Ask about comfort, transfers, fatigue, pain, balance and any movements or positions the golfer already knows work well.
Ask: What would make this session work well for you?
Section 1
Understand the golfer
Start with the individual rather than the chair, diagnosis or assumed physical capability. Ask what helps the golfer feel stable, comfortable and confident.
Notice trunk control, shoulder movement, grip, reach and the relationship between the golfer and the mobility device.
Check brakes, foot support, seating position and the space around the golfer. Stability should not restrict useful movement unnecessarily.
Two seated golfers may use very different movement strategies. Their balance, trunk control, reach, strength, fatigue and mobility device will influence what is comfortable and repeatable.
Fatigue, temperature, uneven ground and the number of shots played can change balance and movement. Review rather than assume.
Section 2
Understand the mobility device
The mobility device forms part of the golfer’s playing position. Understand how the golfer uses it before changing posture, ball position, club specification or support.
Check brakes, tyres, anti-tip features, cushions, footplates and whether armrests affect the swing. Avoid changing the golfer's established setup without agreement.
The chair may require careful positioning, braking and, where requested by the golfer, additional support or strapping. Begin on a level practice area and test how chair angle, ball position and club length affect access to the ball before increasing speed or distance.
Watch both examples and compare how the golfer, device, club and playing position work together.
Positioning and making the strokeObserve how the golfer establishes stability, space and access to the ball.
Creating a repeatable setupNotice the relationship between chair angle, club delivery and balance.
Understand how the device is secured, how the golfer transfers and which parts may move during the stroke.
A rotating seat, a raised seat or another suitable modification can create more space for the arms and club while maintaining the support familiar to the golfer. Check how the device is secured, how the golfer enters and leaves the playing position, and whether the chosen setup can be repeated safely throughout the session.
Watch both examples and compare how the golfer, device, club and playing position work together.
Video 1
Video 2
Allow time for positioning and practise the operating sequence in a safe area. Follow manufacturer and venue guidance.
An elevating device can support a more upright playing position and may allow the use of conventional clubs. It is not automatically suitable for every golfer, so consider core function, comfort, pressure management, transfers, operating confidence and access around the facility.
Watch both examples and compare how the golfer, device, club and playing position work together.
Establishing the elevated positionObserve the operating sequence, support and relationship to the ball.
Using the golf car around the courseConsider access, surface conditions, positioning and safe movement between shots.
The safest setup is one the golfer understands, can control and has helped to establish.
Section 3
Build the swing around function
There is no single seated swing. Help the golfer create speed and control from the movement available to them.
Experiment with chair angle, ball position, seat height and distance from the ball. Small changes may improve clearance and balance.
Some golfers generate movement mainly through the shoulders and arms, while others can use more trunk rotation. Work within comfortable range.
Grip size, club length, lie angle and shaft weight may affect control. Observe the bottom of the swing, or low point, and make reasonable adjustments to secure a consistent striking position before testing one change at a time and judging it by the golfer's result and comfort.
Begin with achievable carries, clear targets and enough space. Tee the ball when useful and compare woods and irons to identify which clubs produce the most useful launch and ball flight. Woods, including junior woods of suitable lengths, may be effective from a seated position. Where possible, provide both left-handed and right-handed options to support play from either side of the ball. Vary the club or task before adding technical complexity.
Section 4
Coaching considerations for seated golfers
Use the video to observe how the golfer, mobility device, club and environment work together. Avoid searching for one model swing.
Watch the golfer
Where does controlled movement begin, and what changes as effort increases?
Watch the device
What supports movement, and what may restrict space, balance or club delivery?
Watch the result
Which changes improve contact, direction, comfort or confidence?
Section 5
Use adjustments purposefully
Adjust the task, equipment or environment to improve access and learning. Do not prescribe changes simply because the golfer is seated.
Use larger targets, shorter distances, teed balls or fewer repetitions where this helps the golfer experience and recognise success.
The adjustment should still preserve the learning intention. For example, a larger target can make feedback clearer, while a shorter shot can allow the golfer to explore movement without the pressure of producing maximum distance.
Choose level ground where possible, organise equipment within reach and avoid congested hitting areas.
Consider surface firmness, slope, access routes, background distraction and space for the chair or golf car. A well-organised environment reduces avoidable effort and allows the golfer to use more attention for learning and performance.
Longer or shorter clubs, lighter shafts, larger grips and different ball positions may help, but the golfer should decide whether the change is useful.
Compare alternatives and ask the golfer what changes in comfort, control and ball flight. Equipment changes can be valuable, but frequent or unexplained changes may make it harder for the golfer to understand which movement is producing the result.
Woods suited to seated play can help improve ball-flight metrics and launch conditions by increasing ball speed. Avoid overusing irons, as lower ball speeds can limit effective launch.
Junior clubs, particularly woods, can produce excellent results from a seated position by offering an appropriate playing length and suitable loft to support effective launch conditions. Ensure that woods of varying junior lengths are available in both left- and right-handed options to support one-arm play from either side of the ball.
Retain an adjustment only when it improves the golfer's comfort, confidence, access or performance.
Section 6
Plan the session
Good preparation reduces unnecessary effort and gives the golfer more time to learn and play.
- Check accessible parking, routes, toilets and practice areas.
- Confirm the type and dimensions of the mobility device.
- Identify a firm, level and uncluttered hitting position.
- Place clubs, balls and personal items within comfortable reach.
- Discuss transfers, strapping, fatigue, pain and planned breaks.
- Agree an achievable purpose for the session.
- Check brakes, supports and equipment before increasing speed.
- Experiment with chair angle, ball position and distance from the ball.
- Use short shots and clear targets to establish early success.
- Watch for changes in posture, comfort, fatigue or pain.
- Offer breaks before concentration or movement quality declines.
- Retain only adjustments that the golfer finds useful.
- Note chair angle, support, ball position and preferred clubs.
- Ask which tasks felt comfortable, useful and motivating.
- Agree one or two priorities for independent practice.
- Identify any access or equipment issue requiring follow-up.
- Plan how progression will be measured at the next session.
- Share notes only with the golfer's agreement.
When comfort or control changes
Pause. Recheck the chair, ground, fatigue, pain and equipment position before continuing. Do not treat reduced performance as a technical fault until these factors have been considered.
Section 7
Practical reference
Use these reminders when preparing a session or discussing access with a facility.
Single-rider and specialist golf cars should be considered through a clear venue policy. Access may depend on weather, turf condition and safe routes, but should not be refused through assumption alone.
Documented routes, temporary restrictions and alternative arrangements make decisions easier for staff and golfers. Where access is limited by current conditions, explain the evidence, apply the same course-protection principles consistently and identify the closest practical alternative.
Specialist golf cars are designed to distribute weight differently from conventional cars. Staff training, route planning and condition-based decisions support both access and turf protection.
Single-rider and specialist golf cars vary in weight, tyre pressure and turning characteristics. Facility teams should understand the equipment being used and agree routes that minimise sharp turns, steep slopes and unnecessary travel close to vulnerable surfaces. Where practical, use quieter times on the golf course, as seated golfers may initially require more time to play.
Confirm operating guidance, emergency arrangements and any areas that are temporarily unsuitable. The golfer should receive the same clear information as other golf car users.
Avoid creating extra requirements solely because a golfer uses specialist equipment. Use proportionate operating guidance, consistent waivers where these already apply to other golf car users, and a clear process for reporting any fault or incident.
Ask before touching the chair or providing physical assistance. Refer to the person as a golfer and discuss the support required without making assumptions about capability.
A wheelchair or mobility device is part of the golfer's personal space. Never lean on, move or adjust it without permission. Offer assistance clearly, accept the answer, and give the golfer sufficient time to position themselves without taking over the task.
Section 8
Player stories
Gain further insight from seated golfers through EDGA Player Stories. Select a player to read and listen to their story.
