Matt Fitzpatrick’s Football Mindset Reset: Lessons for UK & Dubai Golfers Over 40 to Fix a Golf Slump Fast

Matt Fitzpatrick Golf Reset - LEGEND!!

Matt Fitzpatrick—2022 U.S. Open champ—has been clawing his way out of the biggest slump of his career. He switched coaches, rebuilt confidence, and changed how his body organizes the swing… then posted T-4 at The Open at Royal Portrush last month. That’s not noise; that’s a proof point. (Reuters, FOX Sports)

And he did it while openly admitting he’s obsessed with football, even saying he’d like to work in the sport one day. That mindset—data, culture, clear roles, simple execution—has real carryover for golfers who grew up on the pitch or the rugby field. (Yahoo Sports Australia, Today's Golfer)

Matt Fitzpatrick's golf reset shows how smart tweaks and mindset shifts can revive performance fast.

What Actually Changed (No Fluff)

1. He made a hard personnel callAfter a brutal spring and a missed cut at The Players, Fitzpatrick split with long-time caddie Billy Foster. That’s a courageous reset when comfort would be easier.

2. He changed coaching inputHe started with Mark Blackburn and went straight to first principles: what can your body actually do? (Range of motion, structure, constraints.)

3. He adjusted for his own anatomy. Fitzpatrick has unusually long arms and limited shoulder flexion, which means if the backswing runs long, posture goes, arc changes, and strike quality tanks. The fix? Scaps pinched, chest up, shorter arm travel, rotate around a stable radius.

4. He validated it under pressureTop-10s at the PGA and Scottish; T-4 at The Open. That’s the feedback loop doing its job.

Why This Matters to You (Especially If You Played Football or Rugby)

If you’re a UK or Dubai golfer over 40 — especially with a background in football or rugby — you already understand systems, roles, and repeatable patterns. Golf punishes guesswork. Fitzpatrick’s reset is basically a performance unit meeting with your swing:

• Define the constraints — What does your body not do well right now (thoracic flexion, hip IR, shoulder flexion)?

• Shorten the playbook — Fewer moving parts, fewer compensations.

• Run the same pattern under fatigue — That’s golf on the back nine in the wind, or in Dubai heat.

Two Drills to Copy Fitzpatrick’s Fix

These take 3–5 minutes before you hit balls. No gadgets required.

1) “Scaps-Set Rotation” (radius control + posture)

• Stand tall, club across your chest.

• Pinch shoulder blades lightly (imagine tucking them into back pockets).

• Soft knees, neutral ribs.

• Rotate 8–10 reps each way, keeping the chest up and eyes level.

Why: Teaches you Fitzpatrick’s “shoulders back, chest up” feel so the arms don’t over-travel and wreck your strike arc.

2) “Short-Arc Half Swings” (long-arms friendly, strike biased)

• 8-iron, feet narrow.

• Backswing stops when lead arm reaches rib line (not shoulder line).

• Turn — don’t lift — then knock down 10–15 balls focusing on ball-then-turf.

Why: Builds a compact pattern that respects your structure if you’ve got long arms or limited shoulder flexion.

UK tweak: Cold or damp morning? Add 60 seconds of spine and hip pulses first (cat-camel x10, hip hinges x10).Dubai tweak: Hot round? You’re loose but gassed — keep reps low, intensity moderate, and hydrate before you “find speed.

A Football-Style Framework for the Next 4 Weeks

Week 1: Assessment

• Note your miss pattern (thin/fat/heel/toe).

• Film three swings face-on and down-the-line.

• Do the two drills above every time before you hit balls.

Week 2: Constraints

• If you lift arms past rib line, cap it.

• If you lose posture, halve backswing tempo.

• Add 2x/week thoracic extension + shoulder flexion work (foam roller T-spine opens, wall slides 2×10).

Week 3: Stability Under Pressure

• 9-hole test: play with only a stock shot.

• Every third hole, do 3 “scaps-set rotations” on the tee.

Week 4: Translate to Speed

• Maintain compact pattern; add speed with ground, not arms.

• 6 reps: swing speed up (1–2 mph) while keeping ball-first contact.

The Bigger Lesson: Catch Slumps Early

Fitzpatrick admitted he let the slump run too long. The fix wasn’t heroic — it was specific, structural, and repeatable.

If your ball-striking has gone sideways, don’t swap drivers again. Assess constraints, simplify motion, rehearse the same picture daily, and score under fatigue. That’s how you build a golf game that holds up in w

ind, nerves, and heat.

If you only do one thing this week:

Before you hit balls: set scaps, chest up, half-arc. Ten purposeful reps. Then play the same pattern under mild fatigue. You’ll feel the face stabilise, contact tighten, and scores settle — without grinding for hours

Want to see where you’re losing power or consistency?

You can try my 10-minute demo session — designed for golfers over 40 — and see instant changes in rotation and strike.▶ Watch the demo session here

Or, book a free consultation call and I’ll assess your posture, movement, and where your swing is breaking down.▶ Book your free consultation here

Both are quick, no-pressure, and tailored to your golf game.