Kids Stretching Before Golf

[Killer21]

Should kids stretch before they play?
(serious question)
My 8 year old doesn't really stretch, should she? She's super flexible like many 8 year olds.

[Pingnut]

Nothing wrong with it. Helps loosen you up. Any warm up will do really.

[spinaltap]

Nothing wrong with it. Helps loosen you up. Any warm up will do really.

If she's already really flexible what's the point of loosening them up? More importantly a warm up and stretching are two different things. The scientific evidence for stretching is pretty contradictory. If you're looking for injury prevention then there is even less evidence to show a decreased risk in injuries with pre-game stretching and I'm talking about all sports not just golf. Now, what the evidence does show for stretching is that they can potentially improve performance because it's increasing an individual's range of motion of a given joint.

So again, if she's super flexible, is stretching her hamstrings or her back or her arms really improving anything? Maybe? Is she going to hit the ball further? Potentially, yes. Research basically shows that if you're looking to decrease the risk of injury, a gradual warm up is the proven way to go. In golf this can be swinging the club in a slow manner and increasing tempo. On the range this can be hitting pitch shots to 3/4 shots to full wedges and then moving up in the bag. To go back on my point about stretching improving performance. In a sedentary individual who's in their mid 30's and up, stretching can work out the kinks adding to a longer back swing, or better arm positions (maintaining a straight lead elbow).

To answer the OP's question, sure you can teach some basic stuff but you'd have to really think what you're trying to get out of it. Don't just show some arbitrary stuff because it's what you do at the range as well. Today, most coaches for junior golfers focus on building speed now when they are young, technique and form in the swing can be taught later....I don't fully agree with that, but what do i know

[TourIQ]

Today, most coaches for junior golfers focus on building speed now when they are young, technique and form in the swing can be taught later....I don't fully agree with that, but what do i know

I'm not a coach but told other parents for years to develop speed (distance) first, and control (accuracy) later, so Junior has increased probability to shoot lower scores a few years later. If they swing slow and in control, they rarely develop mph swingspeed to shorten the course.

[spinaltap]

I'm not a coach but told other parents for years to develop speed (distance) first, and control (accuracy) later, so Junior has increased probability to shoot lower scores a few years later. If they swing slow and in control, they rarely develop mph swingspeed to shorten the course.

I can see both sides of the coin to the argument. Build speed to increase muscle tone and strength and then work on the finer parts later on. But then again we learn to walk before we learn to run so wouldn't you want a good base of technique and build speed up from there? We can debate the finer points for hours I'm sure

As I noted above I was trying to figure out why the OP wants his 8 year old to stretch. Was it just the dogmatic belief that stretching is good? Or are we trying to accomplish something? I've seen enough hyper-mobile kid/teen athletes and in the end I'm spending more time with them stabilizing things then stretching

[Killer21]

Nothing to do with speed or technique. Yes, it's more that the belief stretching is good and can prevent injuries. I guess it would be better to focus more on a good warm up before taking full swings. Hitting short shots and pitches to warm up. She is plenty flexible, actually has a very long swing ala John Daly/Brook Henderson we are working to shorten as it leads to some inconsistent contact.

[dwrecks]

We make it game or else my son would not be interested. See who can touch toes etc.

We then do the two penny drill on the range for a bit.