Junior golfers have less height, size, power and speed than adult golfers, so their clubs must be built to match.
To satisfy their needs, junior golfers are often given hand-me-down or cut-down clubs that were originally made for adults. The problem with that solution is the weight, shaft flex and overall performance of the club becomes altered by simply cutting for length.
A professional builder can help match up the makeshift clubs to the junior golfer’s swing, but there are a few points of concern when going this route. Since junior golfers are in the development stage of their swing patterns, they will tend to make adjustments based on their clubs. If the clubs are too long and heavy, the junior will not only make unwanted compensations in their swing, leading to permanent changes, but there are also short-term and long-term risks for injury.
6 things junior golfers (and their parents) need to know about golf equipment
That’s why some golf club manufacturers that engineer clubs for adults also create clubs made specifically for junior golfers. Most junior sets are made with lighter weights, shorter builds, smaller grip sizes, more flexible shafts, and club heads made for forgiveness and higher launch angles.
With clubs made for them, the budding golfers can learn the game of golf using clubs that are manageable for their physical size and swing capabilities. This allows them to practice and enjoy the game without risking long-term damage to their bodies or golf swings.
To help parents and juniors navigate the specialized market for youth golfers, we’ve compiled a list of junior sets that may help in your search. Since most junior sets don’t come with full 14-club offerings, make sure to browse the options within each set below. Remember, junior golfers don’t hit their clubs as far as adults, so the distance between clubs of differing lofts is less drastic; that’s why most junior sets come with less than 14 clubs.
Below are 7 great options for junior golfers available on the current market, and how to buy them.
TaylorMade Rory Junior
TaylorMade Rory Junior Complete Set (52-to-60 inches)
TaylorMade’s line of Rory Junior Complete Sets, endorsed by Rory McIlroy, are made for a range of different junior golfers. There’s an 8-piece set made for ages 4+ (or heights from 42-52 inches), an 8-piece set for ages 8+ (52-60 inches), and an 11-piece set for ages 8+ (52-60 inches). Each of the sets come with a lightweight stand bag, head covers, and a collection of golf clubs that are engineered to provide better distance and forgiveness for junior golfers.
Callaway XJ
Callaway XJ junior sets
Callaway breaks down each of its junior XJ sets into three categories: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. The XJ1 sets, built for height ranges between 38 and 46 inches, come with a 4-piece set (fairway wood, 7-iron, sand wedge and putter). The XJ2 (47-53 inches) is a 6-piece set, and XJ3 is an 8-piece set. Each of the clubs across the lineup are made with lighter weights and forgiving heads for your junior. When purchasing a Callaway XJ set, make sure to know the height of the junior golfer you’re purchasing these clubs for!
Ping Prodi G
Ping prodi G driver
Ping’s line of Prodi G junior clubs don’t come in a boxed set, but rather, the company uses an online custom fitting platform, called WebFit, to make sure your junior has the clubs they need. Using information on the junior’s height, wrist-to-floor measurement, driver distance and dexterity, Ping helps customize the right setup. Once you have Ping’s recommendation, you can purchase a combination of Ping’s Prodi G drivers, fairways, hybrids, irons, wedges, putters, stand bags and gloves.
Cobra King Junior
Cobra Girls’ King Junior set (ages 5-8)
Cobra’s junior offerings include two different sets for two categories of juniors. There’s a 7-club set made for ages 9-12 (53 inches or taller), and a 6-piece set for ages 5-8 (46-to-52 inches).
The 7-piece set comes with a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 7 iron, 9 iron, sand wedge and putter, while the 6-piece set comes with a driver, hybrid, 7 iron, 9 iron, sand wedge and putter. Each of the offerings comes with a lightweight stand bag, and the drivers measure 375cc.
U.S. Kids Golf
U.S. Kids Golf Ultralight DV3 driver (ages 7-9)
U.S. Kids, a longstanding manufacturer of junior golf clubs, provides a number of complete sets, and individual club offerings, for junior golfers based on height and age group. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s available from U.S. Kids:
- DV2 drivers (for golfers measuring 39, 42, 45, 48, 51, 54, 57, 60 and 63 inches)
- DV3 drivers (ages 3-5, 5-7, 7-9, 8-10 and 9-11)
- A “yard club” 7 iron (ages 3-5, 4-6, 5-7 and 7-9)
- Ultralight Complete Sets (39-42, 42-45, 45-48, 54-57, 57-60 and 60-63 inches in height) with stand bags and head covers.
All of the options come with shorter lengths, lighter weights and flexible shafts, so be sure to know your junior golfers’ height measurements and age before purchasing,
Wilson Kids’ Profile JGI
Wilson Kids’ Profile JGI 8-piece set (50-56 inches)
Wilson categorizes its junior sets into three categories of height: 40-50 inches (6-piece set), 50-56 inches (8-piece set), and 56-63 inches (9-piece set). The sets come with stand bags and head covers, and each of the clubs in the set have weighting within the designs to make the ball launch high, straight and far.
Top Flight Junior
Top Flight Junior 8-iron (53 inches and up)
Like most manufacturers on this list, Top Flight offers an array of options for junior sets in different categories. There’s a 5-piece set (45 inches and under), an 8-piece set (46-52 inches), and a 9-piece set (53 inches and above). Top Flight also makes individual clubs available a la carte. So, if your junior is just getting started in the game, check out Top Flight’s single 8-iron and putter options, as well.
Want to overhaul your bag for 2021? Find a fitting location near you at GOLF’s affiliate company True Spec Golf. For more on the latest gear news and information, check out our latest Fully Equipped podcast below!