Roll and aim games
Ready when: nothing needed.
What you are learning
Aiming and judging distance by rolling a ball by hand: step forward on the opposite foot, swing low to high and let go close to the floor. Judging how hard to hit is the core of putting and chipping.
Words on this card Hole, Putt, Carry, Backswing, Score card, Jack
- Hole
- The hole in the green, with a flag standing in it.
- Putt
- A gentle stroke that rolls the ball along the green.
- Carry
- How far the ball flies in the air, and how far it rolls after it lands.
- Backswing
- The club going back, the club swinging on past the ball, and the balanced pose at the end.
- Score card
- The card where each player's strokes are written for every hole.
- Jack
- A small target ball used in rolling games.
Set up
Tennis balls; a small ball as the jack; a box or hoop; 9 obstacles.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Hold the ball in your rolling hand and step forward with the opposite foot.
- Bend the knees so the hand nearly touches the floor.
- Swing the arm low to high and let the ball go gently along the ground toward the jack.
Your part while they practise
Keep the score; let the child choose the target.
Step by step
- Roll a ball by hand: step forward with the opposite foot.
- Swing low to high, knees bent so the hand nearly touches the floor.
- Two rolls each; closest to the jack scores.
- Then a rolling golf course round 9 obstacles, writing down the rolls for each hole.
How much: 9 holes 8 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Rolling golf
Roll round a 9-hole course of obstacles; the lowest total wins.
Who plays: 2 to 4 players against each other; one keeps the score card.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Lay out 9 "holes": a box, a hoop, a chair leg to touch, and so on
- Each player rolls from the start toward hole 1, then rolls again from where the ball stopped, until it reaches the hole
- Write down the number of rolls
- Play all 9 holes in order
- Fair play
- A grown-up rolls with the other hand.
- Points
- 1 point for each roll; the lowest total is best.
- Fouls
- Add 1 point
- Throwing the ball through the air instead of rolling
- Rolling from in front of where the ball stopped
- Rolling while another player is still rolling
- Winning
- The lowest total after 9 holes.
- 30 points or fewer for 1 star
- 22 points or fewer for 2 stars
- 15 points or fewer for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Closer jack.
Further, smaller target.
What you will see, and what to say
- the ball bounces
Roll it along the ground
Let go close to the floor. - the roll is too hard
Slow roll, soft release
A smaller swing.
Self-check
3 of 5 rolls finish nearer the jack than the previous one.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains aiming, distance control.
awiseathlete.com/sports/golf/golf-b2