The hybrid club is at the forefront of a revolution in golf, and junior golf is benefiting in particular. The hybrid club bridges the gap between the woods and the traditionally difficult long irons. The 1-iron and 2-iron have now been more or less eliminated from golf; the mighty hybrid now takes their place, resulting in a smooth transition from wood to iron with a blend of the qualities of both types of club, instead of the sharp step between woods and irons of old.

Benefits for Juniors

The hybrid is of particular benefit to junior golfers because it combines the long, straight, high and accurate shots of an iron club with the low centre of gravity which defines the wood. This means that difficult shots can be played accurately from the rough, more accurately than ever before. Praise for the hybrid club has been almost unanimous with most touring professionals quickly abandoning their old long irons in favour of the newer, more effective hybrid clubs.

So it makes sense to familiarise junior golfers with the hybrid (also known as the 'utility club' and sometimes the 'rescue club') as early as possible so they can get the most out of the club's performance as they mature as players.

Jaxx Hybrids

Jaxx currently lead the field in junior hybrid clubs, releasing a new club each year. This means that if you opt for the previous year's model, you're still getting industry-leading technology but at a lower price. But that's certainly not the only advantage.

Jaxx's junior clubs are designed specifically and deliberately for young golfers; they don't simply make smaller versions of adult clubs. Jaxx hybrids - Jaxx refer to them as 'Rescue Woods' - are available in three sizes, and use a colour-coding system based on age:

• Red: Ages 5-7 years
• Green: Ages 8-10 years
• Blue: 11-14 years

The location of the colours on the club varies; you'll usually find it on the bottom of the clubhead or on the shaft. The Jaxx rescue clubs utilise an optimum 24 degree loft, which makes it easy for your young golfer to swing their way comfortably out of trouble; the ball becomes airborne immediately. The large sweet-spot on the club's oversized head helps to keep shots straight and accurate even from difficult lies in the rough. These shots would be near impossible with a 1-iron.

An Iron Short of a Set.

All manufacturers of children's golf clubs make a hybrid, but not all manufacturers make their hybrids available for sale individually; you might have to purchase an entire set to get your hands on a junior hybrid from your favourite brand. But this isn't necessarily bad news. Wilson provide a hybrid club with 31 degrees of loft in their boys set. It's seven-club set, which means that each club is under £20, plus you get the bag. Ben Sayers produce a junior golf bag with a hybrid club which works out to be under £10 per club; a fantastic saving compared to buying them all - and the bag - individually. So in short, you can save money and still get hold of a high-tech hybrid at the same time if you consider getting a set rather than buying all the clubs separately.

Shafts, Grips & Playability

The shafts of junior hybrid clubs are specifically designed to make the most of younger player's swings. The shafts are generally made of lightweight graphite and wrapped in a soft, responsive velvet grip. The graphite allows enough movement in the shaft to whip the clubhead through the ball regardless of the lie, carrying the momentum through and making a strong contact thanks to a low kickpoint.

Junior hybrids are built with low centres of gravity, like woods, so that if the golf ball is lying in the rough, the club will strike the ball low and lift it steeply out, maximizing height, distance and accuracy. The large club faces (large even compared with adult clubs) which you'll find on junior hybrids are more forgiving and offer a broader range of playability - your young golfer should be able to confidently play the ball out of most types of turf, and the better clubs are designed to avoid digging into the ground at impact.