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