Clubs that are the wrong size are the fastest way to make a kid give up on golf. Too long and too heavy, and every swing feels like a fight. The right size is light, easy to swing, and short enough to control.
The good news: sizing junior clubs is simple. You only need a tape measure.
Why height beats age
Junior brands used to sell sets by age, like “ages 5 to 8”. The problem is that two 8-year-olds can be almost a foot apart in height. A tall 8-year-old with an age-based set ends up hunched over short clubs. A small one ends up choking down on clubs that are too long.
That’s why most junior brands now size by height. US Kids Golf names its sets by height in inches (a “48” set is built for a child around 48 inches tall). Callaway, Cobra and Ping all list height ranges for their junior sets too, even when the name mentions an age.
To measure: have your child stand against a wall in their usual shoes, and measure from the floor to the top of their head. Write it down in inches.
Junior golf club size chart
These ranges match the junior sets we list on the site. Brands overlap a little, so if your child fits two sizes, read the section on sizing up below.
| Height (inches) | Height (feet) | US Kids Golf UL7 | Callaway | Cobra | Ping Prodi G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 to 42 | 3’3” to 3’6” | Size 39 | |||
| 42 to 45 | 3’6” to 3’9” | Size 42 | XJ-1 (42 to 46) | ||
| 45 to 48 | 3’9” to 4’0” | Size 45 | XJ-1 | Junior 5-8 (from 46) | |
| 48 to 51 | 4’0” to 4’3” | Size 48 | XJ-2 (47 to 53) | Junior 5-8 | Prodi G (from 50) |
| 51 to 54 | 4’3” to 4’6” | Size 51 | XJ-2, XJ-3 (from 54) | Junior 5-8 (to 52), Junior 9-12 (from 53) | Prodi G |
| 54 to 57 | 4’6” to 4’9” | Size 54 | XJ-3 | Junior 9-12 | Prodi G |
| 57 to 60 | 4’9” to 5’0” | Size 57 | XJ-3, XT Junior (from 58) | Junior 9-12 (to 59) | Prodi G (to 60) |
| 60 to 63 | 5’0” to 5’3” | Size 60 | XJ-3 (to 61), XT Junior | ||
| 63 to 66 | 5’3” to 5’6” | Size 63 | XT Junior | ||
| 66 to 69 | 5’6” to 5’9” | XT Junior (to 69) |
Treat these as a starting point. Arm length and how a child stands also matter, so if a set feels awkward even at the right height, try the next size.
How many clubs kids need at each stage
Adults should carry a full 14-club bag. Kids are different: junior sets are built with fewer clubs on purpose. Small kids can’t swing hard enough to make many different distances, so extra clubs would just go the same distance and add weight to the bag. Every set below is a complete junior set for its size.
| Stage | Rough height | Typical clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Just starting | Under about 45” (3’9”) | 3 or 4 clubs: a wood, a 7-iron, maybe a pitching wedge, and a putter |
| Little kids | About 45” to 53” (3’9” to 4’5”) | 4 to 6 clubs: adds a driver, often a hybrid and a wedge |
| Older kids | About 53” to 60” (4’5” to 5’0”) | 5 to 7 clubs: driver, wood, hybrid, two or three irons, wedge, putter |
| Teens | About 58” (4’10”) and up | 8 to 10 clubs: a near-adult set like the Callaway XT Junior |
A hybrid is a club that’s part wood, part iron. It’s much easier to hit than a long iron, which is why almost every junior set includes one instead.
Sizing up so they grow into it
Kids grow fast, and nobody wants to buy a new set every year. It’s fine to buy a little big, within limits:
- Up to about 2 or 3 inches over is usually fine. If your child is 49 inches tall, a set built for 48 to 51 inches is a good pick. A set for 51 to 54 inches is a stretch.
- Don’t jump a whole size or more. Clubs that are too long are also too heavy, and they teach bad habits, like standing too upright or swinging flat around the body.
- Choking down a little is okay. Holding the grip an inch lower makes a slightly long club play shorter. If they’re choking down so far their hands touch the metal shaft, the set is too big.
- Check the weight, not just the length. Lift the driver. If your child can’t hold it out in front with one hand for a few seconds, it’s probably too heavy.
When to move to adult clubs
Most kids are ready for adult clubs somewhere around 5 feet tall (60 inches), especially once they’re swinging with some speed. Teen sets like the Callaway XT Junior stretch that window up to about 5’9” for kids who are still building strength.
Signs it’s time:
- They’ve outgrown the biggest size of their junior set.
- Their shots go noticeably shorter than friends’ with the same club, and their swing looks rushed, as if the club is too light and bendy.
- They’re playing full rounds often and want more clubs to cover more distances.
For a first adult set, think light and forgiving: a soft, bendy shaft (senior or ladies flex) and clubs that are easy to get in the air. A shorter teen can also play women’s clubs, which are lighter and about an inch shorter than men’s standard. Our guides to shaft flex and what golf clubs women need explain both.
Notes for left-handed kids
- Check which way they swing, not which hand they write with. Have them swing a plastic bat or club both ways. Many kids who write left-handed swing right-handed, and the other way around.
- Most junior brands make lefty sets, but there are fewer of them, especially used. Expect to search a bit longer.
- Don’t force a right-handed set on a lefty to save money. Swinging the “wrong” way makes an already hard game harder.
- Search with “LH” or “left hand” in the title when shopping used, and confirm in the photos. On a lefty club, the head points the opposite way from a right-handed one.
Let the builder do the sizing
The free Used Golf Club Finder bag builder asks who the clubs are for. Pick a junior, enter their height, and it shows in-stock used junior sets in the right size range. You can also browse our best used junior golf sets.
The short version
- Size junior clubs by height in shoes, not age.
- Use the chart above, then go up a size only if they’re near the top of their range.
- Little kids need just 3 to 6 clubs; teens move up to 8 to 10.
- Most kids move to light, forgiving adult clubs around 5 feet tall.
- Lefty kids need lefty clubs: check how they swing, then search “LH”.
