5 Things PGA Tour Pros Do (That You Don't)
Video Overview & Insights
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I think most people have a quite good sense whether it'd be in them or not to become a playing pro. (After enough life and golf experience.)
But what is the most distinctive difference between making it or not? It's time and money, nothing else.
You have to be able to afford not working PLUS spending high amounts of money for coaching, body health, material, travel costs etc.
There are 3 ways to become a pro (necessary talent and ambition provided, of course):
1. Born into a rich family
2. Get years of funding (90% happening on US colleges, 10% on worldwide national talent development structures)
3. Sacrifice everything for the dream (family, friends, other interests) because you work to afford the costs, so no time left for anything else
TBH, even for 2. you are quite dependant one 1.
TBH, even 3. won't be enough time, even tho you sacrifice everything
So, it is mainly a factor of money, even if you have the talent and the ambition.
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6. Play golf for a living
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What do PGA Tour players actually do differently than normal golfers?
Who do you coach?
6 months ago it was 4-5 golfers..
This video states "1 golfer"..
For the last three years, I’ve had a unique view behind the ropes while coaching a PGA Tour player. And one thing became very clear: most golfers are learning the wrong lessons from watching professional golf on TV.
In this video, I break down 5 things PGA Tour pros do that most amateur golfers don’t — and more importantly, which lessons can actually help your game. We’ll cover how Tour players practice with more intention, plan their strategy before a round, manage aggressive vs. conservative targets, build mental toughness, and take care of their bodies so they can perform at a high level.
Good advice, Jon. At 69, soon to be 70, I appreciate the importance of physical fitness, preparation before, and recovery after rounds. Since I play 3x/week, and walk two of those rounds with a pull cart (no motor), golf is integral to my fitness program, which includes weights, core workouts, and walking. Doing this in addition to the other lessons you mentioned will increase enjoyment of the game, as well as performance and longevity. Today’s pro golfers are more physically fit than previous generations.
This is not about copying a Tour player’s swing or trying to play golf like Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, or Jon Rahm. It’s about understanding the habits, preparation, course management, and mindset that separate better golfers from the rest.
If you want to lower your scores, avoid more big mistakes, improve your golf strategy, and enjoy the game more without constantly chasing swing changes, these are lessons every golfer can use.
Being grateful that I get to golf is my number one rule. When playing 3 rounds a week it can be easy to take it for granted, which is crazy, because I don’t get to do that very often.
Topics covered:
* What PGA Tour players do differently
It’s amazing to me some of the pros can be as physically able without much muscle mass and probably more than ideal body fat… yet they can play me under the table !
* How Tour pros practice before tournaments
* Why professional golfers are less aggressive than they look
I've never wanted to be a pro athlete even at cycling which I did competitively over 20 years across mountain bike, road, bmx, track, and cyclocross with over 40 events a season. It was a lot and a few years ago I pretty much went to only riding for fun with some not very competitive charity events mixed in. Training when I didn't want to, even as an amateur, wears on the body/brain a LOT.
I was a high enough amateur category on road that sometimes my field was mixed with pros and that is amazing and humbling at the same time - when they would really go, it was a completely different race kind of like when road runner just drops the coyote. Us non-pros would become spectators in our own race at that point.
For golf I'm just taking it back up and only trying to break 90 by June 2027 which sounds like a really long way off since I started this "plan" in the winter/spring 2026 but I'm not going out when it is this hot (127 heat index yesterday), not going out in the 30's, etc... Pretty much fair weather golfer and still a 2nd to cycling. Can't even imagine wanting to do what it would take for someone to be a pro golfer.
* How better planning can lower your scores
* Why mental toughness and grit matter in golf
Whenever I think about pro sports I think about something from Fever Pitch (the book, not the movie!), you have no idea how good someone has to be at a sport to be the worst player in the top tier league. The guys who are on the verge of losing their tour card, or grinding to earn a tour card, are unbelievably good at golf.
* How taking care of your body can improve your game
* Course management lessons for amateur golfers
No Jump Ahead for the sponsor part. But great vid as always!
* How to play smarter golf without changing your swing
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Who am I?
My name is Jon Sherman 👋. I'm a best-selling author, PGA Tour coach, and a golfer just like you. I aim to help golfers of all levels lower their scores and enjoy the game more, but without talking about the golf swing. I focus on four topics - expectation management, strategy, practice, and the mental game. I'll share some of my best advice on this channel in an easy-to-understand, actionable format.