This is the worst thing you can do for a junior golfer learning to play

Getting any new golfer into the game can be difficult, especially when you consider all the barriers to entry — like equipment. For junior golfers, the right gear is even more critical to get them off on the right foot to not only learn the proper technique but to have fun.

How do you do it the right way? We’re here to help.

The wrong way

It used to be that if a junior wanted to pick up the game of golf, an adult would simply go to the garage or the used bin to find a single club and cut it down so the kid could hit a few balls.

Does it function as a club? Yes. But does it function as a way to actually help them have fun and progress? Not a chance. Here’s why.

A standard golf club and shaft are designed around a specific length and head weight to work together to best fit the intended player. It’s one thing to cut an inch off a driver that is already 45.5 inches long and built for an adult, but to take a club and cut any more than 3-4 inches off it (and even up to a full 12 inches) you’re effectively turning it into an ultra-stiff steel pole with a golf club head attached to it.

Any cut-down club, especially one with a steel shaft, is extremely stiff and heavy for a junior golfer, which makes it difficult to hit a golf ball. Even worse, well-struck shots aren’t rewarded since the feedback a child will get is too much unwanted vibration in the hands.

You know that feeling when you hit one off the leading edge on a cold October morning? Well, that’s the feeling a junior will get on every shot they hit when using a cut-down steel-shafted adult club. Not a fun way to be introduced to the game.

The solution

For budget reasons, having a cut-down club to be used once for a range session — or to carry around to help a junior feel included in the game — is OK. But the real solution is finding a club properly built for their size and strength, and the best part is it doesn’t have to break the bank.

One of the best options for kids just starting out is a yard-training club kit from U.S. Kids Golf. It offers a pre-molded grip to help with hand placement, an ultra-lightweight and flexible shaft and an oversized club head. It even comes with lightweight foam golf balls to make it easier to get the ball in the air.

After a single beginner club, the options become plentiful and include partial sets with 3-5 clubs with a bag starting at just over $100. You can go all the way to fully-custom junior sets that have 10-12 clubs and are designed for more advanced players.

If a junior decides to pick up the game, there is no substitute for getting them started on the right path from the start. Just make sure to forgo the old cut-down club and find something their size. That way they can learn with you, and you might have yourself a golfer for life.