Tennessee Tech women’s golfer Sydney Branson turned to golf after finishing up her gymnastics career.
Branson started playing golf as a freshman in high school. She initially tumbled for the gymnastics team before taking up the sport. Branson said she gave golf a chance because of how much the sport pushed her. Branson said the change from gymnastics to golf became simple because of what muscles each sport uses.
“My strongest muscle is from my legs and my core so I think [gymnastics] made me swing harder,” Branson said. “That’s one of my strong suits is hitting the ball far and I think it definitely helped me transfer those muscles into golf.”
Branson took those skills onto the greens last season, finishing with season bests in back-to-back intercollegiate meets. Branson also finished with her best scoring average last season. Branson said she improved in large part to her mental approach towards putting.
“A lot of my putting comes from confidence and how much I believe I’m going to make that putt,” Branson said. “I practice putting every day. I go out there for speed and distance and line stuff but if I’m not confident in it, I’m not going to make that putt.”
Branson said the dynamic changes when golfers enter the green for a putt.
“It definitely helps having a stronger upper body so you can just be more easy with swinging and like glide around the shots you have to perfect more,” Branson said. “I feel it’s more of a mix of the two.”
Branson worked with golf coaches in the off-season to improve her lat strength and upper body. Branson said that strength can help with regards to upper body shots such as from the wedge or bunker.
Tennessee Tech begins their women’s golf season Monday.