This new equipment start-up could change the way kids play golf forever

Raising a child is, in many respects, an endless game of catch-up. You buy it new things, they outgrow them shortly after. It's an eternal cycle into adulthood.

Golf clubs are no different, and for as long as kids have been playing the game, the standard solution offered up by the equipment manufacturers has been to offer multiple sets of kids golf clubs in a range of different sizes to suit different ages of player. This is fine, but can quickly get expensive, particularly for parents whose kids are serious about playing the game.

What, then, is the solution? Well, a new start-up equipment manufacturer, Upswing Golf, has the answer. It all lies in modularity.

Upswing was founded by industry experts Justin Giles and Kevin Mayoux on the simple premise that as kids grow, their clubs should with them. The result is a modular system of clubs with interchangeable parts that can be swapped out as kids outgrow them. 

Much like adult golfers can swap shafts as their swing develops, these clubs also feature interchangeable shafts that allow kids to play longer clubs without it affecting the swing weight or head characteristics they've likely become used to.

“Junior golf should be about enjoyment and development—not frustration or constant expense,” says Joe Mannion, the brand's UK Distributor. “UpSwing Golf gives young golfers the right equipment at every stage, in a system that grows with them. It’s a smarter solution for families and a powerful new opportunity for retailers.”

Upswing's offering comes in six distinct sets, made up of three different sizes and two colour schemes to appeal to both boys and girls. The brand's online fitting tool allows parents to immediately pinpoint the set that's the right size for their kid, with sizes starting at Junior (for newcomers up to 42" in height), progressing through Junior Varsity (45" to 51") and finally into Varsity (for players between 54" and 66").

The key point of difference, of course, is that once a player progresses out of each size, parents can purchase a growth kit, made up of between three and four new assembled clubs and a set of new shafts, to compensate for their needs.

Naturally, plenty of thought has also been put into ensuring these are among the best performing kids clubs on the market. The irons and drivers come with high-quality heads designed to promote launch and accuracy, while UST-Mamiya has been enlisted to provide a series of junior-specific shafts for the entire range. 

The clubhead weighting also shifts from heel to toe as the junior develops, promoting improved swing mechanics and more efficient ball striking over time.

You can browse the full range now at Upswing Golf's website.