Junior Golf Swing Training: Developing Good Swing Habits Early
By: Jim Hackenberg, PGA
It’s very easy to get hung up on one thing when juniors are just starting to play golf....hitting the ball. And while there is nothing better than seeing a young golfer’s face light up after a great shot, junior golf swing training should be more than just about contact.
Young golfers’ habits can affect their golf swings for years. Junior golfers can learn how to develop balance, rhythm, tempo, and proper movement and develop a solid athletic base without over-complicating the game from the start.
The secret is in keeping training simple, effective, and fun.
Start With The Motion, Not The Mechanics
Young golfers don’t need to be bogged down with intricate swing positions or technical instruction. Too much information can actually make it harder to learn the golf swing.
Junior golf training should be about swing feel instead.
- Can they keep their balance the entire swing?
- Are they moving with good rhythm and tempo?
- Can they shift their weight easily from back foot to front foot?
These basic moves will lead to a more consistent, athletic golf swing.
A good golf swing coach will teach junior golfers these movements without having to think about where the club should be at each point in the swing.
Balance Is The Key
Balance is one of the most important fundamentals for golfers of any age, but if you can learn to develop it early, it can make a huge difference throughout your golf life.
Young golfers who swing hard tend to lose their posture, fall back, or struggle to finish in balance. No need to rush to fix their hands, arms, or club position. Let them swing smoothly and control their body.
One simple goal is to have the junior golfer hold their finish for a few seconds after each and every swing. If they can hold the finish easily, they are learning to control their body during the swing.
This also helps reinforce the idea that a good golf swing doesn’t have to be a hard golf swing.
Develop Natural Timing and Speed
All golfers have their own swing, but good rhythm is almost always a part of a great golf swing.
A lot of young golfers want to swing as hard as possible. Speed is definitely important, but learning how to generate speed by proper sequencing is a lot more valuable than just swinging hard.
A flexible trainer like the Orange Whip Junior Trainer helps young players feel a smooth transition and better tempo in their golf swings. The flexible shaft gives them instant feedback. The junior golfer will feel it if the swing is too quick or out of rhythm.
That feedback allows young players to learn by feel and movement, not by a long list of verbal instructions.
The best way for junior golfers to learn the correct movement is to feel it.
Concentrate On Natural Athletic Weight Shift
A golf swing is an athletic movement.
Try throwing a baseball, hitting a tennis ball, or kicking a soccer ball. In each movement the body directs energy naturally to the target.
Golf is no different.
One great habit for a junior golfer to learn is how to transition from trail side to lead side in the swing. Simple drills like step-through swings can teach kids how the body creates momentum and power.
Don’t tell a young golfer, keep your head down, or don’t move at all. Try to encourage athletic movement while balanced.
The aim is to create a balanced, on-plane golf swing.
Use the Proper Golf Gear
Adult golf training aids aren't always designed for the smaller golfer. But too long or too heavy a training aid can inhibit a young golfer’s natural swing.
The Orange Whip Junior Trainer was designed to give younger golfers the benefits of the Orange Whip’s unique counterbalanced flexible shaft swing system in a size that is better suited for them.
Used regularly, juniors can work on some of the most important fundamentals of the golf swing, including:
- Balance and coordination
- Rhythm and tempo
- Weight shift
- Proper sequencing
- Correct swing plane arc
- Power and flexibility
The Orange Whip is a feel-feedback device. It’s designed to help junior golfers learn without having to turn every practice session into a technical swing lesson.
U.S. Kids Golf also offers some great products and resources for young golfers.
Make Training Fun For Junior Golfers
The most important thing in junior golf swing training is that the kids are enjoying playing the game.
You don’t have to hit hundreds of golf balls in a training session. Young golfers can make practice interesting and improve with a few minutes of Orange Whip swings, balance challenges, step-through drills, putting contests, or short-game games.
Make little challenges. Reward good shots. Let kids experiment with different movements and discover what it feels like to swing with a balanced, rhythmic motion.
Junior golfers will stay with the game more if they enjoy themselves practicing.
5 Cool Junior Golf Swing Drills
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Hold Your Finish
Get the junior to make a nice, smooth swing, and then hold their finish for 5 seconds. Award them a point each time they are perfectly balanced. First to 10 points wins!
Develops: balance, body control, and a complete finish. -
Step Through Swing Drill
Start with your feet together. As they initiate their downswing, get them to take a lead step forward toward the target as they swing through. Make it a contest of the best balanced, smoothest finish.
Develops weight transfer, sequencing, and athletic movement. -
Orange Whip Tempo Challenge
Make 5-10 continuous swings in a row. The Orange Whip needs to be kept moving at a smooth, steady clip. Make every swing feel the same.
Develops: Rhythm, tempo, balance, and sequence. -
Target Toss Golf Swings
Set up some targets at various distances. Hit balls at each target and give them a different point value. Most points wins.
Develops: club face control, distance control, coordination, and concentration. -
Happy Gilmores
Take a step or two into the shot and swing like Happy Gilmore. Take your time, make good contact, and finish balanced instead of swinging as hard as you can.
Develops athleticism, momentum, weight transfer & sequencing.
Drills should not be longer than 5-10 minutes.
Design The Swing For The Future
Don’t try to build the “perfect” golf swing when they are young. Instead, work on the fundamentals that will provide the basis for a good swing as the young golfer grows.
Balance. Coordination. Rhythm. Tempo. Weight Shift. Sequencing. Swing Plane.
Get those habits down early, and the rest of the stuff is easier to build. With just a few minutes of consistent practice, you can build habits that last a lifetime.
You Gotta Feel It!
Jim Hackenberg, PGA
