What is the best approach to teacher kids (10-11) to play golf?

Question

I was thinking of letting them go to the driving range for a month (on sunday) to give them practice with driving. They have played mini for years. Then eventually take them on a 9 hole local green. I don't want to hold up the other people behind us.

I was also thinking about getting them involved in a golf day camp type thing in the summer

Answer 1

When teaching golf to kids, FUN is the name of the game. Throw in all the technical jargon at the beginning and you will effectively kill a child's desire to learn. Allow a child to “play” golf for enjoyment, and he’ll become a life-long convert of the game!

Hours of practice will only overwhelm a child, so just allow him or her to practice a little bit at first, say 30 minutes. This will keep motivation for practice high.

And it's okay to let them start by hitting the ball hard. That's part of the fun! Don't worry about their grip right off the bat. Just have them keep the right hand under the left and then swing away!

I’d also make sure the child keeps his or her feet on the ground while following through.

Now, if you want to buy a child's set of clubs, that's fine, but you're likely to do just as well with a used set of women's clubs. They're lighter and nice for kids. All you need is a women's 9 iron, a 6 iron, 3-wood and a putter.

Let your child start out with little chipping and putting games. This play will help him or her get the feel for the club and the ball. Kids can bounce the ball off the face of a wedge and try hitting leaves or twigs.

Little contests and games keep motivation high. Avoid pressure or competition early on. You want your child to enjoy the game and want to play it every chance they get, not end up so confused and unfocused that they can't figure out what to do and just quit in frustration.

If you’re encouraging, your child will love for you to play alongside of them. Just don't start demanding wins and emphasizing competition, or you'll pop the enthusiasm really fast.

Children will move along as they're ready. Letting them progress at their own pace prevents future burnout. Never make a child play the game, unless he wants to. The game should be fun, and a simple joy. Laugh and have a blast yourself!

If your child's interest increases, you might consider golf camp or some private lessons with someone experienced in teaching children. If you do seek a personal instructor for your child, watch how the person teaches first. You really want an encouraging person with a knack for teaching kids.

Also, please remember to teach your child the etiquette of golf. Little things are very important, like… Don’t talk while someone else is swinging. Don’t step in front of someone while they’re swinging. Stand still. Don’t walk in front of someone else’s line or through line.

Finally, never criticize. Praise their shots and swings. Encourage them to correct certain moves, but don't dwell on what was done incorrectly.

If you concentrate on the most important aspects of golf – the enjoyment and the basics – you may end up with a child who rivals you on the range and who enjoys a lifelong love for the game.

Answer 2

Be sure to keep it fun. They obviously have practiced putting, so if I were teaching, I would move them up to chipping next (no full swings). From there, we would go to tee-up irons at the practice range. The driver should be the last club they use because it is the hardest to control.

Rather than give instruction advice here, I would highly recommend you get them involved in a program with a PGA or LPGA instructor. There are low-cost or even free programs available. Check out this website: playgolfamerica.com. Also, if you are near an LPGA Tour site, there is usually a free kids clinic during tournament week. You should also check with your local golf courses -- some golf professionals offer discounted or free instruction for kids.

Answer 3

Gosh with all the previous answers Im a bit tenative to respond. I did this with my son and he loves the game. I took him with me at an early age and spent one hour on the range total, in 15 minute intervals. He was 6 at the time, then we would go play, I know everyone is rolling their eyes but what i would do if there were people on the course is i would let him tee up and i would too then we would go get his ball and go to mine and both hit from there, that way no one had to wait for a six year old to take 10 strokes to get to the green, and it made it enjoyable for the both of us. good luck.

Answer 4

For now just let them use a ten finger or baseball grip and as stated before let them grip and rip. What I do for my kids is I take them to where my tee shot has landed and I let them tee it up at that spot in the middle of the fairway and hit. If they hit a good one close to the green they play it as it lies. If not we pick it up and I pick a shot for them to hit up by the green. Do not make it to hard of a shot. Then let them have four tries to hole out or more if there is time. After that we decide if it was a good hole= happy face. bad hole= sad face. and an OK hole = plain face. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

in simple terms say what you in basic terms stated! Your caveats will help plenty (instructors will track out in case you initiate speaking approximately "boredom" or "giftedness," yet could pay attention while you're speaking approximately specifics.) you could ask whether there will be books interior the college room on the the main suitable option analyzing point for loose-analyzing time, as an occasion. I had precisely a similar themes with 2 of my little ones. that they had a perfectly gifted kindergarten instructor who placed them in analyzing communities with different little ones analyzing financial disaster books and differentiated different aspects of the curriculum to maintain them challenged (made particular they have been writing paragraphs somewhat than single words, had my son calculating the percentages of rolling a 6 with 2 cube on a similar time as the different little ones have been counting the dots, and so on.). we've additionally had some years with instructors who have been "no longer plenty into complicated little ones who're forward," which for my area is a shame because of the fact 30 hours a week for a 365 days is an extremely long term to be sitting listening to belongings you have regular for a 365 days. The 365 days my daughter had a instructor who did no longer differentiate coaching in any respect is the 365 days she desperate college replaced into uninteresting. (thankfully she had an incredible instructor the 365 days after who challenged her plenty). i've got come to the top that there's no longer an incredible volume you're able to do if the instructor's philosophy is somewhat unfavorable to differentiating coaching, yet you could evaluate discussing what instructor your newborn gets located with the critical next 365 days (whilst teachers get extra severe besides ... kindergarten continues to be regularly taking part in and social skills).

Answer 6

Take them to the Nike youth camp over the summer. It is great for them to learn the fundamentals.

Answer 7

Take your 5 iron and smack the kids as hard as you can.