May 12, 2025
Avoiding Burnout: How to Keep Your Junior Golfer Motivated and Healthy with Kevin Sprecher
The Golf ParentAbout this episode
In this must-listen episode of The Golf Parent Podcast, I sit down with renowned PGA Golf Instructor Kevin Sprecher, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher in America and longtime mentor to elite junior and collegiate golfers. Kevin shares his wealth of experience, highlighting the delicate balance between leveraging technology like launch monitors and relying on expert coaching intuition. We discuss practical strategies for avoiding burnout in young golfers, emphasizing the critical role parents play in managing schedules, competition, and overall enjoyment of the game. Kevin sheds light on the college recruiting process, outlining key considerations to ensure a strong academic-athletic balance tailored to your child's future. Kevin offers invaluable insights on developing speed and distance, pinpointing the optimal age for speed training (ages 12-14) and detailing essential wedge play techniques for controlling distance and enhancing overall scoring ability. He emphasizes tracking metrics such as driving distance, wedge performance, and putting stats to refine practice routines effectively. Additionally, we explore the mental aspects crucial for high-performance golf—handling pressure, maintaining resilience, and excelling under challenging conditions. Kevin advises parents on clearly defining their roles, advocating a collaborative approach with coaches to foster both athletic development and personal growth in young golfers. Tune in to equip your junior golfer with the strategies and mindset needed to thrive both on and off the course. Takeaways: Technology aids but can't replace coaching expertise. Coaches should continually seek diverse knowledge. Balance practice, competition, and rest to prevent burnout. Evaluate college golf options carefully. Speed and distance are crucial skills. Develop wedge control for better scoring. Optimal age for speed training is 12-14. Parents should separate coaching from parenting. Track driving, wedges, and putting metrics. Proper wedge fitting and varied practice improve play. Mental toughness under pressure is key. Open parent-coach communication is essential. Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Technology in Golf Coaching 04:24 Balancing Technology and Coaching Expertise 09:23 The Limitations of Technology in Golf 16:11 Avoiding Burnout in Young Golfers 21:28 Navigating College Recruiting in Golf 23:34 The Importance of Speed and Distance in Golf 27:28 Training Speed at the Optimal Age 30:22 Developing Control with Wedges 35:32 Key Metrics to Track: Driving Distance, Wedge Performance, and Putting Stats 37:27 Improving Wedge Play through Proper Fitting and Practice 39:08 The Mental Side of Golf: Performing Well Under Tough Conditions 44:02 The Role of Parents in Supporting Golf Development 45:38 Separating the Parent and Coach Roles 47:20 Involving the Coach in the Development Process Kevin Sprecher Links: Website - https://www.kevinsprecher.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kevinsprechergolf/?hl=en Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/KevinSprecher Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinsprecher/ The Golf Parent Links: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thegolfparent YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@thegolfparent X - https://x.com/thegolfparent Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thegolfparent