Kids Clubs

[wade410]

My Son is 8 now and is asking for a new set of clubs and he is right his clubs are getting short for him.  Currently he has a 5-8year olds set from hireko with a putter 7iron a 5hybrid and a drive.  What do you think would be better buying the next set up of Junior Clubs which are a little longer and add a fw to the mix, buying a set of 6-pw a couple of hybrids,a new driver, wedges and maybe a fairway wood from a component site or buying some 3-5+ year old name brand equipment and re-shafting it with junior shafts to make a set?  He is in the stage that he enjoys going golfing because it is physical activity and he is with the men but not sure if he will spend the time it takes to get good at golf when he is a little older.   

[sp0rtsfan86]

My Son is 8 now and is asking for a new set of clubs and he is right his clubs are getting short for him.  Currently he has a 5-8year olds set from hireko with a putter 7iron a 5hybrid and a drive.  What do you think would be better buying the next set up of Junior Clubs which are a little longer and add a fw to the mix, buying a set of 6-pw a couple of hybrids,a new driver, wedges and maybe a fairway wood from a component site or buying some 3-5+ year old name brand equipment and re-shafting it with junior shafts to make a set?  He is in the stage that he enjoys going golfing because it is physical activity and he is with the men but not sure if he will spend the time it takes to get good at golf when he is a little older.   

Obviously I'm a bit partial here. I grew up on one of those sets and probably the time I turned 12 my parents bought a full set for me-- one of those big box sets you get for 200 bucks at a big box store. I wouldn't worry about whether or not he will get good at the sport, that's irrelevant. The question is will he continue to play going forward and how much. If he's into it, by all means you can go crazy with the set, but if he's wavering I'd go the cheaper route. Personally he's 8, so I'd go with the junior clubs only because he will start growing soon. Plus when he gets older and decides golf is his thing, you can go out and buy a real set for him or conversely if he loses interest, you can find a cheaper set or something just so he has them. Just my thoughts.

[MattF]

There's nothing wrong with the Hireko sets, my son, also 8, has the same set. You could also look at US Kids Golf, they sell junior sets as well.

[BK in TEXAS]

I built both my kids component sets from Diamond Tour which has been working well.  I recently upgraded my 8 (almost 9) year old's woods and hybrids. I cut down some Nike VRS ladies clubs to her length and she likes the feel of it, and hits them well. Like adults...each kid is different though.

 

Regarding the "typical" 12 and under kids, here's a few random

thoughts I've noticed over the last few years being involved with

and helping out at the First Tee:

 

-- It's better to re-shaft every year than try and "go long" to cover a couple years.

-- Even though they are kids, they can often tell you if they like the feel of a club or not.

-- Flex and length affect their swing.

-- 14Ëš driver loft is not too much, and often not enough.

-- They hit a 28Ëš Hybrid 10x better than a 28Ëš iron.

-- They hit a 20Ëš Hybrid 10x better than a 20Ëš fairway wood.

-- Even off the Tee, half the kids hit a 15Ëš driver better than a 15Ëš fairway wood

-- Every other club is enough  (I.E. - SW-GW-9-7-6HY-4HY-DR)

-- They struggle in the sand.  A good SW makes a difference.

 

Anyway...hope that helps.

[Kenny B]

BK is spot on.  We have kids clinics all summer, and the kids that do the best have clubs that fit their ability to swing.  They don't need a full set, but they need light weight clubs at the correct length.  Most clubs, even cut down, tend to be too heavy.  Properly fit clubs will make the game more fun, and when they grow, the set has to grow with them.