Bryson DeChambeau’s booming tee shots always stand out, yet the eight-time PGA Tour winner – prior to switching to LIV in June – is sometimes too readily dismissed as a player who merely hits the ball far, at the expense of precision.
Speaking to RSNG, Bryson is keen to hit back at the critics…
RSNG Is it true to say that you’ve converted those people who saw you more as an exciting player to watch, than one who is successful?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU, GOLFER “Well success is objective, so I won’t even be able to hide behind not being successful. It shows up there on your scorecard, in your trophy cabinet, on your paychecks – success is measurable these days.
“To answer your question though, what I want is to change perceptions in the game. Is that more important than winning stuff? No. But the evolution of sport has always been about people coming along and doing things differently, and I am proud to be put in that bracket. Who wouldn’t be?
“There have been a series of golfers down the years who have been unconventional, and successful. And many who have been unconventional and unsuccessful. I’ve just got to fall on the right side of the line!”
RSNG What parts of your game did you look at changing to become the player you are now?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU “It’s always been about club head speed and distance. I worked out a long time ago that if you’re going to boom the ball you may end up in the rough or with obstacles, but you’ve already built yourself such a distance advantage that your ‘get out’ shot will still get you closer than the guy who is hitting mid-range off the tee.
“Hitting the ball long has become something of an addiction for me. I’m still trying to evolve my swing, my action, my training, my fitness, so it goes even further.
“It’s very rare that you find such an obvious advantage in professional sport. I’m not going to rest on that advantage.”
I know my body and I am content that it knew best how to get itself back in line – you’ve just got to be patient
RSNG What about your grip – did you improve?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU “My left-hand grip was loose, and I learned that by moving my body position I could strengthen that element.
“The mistake sometimes is to think that to tighten your grip you need to move your hands, or add some beefy grips on the shaft to create friction.
“If you change your body position and move closer to or further away from the ball, even by very small margins, your grip becomes more or less upright, and the downforce of your hand adds a tighter hold.
“When I’d sorted a stronger grip, I could then explode into it with more confidence that the ball was going to stay true to the direction. You are lessening the margin of error on the swing, and this worked for me.”
RSNG How difficult was it to regain the momentum you had built before your injury and surgery, in your comeback?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU “Recovery will always have setbacks and mine was no different.
“I know my body and I am content that it knew best how to get itself back in line, so you’ve just got to be patient. While I am an aggressive player on the course, when it comes to injuries I take quite a wide view. You have to be philosophical about it, and there’s no point rushing things.
“Ultimately I was back in two months. I was expecting 13 weeks or more. It was pretty good how it all worked out.”
We did a lot of brain training and it became obvious that I was overthinking and overanalyzing – both on the course and away from it
RSNG You’ve mentioned your coach, Chris Como, has been a huge help to you?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU “We’re in an era now where coaches are across both the physical and mental side of things, and Chris is one of the best guys in the industry and linking how I think to how I play.
“The insight he comes out with sometimes makes me think he knows me better than I know myself! It’s scary!
“We did a lot of brain training work with the guys at Neuropeak, and it became obvious that I was overthinking and overanalyzing both on the course and away from it.
“It’s weird to think that planning a schedule where I would sit down and watch a film, or go for a meal, or go to bed, would have such a dramatic effect on my mental approach to golf, but that is what has materialized.
“What you ultimately get is both body and mind feeding off the positivity of each other. Your body feels good, your mind feels good; your mind feels good, your body feels good.”
WHAT NEXT? Want to work out like Bryson? Have access to a gym? Then you can try his weekly routine, shared below. You’ll work out the whole body with weights, and have a session dedicated to speed training using a cable machine.
Safety note: if you are new to any of these exercises, and this much training volume, then always workout under the supervision of a fitness professional.
Bryson Dechambeau’s Weekly Workout Routine
Monday: Shoulders And Chest
Bryson starts the week with an upper body muscle workout for maximum swing and ball speed.
Lateral Raises Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Incline Bench Presses Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Military Push-Ups: Sets 3 Reps: 25 Barbell Shrugs Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Front Raises Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Cable Crossovers Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Tuesday: Arms And Back
There’s a bit more focus on isolation exercises in the weight room here as DeChambeau doesn’t want certain muscles to get too big and in the way of his swinging movement.
Preacher Curls Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Chin-Ups Sets: 3 Reps: 25
Overhead Triceps Extensions Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Upright Barbell Rows Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Deadlifts Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Lying Back Flys Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Wednesday: Legs And Core
The lower body is just as important for playing golf, and this workout session will target your leg flexion and core.
Standing Hamstring Kickbacks Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Leg Press Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Hamstring Curls Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Leg Raises Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Side Plank Sets: 3 Minutes: 2
Incline Crunches Sets: 3 Reps: 25
Thursday: Speed Training
This day doesn’t involve a single free weight and is mainly about controlling hip rotation movements, trunk flexion, and trunk rotation for speed.
For a lot of this, he’ll make rotating motions with a cable machine.
Single-arm Cross Body Row Sets: 3 Reps: 20
Cable Punches With Rotation Sets: 3 Reps: 20
Low To High Cable Rotation Sets: 3 Reps: 20
Alternating Standing Upper Body Rows Sets: 3 Reps: 20
100m Alternating Jog Sprints Sets: 3 Minutes: 3
Friday: Upper Body And Core
These are mainly compound movements, and you can vary this day each week to target more muscle groups.
Decline Bench Press Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Triceps Rope Extensions Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
EZ Bar Curls Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Lateral Raises Sets: 3 Reps: 12-15
Incline Crunches Sets: 3 Reps: 25
Hanging Leg Raises Sets: 3 Reps: 25
Photos: Shutterstock/REX, AdobeStock