure out the best type e of shot to play in a certain time. This is the same in the NBA, where the game plan is never completely set in stone and the written plays are sometimes discarded entirely with players just relying on their in-the-moment instinct.

Footwear Technology

When basketball shoes first hit the market, they were not the springy, tech filled sneakers worn today. The Converse, the first shoe ever made for basketball, was too tight, completely flat, and had only some rubber for cushioning. As the game evolved, so did the testing, material, and technology that makes up these shoes. Golf is the same, with shoes that started tough and leathery with no cushion to a completely advancement of the product. Innovative brands like Nike have been doing the same thing to basketball shoes as to golf shoes, finding small things like to input like Air Bubbles and Zoom cushioning that all add up to help give the golfer or hooper the most stability, comfort and power they can ask more. A full article, and a lot more content, is coming soon on footwear so stay tuned.

Different Shots for Different Scenarios

If you watch an NBA player take the rock to the rim, pay close attention to see all the little changes they make to adapt to the defenders in front of them. Whether it’s on the ground with a little crossover or shimmy, or in the air changing hands from floater to a scoop. High level basketball players have to be able to hit a multitude of different shots on the fly. Golfers may not have to it at the same velocity, but the concept is mirrored. High shots vs. low shots, draw vs fade, pitch vs. flop, golfers need to be able to asses what is going on in front of them and react. While they have the luxury of taking time that most NBA defenses won’t allow, golfers have done everything from climbing trees to going knee deep in water to keep their ball in play. Think of the wind as a defenders hand, the green the backboard in which you need to spin your shot into the hole, a la Kyrie Irving. Imagine a smooth Tim Duncan fadeaway when lining up to hit a trusty cut shot. Being able to react instantly and change the mechanics of your body, the preparation and execute of your swing and shot, is similar in mechanics and process, yet the scale of the different scenarios is what separates the two the most.