| 30 years ago there weren't too many sets of real | | | | Junior sets normally have light and flexible graphite |
| junior golf clubs to be found, and there weren't that | | | | shafts and proper club head size and weight. |
| many people buying components and making their | | | | Grips |
| own clubs either. I found a person who did make | | | | Youngsters need grips on their junior golf cubs that |
| clubs and had some old ones cut down for my two | | | | fit their hands. Fortunately thin grips for kids are |
| kids. My son must have been barely 3 years old, and | | | | readily available these days, and most decent junior |
| his 9 iron didn't show much of the metal shaft: it was | | | | sets use those. |
| all grip! The head was extremely heavy, and he | | | | Prices- New Clubs |
| couldn't really swing the club, he sort of picked it up | | | | A quick internet search showed an number of |
| and hacked down at the ball like the club was an axe! | | | | interesting options. AMF had a set of junior golf clubs |
| The kids both had fun, however, and they always lit | | | | for ages 3-5 for about $80. The set had a wood, a |
| up when I suggested going to the driving range to hit | | | | hybrid club, an iron, and a putter. The clubs had light |
| balls. These days parents have many more options, | | | | weight flexible graphite shafts, and the golf bag and |
| and they can find decent junior golf clubs at | | | | a few other accessories were included. They also had |
| surprisingly reasonable prices. | | | | sets aimed at 5-8 year olds and 9-12 years of age |
| Doing it Right | | | | for a bit more money. In contrast, I saw a junior |
| Earl Woods always made sure that Tiger had clubs | | | | Calloway set for 9-13 year olds selling for $240. |
| that fit him when he was growing up. With clubs that | | | | Why Not Ebay? |
| are too long or too heavy and with grips too large, | | | | A quick search on Ebay for "junior golf clubs" resulted |
| the junior golfer is going to have to make swing | | | | in seeing several hundred auctions, most of those for |
| adjustments that will probably cause bad habits which | | | | brand new clubs. If you find a reliable seller you can |
| will be difficult to correct later on | | | | get some excellent deals. I saw a brand new set for |
| Club Length | | | | the 5-9 age group that had a top bid of only $15, and |
| This is the major consideration, and suffice it to say | | | | there were only 15 minutes left in the auction! So to |
| that your junior golfer should not be playing with | | | | get that very first set to determine if the child will be |
| clubs that are too long. Sure, you want your kids to | | | | interested in playing golf, Ebay might be a great |
| "grow into them", but if they have to choke up more | | | | solution. |
| than 2 inches they will have to modify their swings. | | | | Conclusion |
| Your kids will probably only get 2 to 3 years | | | | My grandson is 1½ years of age right now, and |
| maximum out of a set of junior golf clubs, so you | | | | I'm already thinking about taking him to the driving |
| should set that expectation if you want your kids to | | | | range in about a year. He'll be luckier than his uncle |
| play and enjoy golf. Unless you purchase a Calloway | | | | (my son) was at his age, and he'll have junior golf |
| junior set or a set from another major brand, new | | | | clubs that fit him reasonably well and which he can |
| clubs can be acquired at very reasonable prices. More | | | | actually swing. I can't wait to see him hit a few shots |
| on that shortly. | | | | that get up into the air a bit for the first time. The |
| Club and Club Head Weight | | | | sooner he can accomplish that and experience some |
| Don't do to your junior golfer what I did to my son. | | | | success, the more he'll enjoy playing golf not just as |
| Get him or her clubs that are the correct weight. | | | | a youngster but throughout his life. |