“You can swing as hard as you want—but you have to find the center of the face.”
That was the entire lesson. No deep technical breakdown. No hour-long video analysis. Just Tiger Woods, in peak Tiger fashion, dropping one of the most powerful golf truths in a single sentence.
And for Collin Morikawa, it was the start of something massive.
A Moment That Stuck
It happened during a practice session a few years ago. Morikawa was already known as a sharp ball-striker, but like every elite golfer trying to squeeze out more, he went to Woods for insight. Maybe expecting swing tips. Maybe looking for a grip tweak.
Instead, Tiger told him this:
“You can do whatever you want with your swing. But the best players? They always come back to impact. They wear out the center of the face.”
That’s it. That was the advice.
And it stuck.
The Drill That Changed Morikawa’s Game
Instead of brushing it off or overcomplicating it, Morikawa built a drill around it.
He started placing balls deliberately off-center on the clubface—first on the toe, then on the heel—and trained himself to find his way back to middle contact. He wasn’t just working on feel. He was training his awareness, dialing in the relationship between his hands, eyes, and clubhead.
It sounds simple. It is simple. But it’s also incredibly difficult.
And that’s why it works.
Morikawa said that once he learned to control that sweet spot—once he could reliably find the center of the face—everything else opened up. The shot shapes, the spin control, the creativity… all of it became easier, because the baseline was rock solid.
Proof in the Numbers
After adopting Tiger’s advice and building his training around it, Morikawa’s stats told the story.
His strokes gained on approach climbed rapidly. He became one of the top five iron players on the PGA Tour. And while the highlight reels show towering fades and tight draws, the foundation was something far less flashy: consistent center-face contact.
This wasn’t about swing speed. It wasn’t about shallowing out or hitting bombs.
It was about fundamentals—and sharpening them until they were bulletproof.
The Mindset Shift Most Golfers Miss
Tiger’s advice wasn’t just technical. It was philosophical. In a world where golfers chase swing trends, YouTube tips, and simulator numbers, his focus was dead simple: pure impact.
Morikawa took that to heart. He stopped worrying about matching swing models or chasing perfection. Instead, he built a repeatable feel around one goal: center contact. Every. Single. Time.
It’s the kind of advice that works at every level. Tour pro or weekend warrior.
Because let’s be honest—how often do you really hit the middle of the clubface? Not just close. Dead center. If you’re not sure, your hands probably know the answer.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
Morikawa’s drill might sound advanced, but the principle behind it is as relatable as it gets. Most amateurs think their problem is mechanics. Often, it’s just contact.
When you’re missing the sweet spot, everything else breaks down—timing, distance, confidence. And worst of all? You might not even know it’s happening.
Tiger’s advice reframes the entire conversation: Before you chase a new swing, chase a better strike.
Try it. Set up three balls—toe, heel, center. Hit each one, and see if you can work your way back to the middle. Do it at the range. Do it in your garage. Just start paying attention.
You might be surprised how much your body figures out—once you give it the right goal.
A Quiet Legacy, A Louder Result
It’s not flashy. It’s not marketable. There’s no $400 training aid involved.
But that one line from Tiger Woods has shaped Collin Morikawa’s entire ball-striking identity. It’s become a permanent part of his process—and a massive reason he owns multiple majors before the age of 30.
And honestly? It’s advice most of us should probably write on our glove:
Find the center. Wear it out. Let the rest take care of itself.
“You can swing as hard as you want—but you just need to find the center of the face.” — Tiger Woods
