A Junior Golfer's Equipment Roadmap by Age

A Junior Golfer's Equipment Roadmap - By AllKidsGolfClubs the experts in Junior Golf

Has your child shown interest in learning golf, or do you as a parent or grandparent want to teach him the game of golf? It’s a lifelong sport where you can make wonderful family memories out on the course. One fact is for certain: kids grow fast. We at AllKidsGolfClubs have the formula to spark your child’s interest while growing their love and excitement for the sport. However, as we all know, golf is expensive. We’ve got some helpful hints to stretch your dollar by avoiding big mistakes on your kids equipment choices as they grow and advance in the game.

Just remember, the number and type of clubs in your child’s golf bag depends on their age, height, strength and skill level. Regardless of your childs age, we have the largest selection fo Kids Golf Clubs.

Ages 3-5: First Clubs

When a child reaches 3-5 years old, parents and grandparents can start thinking about their child’s first set of clubs. We recommend a putter as your toddler’s first club, where they can learn and practice eye / hand coordination. Get them a fun golf putting game along with brightly colored golf balls and you’re set for hours of indoor fun.

If your child is strong and coordinated for his age, we recommend adding a 7 iron which is the easiest club to swing and where he has the greatest likelihood of success in getting the ball in the air. But be aware: parents love to purchase a driver for toddlers, but we recommend against it. Toddler drivers do exist, but keep in mind they are the hardest club to hit. At the youngest ages, it is most important to keep golf fun and enjoyable. The best way to do that is by starting them with clubs that are the easiest to hit. 

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, check out our article, How to Get Your Toddler Started in Golf: A Parent's Complete Guide.

Ages 6-8: First Complete Set

A large number of children start learning golf in the 6-8 year age group. Their strength and coordination has improved to the point that they can swing a golf club and hit a ball. The best way to start kids in the 6-8 age group is with a boxed golf set. A boxed junior golf set includes everything your child will need to begin their golf journey and at the lowest price point.

We recommend starting with a four club set that includes a wood, hybrid, iron, putter and stand bag. There is no need for your child to have more clubs than this! There are a ton of options and AllKidsGolfClubs recommends NOT to start with a high price point set because there are many suitable options under $200. Select a set with some room to grow (not too much) and expect the set to last your child two years.

Ages 9-11: Add Wedges and Specialty Clubs

A large range of abilities can exist at this age group since some kids have been golfing for years and others are just starting out, but our recommendations are still the same. Start with a standard boxed set. If your child is new to the game, a 5 club set is sufficient and won't break the bank. If your child is improving and golfing regularly we still recommend a box set – either a 7 club boxed set or a 5 club box set and supplement by adding some single clubs to his bag. Adding clubs to an existing bag is the most economical (and smart) way to upgrade his equipment.

When your child starts to hit with some length and consistency, a wedge is the first addition we recommend. Adding a fairway wood (3 or 5 wood) are also great options. We recommend staying away from long irons as they are difficult to hit. Try and solve those gaps in his bag with fairway woods or hybrids of varying lofts instead of long irons. Children this age do not need custom clubs! Do not waste your money on custom clubs or expensive names as they will outgrow them in 2 years. So save your money for when the club performance matters more at the next level.

Ages 12-14: Performance Upgrades

One of the most common complaints we get from parents with children in this age group is that the junior flex graphite shafts are too flexible for their pre/early teens. As a child continues to grow stronger and improves his golf game, a standard junior shaft may become too flexible. How do you know if your junior’s clubs are too flexible? First, the clubs feel “whippy” in their hands when they swing. The child will constantly hook their woods and the ball’s flight path will appear unusually high. Set your teen up for sucess by checking out our Teen Golf Clubs.

When your child has reached this milestone, the club(s) that will be most in need of upgrading is the driver and possibly his fairway woods. We at AllKidsGolfClubs have solved this problem by working with some of the biggest names in golf to find solutions to this exact problem. We stock drivers and fairway woods from Callaway, TaylorMade and Srixon that have stiffer shafts than traditional junior shafts and are made to the appropriate length for kids in this 12-14 year age group. These woods in most cases have heads identical to a men’s club. Once the child has reached full maturity in strength and height you can re-shaft the club at a fraction of the price of a new one. These performance woods are quite a bit more expensive than traditional junior clubs, but all you need to purchase is a driver and possibly two fairway woods to solve the problem.

Ages 14+: Transition to Adult Equipment

At some point, your child is ready to upgrade to an adult golf set. The time to make that transition depends on a combination of the child’s age, height, strength and skill level. Most teens grow first, then gain strength second. Once your boy has reached about 69 inches tall, we recommend making the switch to men's clubs.

Our expert advice is to begin this transition to adult clubs by purchasing a mens senior boxed set first as an interim step before investing in a standard mens golf set. The length will be appropriate for most kids 5 ft 9” and taller while the A Flex graphite shafts in a senior set are lighter and easier to swing than a standard mens set. 

AllKidsGolfClubs has been an authoritative figure in junior golf since 1999. Unlike most of our competitors, we offer professional, unbiased opinions on junior golf clubs since we are not a manufacturer. We are well known for our top-quality, US-based customer service, providing you with expert advice about junior and teen golf clubs as well as sizing recommendations. We are here to assist you in answering any questions you have about junior equipment. Check us out at AllKidsGolfClubs.com