fbpx
Strike

Junior Coaching: Strike – The Golf Shack Academy

PGA Professionals Andrew Simmonds and Philip Akers talk us through their approach to coaching junior golf.
 

Today we will be looking at strike.

Junior coaching in golf can raise many questions. What’s the most effective way to get the best out of your kids, and how can we keep them interested in the great game of golf? This is because the approach to coaching juniors is different to that of coaching adults.

Andrew Simmonds and Phillip Akers from The Belfry have it all figured out with their junior coaching programmes.

In this video, Andrew and Phil discuss their strike drills with the Pro down at the Shack.

Strike

Golf juniors often find problems with clubs, because they can be too heavy or too long. Kids like to see the ball go up in the air but will struggle with striking the ball out of the middle of club.

The activity we use to teach kids about strike is ‘the smiley face game’. Firstly in this game the kids make a face, using balls, of their parents or playing partners.

Strike

The reason for this is to teach the kids to learn the different directions that the club head is travelling to miss the other golf balls and so the aim is to get through all of the golf balls without hitting another one.

Finally, it’s possible to start to make the game more complex by getting the kids to swing the club under a piece of string or stick because this helps them to figure out the low point and which direction the club is travelling in.

We would recommend to parent’s that they encourage what’s known as ‘the growth mindset’ so that they aren’t disheartened if they fail at the challenge and are encouraged to keep trying.

About… Andrew and Phil

Andrew Simmonds is a PGA Professional with over 10 years of coaching experience. He taught at The Darren Clarke Golf School in Northern Ireland and then went on to complete the Advanced Certificate in Golf Coaching at the University of Birmingham, specialising in research of participation/drop rates in youth sport.

Andrew now consults with other PGA Professionals on how to run effective golf coaching programmes.

Phillip Akers is a Senior PGA National Academy Coach & Director of Junior Golf at The Belfry. Phillip specialises in Junior Development and coaches some of the finest junior golfers in the U.K.

Latest Posts

Driving tips

Master The Most Important Part Of The Swing

Read full article - Master The Most Important Part Of The Swing
HOW TO hit a fade

Driving tips

How To Fade The Golf Ball

Read full article - How To Fade The Golf Ball

Driving tips

Build A Perfect Backswing For Better Golf Shots

Read full article - Build A Perfect Backswing For Better Golf Shots

Driving tips

How To Draw The Golf Ball

Read full article - How To Draw The Golf Ball

Long game

Takeaway Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Swing!

Read full article - Takeaway Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Swing!
How To Hit The Golf Ball High

Long game

How To Hit The Golf Ball High

Read full article - How To Hit The Golf Ball High
3 Easy Steps To Perfect Golf Posture

Driving tips

3 Easy Steps To Perfect Golf Posture

Read full article - 3 Easy Steps To Perfect Golf Posture
How To Hit The Golf Ball Low

Long game

How To Hit The Golf Ball Low

Read full article - How To Hit The Golf Ball Low
stupid mistakes golfers make

Course management

5 Stupid Mistakes Amateur Golfers Make

Read full article - 5 Stupid Mistakes Amateur Golfers Make