The best – and worst – of junior golf advice, ranked by a top instructor

Junior golfers are constantly getting advice from all quarters – coaches, tour players, parents and even friends. While most of it is well-intentioned, not all tips are helpful. In fact, some of the most common indicators new players hear can stunt their growth and cause unnecessary frustration.

In a recent post on instagram, Cameron McCormick – Top 100 GOLF Teacher and coach of major champions such as Jordan Spieth and Celine Boutier – listed the most common tips that young golfers receive from worst to best, and his answers may surprise you.

By understanding which lessons to embrace — and which to ignore — you’ll help your young golfer develop smarter practice habits, build a better game, and enjoy the path to improvement with less frustration. So here are the most common pieces of advice for teenagers, ranked from worst to best.

‘Play as many tournaments as possible’

This may come as a surprise, as it is one of the most common suggestions for young people who want to become better competitors. But McCormick explains that playing more tournaments doesn’t mean your toddler is getting valuable playing experience.

He says: “Competition exposes weaknesses, practice corrects, if players’ skills do not improve between competitions, many events often just mean costly frustration.”

‘You just need to want it more’

If you’re trying to help your little golfer find that “fire in the belly,” this might sound like good advice. But according to McCormick, it’s not as helpful as many parents think.

“Wanting more is good for a motivational speech, but desire is no substitute for skill,” McCormick said, “Most athletes who struggle don’t need more motivation; they need a better training program.”

‘Get your reps in’

While this advice may be well-intentioned, McCormick says he often encourages juniors to value class time over meaningful practice. And without a clear plan, all those who responded could do more harm than good.

‘See what the best players are doing’

In theory, this advice is strong. Watch the best players in the world, and you will learn something. But if you don’t understand the reason behind what they are doing, simply copying their movements will not help.

‘Stay positive’

It may be one of the most used pieces of advice that junior golfers hear, but that doesn’t make it useful. As McCormick explains, a vague suggestion like “stay positive” can actually create more frustration than meaningful improvement.

“Good thinking is beneficial, but the best players don’t succeed because they have a good attitude.

Instead, try to help your toddler work through the learning management decisions they can make after a mistake. Doing so teaches them how to recover from bad shots while emphasizing that mistakes are part of the game – not something to dwell on.

‘Trust the process’

Another word juniors hear all the time – but what does it really mean? As McCormick points out, if your toddler doesn’t have a process to start with, what does he really hope for?

“Without a clear plan, this becomes a slogan instead of a strategy,” he said.

But, if you can help your young golfer develop a defined practice routine with measurable goals and regular feedback, they’ll have a routine they can trust.

‘Play with your pattern’

“Great players understand their tendencies and build strategies around them, rather than acting like every shot is available every day,” McCormick said.

This is great advice because it helps youngsters better understand their games, build confidence and realize that even the best players don’t have all the shots they can get every day.

‘Focus on what football is doing’

This advice encourages youngsters to become better problem solvers instead of focusing too much on turning.

The flight of the ball gives a quick response. By learning to connect what the ball does to what created that shot, young golfers develop a deeper understanding of their swing and are able to make adjustments on their own.

“Elite players learn to connect what they do with what the ball does instead of focusing too much on positions,” McCormick said.

That is a skill that pays off over the years.

‘Practice as you play’

McCormick’s top tip is also one of golf’s oldest – and for good reason.

Whether your little one is just starting out or dreaming of college golf, practice should match the conditions he will face on the course. That means creating pressure, changing targets, doing a thorough pre-shooting process and being accountable for every shot.

“If your training doesn’t match your performance, don’t expect your performance to show up spectacularly on competition days,” McCormick said.

The closest practice glasses competition is, the more ready your little one is the more points start to count.