~ ~ Well, I suppose the time had to come. My wee lass finally outgrew her original half set of golf clubs, “Super Kids”, that I bought for her when she was about six-years-old. They had served her well for six years, and were her first introduction to the sport, but when I saw her practically bent over double at the driving range at the beginning of the year, (the clubs were too short for her) then I knew it was past time for an upgrade of equipment.
~ ~ Most kids will outgrow their junior clubs at about the age of eleven on, depending on the physical development of the individual child. At this point, if you are serious about them learning to play golf properly, it’s vital that they are kitted out with a set of golf clubs that are suitable for them in terms of weight, grips, and shaft length and flexibility. If kids (or anyone for that matter!) play golf with a set of clubs that are “wrong” for them, then they start out at an immediate disadvantage, and are liable to develop bad habits in their swing in order to compensate. If bad habits are ingrained in a young player they can be VERY difficult to rectify in later life, so it makes sense not to let them develop in the first place.
~ ~ When you are buying a teenager a new set of golf clubs there is no need to go overboard, and buy expensive equipment that will require you to take out a second mortgage on the house to afford. You can even buy good clubs second hand from sites such as Ebay, or www.golfbidder.co.uk. But my own feeling is that you are as well visiting one of the nationwide golf superstores such as Nevada Bobs or American Golf Discount, where the kid will be able to get a feel for a club that they like and feel comfortable with, as well as having the opportunity to hit a few balls into their indoor practice nets. Nevada Bobs was my choice to buy new clubs for the wee lass.
~ ~ Nevada Bobs had a good range, (they always do, and at the right price, but that’s another review) and the set we eventually plumped for was a full set of Hippo I.Q. (ladies) Hippo are an American golf club manufacturing company that first sprung into prominence when they signed up the big hitting American professional, John Daly, shortly after he won his first major championship (the USPGA) so spectacularly back in the early 1990’s. They would be better known to most golfers for their range of drivers, but they also manufacturer various sets of irons. The Hippo I.Q. range are at the budget end of the market, but are none the less a good club, and excellent value for money.
~ ~ The heads of the I.Q. irons are made from pre-moulded casts, (as distinct from the more expensive forged process) and finished in stainless steel. They are cavity backed, which means that they are easier to hit for the average player, having a bigger sweet spot than blade irons. (The sweet spot is the area of the clubface that will give you a relatively straight shot when you hit the ball, which is fairly important on a golf course) It also means that they wont rust easily, and are easy to keep clean with a wipe with a damp cloth after your round. The shafts are made out of carbon. To give them their full title, they are “Ultralite System Matched Super Carbon” What all this gobbledigook actually means is that they are light and fairly whippy, which makes them easy to hit for a young golfer with a slower swing speed than an adult. They can manage to generate a good hit and distance on a shot without having to swing the club so hard that they destroy the natural rhythm and balance of their swing, which will ALWAYS result in a very poor shot. The grips are rubber, which means they are long lasting, and are easily cleaned with a damp cloth and a bowl of hot water and washing up liquid. They cost me the grand total of €275 for a full set of nine clubs, (from 3-iron to sand wedge) which relate to a cost of just over €30 per club. And because I am a “valued” customer, they threw in a new golf umbrella and a six-pack of golf balls as an added bonus. (Heh, heh)
~ ~ My wee lass is absolutely delighted with her new set of clubs. (I bought her a new set of woods, a putter, and a new golf bag at the same time, but again that’s another review.) They have revived her interest in the sport, because she is now playing better and hitting the ball further than she ever has before. Highly recommended by the mad cabbie.
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Copyright KenJ September 2003
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