Should I give my child swing tips during a round?

Generally no. Tips during a round add pressure and can clash with what their coach is teaching. Keep your comments supportive and leave technique to the golf professional.

How should I talk about a bad round?

Wait until emotions have settled, start with something that went well and ask what they would like to try next time. Keep it short and let them lead.

Can my child use CoachTalk?

No. CoachTalk accounts are for adults aged 18 or over. Parents and coaches can use the ideas in this guide without any app.

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Junior Golf

How Can Parents and Coaches Support a Junior Golfer's Mental Game?

CoachTalk editorial guide · Updated 13 October 2026

QUICK ANSWER

Keep golf enjoyable, notice effort and decisions more than the score, save your questions for after the round and leave swing lessons to the junior's golf professional. This guide is written for adult parents and coaches; CoachTalk accounts are for adults aged 18 or over.

Keep enjoyment at the centre

Young golfers keep playing and learning when golf is fun. Shorter rounds, playing with friends and small, reachable goals usually help more than long sessions built around the scorecard. If a round stops being enjoyable, it is fine to finish early and come back another day.

Notice effort and decisions, not just the score

Praise what the junior can control: choosing a target, sticking with a plan, staying patient after a poor hole. Comments about the score are easy to make but hard to learn from. When you name a good choice, you show that thinking well on the course matters.

Leave lessons to the golf professional

Swing changes and technical advice belong with the junior's golf professional. The most useful role for a parent is to stay calm and supportive, help with practice time and travel, and agree with the coach on one or two simple things to encourage. Technical tips from several adults at once tend to confuse a young golfer rather than help.

Worked example: the car ride home

After a round with a few lost balls and a high score, it is tempting to open with 'What happened on the 8th?' Instead, wait until the junior is ready to talk, then ask one simple question: 'Which shot are you happiest you chose?' Listen to the answer without correcting it. If the conversation continues, ask: 'What would you like to try differently next time?' Then leave it there. The score can come up later, if it comes up at all.

Practice exercise for adults: two good things first

For your next few rounds or practice sessions together, name two specific good things you saw before you say anything about the score or a mistake: a decision, a reset after a bad shot or a moment of patience. Keep a quick tally of how often you manage it. Many adults find this harder than they expect, and it changes the tone of the conversation quickly.

A note about CoachTalk

CoachTalk accounts are for adults aged 18 or over; there are no junior accounts. This guide is general guidance for parents and coaches, and nothing in it needs an app. Parents who play golf themselves can use CoachTalk for their own game.

FAQ

Should I give my child swing tips during a round?: Generally no. Tips during a round add pressure and can clash with what their coach is teaching. Keep your comments supportive and leave technique to the golf professional.
How should I talk about a bad round?: Wait until emotions have settled, start with something that went well and ask what they would like to try next time. Keep it short and let them lead.
Can my child use CoachTalk?: No. CoachTalk accounts are for adults aged 18 or over. Parents and coaches can use the ideas in this guide without any app.