Junior golf clubs are chosen by your child's height, not by age. The right size decides whether your child stands naturally at the ball and actually hits it – and with that, whether golf will be fun. Here you'll find the size chart in centimetres and inches, how to measure your child and the mistakes worth avoiding when you buy.
Why height matters, not age
Children of the same age can easily differ in height by a whole set size or more. Club length, however, depends on build, which is why U.S. Kids Golf, for example, chooses the size purely by the child's height, never by age.
A club of the right length lets your child stand in a natural posture, tilted slightly forward with the arms hanging freely below the shoulders, and hold the club normally by the grip. A club that is too long forces them to stand upright and far from the ball, or to grip down; one that is too short makes them hunch over the ball. Weight matters just as much: golf clubs for kids are light and have a soft, flexible shaft suited to a slower swing.
How to measure your child correctly
- Measure with shoes on, ideally the ones your child will play in. The U.S. Kids Golf chart is also based on height in shoes.
- Have your child stand up straight with their back to a wall, heels against the wall and eyes looking straight ahead.
- Place a book or ruler flat on top of their head at a right angle to the wall and mark the spot on the wall.
- Measure the distance from the floor to the mark and look up the result in the chart below.
When the clubs arrive, do a quick check at home: your child takes their address position with a club on a carpet, without a ball. They should stand comfortably, tilted slightly forward, and hold the club by the grip, not much lower down. If the size isn't right, you can return the goods within 100 days.
U.S. Kids Golf size chart
U.S. Kids Golf builds its entire system around the child's height. The Ultralight (UL7) range comes in nine sizes for children 39–66″ tall, i.e. 99–168 cm. The sizes go up in three-inch steps, so one size covers 7–8 cm of height.
The model number is the lower limit of the height band in inches: UL7 48 is for a child who is 48–51″ tall, roughly 122–130 cm. Find the row in the chart that your child's measured height falls into.
| Size | Child's height in shoes (cm) | Child's height in shoes (inches) |
|---|---|---|
| UL7 39 | 99–107 | 39–42 |
| UL7 42 | 107–114 | 42–45 |
| UL7 45 | 114–122 | 45–48 |
| UL7 48 | 122–130 | 48–51 |
| UL7 51 | 130–137 | 51–54 |
| UL7 54 | 137–145 | 54–57 |
| UL7 57 | 145–152 | 57–60 |
| UL7 60 | 152–160 | 60–63 |
| UL7 63 | 160–168 | 63–66 |
Tour Series for advanced juniors
Alongside the Ultralight range, U.S. Kids Golf offers the Tour Series (TS6), designed for advanced juniors with a faster swing. Whether your child already swings fast enough is something a coach or a launch monitor measurement can tell you. Here, too, the size is chosen by height.
MKids sets and the height filter
The British brand MKids also sizes its junior sets by height. Its bands may not match the U.S. Kids Golf chart, so go by the range stated for each product.
In our catalogue you'll find the “Child's Height” filter. In our range of golf sets, it quickly narrows the choice down to the sizes that fit your child.
How many clubs a junior golf set has
The number of clubs depends on the specific set: U.S. Kids Golf offers UL7 sets with 3–7 clubs and TS6 sets with as many as ten clubs. Always check the description to see whether a putter and bag are included. The wood is for the longest shots, mainly from the tee, the iron for shorter shots from the grass and the putter for putting on the green.
A set with fewer clubs is enough to start with: your child learns the basic shots and doesn't have to worry about which club to choose. A set with more clubs makes sense once they play regularly on the course too.
What to avoid when choosing
Cut-down adult clubs
Cutting down a parent's old club for your child looks like a thrifty solution, but it doesn't pay off. A cut-down adult club is still heavy for a child, the shaft is built for an adult's swing speed and gets even stiffer when shortened, the weight distribution doesn't suit a short club, and the grip is made for a large hand. The child then has to heave the heavy club around with their whole body and gets used to movements that are hard to unlearn later.
Clubs to “grow into”
It's tempting to buy a set two sizes too big so that it lasts longer. But a long, heavy club forces your child to stand too upright or too far from the ball, grip down the club and adapt their swing to it. So choose by your child's current height and plan for replacing the set from the start.
When to buy the next size
How quickly a child outgrows a set depends on their growth. Measure them before each season and more often during rapid growth; compare their height with the chart and check the fit of the next size once they exceed the range.
A set an older sibling has outgrown will suit a younger child once they reach the same band. Check the grips before handing it down, as described below.
When your child outgrows the largest size
The largest size, UL7 63, is for children 160–168 cm tall. Moving to adult clubs is not automatic, though: advanced juniors can also consider TS6 66 for heights of 66–69″ (about 168–175 cm). Choose length, weight and shaft to suit the player’s build and swing, ideally with a coach or fitter. Our article on golf club length will help, and for a player who plays regularly, so will a fitting.
If one of the parents is also taking up golf, take a look at our guide to choosing a golf set for beginners. The principles are similar, just for adult clubs.
Right-handed or left-handed?
A right-handed golfer stands with their left side towards the target, a left-handed golfer with their right side. However, the hand your child writes with doesn't have to decide which side they play from. Let them swing a few times, for example with a plastic kids' club, and watch which side they naturally take. Then check which hand each set is made for; in the catalogue this is shown by the “Dexterity” parameter.
Grips, gloves and shoes for kids
Kids' clubs have junior grips: they are thinner so that a small hand can wrap around them properly. If the grip on a handed-down set has gone hard or slippery, replace it with a junior grip again – an adult grip would be too thick for a child's hand. When and how to replace a grip is explained in our article on golf club grips.
A golf glove gives a firmer hold on the club and protects the palm; right-handed golfers wear it on the left hand, left-handed golfers on the right. Junior gloves are chosen by hand size – our article on golf glove sizes shows how to measure it.
On the driving range, comfortable sports shoes are enough at first. Once your child starts playing regularly on the course, junior golf shoes will give them better footing on the grass, especially when it's wet.
Frequently asked questions
At what age can a child start playing golf?
There is no fixed age limit for kids' golf; what matters most is your child's enthusiasm and clubs that match their height. The smallest size in the U.S. Kids Golf chart is for children from 99 cm in shoes.
What if my child is right on the border between two sizes?
Measure them in shoes once more. If they really are on the border, the smaller size will be easier to control and the larger one will last a little longer. If you're not sure, ask us for advice; but never go for a set two sizes too big.
How long does a junior set last?
It depends on how quickly the child grows. Check their height before each season and more often during rapid growth; a younger sibling may use the set later.
I'm buying a set as a gift. What do I need to know?
You only need to know two things: the child's height in shoes and whether they play right-handed or left-handed. You'll then find the size in the chart above and the side in the set's specifications.
Can I cut down my old clubs for my child?
We don't recommend it. Even a cut-down adult club is heavy and stiff for a child and has a thick grip. A junior set chosen by height will give them a better foundation.
Summary
- Choose junior golf clubs by your child's height measured in shoes, never by age.
- The U.S. Kids Golf model number is the lower limit of the height band in inches: UL7 48 is for children 122–130 cm tall.
- Don't buy cut-down adult clubs or a set two sizes too big – both spoil your child's posture and swing.
- How long the set fits depends on the child’s growth; measure them before each season and more often during rapid growth.
- Choose the side by the natural swing; junior grips, a glove and later golf shoes go with the clubs.
You can easily filter sizes by your child's height in our range of golf sets; junior gloves and junior golf shoes go well with a set.
You’ll find more topics in the overview of our golf guides.