How to Teach a Child to Putt

So your young child wants to be a golf pro. Or maybe YOU want your young child to be a golf pro. Either way, the first step in learning to love the game is to start with the basics of putting—before you move on to anything else.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Show your child a proper putting stance. Have him make a triangle with his legs and a clock’s pendulum with his arms. Explain how the tick tock of the clock must swing the right way in order to hit the ball. This will also help him remember to face sideways when putting.

2. Practice swinging. Demonstrate exaggerated swings to show her what NOT to do when putting. Then do extra tiny putts to show her where putting falls in the range of motion.

3. Start with kid-size golf clubs. Plastic ones are fine, or you can buy steel ones like adults carry. You can illustrate proper grip, but there’s no need to get hung up on specifics at this point.

4. For the first few lessons, use tennis balls instead of golf balls.

5. Give her something to focus on. To demonstrate why she needs to look at the ball, make exaggerated and silly repercussions as to what happens when you look elsewhere.

6. Instead of starting with an accurately sized golf hole, use a large goal. Putt into a miniature soccer net, then graduate to an overturned trash can, then a dust pan, then a cup.

7. To keep things lively, set up an obstacle course with multiple “holes” in your yard and have your child enjoy a round of speed golf.

8. Visit the neighborhood putt-putt course. Kids love the novelty of these places and it’s a safe spot to practice putting without holding up players along a real course.

Tips & Warnings

• As with most children’s activities and sports, keeping the game simple and playful encourages kids to learn. If they enjoy their first taste of the sport, they are more likely to practice and improve on their own.

[MyJB]

on 3/25/2009 Sounds like really fun for the kids, especially when they want to learn the game. Thanks for sharing.