Note to The Reader: For the past few years, Jeff Isler has contributed a monthly “Junior Tip” in the Junior Corner section of AvidGolfer Magazine. As of April, AG Magazine will be a digital-only publication for a few issues, so we wanted to bring the Junior Tip over to our site to spread the word. We think this month’s topic is very appropriate.
By the time you read this article, things will have likely changed since I wrote it. Each day, our lives are being dramatically impacted by our country’s battle with the COVID-19 virus. Businesses have been forced to either close or alter their practices, schools have shifted to online teaching, families are sheltering at home, and competition in the golf world has been put on hold. When things around us are changing this quickly, we need to find our comfort in the things that are consistent and familiar.
For the competitive junior golfer, the one thing that remains the same is the desire to improve. The forced break from competition offers the unique opportunity to take inventory of your game and to focus your efforts on making changes that will have a positive and lasting impact on performance.
You can get started by following the steps I’ve listed below:
1) List on a piece of paper your clear, guiding principles. That means the things that are motivating you to play and compete. For example, a principle could be the “love of competition”. When this list is complete, post it in a prominent place that forces you to see it every day.
2) List on another piece of paper your strengths and weaknesses. If you’re a young golfer who’s getting ready to enter high school, then think about similar golfers of the same age as a guide to your own strengths and weaknesses. Armed with the list, put a plan in place to improve the specific weaknesses that will have the biggest impact on your score. It might make sense to check with your coach to get his or her help on this part of the process.
3) Focus on the things you control. At times like these when everything is changing rapidly, it’s easy to feel like you have little control over your circumstances. The reality is that you have large control over your own behavior and attitude. For example, you can decide to get up at the same time each day, even though you now might have more flexibility in your schedule. You can also set a limit on the minimum amount of time you’ll spend working out each week.
For the competitive junior golfer, the one thing that remains the same is the desire to improve. The forced break from competition offers the unique opportunity to take inventory of your game and to focus your efforts on making changes that will have a positive and lasting impact on performance.
4) Do the things you don’t normally do when your schedule is full. Most competitive juniors have little flexibility in their schedules because of school obligations, practice, and social outings. During this down time, put some effort in the areas of your game that have been neglected. Some of our students are putting some extra time in on their mental game. For competitive junior golfers, this is an underrated part of the game. It often has a big bearing on scores and future potential.
5) Find some way or someone to help. When things are challenging, fear tends to narrow our view and gets us too focused on our own situation. Now is exactly the time when we all need to pull together and find ways to help out those who are struggling. A good place to start could be to reach out to a local charity or religious organization to see what particular needs are not being met. If you can find a way to impact others, it will lift your spirits and likely provide more motivation to do the things you love – like improve at golf.
In summary, this is undoubtedly a unique and difficult time in our nation’s history and in our own lives. By its very nature, it offers the opportunity for all of us to rise to the challenges that are placed before us and to use the extra time to make a real difference in our lives and the lives of those around us. From a golf standpoint, I can say this with confidence — the only way to get ahead of the curve is to take actions that “at the time” seem unnecessary.
Jeff Isler, founder of Jeff Isler Golf in Southlake, TX, is a Golf Digest Best in State, Top 25 Elite Junior Coach in the US, and a Golf Channel Academy lead instructor. Jeff works with nationally ranked junior golfers, top collegiate players, and tour professionals. Visit www.jeffislergolf.com or 817-488-8111 for more information