Junior Clubs that Fit = More Fun! Juniors 10 years old and under get a FREE RE-FIT!	FREE DRIVER with starter set of 7 clubs for JUNIOR GOLFERS ages 5-10 Would you stuff some newspaper in Dad’s old shoes and put them on your child?  Of course not.  Gone are the days when young golfers had to use adult clubs that had been cut down to size.   Today there is a broad range of choices in golf components made especially for junior golfers, and with Rod’s special 2-year FREE RE-FIT for youngsters 10 and under, your junior’s hand-crafted clubs can grow as the golfer grows.  The right clubs don’t come in a box labeled “fits all ages 5-8.” Further, they may not be right clubs for your golfer’s level of experience.  With a custom order, you choose the clubs that your junior needs.  A young beginner might be fine with a wood, an iron, and a putter.  A more advanced junior golfer will need a broader range of equipment. For advice on buying clubs for junior golfers, see the information below.
Rod holds spring and summer clinics for junior golfers.	Guide to Buying Junior Golf Clubs* Length:  Clubs that are too long, cause the junior to choke down on the grip. Choking down more than two inches can ruin a swing.  It requires the yougster to manipulate the swing to get the club around the body.  Short clubs create a hunched over posture and dipping during the swing that results in weak or missed shots.  Kids are born with great natural hitting ability.  Let them rip away with the correct length clubs.    Shaft Flex:  The next consideration is shaft flex. The main problem with cut-down clubs for juniors is the stiffness of the shafts. When you take 4-5 inches of length off a golf club, you make the shaft extremely stiff. And this explains why juniors using cut-down clubs are unable to get any height on their shots. Rod uses light-weight steel and graphite shafts specially manufactured to make junior golf clubs more playable. Check to make sure that your child's set of clubs has a nice, flexible shaft.   Weight:  The weight of the golf club is also very important to junior golfers. If the club is overly heavy, the child will struggle to take the club to the top of the backswing. The struggle to get the club back causes a manipulation of the swing that results in inconsistency. A lighter club will help the junior get the club in the correct position at the top of the swing, and lead to an easily repeatable swing. You want clubs that are light enough to fit your child's age.   Grip Size:  The last consideration is grip size. Paying attention to grip size for young golfers is a particular advantage of a custom fit. In the past, clubs were cut down and any grip that fit the shaft was put on. But oversized grips cause the same problems for juniors as they do for adult golfers. If the grip feels like a baseball bat, it's going to change the swing mechanics. So when buying a set of junior clubs, make sure they are fitted with junior grips.    Instruction:  Rod teams up each summer with Maple Hill Sports Center in Lebanon, Tennessee, to provide free clinics for junior golfers (Check for dates and times).  Rod also served as an assistant coach to the Friendship Christian High School golf team.   Feel free to e-mail him for advice about your junior’s golfing needs:  cccgolfusa@charter.net.  Another resource for junior golfers is the Tennessee junior golf tour.  Check this link for more information:   http://www.tgajuniortour.com/   *With the help of some ideas posted by Frank Mantua, Director of Golf, US Golf Camps