Golf Basics for Kids

Golf Exercises — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:56:22 +0000

When teaching golf to kids, FUN is the name of the game. Throw in all the technical jargon at the beginning and you will effectively kill a child’s desire to learn. Allow a child to “play” golf for enjoyment, and he’ll become a life-long convert of the game!

Hours of practice will only overwhelm a child, so just allow him or her to practice a little bit at first, say 30 minutes. This will keep motivation for practice high.

And it’s okay to let them start by hitting the ball hard. That’s part of the fun! Don’t worry about their grip right off the bat. Just have them keep the right hand under the left and then swing away!

I’d also make sure the child keeps his or her feet on the ground while following through.

Now, if you want to buy a child’s set of clubs, that’s fine, but you’re likely to do just as well with a used set of women’s clubs. They’re lighter and nice for kids. All you need is a women’s 9 iron, a 6 iron, 3-wood and a putter.

Let your child start out with little chipping and putting games. This play will help him or her get the feel for the club and the ball. Kids can bounce the ball off the face of a wedge and try hitting leaves or twigs.

Little contests and games keep motivation high. Avoid pressure or competition early on. You want your child to enjoy the game and want to play it every chance they get, not end up so confused and unfocused that they can’t figure out what to do and just quit in frustration.

If you’re encouraging, your child will love for you to play alongside of them. Just don’t start demanding wins and emphasizing competition, or you’ll pop the enthusiasm really fast.

Children will move along as they’re ready. Letting them progress at their own pace prevents future burnout. Never make a child play the game, unless he wants to. The game should be fun, and a simple joy. Laugh and have a blast yourself!

If your child’s interest increases, you might consider golf camp or some private lessons with someone experienced in teaching children. If you do seek a personal instructor for your child, watch how the person teaches first. You really want an encouraging person with a knack for teaching kids.

Also, please remember to teach your child the etiquette of golf. Little things are very important, like… Don’t talk while someone else is swinging. Don’t step in front of someone while they’re swinging. Stand still. Don’t walk in front of someone else’s line or through line.

Finally, never criticize. Praise their shots and swings. Encourage them to correct certain moves, but don’t dwell on what was done incorrectly.

If you concentrate on the most important aspects of golf – the enjoyment and the basics – you may end up with a child who rivals you on the range and who enjoys a lifelong love for the game.

This Post is Courtesy of: Effective Golf Exercises, where you can get the latest news and resources on golf exercises.

Golf Basics for Kids

3 Bad Exercises for Golf

Golf Exercises — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:26:37 +0000

Many people turn to golf for a recreational sport because it does not seem to be as rough or high impact as other sports. Most people also love golf because of their relaxing and focusing effect to the brain. However, players can also be at risk for sore shoulders, torn tendons, twisted wrists, and other injuries especially if they have played an intense game.

This is where working out is very important. Even though golf is not a contact sport, players are still encouraged to do some work outs or exercises to help in conditioning their body. Experts agree that proper exercises and techniques can help prevent such injuries. Comprehensive exercise routine can strengthen muscles and joints which are commonly used for the sport.
photo credit: Anders Ljungberg

Golf exercise is a term that is used so commonly but yet often times so inaccurately. There are actually “right” golf exercises and at the same time, there are also bad ones. The latter can wreak havoc to your game and can cause injuries instead of prevent them. Some experts would frown at golfers who are pumping weights and machines in the gym to enhance their golf performance.

The right exercises should be on stretching and flexibility exercises. Hill-work cardio and vestibular conditioning done on soft disks or towels are ideal for golfers. These are actually simple yet effective body weight exercises that can help players. However, they are commonly exchanged for exercises that are not right for golfers.

Here are three of the most common bad exercises for golf:

1. The Bench Press. This is a traditional exercise that most people are already taking it for granted. Most think that simply lying on your back and pushing the bar away from your chest is simple and easy. However, training with the wrong technique and also equipment can harm your shoulders, elbow, and wrists. Lack of control and improper form would actually be damaging than helping. What’s bad about the bench press is it exposes the shoulder to such an excessive load. It also compresses the tissue of the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff becomes inflamed over time because of repeated bouts and heavy loads.

2. Lat Pull Downs. This is actually a perfect exercise for back strengthening. However behind the head lat pull downs can be very damaging. Pulling the bar down behind your head would position the humerus in a way that it can actually harm the rotator cuff. Behind the neck pull downs would also place stress on the cervical spine.

3. Dumbbell Lateral Raise. This exercise is often done incorrectly. When you are lifting too much weight, keeping your arms straight and raising your arms out away from your body, you are actually making a big mistake thinking that it is a good golf exercise. The force on your rotator cuff is raised to 90 percent of your body weight. That is a lot of weight for your rotator cuff. When heavy weights continue to strain the shoulders, expect disaster to happen when you are playing golf.

Working out before playing your favorite sport is advisable. However, not all exercises are meant to be golf exercises. Always be careful and make sure that you are doing the proper workout routine.

This Post is Courtesy of: Effective Golf Exercises, where you can get the latest news and resources on golf exercises.

3 Bad Exercises for Golf

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Golf Basics for Kids

3 Bad Exercises for Golf