How to Teach Golf to Kids

Introducing a child to golf is less about teaching them a technically perfect swing and more about igniting a lifelong passion for the game. This guide cuts through the complexities and offers a simple, step-by-step approach to get your child excited about golf. We’ll cover everything from turning their first swings into a fun game to introducing basic mechanics in a way that truly connects.

Start with Fun, Not the Rules

The number one goal is to make the child’s first golf experience positive. Forget the driving range for a moment. Most kids have a five-minute attention span for repetitive tasks. Instead of lining up a bucket of balls, transform golf into a creative playtime.

• Start in the Backyard: Grab some plastic balls (like Wiffle balls) and get things started in an environment with zero pressure. Let them swing freely and just enjoy the cause-and-effect of hitting something.
• Miniature Golf is Your Best Friend: A trip to the local putt-putt course is the perfect first step. It teaches the basic goal of getting the ball into the hole, introduces the concept of a putter, and feels like pure entertainment. Celebrate every tap-in, no matter how many strokes it took.
• Introduce the “Course” Later: The first few outings shouldn't even feel like a formal lesson. Think of it as a park day, but with a club and ball. Go to the course in the late evening when it's empty, find the putting green, and make a game of it. Who can get closest to the fringe? Can you roll a ball down a hill on the green?

The objective is to associate golf with laughter, excitement, and quality time with you. The technical instruction can - and should - come later, after the seed of enjoyment has been planted.

Proper Gear Makes a World of Difference

You wouldn’t ask a child to learn to ride a bike that’s twice their size. The same applies to golf. Handing a kid a cut-down adult club is one of the most common mistakes a parent can make. These clubs are still too heavy, the grips are too thick, and the shaft is too stiff, forcing the child to develop awkward swing habits to compensate.

Thankfully, junior sets are widely available and affordable. When looking for a starter set, here’s what matters:

• Look for Ultralight Clubs: The lighter the club, the easier it is for a child to swing it naturally instead of just heaving it around their body.
• Start Small (Really Small): A beginner doesn’t need a full 14-club set. A starter set with a fairway wood, a 7-iron, a pitching wedge, and a putter is more than enough to get them started and learn the feel of different clubs.
• Let Them Choose the Color: If the set comes in a few colors, let your child pick their favorite. Giving them ownership over their gear adds another layer of excitement.

The “Sticky Hands” Grip and Superhero Stance

Once you’ve established that golf is fun and they have the right gear, you can begin to introduce some fundamentals. But throw the adult instruction manual out the window. Stick to simple, feeling-based cues and analogies.

The Grip: Forget Technicalities, Think "Feel"

A good grip is the only link to the golf club, but trying to explain knuckle alignment and V-angles will just confuse a child. Simplify it.

• The Baseball Bat Grip: Have them hold the club like a baseball bat (10-finger grip). This is the most natural and comfortable grip for a beginner and helps them feel strong and in control. The overlapping and interlocking grips can wait.
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After they've gripped the club, give it a little wiggle. Tell them you’re trying to pull it out and their job is to keep their hands “stuck” together so they work as one unit, not two separate hands. -

Use the classic analogy: “Hold the club tight enough so a little bird couldn't fly away, but not so tight that you'd hurt it.” This communicates the idea of firm but relaxed pressure.

The Stance: Get Ready for Action

A good setup is the foundation of a good swing. Again, use images they can relate to.

• Feet Apart: Tell them to stand with their feet "as wide as their shoulders," just like a superhero preparing for action. It’s a powerful and stable base.
• Bend from the Hips: Ask them to “stick their bum out” just a little bit, like they’re about to sit on a tall stool. This tilts their upper body over the ball naturally.
• Let Arms Hang: From that tilted position, tell them their arms should hang down naturally from their shoulders. The end of the grip should be about a hand’s width away from their legs. Too close or too far shows an issue with their posture.

Just these simple actions - feet apart, bum out, arms hanging - put them in an athletic position ready to make a successful swing.

Teaching the “Tummy to Target” Swing

The modern golf swing is a rotational move, a turn of the body. Kids understand this concept intuitively from other sports like baseball or throwing a frisbee. The key is to connect the golf swing to that same feeling of rotation.

The Takeaway and Backswing

For a beginner, the focus isn't a perfect swing plane. It’s about creating a simple, repeatable turning motion. Instead of saying, “take the club back,” which encourages them to just use their arms, try this:

• Say: "Turn your shoulders so your back faces the target." This naturally gets them rotating their torso.
• Try: "Point the end of the golf club at the ball." When they reach the top of their swing, check this position. It helps prevent them from swinging the club too far behind them or lifting it up too steeply.

The Downswing and Finish

This is where the magic happens. Many kids want to help the ball get in the air by scooping it up with their hands. Instead, we want to teach them to lead with their body rotation.

• The Magic Phrase: “Turn your tummy to the target.” This is the simplest and most effective swing thought for a child. It keeps their big muscles engaged and encourages them to unwind through the shot, letting the club do the work of getting the ball airborne.
• Finish Like a Pro: "Hold your finish until the ball lands!" Tell them to finish with their tummy and chest facing the target, all their weight on their front foot, and their back heel up off the ground. A balanced finish is a sign of a good swing. It also doubles as a fun balancing game.

Turn Drills into Addictive Games

Hitting a bucket of balls at a monotonous driving range can extinguish a child's newfound interest quickly. Frame every practice session around games and friendly competition.

Putting Games:

• Tic-Tac-Toe: Use chalk or tees to create a tic-tac-toe grid on the putting green. Players take turns trying to land their ball in a square.
• Get Close: Place a fun headcover or a water bottle on the green. The goal isn’t to make a putt but to see who can get their ball to stop closest to the object.

Chipping and Full-Swing Games:

• The Ladder Game: Place towels or hoops at 5, 10, and 15-yard intervals. The goal is to land a ball successfully at each "rung" of the ladder.
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Use an open umbrella or a colorful bucket as a target in an open field. Assign T-Rex points to every sound your kids can play to your games and it'll get to whole nother level of competitive. (and if you haven't realized, kids are very competitive!). Hitting a target builds hand-eye coordination and makes practice feel purposeful.

Keeping It Positive On the Course

Taking a child onto a real golf course is a big step. The focus should be on fun, positivity, and moving at a good pace.

• Play from the 150-Yard Marker: Don't make a child play from the adult tees. It’s demoralizing. Start from the 150-yard post. As they improve, you can start from the forward tees. Let them feel successful.
• Celebrate Good Shots, Ignore a Bad Ones: When they pure one, make a big deal of it. When they hit a bad one, just say, “No big deal, let’s go find it and hit the next one!” One of the most important lessons in golf is learning to move on from a poor result, and that starts with you.
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If your child is getting frustrated, tired, or hungry after six holes, call it a day on a high note. Go grab a snack at the clubhouse. Forcing them to finish all nine holes can leave a sour taste. The goal isn’t to finish, the goal is to have them beg to come back next time.

Final Thoughts

Teaching a child golf is a special experience built on patience, fun, and celebrating the journey. By starting with games, simplifying the mechanics into kid-friendly feelings, and keeping every experience positive, you give them the greatest gift of all: a game they can enjoy for the rest of their lives.

And as you share the game with them, you might want to sharpen your own skills. For those moments on the course when you're stuck between clubs or facing a tricky shot, we've designed Caddie AI to provide instant, expert advice right from your phone. Whether you need a simple strategy for the hole or a quick answer to a rule question, think of it as your own personal coach, ready to help you play smarter and with more confidence.