Aim big, swing free
LET’S ALL START PLAYING LIKE KIDS AGAIN. That’s one of my annual takeaways from the Drive, Chip and Putt, held each spring at Augusta National. At my academy, AndersMattsonGolf, in Saratoga Springs, New York, I have worked with hundreds of junior golfers, six of whom – Nicole Criscone, Brayden Dock, Hayden Knapp, Mason and Tanner LaTorre, and Kennedy Swedick – have qualified for the DCP National Finals. At Saratoga Golf & Polo Club, I share the driving, chipping and putting keys that make these juniors so good at such a young age and how we can incorporate these skills into our own games.
If you copy one thing from juniors, it’s their carefree mind-set. It starts with their pre-shot routine. As we get older, we tend to have more doubt and fear, often from negative experiences. You’ve probably heard about picking a small target – aim small, miss small. That can be great advice, but when I teach kids, I let them experiment with aiming at a much larger area. Instead of picking out a specific tree in the distance, for example, I encourage them to focus on the entire fairway or a large open space. I often find when juniors pick a larger target, they make a more committed swing. There’s less of a tendency to steer the ball. This strategy isn’t for everyone, but if you feel tension on the tee, try widening your target.
FIND YOUR BALANCE
I started teaching Tanner LaTorre when he was 7. He is an excellent driver because he uses his natural athleticism. Notice how just after impact, both of his heels are off
Release for more power
the ground and his hips are fully rotated towards the target. He is using his lower body to generate speed, but he always finishes in balance. Tanner’s biggest strength, though, is his stoic mentality. His mind-set stays the same no matter if he’s playing at home or at Augusta. Proof? Tanner and his younger brother Mason played in a qualifier for the 2022 National Finals. While Mason advanced first, Tanner remained composed and focused, eventually qualifying as well later in the day.
Juniors hit the ball far by using proper sequencing. Since they’re smaller, they instinctively know how to use their natural athleticism to squeeze out every bit of power. They start their downswings with the lower body making a subtle shift towards the target as it begins to open. Then they transfer that speed into the clubhead at impact. If you don’t have a free release, as I demonstrate here, then the speed never reaches the clubhead. Notice how the clubhead is passing my hands. There’s no dragging motion, and I’m not trying to steer the ball. Try making full swings without a ball, and be sure the whoosh sound created by the club occurs at the bottom of the swing arc.
78 GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA
GOLF DIGEST SOUTH AFRICA 79
MARCH/APRIL 2026
MARCH/APRIL 2026
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