You have a bag full of clubs and you’re at the driving range. Your kids are next to you and they’re whining, “This is boring! Can we go home?”
Now what do you do?
It’s not fun to have kids around while you’re trying to work on your game, especially if they’re distracting you from focusing on golf. To solve this problem, you can shorten your club. But how short should you go?
In this blog post, we’ll teach you the proper way to shorten your clubs for kids so they can have some fun while learning.
Table of Contents
The Right Length
Like with most things in golf, there is a proper way to shorten your kid’s clubs. And like with most things in golf, you want to do it right. Here’s how:
Start by measuring the gap between your hip and your knee when you’re standing. If you’re wearing short pants or slacks, measure the distance from the top of your hip to the floor. Now that you have the measurement, find the right length of golf club. When golf clubs are stored at home, they’re usually stored next to each other. So you can use that as a guide to find the right length. Here’s a handy dandy chart that you can use to help you figure out what length to go:
- Short for kids aged 4-7: Use a 4-iron for older kids and a 3-iron for younger kids.
- Medium for kids aged 8-11: Use a 4-iron for younger kids and a 5-iron for older kids.
- Long for kids aged 12-15: Use a 5-iron for younger kids and a 7-iron for older ones.
- Extra-long for adults: Use a 7-iron for all adults.
The Right Grip
Another thing you need to check is the grip of your club. Most golf clubs have a natural grip that is slightly textured or ribbed for better control when swung. You can apply this texture or pattern to your own hands if you don’t have the natural grip; it’s just a matter of practice to get used to it. Here’s a great video that demonstrates how to correctly apply the texture to your hands:
- Small for adults: Use a 4-ball grip (palms together) for all adults.
- Regular for kids: Use a 3-ball grip (palms facing each other) for younger kids and a 4-ball grip for older kids.
- Large for adults: Use a 5-ball grip (palms facing each other) for all adults.
- Extra-large for kids: Use a 2-ball grip (palms facing away) for younger kids and a 5-ball grip for older ones.
Practice
The best way to shorten your clubs is to practice. Even though your child’s clubs may be pre-gripped, you can still take out the kinks in your arm by hitting some golf balls. You can also get a set of irons specifically designed for kids which are made of softer materials and have larger faces for better control. Plus, regular practice at the driving range will help you improve your game and have more fun while playing.
To get started, just find some open space near a golf course. Set up some benches or chairs and get to work. Make sure your kids are close by so they can watch and learn too.
After you’ve shortened your clubs, take them out for a test drive. Remember that stiffer the material, the longer the flight and the more powerful the shot. Softer materials like gut and nylon have a shallower trajectory, and are better for shots farther from the mark.
Maintenance
When you use your clubs regularly, they’ll require some TLC. To keep your kids’ clubs looking fresh, clean them regularly and dry them thoroughly after every wash. Also, it’s a good idea to replace the shafts in your kids’ clubs every year or so to maintain their balance and prevent fraying
To keep your golf game in shape, you must use proper equipment. One of the items you need to check is your shoes. Most golfers use spikes because they allow for better traction on the greens. However, if you play on surfaces that are not made of grass, like cement or asphalt, you need to replace your spikes with proper golf shoes.
Another important item you need to have is a golf ball. The right ball will help you improve your game and it’s also the last piece you need to complete your golf equipment. When stored at home, keep your balls in a cool, dark, and dry place so they don’t turn moldy.
To wrap things up, let’s summarize what we’ve discussed so far:
To shorten your golf clubs for kids, you must first determine the right length. This is dependent on your child’s height and the size of their hands. Once you have that measure, you can use the chart to find the right grip. Practice makes perfect, so take out the kinks in your arm by hitting some golf balls and have some fun at the driving range with your kids.