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.
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
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:
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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.
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
Tips for Getting Started
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:
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:
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. |
authorJeff Isler shares his observations, insights, and experiences on the game of golf and those that play it at a high level. Archives
December 2024
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