Best way to teach Children

[Tball88]

I'm a lucky guy, I have a six year old boy who loves to play golf and go to the range. I have no idea how to teach him. So I'm looking for some help.

Right now the main things we focus on is putting and chipping(primary focus is keeping the hands in front of the ball and avoiding the dreaded flip). We then go and hit irons. I make him hit his irons over a bunker, the focus being to teach him to hit down to make the ball go up. He gets points for each ball he flies over the bunker. If he flips and thins it, it typically will just roll into the bunker. Today he hit 9 solid iron shots in a row with no flip that flew over the bunker.

Anybody have advice in how to teach youngsters the game?? I've heard you should start at the green and work your way back to the tee, which is what I'm trying to do.

 

[strav]

I'm a lucky guy, I have a six year old boy who loves to play golf and go to the range. I have no idea how to teach him. So I'm looking for some help.

Right now the main things we focus on is putting and chipping(primary focus is keeping the hands in front of the ball and avoiding the dreaded flip). We then go and hit irons. I make him hit his irons over a bunker, the focus being to teach him to hit down to make the ball go up. He gets points for each ball he flies over the bunker. If he flips and thins it, it typically will just roll into the bunker. Today he hit 9 solid iron shots in a row with no flip that flew over the bunker.

Anybody have advice in how to teach youngsters the game?? I've heard you should start at the green and work your way back to the tee, which is what I'm trying to do.

Started two juniors (7 and 8 years old) last week. We began by tossing balls, by hand, to the pin from just off the green. Without knowing it, they were using vertical hinge or close to it, automatically and in a very short while were achieving good results. Then, we switched to how Tiger was taught, with the smallest swing, the putt, from about 6 inches. When they sunk these, we doubled the distance and after that, went back a foot at a time. At about three or four feet, we shifted the focus from sinking the putt to getting the ball up to and past the hole but not further past than about 18 inches. They handled this easily and were rapt when they sunk the odd putt. Next we went to the chip. One flipped and one never so the focus for each was changed right there. I believe you are on the right track with what you are trying to instill, .i.e. Hands ahead, avoiding the flip and hitting down, especially the latter, as most juniors try to help the ball into the air. Homer’s advice “TRY TO DRIVE THE BALL INTO THE GROUND” gets some funny looks initially but these looks change to expressions of amazement when they get it right. Being able to demonstrate the correct alignments makes it easier, as kids are great mimics and catch on quickly. “Vikram” teaches juniors in India and I have found him very willing and helpful with general advice and also with specific problems.
I also would like to hear views from others working with juniors.

 

[Millrat]

More,

I also have a 6yr old boy who just loves to play. I started out letting him hit the fairway woods and driver as I felt that would get his initial interest high. We recently had a family trip to Myrtle SC and we played mini-putt every day, he couldn't get enough of those fabulous tracks.

I like the idea of starting from the cup though. I'm goning to shift the focus as he gets more skilled with the clubs. Some keys I try to get ingrained early is the finish pose to train his balance, grip (both Vs to shoulder), hands ahead at impact and employing the wristcock. Something he liked was to start with Y (address) swing back to an L (wristcock) and through to L.

Hope to see lots more here.

CW

 

[curtisj76]

My 4 year old daughter likes golf too. She hits plastic balls in the living room which we call "whacker balls". She can really nail them. She also hits balls in our net in the garage. She has a good swing but has a hard time cocking her wrist on the backswing. I think it might be from the club being too heavy - not sure. She has kid clubs she is just a tiny little thing. I love that golfing excites her, I normally watch men's golf but we watched the women this week so she could see that girl's play golf too. Made sure when Wie hit she was watching.

Any suggestions on getting her to cock her left wrist and bend her right wrist?

 

[Perfect Impact]

Have her start out with the wristcock already in place with the club sitting on her right shoulder. FOrget "addressing the ball" completely: whack the suck with a preformed L in her armclub: release will take care of itself.

 

[curtisj76]

I'll try it. Do you think it's because of the weight?

 

[Perfect Impact]

Possibly - but not necessarily: it is simply that early on there is no expectation or image of cock and uncock/release. And a short club doesn't feel heavy anyway. But using a cocked wrist to start with will quickly give her that imagery. A caution: when cocking, don't let the left wrist bow in her pre-swing hold of the club; better to be bent back; children and women often let the left wrist almost collapse and disengage from holding the club with a bowed wrist. The "flat" can come later.

 

[Tball88]

Talked to my club pro today and he gave me a great idea. He said to take a 2X4, club, or whatever you want to use. stand facing them and slightly in front of them, so that they won't hit it during their swing, but tell them to hit the ball under the item. What happens is in an effort to hit the ball "under the fence" they strike down and the ball goes up.

Very simple visual that really gets your child in the right positions to make solid impact. We started with chipping today and worked all the way up to the driver and everytime my son really focused on hitting the ball "under the fence" he made great contact.

I had heard of this drill sometime ago, but had forgotten all about it. Great for kids...

 

[metallion]

Miller

I think Johnny Miller wrote a book about this.

His first goal was to make the kids BEG to go to the golf course.

Which was achieved by bringing them there and let them hit balls into the water. And when they had the most fun doing it:

- Times up, kids. We need to go home to play baseball (or whatever stupid sport)

Repeat until they really BEG for it.

Miller was probably the smartest man walking in 2 shoes.

 

[rundmc]

With a belt . . .