Plenty of small white balls fall on the green of the Pickala golf course. However, it’s not about golf balls, it’s raining hail and sleet.
The situation is laughable Sanna from Nuutiwho has recently returned to Finland from Hawaii.
Last fall, Nuuti was not laughed at all. The year had started excellently, but then everything went downhill.
Loneliness weighed on Nuutis, who was playing her first season on the LPGA tour, her back hurt and the package completely fell apart. First, Nuutinen fell out with the caddy, then the coach left.
– It was quite a mess. Things happened in the summer and the snowball started rolling.
At the end of the season, Nuutinen suffered from symptoms of exhaustion. The first year on the top golf tour was a tough experience, which he has tried to learn from.
– We have tried to analyze what happened so that something similar would never happen again. It was the sum of many things. There were problems with my body, and going to the United States was a big change. I was quite alone there. It was a truly consuming equation.
Nuutinen had problems both mentally and technically. On the field, he had lost control of the playing equipment and the balls were hurling here and there.
– If the technique starts to fail and the balls go where it hurts, it’s hard to be positive.
The importance of support networks became clear to the 31-year-old golfer while touring the United States. When family and friends live on different continents and time zones, it is challenging to keep in touch.
The importance of those close to you becomes even more important when you compete against the world’s best.
– The competition is so fierce and the atmosphere is so different. You can feel really lonely if you go there alone with big girls.
Now Nuutinen has made big changes to his coaching and support staff, which also includes a mental coach.
Spring has been a good time for Nuutinen. In training, the focus has been changed and changes have been made to the swing. The back pain has subsided, and the ball is already going in the right direction.
This season, Nuutinen is mainly touring Europe. From June onwards, he has a strong card for the LET tour.
– I’m betting on the European tour this year for the very reason that I get to spend more time at home near support networks. I see the European Tour as the best place for me to take my game to the next level.
There are also a few LPGA tournaments in the plans, but Nuutinen plans to use judgment with them.
– I participate in them depending on my endurance and playing condition. When I go there, I will take the team with me. I will never go to the USA alone again.
Modern technology plays a huge role
In Pickala’s training area, Nuutinen is working on his swing, which was broken last season. At the same time, he presents the reporter with his secret weapon, his hit radar worth just under 30,000 euros.
Nuutinen places the laptop-sized detector next to him, makes a few small calibrations, and connects the radar to his phone via Wi-Fi.
Next we hit the ball. A smooth-looking swing sends the ball in an elegant arc towards the green of the practice area.
Nuutinen digs out his phone and scrolls through the readings offered by the radar on the screen. There are just over 30 numbers that measure club and ball movements.
– I mainly monitor five readings. In drives, I monitor speed, in shorter shots, accuracy, and that it is the right size for its meter. It can also be used in putti, although I don’t do it myself. In putting, the device measures rhythm and at what angle the putter hits the ball.
Radar is a joy, especially when changes are made to hitting technique, as Nuutinen has done with his new head coach by Niklas Dahlgren after taking the reins.
– If you make changes to your swing, the radar confirms what the coach says. With all due respect to the coach, of course I believe him, but it’s nice to have data to back it up.
Modern technology plays a huge role in professional golf today. During the pandemic, batting simulators became a sought-after commodity.
Nuutinen was a pioneer on the women’s tour when she got her radar just over four years ago. The investment is not the smallest, as the shelf price of the device was 28,000 euros. However, professional players get a significant discount from this.
– Nowadays, you can’t afford to rely solely on your gut feeling.
Nuutinen estimates that every third woman on the European tour has her own radar. Almost everyone has them on the top tours of men who earn significantly bigger sums.
Spring has, as stated, gone well for Nuutinen, especially in terms of training. The ball obeys, and the mind has brightened. The goal for this season is clear.
– I want to become as good a golfer as possible. I want to be able to do whatever I want with the ball again.