Softer ball and new driver reccomendations for my brother.

[mhodar13]

Ok so my brother is 9 and gonna be 10 this sunday. He's recently been enjoying golf and getting more serious about the game. He isn't at the stage yet where he is trying to refine anything to get better but he is somewhat serious about playing. My question is, since he is only 10 and doesn't have the strength that I and others do, would a softer ball help him to compress the ball and get some more distance? He hits about 150 to 175 on good shots, but I think a softer ball might help him. How is the Treosoft? What else has a really low compression for slower swingers that isn't 45 bucks a dozen? He pretty much uses anything right now. I use e7+'s which I believe are 70 compression with great results, so I'm leaning heavily towards Bridgestone. I've heard the e6+ is softer as well. Let me know what you guys think. Also if you have any reccomendations on a driver for him let me know. He is currently carrying 2: one is a nike kid's 18* driver that used to be mine, and the other is a Taylormade ti bubble 2. The shaft of the nike is just about right in length but too lofted for him. Has anyone ever altered an adult driver to fit a younger kid? I think at his level he could really use the forgiveness of a 460cc head. Maybe a Walter Hagen or something to keep it cheap? Let me know what you guys think and also what you would reccomend for a forgiving driver that isn't too much $$$. I'm looking at the walter hagen aws at dick's and it looks good but a 65 gram shaft is too much for him to swing easily. Do they make specialized shafts for kids?

[sp33d]

Go to target Nike makes a youth specific ball, that helps getting them off the ground, and in the air. Thats what my son uses and we've had good luck :)

[mhodar13]

Cool. I think I had those for awhile when I was like 9. Aren't they called EZ-Distance or something? But, how is the Treosoft and e6+? I'll definitely look into the nike's though.

[billysandy]

Some smaller guys in the junior bit at my club have drivers fit to their height. 460cc heads with smaller shafts. The cut off driver shaft removes weight and i presume they have the lightest shaft they can find to fit onto the head.

[Cussin hacker]

I saw a Nike youth driver on ebay today for under $20 new. Rockbottomgolf has them. Diffrent shafts based on the kids hieght.

[TheLauncher]

As for the ball I would recommend the Precept Laddie X, a fairly low compression two piece. You said you like Bridgestone and I believe Precept is a division of Bridgestone. They are also really cheap-- less than $20 a dozen at (it pains me to say it) WalMart. I think the Laddies are less than 70 compression.

[mhodar13]

Cool I'll look into those balls and I'll take a look on ebay for the driver as well.

[mhodar13]

Ya that Nike Driver is the same one he's using now except his is the model from the year before that one. I guess he'll stick with it for now until he is big enough for a men's set.

[mhodar13]

Those precepts look interest me but I'm not sure how soft they are. I'm mainly looking for something that is all around extra soft because he doesn't have the swing speed or strength to compress a firmer ball like the e7+. I'll have to look intothose and the Treosoft further.

[TheLauncher]

The Titleist Dt SoLo is listed as having a compression between 64-75 and that seems to be about as low as you can get without going to a women's ball.

Keep that junior golfer at it!

[Cussin hacker]

Use a ladies ball or try a Srixon soft feel. It has a 60 comp. Best feel in a ball I've hit to date. Check out www.lostgolfballs.com they have specs on a lot of balls.

Also those Nikes have diffrent length shafts if he outgrows the one he has. What is it's lenth? Your a pretty good bro for helping him like you are!

[mhodar13]

He's currently using the longest one. The length is about right, but the loft is way too much. He's been doing alright with it lately, so he'll probably stick with it like I said until he can handle a men's set. But I'll definitely still be looking into a better ball for him.

[mhodar13]

Well, I think I've finally found the right ball for him, the Nike Karma. Not the best or worst value at $21.99 a dozen, but the compression is only 50 so that seems like it would help a lot. Anyone use these? The next best one I found was the Nike power distance soft. But I think the Karma should work out great for him. The nike kids ball might be the best overall fit, but it would probably give him more confidence to know he doesn't have to use a ball made just for kids. So, let me know if any of you have experience with the karma ball.

[schutz23]

Start him off with something in his range like Uskids golf set. Its a great set for a junior.

[dan1724]

Check out Lynx junior series clubs through Golfsmith. I got them for my kids after cutting down an older set that I had. The problem with the cut-downs was that the clubheads on the irons were way too heavy, and threw off the kids' swing tempo- alhough when they made solid contact, the ball really flew!! I bought the Lynx set and they began making excellent swings shortly after! Cheap, light, and designed with kids in mind.
As for a ball to choose, any womens ball would be a great choice for a kid who can hit the ball as far as you say. Remember, clubs and balls are both designed with a player's strength in mind. There's a reason that the woods near golf courses are littered with Pro V1s. Most players can't hit well enough to hit a ball like that. Women's golf balls are designed for a slower swing speed. Check out the story of why there's a Precept "Laddie" and where the name came from. Find some that aren't hot pink if he is afraid to play a "women's" ball.