tips for starting my 4-yr old boy playing golf

[Jimbooo]

So I've found a nice mini set of clubs for my 4-yr old, and I want to take him out to have some fun. He's never played before, but had a bit of fun once or twice with some plastic clubs on the carpet and on a crazy golf course.

Any hints or tips you guys can offer? I'm thinking just make sure he enjoys it at first with no pressure... maybe a few tips like hold the club a certain way, turn the body and just let him try and hit some balls.

Might take him over to the local sports centre 9-hole par-3 course rather than up to my club.

Cheers :cheers:

 

[Rooter]

My lad is almost 4, he is no where near big enough for any type of course yet, I take him to the range every now and again, and apart from standing properly and basically holding the club properly ish, just let him whack the balls. He is far too young for anything else IMHO. Once he can listen and digest instruction properly, I will get him some lessons, probably group ones with kids a similar age. The key is fun for him, he has to be enjoying it. We do play putting in the living room quite often, he really enjoys it. I can't wait for him to be big enough for the course, but I think that's a number of years away!

 

[CMAC]

at 4 its imperative he has fun with a capital 'F'
start with, hold it like this, then let him smash away

 

[Hacker Khan]

Man up. If you learn one thing from modern sport it's that you need to hot house children from a very young age. You may also need to stunt their puberty, but you can worry about that later. Millions of Chinese can not be wrong.

Get him practising for at least 3 hours a day, and increase the time rapidly as he gets older. Get the fundamentals sorted like grip, posture and swing plane and under no circumstances let him near any type of course until he has mastered them. Just get him repetitively practising the fundamentals in a confined space, as if you let them on the course they may start enjoying it. And that's not modern sport. Drill into him no perfect neutral grip, no Peppa Pig. It's the only way they will learn.

Then in 15 years time you will have a potential major champion on your hands who has had any enjoyment of the game beaten out of them long ago by the hours of repetitive practice needed to become a pro. Sorted.

 

[freddielong]

I agree with everyone else take him to an open range let him have a little club and let him mess about while your hitting balls, dont push him dont try to teach him just let him see if he can hit it. I tried my little guy at 3 but it was to young he is almost 6 now and getting more interested

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Man up. If you learn one thing from modern sport it's that you need to hot house children from a very young age. You may also need to stunt their puberty, but you can worry about that later. Millions of Chinese can not be wrong.

Get him practising for at least 3 hours a day, and increase the time rapidly as he gets older. Get the fundamentals sorted like grip, posture and swing plane and under no circumstances let him near any type of course until he has mastered them. Just get him repetitively practising the fundamentals in a confined space, as if you let them on the course they may start enjoying it. And that's not modern sport. Drill into him no perfect neutral grip, no Peppa Pig. It's the only way they will learn.

Then in 15 years time you will have a potential major champion on your hands who has had any enjoyment of the game beaten out of them long ago by the hours of repetitive practice needed to become a pro. Sorted.

Quite brilliant Hacker, apart from missing the bit aout bending his thumbs backwards.

Sums up a few sad dads I know.

And yes they are divorced!

 

[pbrown7582]

Got my nephew into playing by just taking him to the range from around 4 and then onto putting green and like everyone else has said just having fun drink and chocolate bar lots of encouragement all helped.
Once he was getting a reasonable hit then ventured on to short 9 hole course teeing the ball up and moving around obstacles etc until he was ready to learn properly. Once he was 9/10 the local range had kids coaching courses in school holidays which did him good.
My lad is coming up to 4 and I have bought him a set of mini clubs ready for the range when the sun eventually shines!

 

[HotDogAssassin]

Just started getting my 5 yr old boy into golf with me, he's been to the range a couple of times with the one iron that I've bought for him and he loves it.

 

[Simbo]

Let him play from the hole out, get him putting as its the easiest stroke and he will love seeing the ball going in the hole. Stands him in good steed.

I've got a 5 year old I'm trying to get into it, but like most 5 year old he has the attention span of a goldfish. He doesn't have the strength to swing a proper club yet, he looks like he's playing hockey!! All in good time though.

 

[big_russ]

Get down to the practice ground and play as many fun games as possible. Chipping , putting etc but especially getting the ball in the. Everything you do has to be FUN above anything else.

 

[lyden]

Quite brilliant Hacker, apart from missing the bit aout bending his thumbs backwards.

Sums up a few sad dads I know.

And yes they are divorced!

My personal opinion is if they do have what it takes then it doesnt matter what age they start, but 99.999999% dont. Ill let them work out their own interests..........but it better be football

 

[daymond]

Should have taken a photo of my two year old grandson asleep on his back in the pram holding his plastic driver in one hand and a club of doubtful loft in the other. he is obsessed with them at the moment.
Re OP. Fun,fun,fun.

 

[Jimbooo]

Cheers all,

Yep, will be focusing on fun as the main bit, but if he starts throwing it OTT there'll be trouble!

 

[kid2]

Cant really add anymore to whats being said.....Iv a little fellow of 5 and he's like a second shadow.....I got him a set of U.S Kids golf clubs which are height and age specific...He love playing....He's the youngest junior at the club and all the other kids get a great kick out of seeing him knocking it about.....

The only thing ill say is let him hit it where he wants and how he wants.....Let him have FUN......Its great watching how they react on the putting green.....Their attitude is so carefree its not even funny...They dont look at pace,break,line.....Nothing....Just hit it towards the hole and if it goes in brilliant......:lol:

Oh and its a great excuse to get to the club for a few hours short game practice...:thup:

 

[Jimbooo]

My little lad is about 105cm tall. I've seen a kids set on ebay with the clubs being 70cm long. Think that might be a little long tho.

 

[Siren]

Honestly.... tell him hes winning

Will go back every time.

 

[kid2]

My little lad is about 105cm tall. I've seen a kids set on ebay with the clubs being 70cm long. Think that might be a little long tho.

Try this...... http://www.uskidsgolf.com/

And this is where i got mine............ http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/us-kids-complete-package-set/uskc0102pd.html

 

[Jimbooo]

Honestly.... tell him hes winning

Will go back every time.

That'll do it

 

[Jimbooo]

Try this...... http://www.uskidsgolf.com/

And this is where i got mine............ http://www.mcguirksgolf.com/us-kids-complete-package-set/uskc0102pd.html

Cheers I'll take a look

 

[kid2]

Cheers I'll take a look

No bother Pal.:thup: