For junior golfers, we believe it’s paramount to nail down the fundamentals of golf early in their careers. Fundamentals such as grip, posture, and alignment. During their teenage years, especially in/around their growth spurts, they should also work on adding speed. For Boys, the critical speed windows are 7-9 and 13-16 years old. For Girls, it’s 6-8 and 11-13 years old. Then, once a player begins to build good fundamentals, adds speed, and understands the nuances to the competitive game, then it’s definitely time to begin to work with a qualified swing coach.
Have all successful players had swing coaches?
No, not all, but if you walk down the range at any modern-day PGA Tour event, you’ll see few players without them!
Bubba Watson is one of the few players on the PGA tour that was self-made. A few others like Boo Weekly, Jason Day, and Zach Johnson didn’t have Coaches until they were competitive players but use them regularly on Tour. Tiger worked with his Dad primarily until he was 6 years old and then transitioned to Randy Duran and knowingly has trusted many Coaches with his swing: Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Chris Como, Sean Foley, and sometimes even falling back on his vast knowledge and trusting himself with his own swing for short periods of time.
There are over 30,000 PGA Professionals but unfortunately, only a small percentage of them are truly qualified to assist elite juniors toward their goals and dreams. Bottom line, it’s not only important that you find the right swing coach for your needs at the right time, but also that you have the proper equipment and are developing the proper technical skills during the right development “windows”.
We narrowed down the following factors to look for and consider when looking for a swing coach:
Important Factors
Values/Connection - Player & Coach
Trust/Relationship
Availability
Communication
Style/Model
Coach Experience/Accolades
Here are some important questions to ask when considering a Player/Coach relationship and the factors above:
Values/Connection
What do you value?
Do you have any strong beliefs that can’t be changed/broken?
Are you open to change? If so, to what extent?
What does the Coach value?
Does this Coach have any strong beliefs that can’t be broken?
Are they open to help you based on your own beliefs? Or do they have a tendency to tell players what to do, not ask?
Do your values match up?
Do you have a “spark” or connection with this Coach?
Does this Coach care about my development?
Does this Coach say the right thing at the right time?
Or does this Coach just tell ppl what they want to hear?
Or does this Coach “push players over the edge”
Does this Coach deliver information in a good way for me?
Does this Coach’s values make me more motivated to put more work in over time?
Availability
Does this coach have the ability to give feedback on a swing video or are they too busy?
Is the bulk of their lesson book junior golfers or 15 Handicaps?
Coaching vs 1hr golf instruction
Trust/Relationship
Do I feel a connection with this Coach and feel like we can build a relationship over time?
Can I trust this Coach with my game and to get me to where I want to go?
Will this Coach be honest with me about my progress/ or lack thereof?
How does this Coach speak to his players?
Does this Coach know when to speak up and when not to?
Does this Coach know when to “needle” a player and when to “put their arm around a player”?
Will I be able to resolve confusion/conflict easily with this Coach?
Communication
How does this Coach communicate his/her information?
Does this Coach package his information in a way that’s easy for me to understand?
Are they communicating in simple terms, and keeping it to 1 or 2 thoughts?
Or are they throwing the kitchen sink at you and hoping something sticks?
How does this Coach utilize Video, Trackman, feels, drills?
Do they really understand you and your swing or are they giving you quick fixes?
Does this coach ask me about my preferred ball flight and the “patterns” I’m seeing in my game?
Q’s to ask the Coach…
If we work together, how would we do the following?
Define success?
Create a long-term plan?
Communicate in-between lessons?
How often would we schedule lessons?
How significant/serious would the changes be?
Will you help me review my on-course stats?
Will you help me create a practice schedule?
Style/Model
Most good coaches operate under a narrow set of principles and teach the same thing to everyone. Great coaches, however, can take the same principles and apply it to the student/player in front of them.
Technical development or Skill development? Which is the Coach more focused on? Does that suit you?
There is a BIG difference and some Coaches teach a little of both but most are one or the other
Technical Development - Training your mechanics and motor patterns
Typically, Coaches like Mike Bender or David Leadbetter or Mike Adams. Much more technique based in their Coaching.
Efficiency - the ability to do something consistently in a repeatable way, aka matchups (start line, and curve)
Horsepower - speed first, (aka. Gankas, Berkshire, Bryson changes)
This training will ultimately “set your ceiling” for performance
Skill Development -
Coaches like Cameron McCormick, Butch Harmon or Pia Nielson
This type of training will ultimately help you perform your best under pressure but your “ceiling” limits you.
Remember, “Two Steps backward, then three steps forward” is mostly a MYTH!
Meaning.. “I have to get worse before I get better”
You should be seeing small improvements immediately! Note: some players assume the are getting worse because of their scores or a few bad shots, when in reality they are actually changing technique for the better and also building a skillset.
The difference is most great players Understand & Trust what they are working on for a longer period of time. Whereas, other players give up and begin “searching” for the next quick-fix. Don’t go fishing!
Great players have a really really really clear PLAN.
When Making a Swing Change
Changing the “movement” should be the primary focus
Focus on changing your “motor patterns”, not controlling the ball flight/outcome
Slow it down! Do most of your technical work at 60% speed or less
Stick to your plan. Most swing changes take 6mo or longer, not weeks!
Ask your Coach to “Define great, define good, and define bad” in terms of technical movements and outcome.
How do we define a “good” move?
What does a “preferred or great” shot look like? (start line, and shape)
How do I control the clubface?
How do I create speed?
How can we define success overall? OR How do you judge progress?
Shooting a score? Win a tournament?
OR
Increasing skill level or raising my technical “ceiling”
Coach Experience/Accolades
Has this Coach taught players or been around players at the level where you’re trying to go? (I.e. college level or PGA Tour level players)
Has this Coach helped good junior players become great?
Has this Coach helped great junior players become exceptional?
Has this Coach played/competed at the level where you are trying to go?
Other important Coaching Q’s
Has this coach learned or been mentored by other great instructors?
Does this Coach have any Top100 accolades?
TPI (fitness) or PGA certified? (Business)
Remember: Most Head PGA pros get judged on revenue and member satisfaction, NOT helping young players build a technical skillset.
We hope these questions help you find the right Coach for YOU!
Best of luck in your search and please let us know if we can assist you!
Mike
