The Answer is NO!
Well...It depends on how you define exercising. It’s the most common used word when it comes to fitness, performance, workouts or training. There are a million different ways to exercise, and it all depends on your desired outcome.
I am going to address the young junior golfer in this article, since that’s probably why you’re here.
I am also going to replace the word exercise with development, meaning the goal for the young junior is to develop into a healthy, pain free, and sound adult golfer. I feel any adolescent age is very important to begin this development the earlier the better, but not to worry if your child is a bit older, there is still time.
I think when it becomes a formal setting, we can call it exercise. Like going to a fitness class, or working out with a purpose to get physical results. My answer here is 8-9 is a good age to start formal exercise, but don’t stop their development.
Here are some development examples:
The most important thing here is that you just show them once or twice and let them figure it out themselves after.
With a 2 year old to develop body recognition. One example is to give them a small stick and plug in a bubble machine and tell them to hit all the bubbles. Make sure you’re outside and there is nothing of value in proximity to the flailing stick and watch the magic happen.
What’s going on in that mind and body of the little boy or girl is awesome. They may fall over, they may swing both ways, they may just hit the bubble or they may go all out, and I bet they’re laughing and having a blast.
That’s what it’s about, we can call it tricking them into development. They’re learning body control, they’re learning balance, they’re learning how to fire muscles they don’t even know they have and it will remain with them their entire life.
For 2-4 yr olds The development of throwing a ball is fun to watch as well, first they will both hands, then just their wrist, and then just arm (no body), then they will step with the same foot as throwing arm, and finally figure out that if they step with the opposite foot the ball goes farther. This will happen over months, not all right away.
This is development, don’t interrupt it by too much instruction or getting upset if they don’t get it at first, the less coaching the better. The best scenario is to have a child slightly older that understands throwing mechanics and have your child watch them.
The best thing you can do for a child that you envision playing college golf is have them play multiple sports during this developmental stage and it will all come together when they’re 14, I promise, just have patience. See this post More Sports = Better Development.