I want my Tiger back

Looking back on these last few months of Tiger’s self-inflicted humiliation, I am struck at how completely transformed his image has become. Many celebrities have their reputations tarnished through their own failings, but few downward spirals have started from the height of Tiger’s. And few scandals have been so utterly comprehensive; Tiger’s lack of moral judgment has been sliced, diced, and pureed. There seems to be nothing new to dissect, until that is, the newest mistress appears as if scheduled.
Truthfully, I’m bored with the drama. My interest lies in a different place. I find my mind wandering back a decade or so, and a lot closer to home than Tiger’s clinic or Augusta.

I’m not real big on celebrities-as-role-models. In fact, I am generally anti-celebrities-as-role-models. They are just humans, and humans have frailties and worse. But, Tiger seemed different. A solid upbringing with an extremely disciplined dad who groomed Tiger with military precision. It was the perfect example of immense talent, combined with an ideal environment, combined with an off-the-chart work ethic; the perfect storm for any endeavor, the perfect example of how to achieve one’s very best. An example I confidently espoused at my own dinner table with my own child.

My daughter showed promise as a junior golfer. She picked up a little junior club at 4 years old a smacked the ball high in the air and seemingly too far for a little girl. We started knocking it around in the backyard and at ranges and she just got better and better. Soon she was on the course, refusing to hit from the “girls” tees. As a pre-teen she started getting lessons from local professionals. At the same time, Tiger was wowing the world; in 2002 he was winning his second Masters in two years (the youngest golfer in history to win 7 majors), my daughter was 11. She was excited about Tiger and loosely followed him like young kids do. I bought her Tiger’s large instructional book, “How I Play Golf.” I read the lessons, she looked at the pictures, we were both happy with “our Tiger.” Talent, resources, hard work were the unbeatable formula.

None of these three factors has changed with Tiger (that we know of), but the role model thing has been damaged more than anyone could have imagined pre-SUV crash. What do I say to my daughter now? At 19 she already knows the world has its ugly side and celebrities are more often infamous than famous. Of course I’ve known this for a very long time, but this one bothers me in a place I can’t quite reach.

Tiger was the kid who did it right and got rewarded beyond our imagination. His was a dad’s ideal example of the ideal athlete.

Now, selfishly, I want that example back. I want to be able to lean on the virtues I preached to my daughter; talent, resources, hard work. I want to be able to use an actual human as the example. I want to root for historical performances without having to add morality clauses. I want this for the golf memories my daughter and I shared. I want my Tiger back, or at least what he once stood for.

Guide to Buying Junior Golf Clubs

So your kid wants to start golfing. Great! You’re helping him or her begin a potential lifetime of fun, frustration, challenge, friendship, and possibly competitive sport. There are a few junior golf equipment factors you are going to need to consider.

Kids, of course, don’t have the arm or wrist strength that adults do. Even in proportion to their lighter clubs, juniors typically aren’t as strong. So it is especially important to buy junior clubs that are significantly lighter than cut-down adult clubs. Just to relate from an adult standpoint, imagine trying to learn to play with clubs that had weight-rings attached. You might use a weighted club for warming up, but imagine playing with one. Would your technique suffer? Would you tire quickly? The good news is manufacturers make their junior clubs lighter so that those smaller muscles can still develop good technique.

Make sure your child's clubs have junior grips. Using adult grips on a cut-down club will inhibit the proper wrist and hand manipulation required in a good stroke. The subtle manipulation of the hands through impact is made more difficult with grips relatively large for the golfer’s hands. Get grips with .500 inside diameter that will fit cut-down clubs (if you must you them). If you purchase junior clubs, make sure they have junior sized grips.

Speaking of cut-down clubs, there are disadvantages in their use. Cutting down a shaft changes the flex characteristics. Shafts are not designed to be cut down any more than an inch or so. If too much is cut off, the flex is drastically reduced. This creates a club with virtually no “kick” or forward flex at impact. Not good for achieving a high trajectory which is difficult for many beginners. Eliminate this disadvantage by sticking with junior clubs that include shafts specifically designed for junior’s swing speed.

Club length is another important factor. With the head of the driver on the ground just in front of the child's feet, the end of the grip should ideally reach halfway between the belly button and the lower edge of the rib cage. Now that's just a general guideline, and as fast as kids grow, it's also a moving target. But it gives you an idea of the range you try to stay within.

Beyond junior clubs there are also accessories you might consider. You'll want to get an ultra-light junior stand bag or junior carry bag for the early years. They are inexpensive and sufficient for the small amount of gear and accessories your child will need on the course or at the range. A few tees, junior balls, sun-block, water bottle, and snack are all he or she will need to carry.

Though not overly necessary, getting your child a junior glove or junior spikes can't hurt. Inexpensive junior golf shoes and one-size-fits-all junior gloves are a fun addition to your child's gear. Young kids feel like they're really playing the game when they suit up for action. As they develop power and higher swing speed they will already be comfortable with these accessories.

When it comes to junior clubs, bad fit can develop bad habits. We all know the game is hard enough without being saddled with self-defeating habits right out of the starting gate. Within your financial ability to periodically update your child's clubs, make all attempts to keep them fitted correctly. Remember, if they’re playing better and the game is easier, they're more likely to keep playing, and more importantly, truly enjoy the game!