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Home › Articles › Kid Connections › In the Swing of Things

In the Swing of Things

Introducing Your Child to Golf

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

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Just the Beginning
"The challenge for a parent is to not get too instructional," says Frank Shaw, director of instruction for Nike Golf Learning Centers in Las Vegas, Nev. "Up to about age 12, learning golf skills is less important than just having fun. Once they have that enthusiasm, they'll work on it themselves." Shaw shares that one of the best methods is to break any instruction into five- to 10-minute sections, with breaks for hitting or just playing around in between. Any longer than that, and interest may be lost.

Instructors and pros alike agree that parents can introduce a child to golf as young as 4 or 5 years old, but beginning in the preteen years yields good results as well. According to Shaw, regardless of what age your child begins, this time is more about teaching the basic concepts of hitting the ball, keeping it fun and building excitement, not about drilling them on missed shots or the proper grip for putting. "They're really eager to hit the ball," says Shaw. "It can be frustrating for both the parent and the new golfer if they're just knocking it into the ground. But once you get them hitting the ball in the air, they're hooked."

What's Next?
Once the love of golf is born, true golf instruction can begin. Shaw states that this can be as early as age 6 or 7 or anytime through the teen years. "When [he or she] is old enough to hold a metal object in a group of 10 of their peers without clobbering anyone, it's a good time to start," says Shaw. "Start with chipping, encouraging a downward swing at the moment of impact. It seems contrary to the desire of lifting the ball into the air, but it is the key priciple in the golf swing. Work up to the full swing."

Shaw continues by saying that when instructing a preteen golfer, it is best to keep the following basics in mind:

  1. Grip – Shaw has his students hold rulers, forcing them to get used to the feeling of an object in their fingers. He also helps beginners by marking their golf gloves to indicate where their fingers should be on the club.
  2. Alignment – Laying clubs on either side of the ball parallel to the target is an aid that never gets old, even for the young.
  3. Posture – An athletic stance, with a slight bend at the waist, the knees slightly bent and the arms hanging just away from the body, almost like a quarterback waiting for the snap.
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