My nephew is staying with me this week. He’s never played golf before. Since I play a little, I thought it would be fun to teach him but I’ve never taught anyone before. Plus, I want him to have some boy fun while he’s staying with me, his aunt.
I bought him 3 clubs to get started; a 7 iron, a driver and a putter. They are all for left handed boys aged 8-11.
First off, I would reccomend getting the book:
"On the Other Hand" by Steven Anderson–the only Left-handed PGA instructor. I am left-handed, and his book has helped me tremendously. http://www.amazon.com/Other-Hand-Steve-Anderson/dp/0965079147/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-8022990-5932925?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185390082&sr=1-1
The reason it has helped me is because his theories and concepts come across very easy to understand–so easy, that I have found myself giving pointers/advice from his book when people ask me. Not to mention there are LOTS of pictures–which for me, were easy to relate to. Believe it or not, it’s actually somewhat difficult to "reverse" every image (or any written advice, i.e. ‘turn your right shoulder…’) in your brain from RH to LH, especially if you are a kid.
When I was younger, I didn’t even know what Golf really was. I was busy playing Baseball, Football, and Basketball (which I played in HS). However, in hindsight, I would have not played football to play Golf in a heartbeat. Golf is something you carry for life–like your will to live.
Those 3 clubs will be perfect for him to start with–but most importantly, have him focus on the 7-iron for now. The driver can be discouraging, and the putter he will do well with (almost all kids putt fairly well it seems) in practice over the years.
Really get after him to "watch the ball hit the club". In my experience, teaching/coaching kids they tend to want to "see" where it goes more than they actually want to hit it. Have him focus on keeping his head still through the swing, and watch the ball fly off the club.
Good luck–and have fun!!
JUST LET HIM GO OUT AND SWING AWAY… IF HE TAKES A LIKING TO THE GAME THEN GO ON FROM THERE… HE’S ONLY EIGHT AND NEEDS TO FIND OUT WHAT HE LIKES IN SPORTS… YOU ARE NOT THE ONE TO TEACH IF YOU ONLY PLAY A LITTLE, SO JUST GIVE HIM THE BASICS ON GRIP AND SWING, IT YOU TRY TOO HARD YOU WILL DRIVE HIM AWAY FROM THE GREATEST SPORT ON EARTH!!! GOOD LUCK, AND HIT ‘EM STRAIGHT…
Make him stand in front of you while you demonstrate your golf swing to him. Assuming that you are right handed, you can ask him to imitate your swing motion.
Children are very good in capturing information and their restrictive ability to analyse is actually a strength in learning golf. Isn’t this how Phil Mick became a leftie?