Swing Faults and Fixes for Your Junior Golfer
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Factors to Consider when Disigning a Fitness Program
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by Susan Hill
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I refer to myself as a ‘range trainer’ as much
or more than a ‘gym trainer’. A gym trainer is
one that meets you only in a gym setting in
order to perform exercises and stretches to
help you grow stronger, more flexible and
improve your performance on the course.
A range trainer is one who talks with everyone
associated with your game. For example, your
fitness ‘range’ trainer should be talking with
your swing instructor, parents and yourself
looking for additional input. These days much
of my time is spent on the range watching,
observing and asking questions. It is these
sessions on the range where the most critical
information is gathered so we know precisely
where to focus when it comes to quick
improvement.
Today, parents and students alike all accept
and understand the need for a solid exercise
program for their junior golfer. There are
just too many growth, strength, flexibility
and overall conditioning discrepancies in the
younger age groups to ignore. But, here are
some other important factors to consider when
designing a golf fitness program for juniors.
Has your son or daughters swing instructor
ever said one of the following as a factor or
goal in their future improvement?
Need better posture
Your junior golfer is too rounded at
the top. (a fitness trainer will seek to
correct a weak upper back, tight chest and
poor mid back flexibility)
Your junior golfer has a ‘sway’ back.
(a fitness trainer will seek exercises for
weak abdominals and glutes and tight hip
flexors)
Junior Golfer has a lateral sway (a
fitness trainer will add exercises for more
hip stability and flexibility for right hip)
Junior Golfer ‘spins’ too much in the
downswing (a fitness trainer will look to add
more strength in the hips and add flexibility
exercises to re-enforce upper and lower body
separation)
These are just some of the observations and
corrective exercises and stretches that could
benefit a junior golfer in each of these
scenarios. Think in terms of ‘faults and
fixes’ or exercises that focus
on ‘opportunities’ for improvement. These will
give you the quickest improvement results and
carryover to your game. As you continue to
build out your support team, be sure to look
for a fitness trainer who can also meet you on
the range or at least talk with the other
members of your support team so the
recommended exercises and stretches are
designed for immediate as well as long term
improvement with your game.
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