[Interview] Shin Ji-eun Pro's Instruction Manual for My Body

There is a top instructor who, having gone through the fierce records of a playing career and 11 years of intensive instruction, is now shaking up the Korean golf scene with an unrivaled and overwhelming career of no fewer than 16 long-drive tournament victories. This is the story of Pro Shin Ji-eun, who serves as a reliable mentor and guiding light for countless amateur golfers at The Plaza in Jamsil. As a long-drive player, the golf and distance she aims for and wishes to convey to readers are by no means about straining one's entire body to achieve a flashy swing. Rather, it is the power of the "most natural and beautiful solid hit" found within oneself, by clearly understanding one's body's potential and range of motion, and following a standard trajectory.

Through this interview, the CLUB14 editorial team was able to witness Pro Shin Ji-eun's fearless challenges and ceaseless growth up close. Paying tribute to her journey of proving her sincerity as an instructor by overcoming limitations at every moment, we present her heartwarming golf story to our readers.

01Overcoming the wall of ordeal called injury, the first flower bloomed as an instructor at the age of 24

At a time when I should have been achieving great results and actively competing as an athlete, I had to end my career earlier than expected due to herniated discs in my lower back and neck. After retiring, the first people I thought of were my parents. Since they had supported me financially for a long time so that I could play, I felt a strong sense of obligation to repay them. That is how I started giving golf lessons, and through a good opportunity, I came to operate a golf practice range in Jamsil at the relatively young age of 24.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Pro Shin Ji-eun operated the center for a considerable period of 11 years, from 2013 to 2024, sharing the joys and sorrows of life with countless amateur golfers. Thanks to the sincere affection and passion poured into treating each and every one of them like family, he received more love than he deserved; however, he also experienced the pain of having to close down the center he had grown so fond of due to health issues.

However, Pro Shin Ji-eun, whom CLUB14 met for an interview, was someone who never gave up. Facing her second leap forward, she declares a surprising and fresh challenge: becoming a "long-distance pro." Although she honestly stated at first, "I wanted to become famous," hidden behind that confession was a heartwarming promise made to the members.

One of the most regrettable things I experienced while running the center was seeing so many amateur golfers lose their own swings and become confused amidst the overwhelming amount of golf information. Watching this, I often told our members, "When I become a little more famous later on, I will deliver golf to even more people in an easier and more accurate way." For me, the new challenge of becoming a long-hitting pro was perhaps also a process of fulfilling the promise I made to our members back then.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Pro Shin Ji-eun's tenacity in not dwelling on the unexpected pain of her playing days but rising perfectly as a leader who brings glory to others deeply moved the CLUB14 editorial team. We believe that the Pro's solid inner self, which transformed a life crisis into a brilliant opportunity, is the greatest weapon that instills deep trust in the members, surpassing any flashy technique.

02It’s okay if we don’t win, just don’t deviate from the standard.

It’s okay not to win. But let’s not deviate from the standard.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Since making his debut as a long-hitting player, Pro Shin Ji-eun has held a single iron rule and creed deep in his heart that is surprisingly weighty and solid. He firmly believes that he will never tolerate using unconventional tricks or destroying the beautiful, textbook framework of the swing just to hit the ball far. This is because, driven by his conscience and pride as an instructor who has directly coached amateurs in the field for a long time, he wanted to demonstrate and prove, as a player, that it is possible to hit the ball far with a standard swing, rather than merely explaining it with words.

Therefore, for me, the long drive competition is not merely a stage for winning. It is also a stage to prove to myself the swing principles I have taught my members for a long time and the fundamentals of golf that I believe in.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Her conviction stems from the concept of a "clean hit." She believes that the most important starting point for generating distance is not brute force, but hitting the ball precisely on the sweet spot right in the center of the club face. Pro Shin Ji-eun is demonstrating this value firsthand on the long-drive stage. This is precisely why CLUB14 supports her journey. For her, the long-drive stage is not merely a arena for competition, but rather the most beautiful stage of challenge where she proves to herself that the swing principles and the fundamentals of golf she has taught members for so long are not wrong.

You can hit the ball far with standard shots and solid contact. That is my motto that has remained unchanged since I debuted as a long-hitting player.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

03CLUB14 Editor Knock — A ‘Body Instruction Manual’ for Perfectly Understanding Your Body’s Characteristics

What I consider most important in my lessons is ‘knowing the exact instruction manual for your body.’ A golf swing is ultimately the process of efficiently transferring power generated in the body to the club and the ball. Therefore, knowing how your body can move and where its movement is restricted is a significant advantage in transferring energy.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

She explains that range of motion, muscle strength, and lateral movement differences are bound to vary completely from person to person due to long-standing lifestyle habits, work environments, and repetitive postures. Therefore, she emphasizes that one must first understand one's own body before simply replicating the swing techniques seen in textbooks or the media.

If you try to mimic a textbook swing without knowing the condition of your body, your body attempts to compensate for the lack of movement with other parts. In this process, the transfer of power can become inefficient.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Pro Shin Ji-eun warmly advises that before blindly overhauling your swing trajectory, you must first ask yourself, "Is my body capable of performing this movement right now?" The magic she proposes for increasing distance is surprisingly simple yet clear. Rather than struggling to accelerate the ball strongly with only your arms, it involves fully utilizing torso rotation and your body length to secure a sufficient swing arc (radius).

And the starting point of that massive acceleration begins with nothing other than creating a proper and solid ‘takeaway.’ Rather than getting bogged down in sensory expressions like ‘throw’ or ‘extend,’ you must first secure the stability in the takeaway to handle the speed. A good start is essential to fully harness the club’s inertia and ground reaction force to your advantage, thereby accelerating the club.

Ultimately, to generate distance, before worrying about where to hit hard at the end, you must first understand, "How can I accelerate the club within a larger movement?" I believe a good takeaway is the starting point.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

04The single certainty that completely erases distracting thoughts in the field, the address of connection

I place great importance on the feeling that my body and the club are connected as one at address. This is because I believe that as swing speed increases, physical readiness to handle that speed is just as important as generating it.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

As swing speed increases, physical stability and balance are essential to smoothly handle that intense rotational force and acceleration with the entire body. This is precisely why Pro Shin Ji-eun meticulously checks the balance of the feet, the ground support, and the proper tension of the necessary muscles first and foremost in the address position at every moment right before hitting the ball.

Only when she is convinced that her body and club are connected solidly and smoothly, like a single organism, does she gain the courage to generate maximum speed without hesitation, even under any pressure. Even when her shots waver drastically on the course or she experiences a string of misses, she does not attempt to artificially alter the detailed movements within the swing. Instead, she always returns to the basics to meticulously review the sense of balance in her address and the starting conditions of the takeaway, which is the first step.

I don't overcomplicate mental management either. I tell myself three things: 'Let's trust the conviction I felt at address.' 'It is the ball that dies, not the person. Let's not be afraid of this situation.' 'And let's try doing everything I want to do.' I believe that the more my fear of the outcome grows, the less I can fully execute the movements I prepared.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

The CLUB14 editorial team also deeply resonated with Pro Shin’s words that while our senses change every day and every moment, the solid fundamentals our body remembers serve as a reference point that allows us to return safely in any situation.

My senses change every moment, but the basics are the reference point I can return to.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

05Why CLUB14 Supports Pro Shin Ji-eun’s ‘Third Golden Age’ and Future to the End

Pro Shin Ji-eun proudly made a name for herself on the Japanese stage by setting a phenomenal record of 358 yards at the Osaka Long Drive Championship, her first overseas competition. Even those thrilling moments and dazzling records ultimately converge in her heart on an altruistic and beautiful destination: becoming a more profound and warm instructor to give back to the amateur golfers she loves.

And I set a record of 358 yards at that tournament. For me, it meant more than just a competition where I recorded a good record. It allowed me to confirm my potential on my first overseas stage, and it served as an opportunity to make the name ‘Shin Ji-eun, the long-hitting player from Korea’ known in Japan as well.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

Her true goal is simply to convey to golfers, in the easiest and most accurate way, the treasure-like data she has accumulated through firsthand experience on the course, devastating failures, and valuable successes.

My goal is to become a good instructor.

Shin Ji-eun Pro

A true mentor who designs a one-of-a-kind, happy golf game just for you by helping you discover your greatest strengths—what you can do best and use most comfortably—rather than feeling intimidated by looking for the answer in others' impressive swings. Because we have Pro Shin Ji-eun, who knows how to extend a hand of warm comfort and encouragement by saying, "It's not that we can't do it; golf is just a difficult sport by nature," our next round with her seems destined to be even lighter and filled with excitement.

We at CLUB14 will always be by your side, wholeheartedly cheering on Pro Shin Ji-eun as she embarks on her great journey as an instructor and her third prime. We ask for your warm interest and love for her sincere golf journey.

06A communication space to meet Shin Ji-eun professionals

• Lesson Location: The Plaza Jamsil
• Lesson Inquiries: Available lesson dates are posted on Pro Shin Ji-eun's Instagram member channel.
• Instagram: @golfloverjs
• YouTube: 300 Golf
• Magazine News: View all CLUB14 Inside Makers

CLUB14 Editorial Team · club14

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