Junior Golf: The Guide

You’ve got kids and you want to get them into golf, but where do you start? This guide has everything you need to know to get your kids started in golf and having fun.

The importance of getting the right fit for kids clubs

Is it important for kids to use kids clubs? The short answer is, yes. Three factors play a role in getting the right fit: the length is the most important, the weight is second, and the flex of the shaft is third. 

Kids need to be playing with clubs that are the appropriate length if you want to see them have fun. Playing with the right size clubs are much easier than the alternative, and if a child is having success making contact they are far more likely to enjoy the sport. Additionally, if the clubs aren’t a good fit for the player, the player will make the adjustments to their body or swing to make the clubs work for them. If the clubs are too short, the player will have to hunch over and make a steep swing to make contact. If the clubs are too long they will put the ball too far away and the swing will have to be flattened to make contact. By the time the child grows into adulthood, the only hope would be that an improper swing plane didn’t stick, or they might spend years correcting bad habits. 

The next factor to consider is the weight. Children typically haven't developed the strength to wield adult golf clubs, but junior sets are manufactured with weight in mind, so if you get a set made for children you don't really need to worry about the weight too much. It really only comes into play if you decide that you can just cut down your old clubs to a more appropriate length for a child. I'm all about being price conscious, so if that is the route you want to go down, then by all means, grab your old big bertha irons and cut the shaft in half. Just be aware that the head is likely going to be a little heavy for jr. You could always drill a few holes in the head to drop some weight but at that point you may be affecting how the ball reacts off the face of the club. Maybe this is one of those situations where you just buy a kids set, if your child doesn't have the strength to comfortably swing heavier weights.

The last factor is the flex. For adult clubs their are ladies flex, senior flex, regular flex, stiff flex, and many more to cover swing speeds for all players. For kids clubs, there are fewer. Most manufacturers break it down by skill level; a beginner, an intermediate, and an advanced. Beginner will have the most flex for slower swing speeds and the advanced will have less flex for higher swing speeds. The intermediate falls right in the middle as the name implies. Getting the correct flex contributes to getting the most distance out of each shot. Just be honest with yourself and with your kid when choosing what flex is best for them. A slower swing speed will not benefit from getting the advanced clubs even if you think your child is the next Tiger Woods.

Sizing Junior Clubs

Most manufacturers sell kids sets according to the height of the child and some include age. While I understand the ease of marketing age on products because a given age has height range that encompasses most kids, it’s highly encouraged to actually measure you child’s height to get the most appropriate set. So, the first step is simply measuring your child’s height. Measure in inches with shoes on. 

While most brands list the height with the corresponding set, not all do and not all are the same, so here is a quick reference chart for 7 iron length versus the height of the child for a couple of the larger brands making kids sets:

As you know, kids grow fast. Does that mean you need to buy a new set every year to keep up with their height? I wouldn’t discourage that, but I certainly wouldn’t encourage that either, especially if you’re looking to save some money. A prudent course of action would be to add 3 inches to your child's height and get the set for that height. They will be a little long when the child starts using them, but that can be remedied by having them choke down on the club until it feels and looks more comfortable. As they grow taller they can choke down less and less. Below is an example of a left handed golfer choking down on the left and a right handed golfer choking down on the right.

Next thing to look at is the weight and flex. These go hand in hand for most brands out there. The higher the skill level associated with a club, the more weight and less flex there will be.

Brand Overview

There are many brands that manufacture full kids sets, and it can be overwhelming to see everything that's out there and know what to get. So here is an brief synopsis of some of the major brands and what they bring to the table:

US Kids: As the name implies, they focus on kids golf. They have the widest range of offerings, and are able to cater to just about any youth that's out there. Their yard clubs are for beginner players just getting introduced to the game, the Ultralight clubs are for the beginner to intermediate junior golfers, and the Tour Series is for the advanced junior golfers.

Callaway: They are a major player in the landscape of golf as a whole, so the junior golf is only one segment of what they do. As far as junior golf goes, they excel in making clubs for people who are right on the cusp of being able to use adult clubs. That being said, they do have some really good sets for the other kids too.

Tour Edge: These guys are a borderline budget brand, which makes them a perfect brand to shop for kids clubs that you will replace in couple years. I mean that with no disrespect, these clubs have everything you could want in terms of performance and they are improving their offerings year over year while they catch up to some of the other major manufacturers.

Top Flite: Top Flite has been around a long time and they have made sets for kids and beginners all along the way. Being on a used golf club website, you'll find lots of these, and you can find them for cheap. They are the bargain brand when sold new so you know they'll be the right price sold as used. As a company they were sold in 2003 to Callaway and subsequently to Dick's Sporting Goods in 2012. In the very capable hands of Dick's I would not be surprised at all to see a resurgence in Top Flite, who at one time, was a big deal in the golfing world.

What Now?

Once you purchase clubs for your kid(s) it's time to go play. Sure you could go to the driving range let the kid self teach through trial and error, or you could try your hand at coaching and give junior every tip that you've gotten over the years. Those are viable options, and it's possible you could have success with either or both, but it might be worth it to ask the people in the pro shop if there are any teachers that specialize in coaching kids. The USGA (United States Golf Association) collaborates with 57 Allied Golf Associations across the US, and you can find your AGA here. From there you can navigate your way to finding out what sort of offerings they have for junior golf, how you can get involved, and opportunities for your child to learn about the game of golf while growing as a golfer.

Lastly

Golf is supposed to be fun. Golf is as challenging as it is rewarding. You want to pass that and your love for the game on to your kid. The joy you experienced on the golf course is what you want them to be able to experience. Every trip to the golf course doesn't have to be a serious one. Your kid won't become Rory if you spend the time it takes to hit a bucket of balls yelling at them to keep their elbow tucked. Frankly, it's extremely unlikely they become anything even resembling Rory. Bag your frustration that they aren't able to make solid contact on 8 out of 10 shots and just have fun with your kid. The biggest determining on your kid getting better at golf, is simply amount of time spent at the golf course, and if they don't want to go to the course because they get yelled at, that is unfortunate for both of you. One day when your child is much older, you will want them to invite you out for a round, the onus is on you to build the foundation that supports them to want that too.