Getting kids into golf has never been more important - or more challenging.

In this episode of Your Golf Podcast by NCG, Tom Irwin sits down with PGA Pro Jack Backhouse to explore the realities of junior golf today, from those tricky first steps to keeping young players engaged long enough to fall in love with the game.

Tom and Jack dig into why the beginning is often the hardest part: golf’s complexity compared to other sports, the pressure of scoring too early, and why simply getting kids out on the course can be harder than it sounds. They discuss the huge rise in driving range technology and gamification, how it’s transformed engagement for young golfers, and whether that tech can sometimes make the transition to on-course golf more difficult.

The conversation also tackles some of the biggest barriers parents don’t always anticipate — from dress codes and club culture to well-meaning but overwhelming feedback. Jack shares common mistakes parents make, why “letting them get on with it” often works best, and how focusing on fun, confidence, and basic movement beats obsessing over scores every time.

They also cover why playing with friends is so powerful, when kids should start heading onto the course, how physical development and getting stronger naturally improves performance, and why enjoyment should always come before technique and results.

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It's new gear season! But what actually matters as brands launch their brand-new equipment?

In this episode of Your Golf Podcast by NCG, Tom Irwin sits down again with PGA Pro Jack Backhouse to unpack everything we’re about to see from this year’s biggest launches.

Tom and Jack cut through the hype around new drivers, irons, and balls to explain what innovations are real performance gains and what’s just marketing. They dive into what brands are prioritising - from ultra-fast ball speeds and novel materials like advanced carbon composites to redesigned face structures and adjustable weighting - and how those changes should influence your club choices.

Along the way they break down the tech talk so you’re not drowning in buzzwords: what launch conditions you should be paying attention to, how new materials affect feel and performance, and why some trends (like ever-higher spin rates) aren’t always beneficial for every golfer. They also discuss how these 2026 designs are being tested — including how simulator and TrackMan data are used in real product development — and offer insight into what improvements truly translate to better golf, not just better specs on paper.

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Launch angles. Spin rates. Ball speed. Sound familiar… but do they actually mean anything?

In the latest episode of Your Golf Podcast by NCG, Tom Irwin is joined by PGA Pro Jack Backhouse to cut through the noise and explain what TrackMan numbers really matter and which ones you can safely ignore.

They break down how to read golf simulator data without getting overwhelmed, what numbers to focus on to actually improve, why indoor golf is booming, and what new equipment could be changing the game in 2026. Because in modern golf, we’ve got more information than ever… but not always more understanding.

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