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“I tried so hard! Why did I fail? I thought I was good enough.”
These are the words that left author Philip Ripley Ward’s mouth along his journey of becoming a golf specialist—a relatable sentiment that almost everyone in pursuit of something has also mused about. Whether you’re trying to be a better junior golfer like Philip once was or anyone chasing passion, you will, sooner or later, realize how tough the road you’re taking is.
When this happens, you have two routes to choose: do you give up or continue pushing on?
Although Philip Ripley Ward has had doubts about his capacity to succeed, he was determined to see where his limits were. He was dedicated to perfecting his craft, and while “perfect” can be impossible to achieve, his hard work has thrust him at a relatively close spot. And the virtue he’s showcased is what’s woven into his book Golf Is Not What You Think.
A story of an independent golf specialist with the ups and downs he’s encountered before finding success, the book is written to encourage junior golfers to not give up even when the field is rough.
To see what he’s shared about his story and learn from his experiences, grab a copy of his book now.
What Counts as a Junior Golfer?
Like most sports, golfing is a treat that can be enjoyed at any age. If the player has the dexterity to put a golf ball in the right direction, they’re already well-equipped with the foundation to pursue the course. When it comes to this sport, junior golfers are kids aged 11-18 with a heart for golf. They’re in an (obviously) different league, as they are still starters and molding their techniques in the sport.
Junior golfers exist primarily due to the influence of their parents, who may be pro players or purely enthusiasts wanting to see their children play their favorite sport. The journey they’re taking can be rewarding, depending on how the adults steer it to be. Children around this age will have little to no grasp of their experiences as they’re dependent on adult supervision. Hence, their first impression of the sport is also primarily dependent on how the adults ease them in.
Whether the child is personally interested in the sport or influenced by their parents to try it, how to be a better junior golfer is a matter that’s likely to require answers. The best thing adults can provide is support in resolving this concern. To help, here are some golf tips for junior golfers.
How to Be a Better Junior Golfer?
Right off the bat (or golf club, in this matter), training and practices are at the top of the list. After all, golfing is a physical sport requiring players to master their techniques. However, a key thing to note is that junior golfers can be easily discouraged, as much as they’re easily pleased. No matter how much they train or practice, if they don’t see significant improvement in their performance, they will likely end up questioning their capacity and doubting their time.
Understanding the Learning Curve in Golf
Helping them understand the reasons why they aren’t improving should come along with encouragement to practice. To be a better junior golfer, these players shouldn’t simply be constantly pushed along their edge of performance but taught what’s holding them back. They need thorough instructions to help them improve and not continually be challenged, only to see themselves repeatedly fail.
Practice is key. But if they don’t know what area to focus on, it can cause more harm than good. Understanding the learning curve in golf is crucial, especially since this helps set the expectation that improvement will take time.
Set Up Golf Clubs to Help
Unless the adults supervising their journey are pro golfers, helping any player be a better junior golfer can be challenging. They aren’t knowledgeable about the sport and may contradict best practices if they hand out suggestions from their perspective. Hence, what they can do instead is set up or find golf clubs with other junior golfers to help each other improve their craft.
When they go to the range together, they will attempt to hit the same goal and help one another build their techniques. Practice may provide repetition, which can help them in the long run. However, receiving input from others practicing the same sport will help them significantly improve and shape their game.
Lack of Consistent Practice
It’s understandable that children within the junior golfer leagues won’t have all the time to practice. They have school to attend, homework to finish, and maintain the freedom as children. However, it would immensely benefit their game if they can allot ample time within the week in shaping their techniques. This doesn’t have to be every day. Even a few hours within the week is already helpful, as long as they’re consistent in showing up.
To be a better junior golfer, patience, consistency, and determination are the key ingredients to success. It’s a stage where they’re still knowing and mastering their game. Hence, the journey can be rigorous. But success will be theirs in time if they’re cautious enough to show up and push through.
Target Different Skill Areas
On top of establishing consistent practice sessions, junior golfers must work on different skill areas to polish their game. A common mistake these players are victims of is a misdiagnosis of their strengths and weaknesses. This can be due to the lack of better understanding and grasp of different skills. This results in many problems but primarily leads to them working on the wrong technique.
If they partition their time and practice sessions into building different skill areas, they will better understand what they’re doing wrong. To be a better junior golfer, players must focus on even the smallest details because they’ll never know what’s wrong with their game unless they probe further.
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