So you're thinking about starting your child in junior golf, but you're not sure where to start when it comes to finding the appropriate equipment.

The good news is that the golf industry has made great strides in recent years developing age-appropriate equipment for youth golfers. In years past, before junior golf shafts were available, parents made it a common practice to cut down an adult set of golf clubs for their kids. This is certainly an inexpensive way of creating a junior golf set; however, it is not a good solution for several reasons.

Why Not Use/Modify Adult Clubs?

Most men's golf club shafts are on the stiffer side and do not provide enough flex for the youth golfer.

The heads on adult golf clubs are heavier and more difficult for the golf junior to lift, which makes it harder to get a good backswing.

The lofts on adult clubs (mainly men's clubs) are usually stronger, which makes it difficult for the younger golfer to get the ball airborne.

All of these problems will make it much more difficult for your beginning golfer to learn and enjoy the game. They may become easily frustrated and lose confidence, thus causing them to lose interest in golf altogether.

How Are Junior Clubs Different?

Most junior golf clubs today are made with the child's height and weight in mind, and they are very affordable, as well.

They are more lofted to give your child a better opportunity to get the ball airborne.

They weigh less, which makes it easier for younger golfers to control the clubs.

The materials are less expensive in order to keep the overall cost down.

The question then becomes how do you select the correct set for your child?