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