Pau Gasol didn’t take up golf into his late 30sbut the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame quickly became a low handicap.
However, his strengths on the course may surprise you.
The two-time NBA champion joined the latest episode of GOLF Podcast subpar and provided a scouting report on his game. The 7-foot-1 Gasol has a good short game, but needs to improve off the tee and with his approach game.
“I’ve always had good hand-eye coordination, good hands, good feel, good touch,” Gasol told co-hosts Drew Stoltz and Colt Knost. “I think when it comes to shorter putts, sensitive shots and putting, it’s all about focus, rhythm, routine and confidence. So you visualize things and feel them. I feel like there are less moving parts, which for a 7-foot-1 guy is a challenge when it comes to longer clubs.
“And then, I’m a competitor. I like to scramble and get myself out of tight situations. I like to get up and down, and I’m kind of used to that, although I’d like to be used to just hitting the greens in regulation and putting up for birdie more.”
Gasol is working to build a “more consistent” swing with his longer clubs to use his size to generate more power. But Gasol has run into a common issue: He’d rather play than practice.
“I got to spend more time studying and practicing and less time playing, which I really enjoy,” Gasol said. “And when you get to a certain handicap, you’re comfortable with that handicap because there’s a cushion that you have. So that competitive side, it’s kind of a double-edged sword where you like to win matches, but you want to win them at a lower handicap without having to take any shots. That’s what every competitor wants.”
To hear more from Gasol, watch the video below.
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