Connect with us

Instruction

6 keys to coaching the current generation of junior golfers

Published

on

The old, authoritarian approach to coaching does not work with this generation of junior golfers. We live in a vastly different era than what we as coaches and parents experienced, and referencing “what I did when I was your age” is simply not taking the time to understand the current junior golfers.

Communication is the foundation to coaching, and taking the time to understand how to better communicate with junior players will allow for faster, more in-depth understanding, more detailed and precise practice — and the ultimate goal, improved results and enjoyment.

When looking at the development and progression of the junior golfer, we must first understand the personality traits of this player. Using tools like a mental golf workshop profile allows coaches to have a better understanding of a player’s mind and how to best coach the player in a way that will appeal to his or her mindset.

So many golfers are in a rush to get results, and it’s especially prevalent in today’s junior golfers. There are always going to be standouts in junior golf, the players who have advanced far faster than their age group. The unfortunate thing is that most parents compare their child to these standout players, which often isn’t fair. A few years later, the playing field can level out, especially in a life-long game like golf.

Our role as coaches and parents is to help our junior golfers in understanding that small, incremental improvements are ones that build strong foundation and character. With these consistent improvements players will gain confidence, understanding and can to progress to a level of performance that they never imagined.

How do we do this? Here are 6 keys to coaching the current generation of junior golfers.

Developing the athlete in every player

IMG_2050

This generation of golfers as a whole spends less time outdoors, less time playing sports and less time in good posture than generations past. This means players, coaches and parents need to spend far more time and effort developing the athlete in junior golfers.

Starting from the ground up, there needs to be a focus on connection to the ground through balance and stability, followed by creating the correct hinge in the pelvis and consistent posture. This will allow junior golfers to make far more consistent, dynamic movements and maintain better connection and angles throughout the motion.

A junior golfer undergoing a physical screening.

A junior golfer undergoing a physical screening.

Of course, physical screenings will also help target imbalances in a young golfer’s body, which when combined with proper posture and mechanics helps reduce the chance of injury — for the rest of their junior golf careers and beyond.

Playing the instant-gratification game

IMG_2124

We all live in a world fueled by instant gratification. Cell phones and social media allows us all the instant gratification of getting what we want when we want it for the most part, and this is especially true in younger golfers. Waiting for results is something that players are just not willing to do, and this hurts development when a junior golfer’s “buy in” to change and hard work has weakened.

Coaching juniors needs to be structured around players feeling a sense of achievement throughout their lesson, practice and the process of becoming a better player.

Becoming a tech-privy coach

IMG_2453

The current generation of junior golfers is more visual than ever. They spend an enormous percentage of their free time looking at screens, whether it be their cell phones, computers or televisions.

Coaches should use this to their advantage with visual technologies. K-Vest, Zepp, Blast Golf, Trackman and other new technologies have visual components that can help the growth and development of junior golfers. They can aid them in immediately feeling the correct motion and getting instant feedback, as well as provide a sense of success and achievement (which you now know is vital to improvement).

Bio-feedback training is one of the greatest inclusions to our sport. While it has been around for a while, tools such are K-Vest allow us to help junior golfers gain improved awareness of their body motions. This allows golfers (especially juniors) to feel a stronger trust in the changes and motions they are making. It also offers them instant feedback when they make the correct movement patterns.

Creating a timeline for success

IMG_2454

Competition is tougher than ever in junior golf, and as a result, heightened pressure and expectations are being placed on junior players from every angle. It is very easy for players to overestimate their current level of play by confusing where they want to be as a player with where they really are, and their parents, coaches and peers can make the matter worse.

The first step to creating a timeline for success is for a junior golfer to honestly assess their game through tournament average, GHIN Handicap, skills testing, Trackman combines and other assessment tools. Once a player has assessed their game, then it’s time to make a realistic timeline to succeed.

Goal setting is extremely important in young players, as it gives them something to work toward. Players need to be conscious of HOW to set goals. Having goals like “get into a great college” or “play on the PGA Tour” are great, because they gives them hope, but big, broad goals can also lead to frustration along the way. Players need to break their major goals into smaller, more manageable and attainable goals. They can set goals daily, weekly, monthly, etc., and this way they are going to get a sense of achievement while understanding the natural progression to becoming a great player.

Mastering the plan

IMG_2370

Having a plan is like having a GPS; it allows juniors to remain on course, and when they detour slightly it gives them direction to get back on the right track. That’s why it’s so important that junior players develop a plan for every area of their game. This plan needs to include:

  • Athletic/Fitness Drills: Drills that are based around creating correct posture, body motion and dynamic movements matching that of the golf swing.
  • Generic Drills: To be completed away from the golf ball, but with specific movement patterns relating to the golf swing.
  • Motion Drills: These drills include the golf ball, and are split up into blocks/repetitions.

Serious junior golfers need a plan for every area of their game. But first, they must understand WHAT they are working on and WHY they are working on it. By doing this, it ensures they understand their plan and the improvement this plan will offer.

A plan must include two-to-three different phases of training:

  • Technical training
  • Pre-competition training
  • Competition training

Breaking a plan into different phases allows players to work very hard on swing adjustments, short game, putting, mental process, and strength and conditioning during times between tournaments and in the offseason. Prior to playing tournaments, junior golfers want to reduce the technical work and increase the focus on routines, feel and start getting in to a more competitive mindset to aid with peak performance.

Challenging your junior golfers

File_000

Junior Players are more competitive than ever, and as opposed to countless hours of blocked practice (practicing the same skill over and over in large blocks/reps), juniors need to work through their plan and then finish each session by testing their skills and competing.

During practice, set up small skills challenges/games against other players, coaches and parents, etc. This will have them leaving the practice range in a competitive mindset, and they’ll learned to be less focused on technique when they’re under the gun.

Grant Balcke is the Director of Training at Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy located in Clermont, Florida, and is the world's premier Junior Academy. Grant grew up in Melbourne, Australia and attended the University of Southern Mississippi. PGA - Australia TPI Certified Golf + Junior Coach Hometown - Melbourne, Australia Lives - Windermere, FL University of Southern Mississippi

20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. Steven

    Nov 10, 2016 at 2:48 pm

    It is funny how many of the comments completely miss the arguments in the article. The article acknowledges that people in previous years would “find it in the dirt” but that the new generation doesn’t learn that way. Grant may have said the “game” is different, but the article is talking about the way people learn. He is 100% correct. New neuroscience research indicates “finding it in the dirt” is the least effective way to learn a motor skill. While some people may have succeeded doing that (there are exceptions), most just found a flawed swing. Spaced, variable, interleaved, and assessment based learning is the fastest way to develop motor skills (and educational learning as well, but not part of this article).

    The article also discusses the new generation of golfer. The argument here is that “finding it in the dirt” won’t motivate this generation and will cause them to play other sports or not really improve. Visual aids, technology, and other devices are both fun and the way millennials encode information for learning. Trying to get a feel player to use tech doesn’t work. I think Grant’s argument is that the new generation is more visual/tech learners than the older feel players.

    I applaud Grant’s work because it is based on research. If the data indicates something doesn’t work, then let’s stop using the same method. Let’s progress to new teaching.

  2. 4right

    Nov 8, 2016 at 10:36 am

    The opening sentence should have read “in my opinion”. What kind of life experiences can you have at your age saying the way a person like me teaches juniors is better??? I sat next to Harvey Penick in Austin, you know who Harvey was right? He taught the best way ever, you have no clue what you are talking about… I’m 83 years old and have played golf over 75 years…

    • Looper

      Nov 8, 2016 at 11:10 am

      The author is correct in saying the game has changed… They play now using a golf ball, golf clubs, and a golf course, trying to make it the least amount of strokes possible… Ok, ok, the game is exactly the same, it hasn’t change in any way shape or form. I play today like I played 30 years ago… Crazy article, zero experience…

  3. Stooooop typing!

    Nov 7, 2016 at 9:12 pm

    Seriously! What’s with the long stupid comments

  4. Grant Balcke

    Nov 7, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Thank you all for your comments and feedback on your views on Junior Golf and every comment has its valid points.
    The goal behind this article is the educate Coaches, Players and Parents to the differences in the game now, How to better communicate the message to Juniors and the highlight the importance of having a PLAN to get a player from where they are NOW to their GOAL.

    I have taught Junior players in 3 countries over the past 12 years and from all demographics. Beginner, Tour Player, Young, Middle aged, Elderly, Wealthy and the less fortunate and regardless of the level, the financial backing a player has they still need a PLAN and to understand WHAT they are working on and towards and WHY they are working on it.

    I also grew up ‘Digging it out of the dirt’ ‘Playing local Muni Courses’ and yes Commitment, Heart, Determination and many other attributes make for great players.

    Great players will come from a variety of different backgrounds, different countries and different opportunity and there is no ONE way to do it all we can try to do as Coaches and Instructors is give the best possible opportunity to each and every player.

    A coach should never feel HE / SHE is the reason a player went to college, went to the next level, all we can do is give the best advice and opportunity possible and treat every player as the individual they are.

    If player and Coach or Player and Parent can share a common goal and be working in the same direction towards that goal anything is possible and this is true no matter the age or level of play.

    Growing the game of golf and maintaining the enjoyment at every level is always extremely important and something that Parents and Coaches should always place as top priority.

    Lets give the best advice we can from the knowledge and experience we have both as coaches and as players to help the next generation of players achieve their goals.

  5. Mark

    Nov 7, 2016 at 2:02 pm

    I coach HS golf. I’ve sent three players to the next level in the last four years. I focus on competition and short game. I see so many of these juniors with these pretty swings, but no heart. If they end up under a tree, half of them can’t figure out how to get up and down. Drive for show, putt for dough.

    • prime21

      Nov 7, 2016 at 5:01 pm

      You’ve “sent” or you’ve “watched” 3 players go to the next level? How does drive for show, putt for dough even apply here? Are you teaching them to putt from under a tree? Are they recovering from being under a tree (3 shots) or truly getting up and down from under a tree? Either way, does that really measure the amount of “heart” they have? Your commentary leaves me with more questions than answers, which is never good for a post. Perhaps YOU should have put more heart into your effort here.

  6. Smokin' Gun

    Nov 7, 2016 at 12:51 am

    Don’t agree that this is what it takes. The difference between excellence and mediocrity is COMMITMENT!!! Anyone could be great, you are burning out these juniors…

  7. Smokin' Gun

    Nov 7, 2016 at 12:47 am

    This is basically saying kids going about their golf in other ways will not get to a higher level…This article is so misleading in every way. I’m in my mid 20’s, have played golf since I was about 8 or 9. I Played golf, no lessons, just me, my brothers, and my pop. I played to scratch at about 14, and won several events, was even recruited by my university. Determination, heart, and commitment… I would put how I did it against any of your machines any day…

    • Sometimes a Smizzle

      Nov 7, 2016 at 9:23 pm

      Not to mention some luck finding a good swing or your pop taught you well. If you can play to a scratch handicap at 14 then i hope you are better now.

      • Smokin' Gun

        Nov 7, 2016 at 9:58 pm

        Play to +3.1. I am working fulltime now, but still play all the big USGA amateur events. Got thru the first round of last years US open Q, only to lay an egg the next round. I have qualified for my state open the last 3 years, and my highest finish is T10… Will remain an Am just because it’s not my job, just my passion… My dad sucked as a golfer, but was a major champion as a dad… Never forced, never yelled, never disappointed, he said things just are what they are… He’s 91 and still plays. Thanks for the support…

  8. Pingback: 6 keys to coaching the current generation of junior golfers – Swing Update

  9. Fuzz

    Nov 6, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    Agree 100% with all of this, great summary. Only thing I would say is the players pictured probably represent the top 1% of junior players. Keep it fun should be a top priority, it’s more than ok to have a generation of casual golfers as well.

    • Par4

      Nov 7, 2016 at 12:30 am

      Probably less than 1%, and one thing they forget to mention is the cost of all this. 50-75K a year (including academics) at these golf schools. IMG, Bender, etc… Growing up there was no way my parents could afford that, let alone I would never want them too… I grew up on a dusty muni, learned to take it out of the dirt, rocks and stuff, and loved everyday I played. My dad would toss the ball around and I would find a way. I see kids on the range everyday being instructed, nothing wrong with it, but they don’t know how to play… My dad was the one and only influence I needed, he helped me learn to play my way. I Played in high school and was fortunate enough to play 3 years in college.

    • Par4

      Nov 7, 2016 at 12:34 am

      Agreed, plus coaching like that is ultra expensive. Makes the percentage even less than 1%. The one problem I witness is that these kids are all coached up and they don’t have the most important ingredient, they can’t play a lick on course…

      • prime21

        Nov 7, 2016 at 4:53 pm

        What kids are you looking at? An example of a few does not make for an example of all. The one formula which will never change is that if someone wants it bad enough, regardless of their age, they will work it out. However, determination alone cannot defeat poor form/mechanics, period, no matter what sport you are talking about. Obviously “your way” worked for you, but what if your goal(s) had been to play at a D1 college, or on Tour? Would you have accomplished your goals then? I am not coming at YOU in any way, shape, or form, I am, however, calling out your use of a blanket statement, which I find to be simply ridiculous. “I did it this way, so everyone should do it this way” is a selfish, jaded perspective that only carries weight for the individual that made the statement. Much like your statement, there are many “blanket” comments used in this article as well, though I believe you both had the best of intentions in mind. Trying to figure out how to be on the “same wavelength” as today’s youth is certainly a challenge, especially if one is 10 to 20 years older than their student. However, it is no different now than it used to be, in that a great coach must figure out how to communicate with each of their students on a personal level. If we compared 1984 to 2000 and 2000 to 2016 it would be easy to spot differential. Great instructors, however, will be able to spot the similarities. They will be able to communicate with their 10 year old student just as well as their 16, 28, and 65 year old students. Is your father a great instructor? I’m guessing probably not. Was your father a great instructor for you? Absolutely he was. Because in the end, all great instructors share 1 common trait, they CARE about their student & they care about the outcome. Having the ability to connect on a personal level is what separates good instructors from GREAT instructors, period. Then and only then can a great Coach determine the best course of action for their student, using whatever aid, technology, or form of feedback that will work best for each individual student.
        The article states, “Coaching juniors needs to be structured around players feeling a sense of achievement throughout their lesson, practice and the process of becoming a better player”. Should this be viewed any different with a student at the age of 40? I think not. Differentiation makes things harder, not easier. It is the same now as it was then, and as it always will be, successful instruction occurs when Student & Teacher are on the same wavelength, working towards achieving the same goal(s). “Right and Wrong” can only be recognized through trial and error and should be determined on a case by case basis, period. What worked for one may very well work for another, but then again, it also may prove to be detrimental. That is up to each individual to decide. There is no perfect for everyone, but everyone can find perfect for themselves!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Instruction

The Wedge Guy: Beating the yips into submission

Published

on

There may be no more painful affliction in golf than the “yips” – those uncontrollable and maddening little nervous twitches that prevent you from making a decent stroke on short putts. If you’ve never had them, consider yourself very fortunate (or possibly just very young). But I can assure you that when your most treacherous and feared golf shot is not the 195 yard approach over water with a quartering headwind…not the extra tight fairway with water left and sand right…not the soft bunker shot to a downhill pin with water on the other side…No, when your most feared shot is the remaining 2- 4-foot putt after hitting a great approach, recovery or lag putt, it makes the game almost painful.

And I’ve been fighting the yips (again) for a while now. It’s a recurring nightmare that has haunted me most of my adult life. I even had the yips when I was in my 20s, but I’ve beat them into submission off and on most of my adult life. But just recently, that nasty virus came to life once again. My lag putting has been very good, but when I get over one of those “you should make this” length putts, the entire nervous system seems to go haywire. I make great practice strokes, and then the most pitiful short-stroke or jab at the ball you can imagine. Sheesh.

But I’m a traditionalist, and do not look toward the long putter, belly putter, cross-hand, claw or other variation as the solution. My approach is to beat those damn yips into submission some other way. Here’s what I’m doing that is working pretty well, and I offer it to all of you who might have a similar affliction on the greens.

When you are over a short putt, forget the practice strokes…you want your natural eye-hand coordination to be unhindered by mechanics. Address your putt and take a good look at the hole, and back to the putter to ensure good alignment. Lighten your right hand grip on the putter and make sure that only the fingertips are in contact with the grip, to prevent you from getting to tight.

Then, take a long, long look at the hole to fill your entire mind and senses with the target. When you bring your head/eyes back to the ball, try to make a smooth, immediate move right into your backstroke — not even a second pause — and then let your hands and putter track right back together right back to where you were looking — the HOLE! Seeing the putter make contact with the ball, preferably even the forward edge of the ball – the side near the hole.

For me, this is working, but I am asking all of you to chime in with your own “home remedies” for the most aggravating and senseless of all golf maladies. It never hurts to have more to fall back on!

Continue Reading

Instruction

Looking for a good golf instructor? Use this checklist

Published

on

Over the last couple of decades, golf has become much more science-based. We measure swing speed, smash factor, angle of attack, strokes gained, and many other metrics that can really help golfers improve. But I often wonder if the advancement of golf’s “hard” sciences comes at the expense of the “soft” sciences.

Take, for example, golf instruction. Good golf instruction requires understanding swing mechanics and ball flight. But let’s take that as a given for PGA instructors. The other factors that make an instructor effective can be evaluated by social science, rather than launch monitors.

If you are a recreational golfer looking for a golf instructor, here are my top three points to consider.

1. Cultural mindset

What is “cultural mindset? To social scientists, it means whether a culture of genius or a culture of learning exists. In a golf instruction context, that may mean whether the teacher communicates a message that golf ability is something innate (you either have it or you don’t), or whether golf ability is something that can be learned. You want the latter!

It may sound obvious to suggest that you find a golf instructor who thinks you can improve, but my research suggests that it isn’t a given. In a large sample study of golf instructors, I found that when it came to recreational golfers, there was a wide range of belief systems. Some instructors strongly believed recreational golfers could improve through lessons. while others strongly believed they could not. And those beliefs manifested in the instructor’s feedback given to a student and the culture created for players.

2. Coping and self-modeling can beat role-modeling

Swing analysis technology is often preloaded with swings of PGA and LPGA Tour players. The swings of elite players are intended to be used for comparative purposes with golfers taking lessons. What social science tells us is that for novice and non-expert golfers, comparing swings to tour professionals can have the opposite effect of that intended. If you fit into the novice or non-expert category of golfer, you will learn more and be more motivated to change if you see yourself making a ‘better’ swing (self-modeling) or seeing your swing compared to a similar other (a coping model). Stay away from instructors who want to compare your swing with that of a tour player.

3. Learning theory basics

It is not a sexy selling point, but learning is a process, and that process is incremental – particularly for recreational adult players. Social science helps us understand this element of golf instruction. A good instructor will take learning slowly. He or she will give you just about enough information that challenges you, but is still manageable. The artful instructor will take time to decide what that one or two learning points are before jumping in to make full-scale swing changes. If the instructor moves too fast, you will probably leave the lesson with an arm’s length of swing thoughts and not really know which to focus on.

As an instructor, I develop a priority list of changes I want to make in a player’s technique. We then patiently and gradually work through that list. Beware of instructors who give you more than you can chew.

So if you are in the market for golf instruction, I encourage you to look beyond the X’s and O’s to find the right match!

Continue Reading

Instruction

What Lottie Woad’s stunning debut win teaches every golfer

Published

on

Most pros take months, even years, to win their first tournament. Lottie Woad needed exactly four days.

The 21-year-old from Surrey shot 21-under 267 at Dundonald Links to win the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open by three shots — in her very first event as a professional. She’s only the third player in LPGA history to accomplish this feat, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).

But here’s what caught my attention as a coach: Woad didn’t win through miraculous putting or bombing 300-yard drives. She won through relentless precision and unshakeable composure. After watching her performance unfold, I’m convinced every golfer — from weekend warriors to scratch players — can steal pages from her playbook.

Precision Beats Power (And It’s Not Even Close)

Forget the driving contests. Woad proved that finding greens matters more than finding distance.

What Woad did:

• Hit it straight, hit it solid, give yourself chances

• Aimed for the fat parts of greens instead of chasing pins

• Let her putting do the talking after hitting safe targets

• As she said, “Everyone was chasing me today, and managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots”

Why most golfers mess this up:

• They see a pin tucked behind a bunker and grab one more club to “go right at it”

• Distance becomes more important than accuracy

• They try to be heroic instead of smart

ACTION ITEM: For your next 10 rounds, aim for the center of every green regardless of pin position. Track your greens in regulation and watch your scores drop before your swing changes.

The Putter That Stayed Cool Under Fire

Woad started the final round two shots clear and immediately applied pressure with birdies at the 2nd and 3rd holes. When South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim mounted a charge and reached 20-under with a birdie at the 14th, Woad didn’t panic.

How she responded to pressure:

• Fired back with consecutive birdies at the 13th and 14th

• Watched Kim stumble with back-to-back bogeys

• Capped it with her fifth birdie of the day at the par-5 18th

• Stayed patient when others pressed, pressed when others cracked

What amateurs do wrong:

• Get conservative when they should be aggressive

• Try to force magic when steady play would win

• Panic when someone else makes a move

ACTION ITEM: Practice your 3-6 foot putts for 15 minutes after every range session. Woad’s putting wasn’t spectacular—it was reliable. Make the putts you should make.

Course Management 101: Play Your Game, Not the Course’s Game

Woad admitted she couldn’t see many scoreboards during the final round, but it didn’t matter. She stuck to her game plan regardless of what others were doing.

Her mental approach:

• Focused on her process, not the competition

• Drew on past pressure situations (Augusta National Women’s Amateur win)

• As she said, “That was the biggest tournament I played in at the time and was kind of my big win. So definitely felt the pressure of it more there, and I felt like all those experiences helped me with this”

Her physical execution:

• 270-yard drives (nothing flashy)

• Methodical iron play

• Steady putting

• Everything effective, nothing spectacular

ACTION ITEM: Create a yardage book for your home course. Know your distances to every pin, every hazard, every landing area. Stick to your plan no matter what your playing partners are doing.

Mental Toughness Isn’t Born, It’s Built

The most impressive part of Woad’s win? She genuinely didn’t expect it: “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win my first event as a pro, but I knew I was playing well, and I was hoping to contend.”

Her winning mindset:

• Didn’t put winning pressure on herself

• Focused on playing well and contending

• Made winning a byproduct of a good process

• Built confidence through recent experiences:

  • Won the Women’s Irish Open as an amateur
  • Missed a playoff by one shot at the Evian Championship
  • Each experience prepared her for the next

What this means for you:

• Stop trying to shoot career rounds every time you tee up

• Focus on executing your pre-shot routine

• Commit to every shot

• Stay present in the moment

ACTION ITEM: Before each round, set process goals instead of score goals. Example: “I will take three practice swings before every shot” or “I will pick a specific target for every shot.” Let your score be the result, not the focus.

The Real Lesson

Woad collected $300,000 for her first professional victory, but the real prize was proving that fundamentals still work at golf’s highest level. She didn’t reinvent the game — she simply executed the basics better than everyone else that week.

The fundamentals that won:

• Hit more fairways

• Find more greens

• Make the putts you should make

• Stay patient under pressure

That’s something every golfer can do, regardless of handicap. Lottie Woad just showed us it’s still the winning formula.

FINAL ACTION ITEM: Pick one of the four action items above and commit to it for the next month. Master one fundamental before moving to the next. That’s how champions are built.

 

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” on RG.org each Monday.

 

Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more Tips!

Continue Reading

WITB

Facebook

Trending