For all but the most gifted athletes, it takes many years to reach a high level of mastery in golf. Because of the challenge, it’s easy to get caught up in the fruitless search for a magic formula that can speed up the process. Although I can safely say that none exist, there are guidelines and preferred paths that golfers can follow to reduce their handicap or scoring average. My good friend Peter Sanders, who started and operates the statistical analysis program, ShotbyShot, has studied the results of players of all ability levels. He also has access to over 350,000 recorded rounds in his database. This data provides valuable insight on the preferred journey to lower scores.

In a recent conversation, Peter and I discussed what it takes to reach certain scoring thresholds. I’ll highlight this information because it begins to unravel the formula that most golfers, especially younger ones, can use to accelerate their improvement.
 
1. Reduce Scoring Average to 90
Progress is relatively quick at first as new golfers begin learning concepts and start practicing in between rounds. Breaking 100 is the first scoring target for most golfers who play with some regularity. To make the jump from 100 to 90 (bogey golf), golfers must practice and play with greater frequency, and have to increase the number of times they make solid contact. Errors, which are defined as shots that result in an extra stroke or more, must also be reduced. Golfers who average 90, typically do it by hitting half the fairways, hitting slightly more than one-quarter of the greens, and save par about one in five times when they miss the green.

2. Reduce Scoring Average to 80
At this point in the journey for most competitive golfers, progress begin to slow and becomes more dependent on improving specific skills. For example, golfers who are hoping to lower their scoring average to 80, need to hit twice as many greens and save par twice as often when they miss the green as compared to an average 90-golfer. This is the critical point in the journey where a good coach can make a huge difference because better technique is the pathway to enhanced skill. Unlike most adult golfers whose handicaps stall between 12 to 14, competitive junior golfers must find ways to continue to make progress in all areas of the game.

3. Reduce Scoring Average to 75
Only about 10% of all golfers ever get their scoring average down to 75. This is an important milestone for any competitive junior that wants to have success in high school. To get there, it takes hard work, more strategic practice, and a well-rounded game that includes course management knowledge, mental game skills, and at least average club speed. From a statistical standpoint, it’s harder to make significant gains in any one area so slight progress will be required in all aspects of the game (tee shots, approach shots, short game, and putting). At this point in their development, younger golfers benefit from competing frequently. The feedback from tournament play, provides important data and information that both a junior golfer and his or her coach can use to continue to lower scores.
 
In summary, the information offers a roadmap for accelerated improvement and lower scores, especially for younger golfer who wish to compete in high school and college. It also highlights the areas of the game on which golfers need to focus at various stages of development and the skills that need to improve along the way.

Since the emergence of Covid-19 as a serious threat to our health and way of life, the environment for junior golf has undergone dramatic changes. In the short term, the challenge has been finding places to play and practice. In the long term, courses will reopen, but there will be more significant challenges to overcome. Junior golf tournaments have been cancelled, college golf programs are in jeopardy, and the landscape of competitive athletics is being reevaluated and will, no doubt undergo adjustments in the future.

With all the change and uncertainty, there are some things that remain constant and enduring, and these truths should be the focus of every competitive junior golfer.

Golf is a Lifetime Sport

Among its most appealing attributes, golf is a sport that spans the generations. Those that learn to play it, and play it well, continue playing for decades. Children, parents, and grandparents can compete on the same playing field and enjoy time together. It is well known that the golf course is a place where business associates can spend time together and get to know each other better than in typical business settings. Because of these unique features, golf creates opportunities to socialize and enjoy the company of others – that is something we surely need these days.

Excelling at Golf Offers Many Rewards

Like with many sports, the better you play golf, the more likely you are to enjoy it. Because it is such a difficult sport to master, junior golfers put in many hours of work trying to perfect their skills and learn to perform well under pressure. This desire to excel is an essential part of the whole process, especially for competitive juniors. It provides motivation and focus. I have witnessed the first-hand benefits this effort creates – junior golfers that work hard over an extended period of time develop habits and traits that they can use and profit from for the rest of their lives.

Good Coaching Makes a Difference

Because of new technologies, ample educational programs, and the sharing of information across multiple platforms, advances in coaching have accelerated at a rapid pace in the last few years. Now more than ever, an experienced coach who seeks out and understands the latest information can make a big difference in the progress of a young golfer. The best coaches also serve an equally important role as mentors that help young players navigate through this critical stage of development. If you are fortunate to have a top coach who is invested in your progress, I would strongly suggest you take advantage of his or her expertise and closely follow his or her advice.

Tournaments are the Ultimate Testing Ground

Despite all the changes in the past and those yet to come, one thing has remained the same -- the best players separate themselves on the golf course in competition. The scoring system for golf, created in 1764 at St. Andrews, has stood the test of time. Because of that, previous generations of golfers are connected with the current generation of golfers. Like those before them, today’s junior golfers will be tested on the golf course and will be judged by the scores they produce in tournament play. Tours like the TJGT are adjusting their procedures to keep everyone safe and still offer a full schedule of tournaments. My advice to young golfers who want to improve is to have the desire and courage to compete often knowing that the results and feedback you receive from competitive tournaments provide the best opportunity to improve your game.

By the time you read this article, things will have likely changed since I wrote it. Each day, our lives are being dramatically impacted by our country’s battle with the Covid-19 virus. Businesses have been forced to either close or alter their practices, schools have shifted to online teaching, families are sheltering at home, and competition in the golf world has been put on hold. When things around us are changing this quickly, we need to find our comfort in the things that are consistent and familiar.
 
For the competitive junior golfer, the one thing that remains the same is the desire to improve. The forced break from competition offers the unique opportunity to take inventory of your game and to focus your efforts on making changes that will have a positive and lasting impact on performance.
 
You can get started by following the steps I’ve listed below:
 

1. List on a piece of paper your clear, guiding principles. That means the things that are motivating you to play and compete. For example, a principle could be the “love of competition”. When this list is complete, post it in a prominent place that forces you to see it every day.
2. List on another piece of paper your strengths and weaknesses. If you’re a young golfer who’s getting ready to enter high school, then think about similar golfers of the same age as a guide to your own strengths and weaknesses. Armed with the list, put a plan in place to improve the specific weaknesses that will have the biggest impact on your score. It might make sense to check with your coach to get his or her help on this part of the process.
3. Focus on the things you control. At times like these when everything is changing rapidly, it’s easy to feel like you have little control over your circumstances. The reality is that you have large control over your own behavior and attitude. For example, you can decide to get up at the same time each day, even though you now might have more flexibility in your schedule. You can also set a limit on the minimum amount of time you’ll spend working out each week.
4. Do the things you don’t normally do when your schedule is full. Most competitive juniors have little flexibility in their schedules because of school obligations, practice, and social outings. During this down time, put some effort in the areas of your game that have been neglected. Some of our students are putting some extra time in on their mental game. For competitive junior golfers, this is an underrated part of the game. It often has a big bearing on scores and future potential.
5. Find some way or someone to help. When things are challenging, fear tends to narrow our view and gets us too focused on our own situation. Now is exactly the time when we all need to pull together and find ways to help out those who are struggling. A good place to start could be to reach out to a local charity or religious organization to see what particular needs are not being met. If you can find a way to impact others, it will lift your spirits and likely provide more motivation to do the things you love – like improve at golf.

 
In summary, this is undoubtedly a unique and difficult time in our nation’s history and in our own lives. By its very nature, it offers the opportunity for all of us to rise to the challenges that are placed before us and to use the extra time to make a real difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. From a golf standpoint, I can say this with confidence -- the only way to get ahead of the curve is to take actions that “at the time” seem unnecessary.

Properly fit golf club can have a huge influence on the performance of golfers. Fitting junior golfers with the right equipment is difficult because they are in a constant state of flux – working hard to improve their technique, while they are getting bigger and stronger. Pick ingthe right equipment is a challenge for coaches who are trying to balance long-term improvement with short-term performance. Parents also have a difficult choice to make when they’re considering an investment in new equipment knowing that their son or daughter could outgrow the new clubs relatively quickly.
These complications and challenges can be lessened by following the guidelines I have laid out below.
When it’s Time to Get New Clubs for Your Son or Daughter
New clubs support the development of competitive junior golfers and can speed up improvement and make the game more fun. There are three key times for juniors to get new clubs.

1. A new junior golfer should get a few clubs that fit their skill and size as soon as they begin to take lessons. Getting the right clubs early in the process will have a big impact on whether a young golfer stays with the sport beyond the initial trial period.
2. Once a junior golfer begins to improve, it makes sense to get a more complete set of well-fit clubs that includes a driver, a fairway wood or hybrid, several irons, a couple of wedges, and a putter.
3. Since speed and size are the key factors in fitting competitive juniors, it is important to consider new clubs whenever a golfer sees either an increase in speed of 5-10 mph or an increase in height of more than 2-3 inches.

What to Consider When Purchasing New Clubs
All the major manufacturers make quality clubs, but just a few offer a variety of options for younger golfers. When purchasing new clubs, there are important swing characteristics and club specifications that need to be evaluated and taken into consideration when fitting a junior golfer. Here are the essential ones:
Swing Characteristics

• Club speed – Fast speeds produce more height and spin
• Skill level – Beginners need clubs that are forgiving and help the ball get in the air
• Distance and shot dispersion with current clubs – A left or right bias can influence the choice of clubs
• Delivery of club at impact – The 3D position of the clubface at impact can affect the lie and loft of the club
• Launch and land angle – Lower and higher ball flights require a different set makeup

Club Specifications

• Design of the clubhead in terms of forgiveness – Clubs can vary from super game-improvement to clubs that offer little correction to errant shots
• Loft of the clubs – Stronger clubs can help players with slower swing speeds
• Shaft length, stiffness, and weight – it is always best to err on shorter, lighter, and more flexible
• Lie angle – Clubs with a proper lie angle will improve contact and starting direction of the ball

How to Make Sure the Clubs are Fit Correctly
When buying new clubs, the desired change to the ball flight should be the number one priority. For example, some players will want more distance while other players might prefer a lower ball flight. For competitive junior golfers, I suggest you follow these basic guidelines:

1. Purchase equipment with an eye toward the future. It’s tough to determine how much faster or bigger a young player will get, but we often fit our students to where we think they will be in three to six months, from a skill and speed standpoint.
2. Don’t buy clubs that correct for swing flaws. This approach can impede development. We like our students to have clubs that are relatively “neutral” and that will encourage the changes in technique that we are recommending.
3. Don’t skimp on equipment. Of the three major expenses associated with junior golf (tournaments, coaching, and equipment), equipment will require the least investment and has a significant effect on performance.
4. Take your time with the purchase and have your son or daughter test various clubs and shafts using a high-end launch like the one we use from TrackMan in addition to testing the clubs on the course.

In closing, I would strongly suggest that you solicit the assistance of your son or daughter’s coach to help with all equipment purchases. Unfortunately, I’ve had to correct the mistakes that parents have made in buying clubs. It’s not very much fun to deliver the bad news that the clubs that were purchased have to be returned.

Playing good golf requires that you do many things well during a round. Playing poor golf is easy to do. Without realizing it, many golfers sabotage their rounds in a variety of ways and junior golfers, in particular, frequently make mistakes that lead to higher scores.
In this article, I took a look at some of the most common errors young golfers make during a round that is almost sure to guarantee a poor performance.

1. Put too much emphasis on results during the pre-round warmup. Younger players often allow the quality of their range session to affect their confidence and, ultimately their performance on the course. More experienced golfers understand that their goal during the warmup is to get ready for the challenge they face when they walk on the first tee.
2. Have unrealistic expectations. Most junior golfers struggle with unrealistic expectations. They don’t accept the fact that they’re just as likely to shoot a score several strokes above their average as they are to shoot a score below their average. Instead of playing each shot as it comes, they let the first few poor shots change their confidence, attitude, and commitment for the rest of the round.
3. Don’t pay attention to the speed of the greens on the first few holes. Assuming they’re paying attention, the first few holes give golfers the chance to gain an understanding of the speed and receptivity of the greens. When golfers miss these clues, they’re sure to struggle for the majority of the round.
4. Text your coach in the middle of a round. Surprisingly, this happens more frequently than you might imagine. Young golfers who lack the mental toughness to deal with the rigors of competition or who are looking for some magical advice, seek outside help even in the middle of a round. This bad habit only leads to a golfer who is too dependent on outside direction.
5. Take unnecessary risks. It never fails, after hitting a bad shot, all but the most disciplined junior golfers, rather than hitting a shot that gets them back in play, will try to hit a miraculous shot to make up for the previous bad shot. This poor judgement almost always adds more strokes to the score.
6. Make technical changes during the round. Fiddling with swing mechanics during a round is a good way to struggle and play well below your capabilities. Greg Norman once said about his famous collapse in the Masters, “On the back nine, I started tinkering with stuff even though I never did that in my life, and I’ll never do it again. I was just trying things thinking it couldn’t get any worse. Well it got a lot worse.”
7. Try and impress others with your play. If you’ve been around competitive golf for any length of time, you’ve seen the situation in which a young golfer hits a shot and looks to his or her parents for approval or correction. Golf is hard enough without adding the additional pressure of trying to please someone on the sidelines, whether that’s a parent or a coach.
8. Ignore changing conditions. One of the most challenging aspects of golf is the fact that the environment and the conditions can change quickly. Wind direction, temperature, speed of the greens, pace of play, can all demand quick adjustments in order to keep a good round on track. Younger players with limited experience tend to adjust late or fail to adjust at all.
9. Focus on the score. Whether you’re on the way to a great round or struggling to avoid a poor round, putting your attention on the score takes golfers away from the immediate requirement of being focused and ready to the hit the most important shot – the next one.
10. Don’t eat or drink enough when you play. This is one of the most common mistakes young golfers make. They just don’t understand how important it is to stay hydrated and keep energy levels steady throughout the 4-6 hours it takes to play a round in a typical junior golf tournament.

All joking aside, I don’t know any golfers that purposely try to play poorly, but even seemingly normal behavior can make it less likely to play good golf. The choices and actions listed above are, unfortunately, all too common among the vast majority of junior golfers. One of the best ways to avoid these mistakes is have your son or daughter work with an experienced golf coach who can teach them how to avoid these traps and succeed in competition.

If you watch golf in person or on TV, you can’t help but notice that the best golfers in the world look quite different than the golfers from previous decades. Today’s golfers are strong, fit, and look like superb athletes. Although there’s nothing wrong with looking fit, competitive golfers are generally after something different. They understand that if they move well, are strong, and can swing fast, they’ll play better golf. Today’s game at every level is dominated by the fastest golfers.

It’s not just the pro game that’s changed. Junior golfers today play a much different game than their predecessors did just a few years ago. Now younger players are bombing the ball farther than ever. The challenge for these long hitters is to train their bodies to be able to withstand the rigors of year-round training, practice, and competition.

I’ve seen first-hand what happens when committed juniors with speed ignore or de-emphasize work in the gym. In the last month, we had two high school students test positive for stress fractures and one high school student just return from a stress fracture. In all three cases, the required break from golf is six months without certainty that the fracture will completely heal. Also, in all three cases, the injuries were likely caused by poor physical conditioning.

Now that I’ve piqued your interest as to the importance of fitness for developing juniors, let me describe it’s benefits and the best way to get started.

Benefits of Physical Training

1. Preventing injuries – Mastering the golf swing requires a high volume of repetition and with each swing, the body has to rotate, bend, and tilt at high speeds. It’s no wonder there are so many injuries – even though it’s a non-contact sport. A well-designed fitness program will attack limitations and weaknesses that can lead to injury.
2. Moving better – Athletes that move well have an easier time developing coordination and skill and have to compensate less for unwanted movements. In my experience, when golfers are sufficiently mobile, stable, and strong, they find it easier to adapt to changes they are making in their golf swing.
3. Getting faster – Powerful swings require strength and speed and both strength and speed can be trained in the gym. We have seen significant increases in club speed from our golfers who are training in the gym.
   

Tips for Getting Started

1. Find a golf fitness facility that has a history of training competitive golfers. These days, it seems there’s a gym on every corner but most of these gyms don’t have extensive experience working with rotational athletes and the unique needs of golfers.
2. Start your training with a physical screen or evaluation. All of our golfers get screened quarterly so that we can properly asses their strengths and weaknesses. Without an evaluation, we’d be flying blind when it comes to putting together a workout program.
3. Tie your physical training to your technical training. When developing a fitness program, an experienced fitness professional will create a program that considers the technical changes that a golfer is attempting to make. Often these changes can be reinforced or even accelerated with the right work in the gym.

 
If you need more convincing as to the value of fitness for today’s competitive golfer, here’s what Tyler Duncan, recent first-time winner of the RSM Classic, said in his interview after the round. When asked how he got his game good enough to win on the PGA Tour, Tyler attributed his success to the “stuff I’ve been doing has paid off.” The follow-up question asked him to clarify and Tyler said, “Training harder in the gym.” Join Tyler and the majority of pros, college players, and competitive juniors by getting started with and sticking to a comprehensive golf fitness program.

“Fire you caddie!” This is something I’ve said to my competitive juniors while on the golf course during a playing lesson. It’s usually met with a puzzled look because they’re never sure what I mean. I’ll follow up my original statement by asking them to identify their caddie, knowing full well that they won’t be able to do it. I’ll finally come clean and point out to them that for all intents and purposes, they are their own caddie. This realization will drive home the point I was trying to make in the first place – that young golfers often say and do things that they wouldn’t tolerate if someone else – a caddie for example – were doing or saying the same things.
What a Good Caddie Would Do
Anyone that’s been around the game understands how important a caddie can be and how many things that a good caddie can do to help his or her player perform well. Here’s a list of what would be expected from a caddie:

• Preview a course in advance of a tournament to become familiar with the setup, the speed of the greens, the texture of the bunkers, the locations of the hazards, and the strategy required to play the course well.
• Prepare and ensure that a player’s golf bag has everything that might be required including tees, balls, gloves, towel, bad weather gear, water, food, sunscreen, first aid items, etc.
• Keep clubs clean.
• Study and mark down pin locations assuming a pin sheets was given out.
• Help with shot selection by identifying and calculating temperature, wind, lie, hazards, yardages, etc.
• Look for clues and trends that could help with in-round adjustments.
• Provide important reminders, stay positive, and encourage players before, during, and after shots.
• Remain calm even in stressful situations.

What Junior Golfers Do
In contrast, I’ve seen countless examples of junior golfers who say and do exactly the opposite and think nothing of it. Here are some actual examples I’ve witnessed on the course in junior golf tournaments:

• Played an important tournament with no course knowledge because they hadn’t played a practice round.
• Forgot to check their golf bag before the tournament for essential items and then showed up on the first tee without tees or water.
• Never pulled out the pin sheet during the entire round.
• On multiple occasions, either forget to calculate or didn’t bother to calculate the wind direction or wind speed when choosing a club.
• Was too upset to notice that they had missed the green short and to the right on each of the first three holes and never considered making an adjustment.
• Screamed out loud “you never make these putts” after they missed a short putt for par.
• Displayed their frustration by teeing off first on every hole even though they didn’t have the lowest score on the previous hole.

Actions and behaviors like these are all too common for competitive junior golfers and make no sense for any golfer that cares about his or her score. It’s plainly obvious and I’m sure we can all agree that if any of us had a caddie that acted poorly or said the things that younger golfers say to themselves, we’d fire them at the first opportunity or refuse to use them in the future.
In golf, there are many things beyond our control, but our actions, words, and internal dialogue are well within our control. As long as a junior golfers carry their own bags, it only makes sense that they learn how to be the best caddie possible…one that is truly helpful.