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addressing the needs of our Youth and planting the seeds for a secure future. |
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Jr. Golfer |
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Canadian Junior Golf Association, 39 Riviera Drive, Unit 12, Markham, Ontario L3R 8N4 w Telephone: 905-947-1411 w 1-877-508-1069 w Fax: 905-947-9734 website: www.cjga.com w email: info@cjga.com |
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Adult players know that custom-fitting their golf clubs is essential for their best possible play. The same, of course, is true for junior players. For junior players, the process of club fitting doesn’t have to be quite as involved, but there are some very important steps that need to be followed to ensure a young player has a set of clubs best suited for him or her. Gone are the days when young golfers were relegated to using adult club cut down to size; retailers like Nevada Bob’s Golf offer affordable junior club sets specifically designed for young players. Most club manufacturers will offer 3 or 4 sizes in junior sets or single clubs. The player’s height - specifically the distance of his or her fingertips from the floor - is the main determining factor for finding the proper size clubs. Depending on the manufacturer, sizing is usually broken down into 2 or 3 groups, typically: 3 to 5-year olds, 6 to 8-year olds and 9 to 12-year olds, with some manufacturers offering “transition” sets for early teens that aren’t quite ready to move to adult length clubs yet. Grip size is another important factor in sizing junior clubs. Small hands need small grips to learn the proper hand position and grip on the club. A good grip is a vital part of becoming a better golfer. Junior clubs are designed with lighter, more flexible shafts. Since young players are not as strong as adult players, it’s very important they have a shaft that will help generate more club head speed. This will allow them to get the ball airborne more easily, enabling |
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them to hit the ball farther than would ever be possible with a cut-down adult club. Set make-up is the final consideration when looking for clubs for your young player. For a player just starting out, one or two single clubs may be the way to go. A high lofted iron, like the 9 or a 7, is a great start. A fairway wood offers the ability to hit off the tee as well as in the fairway. Most junior sets will offer one or two irons, a hybrid, a fairway wood and a putter along with a light weight stand bag. This configuration provides everything a junior player could possibly need to get started. As a player gets older and taller and moves up to the next size set, the configurations usually offer additional clubs such as wedges or additional mid irons and/or hybrids. Golf shoes are the final piece of the package for the aspiring Paula Creamer or Mike Weir. A proper fitting golf shoe provides much more stability and improves balance compared to a running shoe. This is particularly the case on wet grass where traction and balance are crucial. Nevada Bob’s Golf offers affordable junior golf footwear ranging from size 1 and up. Like most sports, equipment plays a huge role in the development and enjoyment of the game. Where golf is concerned, a junior player will have infinitely more success if they’re started with properly-fit gear from the get-go. |
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The importance of Junior-specific golf gear |
