Junior golf question | USHandicap Classic

DL Golfer Professional Champion
Go to Last Reply 84 Views 8 Replies 7 Likes
Hi All, I have a son who I want to introduce to golf. He is 12 years old and about 5' tall. I know in the next few years he will probably grow another 6" - 12" tall so I'm wondering if it's OK to start him on a full size set and let him grow into it, rather than getting him a "Jr" set now, knowing that he will grow out of it soon. Anybody have any recommendations? Thanks!
david.s.bateman Professional Champion
# 1 1/22/2012 4:39:48 PM
Dan, I absolutely agree with PJ. Your son will develop faster with clubs his size. Just a side note, but also if he is just starting out maybe have him tee it from the 150 yd marker until he gets comfortable with a tee shot. It has worked wonders for my son and we have a ton of fun on the weekends. Enjoy your father/son time!!
Mark Simmons Legend
# 2 1/22/2012 5:00:04 PM
Dan, with your son age 12 and 5 foot tall you've got options. PJ gave you one very reasonable option. Your son would be at the top end of their fitting line--the UL63. That set would include a driver with a 43-inch shaft. Adult drivers start at 44-inches. But it's not just the shaft length that matters. Shaft stiffness and lie angle are very important. So here are some options. 1. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 5-club set. Can be had for under $200. 2. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 10-club set for around $320. 3. Buy a used set of the models indicated above. (Most kids will only have this set a year or two, and if you find it you can get most of your value back when you are ready to get an adult set later.) 4. Buy a set of used adult clubs fitted for a short senior. (Should have a senior flex shaft and make sure the lie angle is about right. If your son has to choke up an inch to an inch and a half to get a good lie angle that's fine, more than that I'd look elsewhere.) Lots of tour pros started with clubs they had to choke up the amount I indicated. So I'm not suggesting anything that hasn't worked for others before. If you've got an active First Tee program locally check in with them. They deal with this all the time and will know who has what. A lot of golf nuts like me donate money and stuff to these First Tee programs to make it easy for kids to get introduced to the game.
DavyCrockett Professional Champion
# 3 1/22/2012 5:11:12 PM
Dan, with your son age 12 and 5 foot tall you've got options. PJ gave you one very reasonable option. Your son would be at the top end of their fitting line--the UL63. That set would include a driver with a 43-inch shaft. Adult drivers start at 44-inches. But it's not just the shaft length that matters. Shaft stiffness and lie angle are very important. So here are some options. 1. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 5-club set. Can be had for under $200. 2. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 10-club set for around $320. 3. Buy a used set of the models indicated above. (Most kids will only have this set a year or two, and if you find it you can get most of your value back when you are ready to get an adult set later.) 4. Buy a set of used adult clubs fitted for a short senior. (Should have a senior flex shaft and make sure the lie angle is about right. If your son has to choke up an inch to an inch and a half to get a good lie angle that's fine, more than that I'd look elsewhere.) Lots of tour pros started with clubs they had to choke up the amount I indicated. So I'm not suggesting anything that hasn't worked for others before. If you've got an active First Tee program locally check in with them. They deal with this all the time and will know who has what. A lot of golf nuts like me donate money and stuff to these First Tee programs to make it easy for kids to get introduced to the game. He is dead on. My son is 12 but has played for a couple of years. I have him playing the new Teen set from Adams Golf. He is 5'1 tall for a 12 year old. These clubs will last until a JR? in High School.
LindseyM Legend
# 4 1/23/2012 9:57:05 AM
I would suggest you start him with a set that is fit for his size. A junior is no different than an adult and should play with clubs that are fit to them. It may be a bit more expensive in the long run; however the benefit to his game over time will be much better. The swing he will make with clubs that are too long and too heavy for his frame and swing will make for bad habits that will take years to overcome. Go to your local shop or club and look at the US Kids golf line or any of the other junior specific sets out there. They are designed for height and age ranges so that the shafts are not to heavy and stiff and the lengths are meant for persons of their stature. Most importantly it will help in him having fun at the course instead of being frustrated. The most important thing for a kid starting off is to have fun. Good luck. This is exactly what we did when our nephew asked about learning how to play golf. I went to Dick's and got him the Walter Hagen jr set for his age/height. (mostly height) We took him to a driving range and taught him a few basics then I signed him up for lessons (golf camp) with other kids his age. He loved the experience and still has the same clubs.
Duckhunter Legend
# 5 1/23/2012 10:24:16 AM
I would look at a Ladies set of clubs, (not pink) Just think about the $$$ this is some thing he will use only a year or 2 then he will need another set.
LindseyM Legend
# 6 1/23/2012 10:52:49 AM
I would look at a Ladies set of clubs, (not pink) Just think about the $$$ this is some thing he will use only a year or 2 then he will need another set. Ladies clubs are pretty darn expensive for a good set. My Cleveland HiBores were $700 4i-PW. Some of the newer set-ups include a bag, driver, putter etc. for abt $899. I only paid about $125 for the jr set at Dicks and then bought some of the individual clubs seperately for about $10/each.
DL Golfer Professional Champion
# 7 1/24/2012 4:38:48 PM
Thanks for all the replies! What a great website! I think I'm going to take him to Edwin Watts and Golf Galaxy this weekend to see what they have in Junior sets. If he's still entusiastic about the game in a couple years, then I'll get him a new set and it will have been well worth it. Looking forward to getting him started!

Professional Champion

84 Views 8 Replies 7 Likes

Hi All,
I have a son who I want to introduce to golf. He is 12 years old and about 5' tall. I know in the next few years he will probably grow another 6" - 12" tall so I'm wondering if it's OK to start him on a full size set and let him grow into it, rather than getting him a "Jr" set now, knowing that he will grow out of it soon. Anybody have any recommendations? Thanks!

david.s.bateman

Professional Champion

# 1 1/22/2012 4:39:48 PM

Dan, I absolutely agree with PJ. Your son will develop faster with clubs his size. Just a side note, but also if he is just starting out maybe have him tee it from the 150 yd marker until he gets comfortable with a tee shot. It has worked wonders for my son and we have a ton of fun on the weekends. Enjoy your father/son time!!

Mark Simmons

Legend

# 2 1/22/2012 5:00:04 PM

Dan, with your son age 12 and 5 foot tall you've got options. PJ gave you one very reasonable option. Your son would be at the top end of their fitting line--the UL63. That set would include a driver with a 43-inch shaft. Adult drivers start at 44-inches. But it's not just the shaft length that matters. Shaft stiffness and lie angle are very important. So here are some options.

1. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 5-club set. Can be had for under $200.
2. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 10-club set for around $320.
3. Buy a used set of the models indicated above. (Most kids will only have this set a year or two, and if you find it you can get most of your value back when you are ready to get an adult set later.)
4. Buy a set of used adult clubs fitted for a short senior. (Should have a senior flex shaft and make sure the lie angle is about right. If your son has to choke up an inch to an inch and a half to get a good lie angle that's fine, more than that I'd look elsewhere.)

Lots of tour pros started with clubs they had to choke up the amount I indicated. So I'm not suggesting anything that hasn't worked for others before.

If you've got an active First Tee program locally check in with them. They deal with this all the time and will know who has what. A lot of golf nuts like me donate money and stuff to these First Tee programs to make it easy for kids to get introduced to the game.

DavyCrockett

Professional Champion

# 3 1/22/2012 5:11:12 PM

Dan, with your son age 12 and 5 foot tall you've got options. PJ gave you one very reasonable option. Your son would be at the top end of their fitting line--the UL63. That set would include a driver with a 43-inch shaft. Adult drivers start at 44-inches. But it's not just the shaft length that matters. Shaft stiffness and lie angle are very important. So here are some options.

1. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 5-club set. Can be had for under $200.
2. Buy a new US Kids Golf UL63 10-club set for around $320.
3. Buy a used set of the models indicated above. (Most kids will only have this set a year or two, and if you find it you can get most of your value back when you are ready to get an adult set later.)
4. Buy a set of used adult clubs fitted for a short senior. (Should have a senior flex shaft and make sure the lie angle is about right. If your son has to choke up an inch to an inch and a half to get a good lie angle that's fine, more than that I'd look elsewhere.)

Lots of tour pros started with clubs they had to choke up the amount I indicated. So I'm not suggesting anything that hasn't worked for others before.

If you've got an active First Tee program locally check in with them. They deal with this all the time and will know who has what. A lot of golf nuts like me donate money and stuff to these First Tee programs to make it easy for kids to get introduced to the game.

He is dead on. My son is 12 but has played for a couple of years. I have him playing the new Teen set from Adams Golf. He is 5'1 tall for a 12 year old. These clubs will last until a JR? in High School.

LindseyM

Legend

# 4 1/23/2012 9:57:05 AM

I would suggest you start him with a set that is fit for his size. A junior is no different than an adult and should play with clubs that are fit to them. It may be a bit more expensive in the long run; however the benefit to his game over time will be much better. The swing he will make with clubs that are too long and too heavy for his frame and swing will make for bad habits that will take years to overcome. Go to your local shop or club and look at the US Kids golf line or any of the other junior specific sets out there. They are designed for height and age ranges so that the shafts are not to heavy and stiff and the lengths are meant for persons of their stature. Most importantly it will help in him having fun at the course instead of being frustrated. The most important thing for a kid starting off is to have fun. Good luck.

This is exactly what we did when our nephew asked about learning how to play golf. I went to Dick's and got him the Walter Hagen jr set for his age/height. (mostly height) We took him to a driving range and taught him a few basics then I signed him up for lessons (golf camp) with other kids his age. He loved the experience and still has the same clubs.

Duckhunter

Legend

# 5 1/23/2012 10:24:16 AM

I would look at a Ladies set of clubs, (not pink) Just think about the $$$ this is some thing he will use only a year or 2 then he will need another set.

LindseyM

Legend

# 6 1/23/2012 10:52:49 AM

I would look at a Ladies set of clubs, (not pink) Just think about the $$$ this is some thing he will use only a year or 2 then he will need another set.

Ladies clubs are pretty darn expensive for a good set. My Cleveland HiBores were $700 4i-PW. Some of the newer set-ups include a bag, driver, putter etc. for abt $899. I only paid about $125 for the jr set at Dicks and then bought some of the individual clubs seperately for about $10/each.

DL Golfer

Professional Champion

# 7 1/24/2012 4:38:48 PM

Thanks for all the replies! What a great website!

I think I'm going to take him to Edwin Watts and Golf Galaxy this weekend to see what they have in Junior sets. If he's still entusiastic about the game in a couple years, then I'll get him a new set and it will have been well worth it. Looking forward to getting him started!

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