Mini Golf as a Growing Sport in the Modern World: Game Features and Benefits

Sport is important for every modern person. It becomes a catalyst of vital activity, a condition, and an integral part of a harmonious and full-fledged life. The most popular sports today are basketball, football, volleyball, athletics, gymnastics, badminton, wrestling, and mini golf.

Mini golf has been known for about a hundred years. It’s a game for people of all ages. It can be played by children, adults, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The game is so exciting that you forget about everything, concentrating only on how to hit the ball into the hole. Mini golf can be recreational entertainment and a sport discipline requiring serious physical, technical, tactical, and psychological preparation.

What Is Mini Golf as a Sport?

Mini golf is a sport that requires a ball and a club. It is usually played on special fields located both outdoors and indoors.  Those who do not know the game’s features may think that it is the same as regular golf or its reduced copy. However, the game’s key features (the ball’s composition and size, the rules for changing the ball, etc.) distinguish mini golf as a separate sport.

The task in mini golf and golf is the same. The game’s purpose is to hit the ball into the hole in the fewest strokes on each court. However, suppose a golfer uses a whole set of clubs to perform shots of various heights and ranges from different surfaces. In that case, a mini-golfer uses only one club – a putter since his game is reduced to rolling shots on unpaved or artificial turf fields.

Fundamentals of Mini Golf Technique: Everything You Need to Know to Play Successfully

Every game has its own features. This even applies to video games and online casino games. To play slots online and make a profit, it is important to visit the best Apple Pay casino sites, learn the rules of the games, and develop effective strategies.

As for mini golf, there are also certain techniques and rules that you need to know about. First of all, it is vital to learn how to perform a hit with a club properly. When hitting the ball with a stick, it is recommended to:

  • Take the club correctly;
  • Take the starting position;
  • Determine aim;
  • Hit the ball and send it into the hole.

The club’s grip should be tight (the handle should not dangle in the hands) but not tense. Before hitting the ball, you need to take a starting position. The eye line should be over the ball. Feet are perpendicular to the line of sight. The ball is on the same vertical line as the left eye. The weight is distributed evenly on each foot. Feet slightly wider than shoulders. The back is straight. The torso is tilted by changing the angle in the hip joint.

A critical point in mini golf is aiming. When aiming, the player mentally connects the centers of the ball and the holes with a line and finds a point at a distance of 0.5-1.0 m.

The basics of hitting technique in mini golf:

  • Eyes look at the ball;
  • The front of the club head is directed toward the target;
  • The ball is located in the front, along the line drawn between the feet;
  • Body movements are limited. Only the upper shoulder girdle moves;
  • The pendulum movement of the club is used;
  • The head must not turn after hitting the ball, and the eyes must not be taken away from the ball’s location. Otherwise, the ball will deviate from the target.

Practice shows that the psychology of the player is of great importance in the game. Motor culture largely depends on the mental manifestations of the personality, first of all, on the development of attention, memory, thinking, representation, and imagination.

Benefits of Playing Mini Golf for the Human Body

Scientists note that mini golf improves coordination, balance, muscle strength, and endurance. Despite the moderate intensity of motor activity, playing mini golf requires a lot of energy, which is a good way to maintain and improve cardio-respiratory health. The distances covered by golfers and the time spent in the fresh air prevent premature degenerative cardiovascular diseases, strengthen the cardiovascular system, and activate muscle and lipid metabolism.

In addition, mini golf positively affects a person’s mental health and helps reduce anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Mini golf is a sport for people of all ages, genders, and abilities. This type of physical activity evenly loads all body muscles and is an alternative for those who do not like hard physical training.

Research shows that mini golf has a positive effect on a person`s psyche. With the right attitude, the game relieves stress and helps restore the mental and emotional state of the player. Therefore, it becomes obvious why this game is becoming increasingly popular every day.