| Not everyone can have junior golf lessons and | | | | golf ball at four feet, eight feet and twelve feet from |
| become a child golf prodigy like Tiger Woods. It is most | | | | the putting cup. Begin with the four foot putt. If you |
| important to keep the game fun when introducing your | | | | make the four foot putt, then move to the eight foot |
| child to junior golf lessons and playing golf. Have you | | | | putt. If you miss the four foot putt, then start over |
| ever noticed how a junior just taking up the game of | | | | again with the four foot putt. Repeat this until all three |
| golf? If allowed, they will take a very natural golf swing. | | | | putts are made. |
| The young golfers are not thinking about golf | | | | Pull back drill - Pick a long putt in which you need to lag. |
| instruction or golf mechanics. Let your child enjoy | | | | Hit your putt. Did you make it? If then the answer is |
| learning the game by their own trial and error until | | | | yes, then great. If not, move the golf ball a putter length |
| THEY are ready to take the game more seriously. | | | | further away from the hole. Keep this up until the golf |
| You can keep it fun away from the golf course by | | | | ball is holed. |
| keeping a junior golf journal at home. Remember we | | | | Chipping |
| play the game because it is fun. | | | | Over the bag - This is a simple fun way to learn how |
| Up until the child is in High School, practice sessions | | | | to chip. Place a golf bag off of the green and set up to |
| should be limited in time so the junior is not | | | | chip three to six feet behind the bag. The closer to the |
| over-whelmed and should only be taken to the | | | | bag you place your ball, the bigger the challenge. Now |
| practice facility if the child wants to go and have fun. | | | | making your chipping stroke your goal is to clear the |
| This will keep the junior motivated to go and practice | | | | bag while getting the golf ball close to the hole. |
| more often. | | | | Chip to par - Pick several positions to chip from. Use |
| In keeping golf fun, refrain from giving a junior golf | | | | one golf ball and as you would on the golf course, chip |
| instructions and let your junior swing as hard as they | | | | the ball as close to the hole as possible. Then proceed |
| want from time to time during their full swing practice. | | | | to putt the ball into the hole. Add up your strokes and |
| As for your junior's golf grip, just make sure the right | | | | go to the same spots and try to lower your overall |
| hand is lower than the left hand for a right-handed | | | | score. |
| golfer. Remember keep the fun and non-restrictive and | | | | These drills are easy to turn into fun games or |
| do not worry about a proper grip, yet. It would be | | | | challenges. |
| more beneficial for you junior to play a game such as | | | | Consider private junior golf instruction or a summer golf |
| being able to count to three without losing their balance | | | | camp taught by PGA Professionals if your junior |
| no matter how hard they swing. | | | | shows the interest. If this becomes an option, use |
| To keep your juniors motivation high and to allow your | | | | references from friends and co-workers to find the |
| junior golfer to learn to feel the club, start with putting | | | | PGA professional that would be right for your child. |
| and chipping drills. Here are some easy ones to use: | | | | Again, the main goal is to keep it fun and not try to |
| Putting | | | | make your golfer into a mechanical machine. |
| Ladder drill - Using a sleeve of balls (three), Place a | | | | |