If you have junior golfers and wish to introduce them to golf, yes, it’s important for them to have fun, BUT it’s equally important for them to see early success!
Even a 5-year-old knows when she/he hits a worm-burner, completely along the ground! No matter how encouraging parents might be, or how much teachers say ‘good swing’ or ‘good attempt’ or whatever – kids these days are very smart, and know when they’ve hit a bad shot, and a collection of bad shots might just make them lose interest!
So, the main things junior golfers should be taught (in random order)
- Shoulder-width stance (not adult shoulders, theirs)
- Keep both feet firmly on the ground, at all times
- Swing with fairly straight arms (a slight bend in the trail elbow is required though)
- Keep the trail side slightly below the lead side all through the swing (and the chest facing away from target until well after impact)
One cute 5 year old junior in our summer camps at Oakbrook Golf Course, Edwardsville, Illinois demonstrated two swings – the one his daddy taught him and the one ‘key-run’ taught him, and he replicated both so exactly!
