Building Jr Driver - Questions

[Hstead]

I am going to build my 11 year old a driver. He is currently playing a US Kids Ultra Light at 40". It doesn't seem way too short, but maybe a touch short. I just bought him a set of Womens Adams irons because he hit them so much better at Dicks than his current US Kids irons that are made for a 60" tall kid. He is about 62". His swing was dramatically better, position at the top etc with the ladies club. I think the US Kids may be too light for him so I bought the Adams ladies clubs. He literally hits the 7 iron 20 yards farther.

 

So I started thinking about drivers and hybrids for him. I am thinking of either buying a ladies driver and hybrid and maybe taking an inch off, or just buying a mens driver and installing a womens shaft at about 42". I do not want him playing with something too long, and the irons are about 1/4 to 1/2" too long so he chokes up. I also want to keep the loft at least 12.5 to 14. So I thought about converting a 3 wood to a driver for him which would require less lead tape too.

 

Has anyone had much success with ladies drivers or mens drivers with a ladies flex at a short length? I am a little concerned about the SW but I would just go with a tip weight and some lead tape if I had to bring the SW back up some.

 

Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.

[DaveMac]

The Cleveland launcher XL270 might be a good starting point at 12 degrees loft in the senior flex C KUA 39 gram shaft. It will take a bit of work to get it short enough at a reasonable swing weight. It is also available in 14 degree loft in ladies spec although the C KUA 39 is a very soft profile so the ladies shaft simply might be too soft. You will be taking a lot of shaft strength away by shortening the butt.

Harder to find and a bit older vintage is the Taylormade R7 max which was available in 13 degree HT in senior flex and came fitted with a 45 gram bassara shaft. The good thing about this option is you can change the weights to help you adjust the swing weight.

The Titleist 910 D2 12 degree in 50 gram bassara senior flex (there is also a 40 gram ladies flex) is also a possibility and there is a weight to make it easier to swing weight.

Don't forget the component market also offer [url="http://www.hirekogolf.com/golf-components/clubheads/golf-drivers/acer-xs-titanium-thriver-clubhead.html"]thriver heads[/url] in higher lofts which have the advantage of heavier head weight to begin with. Coupled with a shaft like the sub 50 gram AXE tour SL in L or A flex (sadly the 1/2 price deals seem to have ended on this shaft)

[TLT_Dan]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1364340344' post='6701923']
I am going to build my 11 year old a driver. He is currently playing a US Kids Ultra Light at 40". It doesn't seem way too short, but maybe a touch short. I just bought him a set of Womens Adams irons because he hit them so much better at Dicks than his current US Kids irons that are made for a 60" tall kid. He is about 62". His swing was dramatically better, position at the top etc with the ladies club. I think the US Kids may be too light for him so I bought the Adams ladies clubs. He literally hits the 7 iron 20 yards farther.

So I started thinking about drivers and hybrids for him. I am thinking of either buying a ladies driver and hybrid and maybe taking an inch off, or just buying a mens driver and installing a womens shaft at about 42". I do not want him playing with something too long, and the irons are about 1/4 to 1/2" too long so he chokes up. I also want to keep the loft at least 12.5 to 14. So I thought about converting a 3 wood to a driver for him which would require less lead tape too.

Has anyone had much success with ladies drivers or mens drivers with a ladies flex at a short length? I am a little concerned about the SW but I would just go with a tip weight and some lead tape if I had to bring the SW back up some.

Thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated.
[/quote]

A ladies flex will probably work well for him - set to the correct length.

[dpb5031]

My daughter (now 14) used a 12 degree Cleveland XL 270 for 2 seasons and it was awesome for her. Hers is men's regular flex and I think was custom ordered around 43.5".

This season she'll be using the new Cleveland Tour Black 10.5 men's s flex, 45", that she got for Christmas. She's 5'5" now, ss mid to high 90s.

[Hstead]

Thanks for the ideas. I have just started reading and checking ebay. I appreciate the info from your all's past experiences.

[dpb5031]

If you want my daughter's 12 degree XL 270 let me know in a PM. I had not planned on selling it, but I suppose I would (cheap) for another junior player!

[freed0m]

How about US Kids TS (Tour Spec) clubs? My 11 yrs old son have been playing the TS model successfully for past three years.

[Hstead]

dpb made me a good deal on the Cleveland XL270 that his daughter used. I think it is going to be perfect, but I may have to cut a half inch or so off. This should be a driver that he can grow with too. I am taking him down to get a lesson from iteach Dan next week so after the lesson I am thinking he is going to be able to handle a bigger club too. He is a strong 11 at 115lbs. I haven't told him I bought it yet. I am going to surprise him with it. He is going to think it is really cool that he is getting a "mens" club even though it is going to be 12*, no where near 45" and has a 39g shaft in it lol.

[dpb5031]

[quote name='Hstead' timestamp='1364393242' post='6705971']
dpb made me a good deal on the Cleveland XL270 that his daughter used. I think it is going to be perfect, but I may have to cut a half inch or so off. This should be a driver that he can grow with too. I am taking him down to get a lesson from iteach Dan next week so after the lesson I am thinking he is going to be able to handle a bigger club too. He is a strong 11 at 115lbs. I haven't told him I bought it yet. I am going to surprise him with it. He is going to think it is really cool that he is getting a "mens" club even though it is going to be 12*, no where near 45" and has a 39g shaft in it lol.
[/quote]

Wow..that is so cool that you're taking your son to see iTeach. I brought my daughter to Texarkana to see Slicefixer in December of 2011 and we've seen him several times since he began coming to the east coast regularly. In fact, she won the first tournament she entered (an IJGT Major against a field of 20 much older girls) the following spring after seeing Geoff the first time and working on what he taught her over the winter.

I would be cautious about shortening the driver so as not to throw the balance of it off. It is about 43 3/4", but at 5'2" and growing, he should be able to handle it by simply gripping down a little since the static weight is so light. Keep in mind that there are girls/women his size playing competitively who have no problem swinging today's light weight 45" drivers. My daughter was about his size when she started using it and has grown almost three inches since then.

BTW - I'll be taking it to the Post Office later this afternoon! Also, be sure to give a full report on your experience with Dan.

[Hstead]

Thanks dpb. Your daughter sounds very talented. I remember reading your post when you all went to see Geoff. I went down to see Geoff in Feb but didn't take my son. He became real interested when I got back from TXAR and now he has the bug. I have struggled some since coming back and have decided Dan may be able to help me so I am going to FL and this time he wants to go.

I won't cut it off until we go to FL and see how he does with it. He is just really starting so he probably doesn't have the swing your daughter did, but hopefully Dan can get him hitting it like he has played a couple of years. He played for six weeks last year between spring and fall baseball. He plays travel baseball and they play 65 games per year when you combine 50 in the spring and summer and 15 in the fall. I haven't really encouraged or even let him play in the past during baseball because I didn't want him mixing the swings. His strength in baseball is hitting. Now he is old enough to swing each from what we have been seeing anyway the last three weeks. His golf swing isn't impacting his baseball swing at all. If he can separate the two, stay behind the ball in baseball and get to his left side for golf, he should actually benefit I think with the hand eye coordination for each. I just don't want him swinging under the baseball and missing out on his front foot. I also don't want him to learn the golf swing staying on his right side. So far he has been able to keep his baseball swing intact and has been improving his golf swing literally every time we go out. He is making a lot of swings in the living room and learning how to setup to the ball, turn, etc. I am probably more excited that he is to see what Dan can do with him.

[dpb5031]

I'l bet that Dan keeps it real simple for your son. His basic motion already looks like a good foundation...I can see the Slicefixer influence! I think there are more similarities than differences between the golf swing and baseball swing, especially in so much as they are pivot-driven, rotational, and require leverage and connection to maximize power. I agree that cross-training helps improve hand eye coordination, balance, and body awareness. My daughter played all kinds of sports when she was younger and still plays lacrosse where she is her middle school team's leading scorer. (Unfortunately next year she will have to choose between golf and lacrosse for her high school because they are both in the spring season). Anyway, it all helps. Your son will just have to learn to pay attention to detail when it comes to set-up and the few things you mentioned. Eventually it will become second nature for him, but you'll have to keep a close eye, because as you've seen kids swings can change day to day and week to week.

Unfortunately it's a lot tougher teaching us old dogs new tricks! I think your swing looks pretty damn good though. Please let me know when you get the driver. I hope he loves it!