Practical guidance for understanding the golfer, supporting safe and effective movement, selecting suitable equipment and developing an individual playing solution.
Restricted growth describes a wide range of conditions. Height, limb proportions, joint mobility, spinal health and movement strategies vary considerably, so diagnosis alone cannot tell a coach how someone will play.
Restricted growth includes many different conditions and individual experiences. Ask about movement, comfort, equipment and previous sporting experience before considering technical changes.
Restricted growth, sometimes known as dwarfism, is a condition characterised by unusually short height. There are two main types of restricted growth:
The arms and legs may be particularly short in relation to the trunk. This can influence club length, lie angle, stance width, posture and the way the golfer creates swing arc.
The body, arms and legs are generally smaller in proportion. Equipment dimensions, setup height and access to standard facilities may still require individual consideration.
Some golfers may experience spinal, joint or lower-limb considerations. Discuss these sensitively and avoid turning general information into assumptions about the individual.
Use the video as a starting point for observation and conversation, not as a model for every golfer.
How does the golfer establish a comfortable and repeatable base?
Where is movement freely available, and where does the golfer protect or limit movement?
How do club dimensions and setup affect comfort, control and contact?
Some people with achondroplasia may have kyphosis, scoliosis or spinal stenosis. Repeated shock, forced positions or excessive practice volume may aggravate discomfort.
Ask about established medical advice, use progressive practice volumes and review how posture and impact feel rather than pursuing a textbook position.
Elbows, hips and knees may be particularly mobile. Greater range can support swing length and speed, but the golfer may also benefit from developing muscular control around the joints.
Avoid pushing a joint to its end range. Build speed gradually and use balance, sequencing and contact as the guide.
Bowing of the legs or differences at the ankle can affect pressure distribution, stance comfort and balance. The most effective stance may look different from a conventional model.
Experiment with stance width, foot flare, ball position and target orientation. Retain the setup that improves comfort, stability and ball flight.
Regular exercise can support muscle tone and joint stability, but tolerance varies. Monitor changes in posture, balance, contact and concentration as the session progresses.
Use planned breaks and shorter practice blocks where helpful. A successful session does not depend on a high number of shots.
Discuss the golfer's individual condition and established guidance. General information can inform questions, but it should not determine the answer.
Club length is only one part of fitting. Weight, shaft characteristics, grip size, lie angle and the golfer's dynamic delivery all affect control and consistency.
Provide clubs of different lengths, weights, materials and grip sizes. Begin with manageable shots and invite the golfer to describe changes in comfort, contact and control.
A shorter club is not automatically the best solution. The golfer may use a longer club, altered posture or greater head movement to create useful swing arc.
Traditional equipment may need a different lie angle once the golfer is moving at speed. A sole that interacts poorly with the ground can influence strike and direction.
Use ball flight, impact location and professional fitting information to assess the dynamic result.
A club that is too heavy may reduce control, while one that is too light may make awareness of the clubhead more difficult. Shaft length, flex and swing weight should be considered together.
Change one variable at a time and allow enough shots for the golfer to make a fair comparison.
A professional equipment fitting can help confirm length, lie, grip and shaft choices. Share useful observations about setup, strike and ball flight with the fitter, with the golfer’s agreement.
Equipment should support the golfer’s movement rather than force the golfer towards the equipment.
Golfers of short stature can generate substantial clubhead and ball speed. Help the golfer develop sequence and arc using the movement that is available and comfortable.
Explore stance width, foot flare, knee flex and posture. The preferred setup may be more upright than coaches commonly expect.
The aim is not to make the setup look conventional. It is to give the golfer a stable, repeatable base from which the club can move freely, and if beneficial to allow greater head movement.
The golfer may increase arc through trunk rotation, arm movement, wrist action, head rotation or sequencing. Observe where speed is already being created before adding technical instruction.
Use clear targets and ball flight to evaluate whether a change improves performance.
Many players of restricted growth participate in several sports. Ask about throwing, striking, racket sports, hockey or other activities and use familiar movement ideas where they help.
Analogies should make the task easier to understand, not replace observation of the golf shot.
Begin with shots that allow the golfer to experience centred contact and a predictable start direction. Build distance once the golfer can repeat the movement with confidence.
Use external tasks, different trajectories and targets to develop adaptability rather than overloading the golfer with body positions.
Preparation should make the environment easier to use without reducing challenge, independence or the golfer's involvement in decisions.
Use these prompts when preparing or reviewing a coaching session. They are starting points rather than a prescription for every golfer.
Use the terminology preferred by the individual. Avoid making height the defining feature of the conversation and do not assume that assistance is required.
Check counters, ball dispensers, bag storage, seating, changing areas and toilets. Small environmental changes may improve independence and reduce unnecessary effort.
Invite the golfer to share information that is relevant to safe participation. Where specialist advice is required, encourage the golfer to consult an appropriate healthcare professional.
Golfers of restricted growth may play recreationally, compete in G4D events or pursue high-performance goals. Coach the golfer’s aspiration rather than limiting the pathway because of stature.
Every golfer develops an individual way to move, practise and play. These stories illustrate different equipment choices, movement strategies and ambitions among golfers of restricted growth and short stature.
This featured Joakim video now runs full width so it leads the Player stories section more clearly and feels distinct from the coaching content elsewhere on the page.
The story shows how golf can be shaped around the individual golfer, their movement, their choices and the way they experience the game, rather than trying to force a conventional model.
Equipment, movement and ambition shaped around the individual.
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Explore Jennifer's experience in competitive G4D golf.
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Read about Brendan's development and success in international golf.
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Confidence and opportunity developed through golf.
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