Junior Sets

[flybub]

Hey all. My 10 year old is getting into the game and there is a local youth program starting in a couple weeks so I figured I better get rolling on a set for him. Any recommendations on where to go for purchase? Is fitting a junior as important as it is for adults? Not looking to spend a good amount until I know if this is something he will continue with. I have bought quite a bit from the BST here so if any of you have anything let me know. Thanks

[DevilDog]

Fitting is probably MORE important for a junior player than an adult. I would consider US Kids until he is about 12 and get them properly fitted. My son is 11 and he got fitted by the Ping Tour van. Saw his distance and accuracy increase dramatically. Where he used to have to hit his US Kids 5 wood, he hits a Ping G30 8 iron. Driver went from about 180 to 220 with his G30 driver. He was fit into a Senior flex light weight shaft that is .75 inches shorter than standard and Orange dot lie angle. Downside of all this is in another year or so, he will have to be fitted all over again because he is growing. Fortunately, Ping clubs hold value and can get a decent trade in for them.

[vsteel1991]

cobra makes a junior set that i really like the looks of

[ryanmn4]

Until he catches the bug, don't spend a lot. Any of the box sets will be fine for the first go around. The Cobra set is fine, so is the Callaway XJ and PING Moxie lines. You can go REALLY cheap and get an Acuity or Top Flight set, but I think they look cheap. Quality is suspect IMO.

When he turns 12 or 13 it will get more complicated because there are few "tweener" sets out there. US Kids and PING Thrive sets are the only real quality options short of a custom fitting that most people aren't willing to pay for.

Good luck to him...future WRXer hopefully.

[natedd]

I have had good luck with Ping Moxie sets and USKids sets for my 3 boys.

[Chilidog]

My son is 7 and has the Ping Moxie set. I think it fits him well.

[md1m]

Does anyone know how the Ping Moxies compare to the US Kids ultralights as far as weight? Have a young golfer who loves the game but the clubs he has look too heavy for him.

[flybub]

Thank you for all the quick replies. Greatly appreciated!!!!

[Enfynet]

For juniors, I would recommend something they can grow into. This means grips long enough for them to choke down on now, and play full length later. At that age, learning technique is more important than complete fitting.

With that said, a good fitter will probably have better junior clubs than those cheap boxes of top flite or acuity sets.

[Flagrant]

U.S. Kids had the fitting setup that goes by height, it is important to fit kids, set should run between 140-200
Something he can start with.

[Bimmer1]

US Kids also has a clearance section on their website and sometimes you can get decent deals on individual clubs that match your child's height.

[Shlippy17]

[quote name='Enfynet' timestamp='1433431861' post='11688838']
For juniors, I would recommend something they can grow into. This means grips long enough for them to choke down on now, and play full length later. At that age, learning technique is more important than complete fitting.

With that said, a good fitter will probably have better junior clubs than those cheap boxes of top flite or acuity sets.
[/quote]

Gone/going through this with 3 sons and have watched PLENTY of kids playing tournament golf. The biggest mistake I see is getting clubs that "they can grow into". Clubs too long/heavy make for flat swings, inconsistent contact, and really low ball flight. Clubs that fit may not go as far on the one they catch just right but consistency and learning a proper swing is what it is all about. US Kids have served us very well. Ping sets were good too. The US Kids Tour Series have stiff enough shafts to serve the decent to better junior swing. The dilemma I have now is the transition when they graduate to adult clubs.... it's a HUGE difference in the length and weight.

[Shlippy17]

[quote name='flybub' timestamp='1433429625' post='11688566']
Hey all. My 10 year old is getting into the game and there is a local youth program starting in a couple weeks so I figured I better get rolling on a set for him. Any recommendations on where to go for purchase? Is fitting a junior as important as it is for adults? Not looking to spend a good amount until I know if this is something he will continue with. I have bought quite a bit from the BST here so if any of you have anything let me know. Thanks
[/quote]

US Kids Ultra Light to start...hands down. Check BST or Ebay for used. New sets are pretty reasonable anyway. For the second set you choose if the swing speed/strength is enough to go to Tour Series.... a bit heavier and stiffer shaft but more $. DON'T go too long... go by the height chart.

[Parker0065]

Thankfully my son was fitted into an adult set a couple years ago and at age 17 his growing has slowed down but from age 7 to 16 it was a lot of different sets and a lot of fittings. The first few sets from age 5-7, and 8-10 lasted a couple years but when you start getting into the growing/puberty years 12-16 it was a new fitting and or a new set every year.

As others have mentioned fitting and weight are absolutely critical for young junior players. You want to create all kinds of instant bad habits, give them a chopped down adult set. And as stated prior, the absolute worst is to buy them something to "grow into"! I know, that's the "old school" philosophy,,,,my Dad bought me this monstrous bicycle when I was 6 that took like 3 years to "grow into" lol!

It's been a few years back but US Kids use to give you a pretty fair above average trade in on your old set which was a great selling point when your changing sets every year or two. My son played US Kids clubs from age 5 to 13 and they are pretty solid but I'm sure other brands from Ping and Cobra built specifically for kids are solid as well!

Regardless of brand, getting fitted is most important.

[Enfynet]

[quote name='Shlippy17' timestamp='1435281485' post='11836224']
[quote name='Enfynet' timestamp='1433431861' post='11688838']
For juniors, I would recommend something they can grow into. This means grips long enough for them to choke down on now, and play full length later. At that age, learning technique is more important than complete fitting.

With that said, a good fitter will probably have better junior clubs than those cheap boxes of top flite or acuity sets.
[/quote]

Gone/going through this with 3 sons and have watched PLENTY of kids playing tournament golf. The biggest mistake I see is getting clubs that "they can grow into". Clubs too long/heavy make for flat swings, inconsistent contact, and really low ball flight. Clubs that fit may not go as far on the one they catch just right but consistency and learning a proper swing is what it is all about. US Kids have served us very well. Ping sets were good too. The US Kids Tour Series have stiff enough shafts to serve the decent to better junior swing. The dilemma I have now is the transition when they graduate to adult clubs.... it's a HUGE difference in the length and weight.
[/quote]
By "grow into" I mean +1-2" over "fitted" length. Not full length. This way they don't need new clubs every 6 months.

[flybub]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I went to our local club and luckily one of the members was selling a set of Callaway X-20's he had built for his wife. I had the pro fit him and the irons need bent a degree up but the shafts and weight are fine according to him. I called Callaway pre-owned and told them the situation as far as getting them bent and who they are for and they discounted me 50% on the work and that included new grips as well. Good Job Callaway!

Thanks again for all the suggestions and help

[ParHunter]

I just got my 6 year old a set from Golphin http://golphinforkids.com it is a fairly new company but the clubs are lighter and have a bigger club face than your normal kids clubs. His old US Kids 9 iron was about 50g heavier than his new 7 iron although the new iron was about 3 in longer.

If the club is too heavy they take it back lower and more around them.