You may be familiar with adult golf clubs, but have you ever thought about making your own kids’ golf clubs? It’s a great way to spend time with your children while still being able to play golf. All you need is a few simple tools and a few pieces of wood. In this blog post, you’ll discover how to make your own kids’ golf clubs. Hopefully, this will inspire you to create some fun family outings by lending a helping hand with the golf.
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Golf Clubs For Kids
The great thing about kids’ golf clubs is that they allow you to play golf with your children even if you don’t have an adult with you. This can be beneficial for kids who struggle with social skills and need someone to have fun with. Additionally, having physical activity and being outside are beneficial to everyone. Thus, it’s a win-win situation. The following are a few tips on how to make kids’ golf clubs:
Graft Wood
One of the most important things to consider when making kids’ golf clubs is the wood. You will need sturdy, long-lasting wood such as pine or oak, and it’s best to use wood that’s already been cut down to size because it will save you both time and effort. The following are a few fun ways to make kids’ golf clubs with different types of woods:
- Have a go at cutting down your own trees. You and your children can have fun while spending some quality time outdoors. If you’re planning to use an electric saw, make sure to practice on a small branch first to ensure safe, quality cutting. Also, make sure that the branch is in the right spot. You shouldn’t cut down a tree that’s on public land or near a home. The position of the branch and quantity of wood you need will determine the size of the club. Cut down the tree, debark it, and sand down the stump. Then, you can use an axe to break off smaller branches for more golf clubs.
- Take your pick. You can use whatever woods you have available, but be sure to use long, sturdy branches. You can either use real or artificial nails. The former is preferable because they’ll add more spice to your makeshift clubs. Cut a nail so that it’s about ½” longer than the width of the handle. Then, you can use a mallet to pound the wood. Make sure to have some fun and keep track of how many strokes you get using your own technique versus the professionals. This could be a fun learning opportunity for both you and your kids.
- For larger groups, you could make a quiver to increase your odds of hitting a golf ball. To do this, take four strong individuals and form a square. Then, place a golf ball at the center. Next, put a stick in the ground, and have the person on the left toss a wooden pallet at the ball. The person on the right should then catch the pallet and send it back toward the pallet’s previous location. Once the ball is hit, the goal is to have everyone switch roles and continue the game. This is a great way to improve your ball striking and your children’s hand-eye coordination.
Once you have your woods cut down and ready to go, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Sand The Stumps
You should definitely give your clubs a good sanding once you’ve cut them down because it will make them look antique and give them that classic golf look. Feel free to go over them with a sponge and some drinking water. This will remove some of the excess resin that accumulated during the cutting process. You can also use an orbital sander to make sure that the surface is even and free of imperfections.
Measure And Mark
There are a few important measurements and markings you should make before you start nailing and gluing. These will help you create the perfect golf club for your child. First, determine how tall you want the finished product to be, and then, cut the lumber to that length. Mark the location of the nails you will use to attach the wood together with a pen or pencil before you start driving them. If you plan to use wooden pegs instead of nails, mark their locations on the surface of the club as well. You should also consider making a rough guide of what you’ve done so far because it will make the process easier next time around. Finally, make sure to leave at least 12″ of space between each club so that the shaft isn’t squeezed when putting the club in the holder. This will prevent undue stress on the arm and allow for proper functioning of the muscles.
Nail The Clubs
Now that you have your woods cut down and prepared, it’s time to move on to the next step. Before you begin nailing, drill a pilot hole at the base of each piece. This will prevent the nail from pulling out later due to overuse or extreme pressure. Then, once you’re ready to begin driving, use a brad nailer to make quick work of driving all the nails. You should aim to have eight to twelve nails in each club. The more nails, the stronger the connection between the pieces. Remember: the stronger the connection, the less likely it is to break under pressure. Once you get the hang of it, you can start to see the advantages of using brad nails rather than regular nails. It’s a much neater and cleaner process, and it prevents the nails from becoming bent or cracked due to extreme heat or cold. Keep in mind: the thicker the wood, the harder it is to drive nails because they have to go through more layers. This ensures that you won’t damage the wood in any way. You should avoid using a power tool to drive these nails because they may rip out at any time due to excess speed. Thus, it’s best to use a hand drill or a brad nailer.
Apply Glue And Finish
Once the nails are in, apply some white glue to the inside of the clubs. This will make it easier for your children to grip the clubs when they’re not in use. Additionally, it will add more friction when they are being swung. This makes the clubs easier to use and more effective when used for hitting a ball. After the glue is dry, apply a protective coating to the surface of the clubs. This will make it easier for your kids to use blunt instruments (such as a golf club) in a safe manner. Always ensure that children are supervised when outdoors and that they know how to use protective gear (such as safety goggles and gloves) when working with tools.
The above tips will help you make perfect, durable kids’ golf clubs. Of course, practice makes perfect – especially for kids who want to play sports in general – so make sure to have a go at it often. Also, the above tips should only be followed as a guide and not regarded as gospel. You should use your common sense and what you feel is right in your own backyard. Have fun!