TECH UNIVERSITY 2 | July 2017 #juniorgolfmag Visit us at juniorgolfmag.net EPEC replaces old shafts with new ones as the junior grows TheLatestJuniorClubsComeofAgeBY JUNIOR GOLF STAFF Many offer a small assortment of junior items amid their showroom full of high-tech, futuristic gadget- ry for adults that do everything but make your tee time and drive you to the course. It’s time to get serious about the younger golfer who is much more tech-savvy than the older generation and has the potential to be a loyal customer for decades. A NICHEJUSTWAITINGTO BE SCRATCHED It’s no secret that kids love smart, innovative new things. So why the hesitancy to accommodate them — especially when everyone, manufacturers included, agree that equipment is a key contributor to a child’s on-course performance? And, of course, per- formance is critical to keeping them interested in the game. Isn’t that what the industry needs most — kids staying interested in golf and becoming adult golfers? So why the cold shoulder? The answer is simple. Economics. Because kids grow and club sets have to be replaced, the industry views junior clubs as disposable. So if they’re dis- posable, why invest to make them better? The prob- lem with this thinking is that adult golfers continue to age out, and if they’re not replaced by a like num- ber of junior and millennial players, what happens to the game? That being said, not many parents may know that when you’re forced to buy a new set of junior clubs, only two things really change — [iron] head weight and shaft length. Metal wood loft and head volumes also change, but junior sets typically only have one or two of these heads versus four or more irons. Putter heads stay the same weight, changing only in length. With so few things to modify, it is possi- ble to make junior clubs upgradable. And now a few farsighted manufacturers are making this a reality. EPEC MAKES AN EPIC PITCH EPEC™ touts itself as golf’s first premium fitted junior equipment solution. With eight standard sizes (lengths) and infinite custom options, EPEC has certainly jumped in to fill an industry void. The company’s irons feature interchangeable weights that allow juniors to play the same set of heads till they’re ready to transition to adult clubs. When the junior player grows a few inches, EPEC replaces the old shafts with new ones, at a length appropriate for the child’s new height. And it’s all done for a fraction of the cost of replacing with new equipment. Young golfers grow at an average of 3 inches per year, so it’s easy to see how costly a complete change-out can be. EPEC claims that, using its upgrade process, the savings can total up to 40%, when compared to buying new sets every year. Everyone in the golf industry shouts the same mantra, “Let’s get kids involved!” While we continue to see an increasing number of junior tours, as well as special junior golf programs designed to be as inclusive as possible, mainstream golf equipment manufactures still seem to be lagging behind.