While day dreaming the other day, I started pondering about the things that I never need to tell my junior students. Here are the top ten things I cannot remember ever saying to kids. . .
10 - You walk too quickly between shots.
9 - There is a 'right way' or a 'magic move' to swinging a golf club.
8 - Proper club selection is the key to distance control.
7 - You spend too much time practicing off the course.
6 - Your pre-shot routine is too repetitive and boring.
5 - You are too positive and confident.
4 - Your backswing is too slow.
3 - You head is too steady.
2 - Your swing tempo is too smooth.
1 - You need to practice more flop shots.
So let me expand a bit on each one of the above.
10 - You walk too quickly between shots.
Kids just learning the game are always accused of slow play because they naturally need to hit more shots. But I assert that the kids that walk quickly between their shots keep up with even the fastest adult. So, when playing with kids, I don't tell them to play faster, but I do encourage them to walk quickly between their shots. I have them think and plan their next shot while they walk; they learn to have their club out of their bag, and be ready to hit once they arrive at their ball.
9 - There is a 'right way' or a 'magic move' to swing a golf club.
The 'vast golf industry conspiracy' is constantly coming up with new things to sell to golfers. From 'magic methods' like stack-n-tilt, the X-factor, square-to-square, the number of magic swing methods are too many to count. Just go up on YouTube and you will find video after video of people speculating on Hogan's 'magic move.' To be brief, I call 'snake oil!' The best way to teach kids I learned from a book by Sam Snead where he suggest that a kid should pick a specific golfer's swing that they like and copy it!
8 - Proper club selection is the key to distance control.
Almost every kid I teach starts out thinking that distance is only controlled by club selection. If they go over a green they just think they pulled the wrong club. It is always a challenge as a coach to teach kids how to develop touch with each club in their bag. It is rumored that Hogan would practice his distance control by hitting each iron to different distances. For example, he would practice hitting his 3 iron 20 yrds, then 30 yrds, then 40 yrds and so on.
7 - You spend too much time practicing off the course.
Kids love to play golf. And even when a kid likes to practice, he will almost always choose play over practice. Tiger Woods did the opposite. Enough said.
6 - Your pre-shot routine is too repetitive and boring.
Kids just do not recognize the importance of the pre shot routine. Most only learn the value of the pre shot routine as the mature from experience in playing tournaments. My students do pushups if I catch them not going through a pre-shot routine on each shot, even at the driving range. (Yes, I am the coach from hell, but they all understand the pushups help them hit it farther.)
5 - You are too positive and confident.
Kids always think that their bad shots are their fault. They get frustrated and become their own harshest critic. Instead, they should become their own best cheerleader.
4 - Your backswing is too slow.
Kids want to hit is as far as possible. And they equate swinging fast to maximum distance. Unfortunately, they do not understand that a fast backswing is just energy wasted.
3 - You head is too steady.
Videos show that everyone's head moves when they swing. But the Pro's move their heads less than anyone else. While kids are out trying to master the 'magic move' of the day (like Tiger's compression move), they rarely work on the truly magic non-move of just keeping their head as still and steady as possible.
2 - Your swing tempo is too smooth.
Tempo is the key to building a repetitive and constant swing across all clubs and shots. Kids should work on their tempo just as much (or more) as a dancer or musician.
1 - You need to practice more flop shots.
Yes, this is my #1 because every kid loves the flop. Although it should be used on the rarest occasion, most kids spend 99.9% of their chipping practice time hitting flops.
Well there is my list. If you have anything to add, please share by leaving a comment.
Also, because golf season is here, my coaching duties are back in full swing. This has cut into my time to post to this blog. The goal is one post per week. If you register at this site, you will get a notice whenever a new post is available.