Teach Your Children Playing Golf

How Parents Can Help their Children Add Distance

| tips |  | For beginners |

A child's self esteem grows when they can get a par or a birdie, increasing their enjoyment of the game and thereby stimulating their interest.

You can't control how fast your son or daughter develops physically but when it comes to swing mechanics, what works for adults works for kids.

Starting with a good grip, usually a 10-finger or interlocking grip, make sure their top hand is in a strong position (The V formed by the thumb and forefinger points toward the right shoulder for right handers). This will promote a good wrist cock during the backswing and a good release through impact.

One of the keys to distance is speed (clubhead and body). If the hips rotate quickly through impact, the speed is transmitted through the arms to the clubhead. Encourage your child to create as wide and long a backswing as they can and still make solid contact. Flexibility at this age is no problem and if they overswing a little, let it go for now. A wide stance and good shoulder rotation are also integral to creating power.

Proper equipment is extremely important for distance development. Look for lightweight components for their clubs. Graphite shafts that are flexible are best. Many companies are now producing clubs designed for kids of all ages.

If your son or daughter excels as a junior they could be eligible for an athletic scholarship. Most college teams incorporate weight training into their programs. This can be very helpful but should only be done with a trained supervisor. There is no substitute for speed, strength and flexibility to acquire more distance. 

Above all, always offer lots of encouragement and praise to your kids,could improve their confidence.