Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Finding Youth Golf Equipment for the Holidays

Like anything else, there are varying degrees of quality when it comes to youth golf equipment. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me, considering I’ve played golf for almost 35 years and understand the “you get what you pay for” mantra.

Here’s another dilemma ... Many youth clubs are sold based on age. Think about any elementary school class. How many 6-year-old kids are the same height? A few, but then there are kids several inches taller and shorter. If your kid is tall, do you “age up” or stick with the recommendation?

When I was a kid, I started playing golf by hitting a couple clubs my grandfather had cut down for me. While my hand-eye coordination got better, the clubheads were way too heavy for a little fella like Junior Me.

These days, getting specially fitted for a set of irons or a new driver is all the rage. Technology has improved to the point that a weekend hacker can benefit from the same knowledge tour players use to their advantage. That’s great, but there’s a cost associated with that. Your kid is just starting. Their swing is going to change drastically as they grow.

Speaking of growing ... The kid is going to outgrow the clubs. Nothing you can do about that, but something you have to consider when spending the money.

Also, the wide range of ability will come into play. One youth set of clubs is not the same for every young golfer. An advanced player needs better clubs than someone who is just starting.

Lastly, whatever the cost, there’s a very distinct possibility that the child will lose interest and the clubs will just collect dust until you unload them in a garage sale or dump them on eBay.

I’ve painted a doom-and-gloom picture. Why bother getting your kid into golf? Because it’s the greatest game ever invented. That’s why.

Golf Galaxy has a range from $90 to $600. TGW.com seemed to have a similar range, though their search engine was a lot less clear.

Grow with Precise Golf Equipment
Need a little more direction? Parents searching for an excellent golf company with which to begin need look no further than Precise Golf. At Precise, you can find clubs for the smallest of children, all the way up to adulthood. The junior clubs are broken down by age and/or height:
Ages 3-5 or 3’ to 3’8”
Ages 6-8 or 3’8” to 4’4”
Ages 9-12 or 4’4” to 5’

If your teen falls in love with the game, they can grow right into the men’s or women’s sets. Men’s come in regular, tall and left handed. Women’s are available in regular, tall, petite and left handed.

Precise Golf equipment is excellent in both selection and quality. I’ve taken full swings repeatedly and the clubs have held up. Try that with an inferior product and you’re back to the store looking for replacements in a hurry.

The Precise X7 (ages 6-8) junior set comes with a driver, hybrid, two irons and a putter. You also receive a stand bag and headcovers for the driver and hybrid. It is offered in both boys (red) and girls (pink). Pick up a sleeve of balls and bag of tees and you’re ready to play right out of the box.

Learn more about Precise Golf at www.precisegolf.com.

For the littlest golfers, Dick’s offers both Top Flite and Tour Edge sets. These border on novelty, but are plenty for the smallest kids. Both sets come with a high-lofted driver, mid-iron and putter, as well as a stand bag.

Shop for these HERE.

Voit also makes junior clubs, but they’ve become increasingly difficult to find. Amazon sells them, but in limited quantities. Our experience with Voit was mixed ... Good for the price, but not something that will stand up to rigorous use. I’d recommend these if your pre-teen shows a little interest in the game and you’re willing to burn a little cash. Considering they’ll be into adult clubs soon after, it would be wise to invest more money when/if the desire is real.

At this point, it’s not a reach to recommend Precise Golf. Your child can grow throughout the brand’s portfolio and be competitive every step of the way.

Whatever you choose, take the time to do your homework and expect a few hiccups along the way. If your child falls in love with the game, they’ll have a lifetime to enjoy God’s gift to sport.

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