Christo Lamprecht burst onto the scene at Royal Liverpool in July 2023, as the then-Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket led The Open by himself after day one.
The amateur drove the ball admirably on that Thursday, consistently carrying tee shots beyond 330 yards with ease. The laid-back, down-to-earth South African attributed that strong start to the benign conditions that morning, as everything seemed to flow nicely. But what impressed golf fans the most was his physical presence. Lamprecht, at 6-foot-8, has the stature to play for the Georgia Tech basketball team and the height and length to grab rebounds over conference foes at Duke and North Carolina.
He’s much happier playing golf, though, and he’s a tremendous golfer at that. Lamprecht is currently playing in PGA Tour Q-School this week, hoping to snag one of the five PGA Tour cards up for grabs. Through 36 holes, he’s in a tie for 23rd and only five strokes off the lead. Yes, the tall South African can earn full status on tour with two more solid rounds.
But before teeing off this week in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, Lamprecht caught up with SB Nation to discuss his game and specifically address the question, “How do you have so much success being so tall?”
“The great saying about power is with great power comes great responsibility,” Lamprecht said with a smile.
The South African compared his body to that of a Ferrari engine, explaining how he can hit the ball a country mile. The length of his arms and his ability to extend the club all the way through allows him to get great rotation, which generates a ball speed that rivals a Ferrari’s roar. But since he has so much more space between the top of his swing and the ball, much could go wrong. That’s why Lamprecht then joked that when he is off-kilter, he feels like he has a Ferrari engine trapped in the front hood of a Toyota Camry.
That’s why Lamprecht does not use a standard length for his clubs.
“It’s always been a challenge,” Lamprecht said of his equipment.
“It’s a battle back and forth. These [clubs] are too long. I’m losing my forgiveness. I’m losing my feel for certain clubs. So let’s go shorter and let’s figure that out. And then I will change it again. I’ve changed clubs in the last four years more than I’ve changed anything in my golf swing.”
If you are a taller player, perhaps 6-foot-4 or higher, then using a standard set will not pay dividends. You will only struggle.
“For a guy my height playing amateur golf, I think it’s so important just to have a set of clubs built for you a little bit,” Lamprecht said.
“If you really want to take your golf a little bit seriously and have some fun with it and get to a single-digit handicap or something like that, then getting a club fitting isn’t the end of the world. I think it’s a great investment for a guy who really wants to enjoy his golf and play some good golf, too.”
Club fittings are well worth the investment, especially when you want to buy a new set of irons, a new Driver, or a pair of new wedges. Consider it as an experiment of sorts. Professionals at your local club or golf store are always eager to assist and will test out a variety of club heads, shafts, and shaft lengths to cater to your swing and height. After all, everyone’s swing and body structure is different, which explains why Arnold Palmer once famously said, “Swing your swing.”
A similar thing can be said for your clubs too.
Your clubs should work for your swing and nobody else’s because everyone plays the game differently.
Nevertheless, your golf clubs can only do so much. Lamprecht says your setup is another crucial aspect for taller players.
“The setup is everything for a tall guy and for someone that has to bend over certain ways or has to get in certain positions,” Lamprecht explained.
“That was the biggest thing I’ve changed in recent months. So I think we have long levers and it’s a great advantage. But we need to allow our bodies to get in a position where we can use that to the best of our ability and most consistently as well.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.