The Golf Parent

The Best Golf Exercises for Junior Golfers with Shaun Diachkoff

August 11, 2026·1h 5m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Shaun Diachkoff is the founder of Fairway Performance is TPI certified in both fitness and power.In this episode I sit down with Shaun to work out what golf parents should actually be doing, for their kids and for themselves. He is a golf dad too. His 5 year old just hit a 93 yard drive on a launch monitor. And Shaun says the most important thing you can do for your child's training has almost nothing to do with your child.🎯 Key Takeaways - Why your lower back is where golfers feel pain but almost never where the problem actually is- The 10 to 20 minute daily mobility routine Shaun gives most clients, and the 3 areas it targets: hips, thoracic spine, shoulders- The rep range mistake: 8 to 12 reps builds size, 4 to 6 builds the strength golfers actually want, and most of us have been doing the wrong one since university- Core bracing is not pulling your stomach in. Shaun's Coke can explanation reframes it completely- Why he calls the deadlift the most underrated exercise in golf, plus the Pendlay position 1, 2, 3 method for learning it without wrecking your back- When to introduce weights to a junior golfer, why "swing as hard as you can" is the instruction before that point, and what puberty has to do with the timing- Squat, hinge, push, pull: what each one gives a golf swing, from holding posture to keeping the face square at impact- The Bulgarian split squat standard that separates most people from tour level lower body strength- Shaun's advice for parents: look in the mirror first, because kids copy what you do, not what you tell them⏱ Episode Chapters00:00 Welcome to The Golf Parent01:36 The fitness mistake almost every golf dad makes03:31 Three movements to master if you only have 20 minutes04:39 What the thoracic spine is and why your swing depends on it05:04 Undoing the modern hunch: posture, desks, and daily habits08:38 What actually goes first as golfers age09:20 Why your lower back hurts when your lower back is not the culprit10:29 Building your bomber's blueprint: assess before you build13:19 The rep range mistake: 8 to 12 builds size, 4 to 6 builds strength16:29 What Rory does, and what is actually worth copying19:52 Training kids by age: what comes before weights21:01 Look in the mirror: your kids copy what you do21:51 Cooper's first 93 yard drive and the case for many sports22:30 When to introduce weights, and what puberty changes23:20 Squat, hinge, push, pull: what each one gives your swing29:17 Why coaching is an investment, not an expense32:57 The most underrated exercise for golfers: the deadlift35:35 The Pendlay method: learning the deadlift in three positions39:54 Core bracing is not what you think: the Coke can explanation43:02 How to breathe through a heavy lift, and whether it belongs in your swing46:46 The Bulgarian split squat and the TPI strength standard50:18 Shaun's advice for golf parents: make it frictionless⛳ The Adventures of Chase & Bella Get the #1 Golf Kids Book which teaches young golfers that "Magic Flows Where Your Focus Goes...and Where Your Focus Goes the Golf Ball Goes!"https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Chase-Bella-Magic-Golf/dp/1069647101 SAVE 5% TODAY 🔗 ResourcesAtomic Habits by James Clear - https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habitsTitleist Performance Institute (TPI) - https://www.mytpi.com ETPI, the European Tour Performance Institute - https://www.instagram.com/etpi_performanceunitGlenn Pendlay on the deadlift - https://www.setantacollege.com/glenn-pendlay-deadlift-blogThe Fairway Performance App and coaching - https://www.fairwayperformance.com 📲 Connect with Shaun Diachkoff Instagram: @shaun.diachkoff Website: fairwayperformance.com Email: shaun@fairwayperformance.com Podcast: Fairway Performance Podcast YouTube: youtube.com/@fairwayperformance 📲 Connect with The Golf Parent Instagram: @golf.parent Tik Tok: @thegolfparent Website: www.thegolfparent.com

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