Joining the junior set

When Tiger Woods held his first club as a four-year-old, it was one of his dad's cut down. An indication of how things have progressed so quickly - with the same Tiger arguably responsible for so many youngsters wishing to take up the sport - is that many manufacturers are now making "junior" sets aimed specifically at children.

Indeed, I was intrigued to see at the recent British Open so many under-10s dragging parents into one particular stand, where Taylor Made were demonstrating their "Burner Bubble for Kids" clubs.

But the phenomenon is just as strong here, and Michael McGuirk, of McGuirk's Golf in Blanchardstown, admitted he has taken delivery of 300 junior sets which he expects will suffice demand for "maybe a month". It seems there are a lot of budding Padraig Harringtons and Darren Clarkes out there.

Time was when parents would be the instigators, but McGuirk says the youngsters are now the ones who want their own sets. "There has been a hugely significant increase in the past two years alone," he said. This is reflected in the range on offer, with Wilson, Masters, Maxfli and Taylor Made all producing dedicated junior sets.

The sets concerned are manufactured for different age groups: four to seven years, eight to 12 years, and then the 12 to 14 age-group tend to use women's clubs.

For example, a Wilson junior set comprising five-iron, seven-iron, nine-iron, three-wood, putter and bag will retail at around £50, while the Taylor Made equivalent set (which has graphite shafts and are miniature versions of the Burner Bubble) will sell for around £110. Those prices suggest golf is more accessible than many would have you believe.

The advent of the junior sets means youngsters tend to be encouraged rather than discouraged. The days of using heavy, cut-down clubs with grips that are too large or shafts that are too stiff - ingredients sure to turn any young player away from the game - are virtually gone. Children are starting off with equipment which can help them achieve results.

Manufacturers (conscious of getting them young and holding on to them) have put considerable thought into the development of junior sets.

Clubheads are designed with juniors in mind: they are lighter and have more loft. Juniors, obviously, swing more slowly than adults and the extra loft and lighter weight helps get the ball into the air, so increasing their interest. The shafts, too, are designed with the child in mind. Using a light shaft (which is why some junior sets consist of graphite shafts) helps the young player to form proper fundamentals which will stay with him or her throughout their playing career. Also, as a shaft is made shorter to fit a junior, it naturally becomes stiffer, which makes it all the more reason to select a flexible shaft to start with.

Grips are another factor. Children naturally have smaller hands and it is important to have correctly sized junior grips to help the player maintain control of the club. When a grip is too big, the junior tends to hold the club too tightly.

Taylor Made say their junior clubs are made with "special lightweight, flexible shafts, thinner grips and accommodating lofts . . . something that's sure to give them a great foundation for the future," adding: "We've worked long and hard to design the perfect introduction to the game for all kids from five to 13." Mind you, they also add a warning to parents: "These clubs are not toys and should be used in approved golf facilities and always under strict adult supervision."

In a clever marketing move, they also offer a "Growth Guarantee Voucher", which gives an automatic discount on upgrading to the next size.

According to McGuirk, the really busy time for junior set sales is "from now until Christmas". All in all, the arrival of dedicated junior sets for the kids of today suggests they'll have the sort of headstart that their parents can only have wished for.