Golf Skills for Kids

Golf Skills for Kids

The foundation for our junior golf program focuses on grip, stance and ball position.  Here are some examples of the fundamentals taught through our programs.  For the grip for a right handed golfer we want the child to shake hands with the club, allowing the club to sit in their left hand while the thumb should pinch against their hand forming a "V".   For the stance, we want them to stand with the feet about shoulder width apart and get into a ready athletic position similar to other sports where there is some knee bend  and they can bend from the hips ready to move in either direction.   For the ball position with juniors, it is always best to keep the ball position a little bit more forward until the club head speed starts to increase.  For full swing, the “L to L” swing for juniors allows them a simple approach that is easy to understand. This position is formed for a right handed player when the club is taken back half way and  the left arm is relaxed but extended and the club has folded into a position that looks like an "L".  Keeping the feet down going back should also be encouraged at an early age to help with better balance. The second "L" comes in on the follow through and is a mirror image of the first "L" only on the other side of the ball.  Encouraging the juniors to stay balanced allows them to swing as hard as they would like, as long as they can stay balanced throughout the swing.

Keep the game simple when first starting out.  When playing on the course, have the kids start out 85 - 100 yards away from the green and as their skills improve, work their way back closer to the tee box.  Through our Play Golf America programs like "Family Days at Bristol" and "4 hole training program", kids can play Bristol Harbour from distances that allow them to succeed and build a love for the game of golf. 

Try some of our camps for additional help. We have many different offerings to satisfy the needs of many players based on age and ability. The junior golf camp gives them a great introduction to the game and teaches the proper mechanics of the swing. The Junior Tour school allows more experienced players the ability to receive one on one attention tailored to their individual needs while introducing some competition as well. There is also a travel team which allows juniors to play in travel matches and tournaments against local clubs.

For additional information or to ask a question of our PGA Golf Professional, Greg Mulhern, send an email to gmulhern@bristolharbour.com or call 1-800-288-8248 ext 1.