Learn From Our Experts
RecruitPKB: Red Flags in the Process
Over the next few weeks, I am going to share some coach responses from a recent survey I did to ask coaches their opinions. Please remember that coaches look for different things and have varying opinions, but I tried to compile some of the most common and relevant responses. Question: What is the biggest red flag you see among the girls and/or the parents? [...]
RecruitPKB: Tips for Making Your Decision
As the decision-making time continues for many rising seniors and even some rising juniors, here are a few tips on things to consider as that time comes for you. Keep in mind, these are just a few general suggestions. The decision-making part of this process is a very specific and personal process for each individual recruit. Many factors have different levels of importance that [...]
RecruitPKB: Starting the Process – Do the Research
It’s never too early to research schools and golf programs. This will give you an idea of what it takes to play for those programs so you can set goals and get to work! You can check out the team and school websites for both academic and athletic information. And of course, their social media! Golfweek, Golfstat, and Scoreboard by Clippd are great resources [...]
RecruitPKB: Starting the Process – Maintain Communication
It’s one step to send out some initial emails, but it takes ongoing communication to generate interest and develop a relationship with the coach. Based on NCAA rules, DI coaches can't respond to your emails or speak to you until June 15th prior to your junior year. So it will mostly just be update emails that you will be sending up to that point [...]
RecruitPKB: Starting the Process – Contact Coaches
While I am an advocate for having big goals to work hard to achieve and keeping some dream schools on your list, you have to be cautious about what percentage of dream schools vs realistic schools you have on your list, especially these days with the transfer portal and roster caps added extra elements of difficulty for high school recruits when it comes to [...]
RecruitPKB: Starting the Process – Get an Evaluation
Earlier this year, I hosted a webinar about "Starting the College Recruiting Process." While these weren't specific steps I included in that webinar, I wanted to discuss the importance of getting started on the right foot with direction and guidance specific to you, your goals, and your expectations. Through the RecruitPKB Platform, there are 3 ways you can do that, so I wanted to [...]
RecruitPKB: Are You an Athlete?
Are you an athlete or do you just play a sport? This is a question that I have struggled with honestly answering for a lot of my life. For a long time, I thought I was an athlete simply bc I had the physical ability to play sports. I grew up playing basketball, softball, volleyball, and golf. I only played basketball until my sophomore year of high school [...]
RecruitPKB: Growth or Fixed Mindset?
How do you handle adversity, challenges, and setbacks? With a fixed mindset or a growth mindset? One of my favorite and most influential books is Carol Dweck's Mindset. She has conducted numerous studies and research on the difference in those who possess a fixed mindset and those who have a growth mindset. This past weekend I had the opportunity to sit down with a top 50 [...]
RecruitPKB: Hula Hoops
Growing up I was a master hula hooper. I could keep a hula hoop going for hours if I had to, even two or three at a time. My hips don't move quite as fast as they use to so I've found a new purpose for hula hoops these days. They are awesome, inexpensive practice tools. You can use them for a number of [...]
RecruitPKB: Ceiling of Improvement
"If you don't do the things you're not good at then you'll never get better" This doesn't just mean practicing or working on those things a little to say you did it, it means dedicating time to actually get better at those things! - One of the earlier years of being on Symetra tour, my college boyfriend, who was a pretty good golfer, was caddying [...]
RecruitPKB: Find Your WHY
Motivation can be tough at times for athletes of all levels. You can get tired, burned out, frustrated or simply just lose focus. To help make sure you stay motivated everyday take the time to figure out your "why". Why do you play golf? Why do you practice? Why do you play tournaments? There isn't necessarily a right or wrong reason but everybody needs to know their why. For [...]
RecruitPKB: 6 Things to do Before the 1st Tee
Many times you may get to the first tee of a tournament round and be nervous and anxious to play. The last thing you want to worry about are the tedious things you could have done before you stepped onto the first tee. Here are 6 key tasks to remember to do before you get to the first tee so that you don’t forget [...]
PerformPKB: Strength Training Will Destroy Your Game -True or False?
If you’ve been playing the game for long, you’ve probably been told that strength training for golfers will get you bulky, restrict your mobility and can even get you hurt so that you can’t play the game. But how true is this argument? This is a contested topic on many media platforms and even among coaches and golfers themselves. The curious part of this [...]
PerformPKB: Range Practice is Hurting You – Do This Instead
The driving range is the biggest barrier to a golfer's success. Period. It is a place where quantity is king, and quality is the court jester. Repeating swing after swing in a blocked practice format actually breeds repetitive injuries and ends careers. Minimal carry over onto the course from the range is what keeps handicaps and frustrations high, while contributing to the high number [...]
PerformPKB: Eccentric Training- The Professional Golfer’s Secret Weapon
By Physical Performance Consultant Chris Finn of Par4Success Introduction Many have probably heard the saying, “You have to train fast to be fast.” In the world of sports performance, however, very little is that cut and dry. In the past month, my athletes have been training very slowly, particularly in the lowering phase of their lifts, known as the eccentric phase. I am currently [...]
PerformPKB: 7 Stages of Long Term Athletic Development for Golfers
Individuals can experience failed attempts to participate in organized sports when too much emphasis is placed on competition and not enough attention on developing proper athleticism (appropriate movement skills). If you have limited movement skills, you stop participating. This leads to decreased interest in physical activity and a failure to develop physical literacy (proper training to improve athleticism) in a sequential and progressive manner. [...]
PerformPKB: So Many Tournaments… Which Ones to Play in 2018?
by Chris Finn, MSPT, CSCS, TPIMP - Founder, Par4Success I had the recent honor of speaking to a large group of junior golfers and their parents down in Pinehurst and one of the topics we discussed was the all-important question of "what is the point of a tournament?" I was very pleasantly surprised at the answers I received from those in attendance as [...]
PerformPKB: 5 Golf Fitness Myths
This article is part of a guest series to the RecruitPKB "Complete Golfer" program by Chris Finn, MSPT, CSCS, owner of Par4Success in Cary, North Carolina. 1. I'm not a football player, I don’t need to weight train? The golf swing is a fast, explosive, and powerful motion. Power is an application of force. You need to have force to be able to apply [...]
