Teaching Kids to Putt with a Simple yet Effective Trick

As a parent, I've found myself with more time than usual to spend at the disc golf course with my kids. And let me tell you, it's been a blessing in disguise! Not only has it provided a much-needed break from the chaos of home life, but it's also given us the opportunity to bond over our shared love of the game.

My four-year-old son, Jonah, has taken to disc golf like a fish to water. He's already mastering some of the basic lingo and is always eager to get out on the course and give it his all. However, there's one area where he struggles – putting. Despite my best efforts to teach him proper form, he just can't seem to get the hang of it.

I've tried showing him how to shift his weight from back foot to front foot, but it seems like a concept that's lost on him. His typical response is to throw with all his might, only to end up missing the chains and ending up further away from the basket than before.

But I wasn't about to give up on him yet! I remembered that kids love to jump and have fun, so I thought – why not try a straddle jump putt? It's a motor skill that comes naturally to most children, and by associating it with putting, maybe we could get him to understand the concept of weight transfer.

As soon as he gave it a try, Jonah started to show improvement. He was able to generate more power on his putts without turning his shoulders, and what's more – he actually preferred this new approach! Gone were the days of six-putting holes; now we're talking about two or three-putts at most.

Of course, some might argue that jumping from within the 10-meter circle is against the rules. And yes, it technically is. But let's be real – right now, it's all about having fun and learning together as a family. If this unconventional approach helps Jonah develop his putting skills and enjoy the game even more, then we're not worried about the rules just yet.

In fact, I've already seen him start to pick up on the concept of weight transfer without even realizing it. And when we do get around to teaching him the official 10-meter rule, he'll be well on his way to becoming a pro at disc golf putting!

This article was compiled from disc golf coverage with AI assistance. Source: pdga.com — https://www.pdga.com/news/youth-education-tips-get-kids-engage-their-lower-body-jump-putts