How to practise? "Game Improvement Irons"

[Dabbler]

Back in the day, I used to be a long distance runner, marathons and the like. Our coach would train us by putting us in conditions that would be tougher than actual competition. I broke my personal best times at events always thinking "I rose to the occasion" Towards the end I came to realize that he was either starting the clock well before he shouted "go" (to give the impression that we were slow), or lengthen the training route without us knowing. Other sports also employ similar methods, generally by artificially narrowing the focus area in training. Too many examples to cite here, but things like in football (soccer), limiting the width & height of the goal area for long distance shooting. Is there not case to apply the same to golf by training with clubs which expose errors rather than compensate for them? I recently bought the "Tour Striker 7x iron" for this reason. Even when I started playing "seriously" still at 28 handicap I used to practise at the range with a Mizuno MP 33 6 iron and play with my then Mizuno MX 900 irons. All in all I would say it has worked for me. The main thing that slowed my improvement was limited time and practicing the "wrong" things for around two years. Any thoughts? I have two young boys who are very keen on the game. I'd like to put them through a similar training philosophy, whilst keeping it fun and not going all regimented like the strict eastern way of things.

[MiniBlueDragon]

Game Improvement Irons are meant to enable people to play golf and enjoy the game in my opinion. If they mask too much they don't allow someone to improve but likewise at the other end of the scale if you gave a new golfer a set of tour pro blades they'd hit bad shot after bad shot after bad shot and then give the game up. Likewise if you want to train someone to race cars you wouldn't start them off in a car with a top speed of 3 MPH but then neither would you stick them in a F1 car.

In my opinion you need to make the game fun for your boys but give them tools that they can improve with.

[sean_miller]

Just get them some blades or cavity backs with some camber (heel to toe and front to back). Whether you get ones with rounded leading edge or offset is a matter or personal preference for experienced players, but it can make alignment (i.e. aiming) difficult when there are other misleading visual cues (like crooked driving range mats). A slightly rounded leading edge with some camber will make contact easier than a sharp leading edge with straight sole (think of tournament blades from the 1980s). Whatever clubs you get them, just make sure they're the proper length and swingweight (not old adult clubs cut down). Teach them how to aim and refrain from yelling after making solid contact and you're off to the races.

http://www.golf-components.com/golf-club-irons-terms.html

[Dabbler]

Thanks MBD and Sean, The boys already have clubs. The 5 yr old inherited his 7 yr old brother's "US Kids Golf" set (driver, 7 iron & putter) and the 7 yr old has a junior Taylor Made set for his height. What I am aiming for I guess is to somehow make their practice slightly more demanding than when they play. I'll come up with something I'm sure. We have excellent chipping contests which are quite close. I do want to keep it fun for them otherwise as MBD wrote they'll lose interest. Sean I appreciate the link you put in your reply. Useful for me let alone them!

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Dabbler

Thanks MBD and Sean,

The boys already have clubs. The 5 yr old inherited his 7 yr old brother's "US Kids Golf" set (driver, 7 iron & putter) and the 7 yr old has a junior Taylor Made set for his height.

What I am aiming for I guess is to somehow make their practice slightly more demanding than when they play. I'll come up with something I'm sure.

We have excellent chipping contests which are quite close. I do want to keep it fun for them otherwise as MBD wrote they'll lose interest.

Sean I appreciate the link you put in your reply. Useful for me let alone them!

I can send you links to Golf Canada's youth program. It gives guidelines for introducing young people to golf, and for coaching them as they excel. Keep in mind that Canada doesn't produce a ton of world class players, but golf isn't as competitive in most regions of Canada as it is in the US. This program attempts to addresss that while keeping kids interested along the way.

[Dabbler]

I can send you links to Golf Canada's youth program. It gives guidelines for introducing young people to golf, and for coaching them as they excel. Keep in mind that Canada doesn't produce a ton of world class players, but golf isn't as competitive in most regions of Canada as it is in the US. This program attempts to addresss that while keeping kids interested along the way.

Thank you, I'd definitely like to look through what they have.