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Great Golf Advice Article:

Strength Training For Junior Golf

Much debate has occurred about kids and strength training. There's been concern about growth plate damage. There's been discussion of whether it increases their likelihood of future success or simply places them at increased stress both physically and mentally. Here's a few notes on the correct way to have a junior golfer build a strong, healthy body.

First there are definite differences between adolescent boys and adolescent girls with respect to strength and strength production. In boys, absolute muscular strength (the greatest amount of force an individual can produce) grows consistently between the ages of 7 - 19. In girls, strength gains are incurred on a consistent level until about the age of 15, when a period of stagnation occurs and strength gains plateau, and in fact begins to fall. By the end of the pubescent ages, boys are roughly 50% stronger than girls.

As your child begin a golf training program make sure proper instruction on exercise form is given. Adults can provide instruction and supervision to enforce safety and good technique. You can also consider hiring a trained professional to demonstrate proper form and safety measures. Most gyms have a junior program where they offer proper lifting techniques and protocols.

Golf training programs for juniors should emphasize the principles of lifetime fitness and proper exercise form so they receive maximum benefits from exercise while minimizing any risks. Adults who design training programs for their children should provide an environment centered on enjoyment, positive reinforcement and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

Young golfers are not seeking to become bodybuilders. They should be trained to become strength builders. Junior golfers should start with body weight exercises that place an emphasis on many muscle groups and movement that mimics real life movements.

Junior golfers should begin each session with a short warm up of roughly 10 minutes. Jogging in place and jumping jacks are good warm up exercises. The workout session should end with light stretching. Don't overwork the muscles. Two or three sessions per week are adequate to improve strength, and endurance.

Monitoring the progress will give you a quick snapshot of what you've done and how best to progress from there.

It's important to keep in mind for the junior golfer to add variety, consistency and fun to their workout sessions. Once something becomes a chore or is boring, interest is lost. Trying new exercises, working indoors and out, and not repeating the same process over and over will help keep the junior golfer dedicated to strength training.

Susan Hill is a nationally recognized fitness trainer, CHEK golf biomechanic and sports nutrition specialist. For more information on golf specific nutrition, exercises or stretches, visit http://www.fitnessforgolf.com.

We have all heard that old saying 'practice makes perfect' ... but it doesn't if you are not practicing wisely. It is very true that practice makes permanent. What you don't want to be doing is creating bad habits through how you practice.

Gail talks about how listening to the opinions of others can affect your focus on the golf course. Many write to her about the inability to focus and that is because of our 'attention span'. We humans can perceive millions of things all at the same time, but it is our 'attention' that enables us to choose only one thing and to concentrate on that and that alone.

Studying the principles of the martial arts can help the golfer improve their golf swing power. By learning some detailed techniques for improving balance, the golfer will learn quickly how important balance is to increase the power in their golf swing.

Unnecessary body motion is a common fault in putting. The more you move about during your stroke, the more you will reduce your chances of holing the putt.

The average golfer is shooting a score of 90 and approximately one third of those shots are putts. A two foot putt counts the same as a two hundred and fifty yard drive. So, would not it make sense to practice and get better at our putting. We can improve our putting skills no matter what our athletic ability, or what our full golf swing looks like. To improve our golf game, we are going to review 5 golf putting tips that will help us lower our golf scores, immediately.