How to Fit Kids' Golf Clubs

Getting your child a set of golf clubs that actually fits them is one of the biggest wins you can give them starting out. Handing a kid a club that’s too long, too short, or too heavy can quickly build bad swing habits and turn a fun afternoon into a frustrating chore. This guide will walk you through exactly how to measure your child for clubs, what to look for in a good junior set, and why cutting down your old clubs is a shortcut you should never take.

Why Proper Fit is So Important for Young Golfers

You wouldn't send your kid out to play soccer in clown shoes, and the same principle applies to golf. The right equipment doesn't just make the game easier, it teaches the correct way to play from the very beginning. When a club is properly fitted for a child, it reinforces good fundamentals. When it isn't, problems begin immediately.

The primary issue with ill-fitting clubs, especially those that are too long and heavy, is that they completely change the swing. Instead of learning to rotate their body to generate power - the foundation of a good golf swing - a child will be forced to simply lift the heavy club with their arms and hands. This creates a flat, awkward, looping motion that makes it incredibly hard to make solid contact. They compensate for the weight and length, ingraining poor mechanics that can take years to undo.

Beyond the technical side, there’s the fun factor. Golf is hard. For a little kid, the most rewarding part of the game is seeing the ball get airborne. A lightweight club with the right length makes this happen far more often. Hitting successful shots builds confidence and makes them want to keep playing. Battling a club that feels like a lead pipe just leads to frustration and a much higher chance they’ll decide golf isn’t for them.

The Biggest Myth: "Just Cut Down Your Old Adult Clubs"

It's a temptation every golf-loving parent has felt. You have an old set of clubs in the garage, so why not just saw down the shafts and a new grip on? On the surface, it seems like a practical, money-saving idea. In reality, it's one of the worst things you can do for a junior golfer's development.

Here’s why it doesn’t work:

• Head Weight: Adult club heads are significantly heavier than junior heads. Shortening the shaft doesn't change this. The "swing weight" (how the club’s weight feels during the swing) becomes incredibly heavy and unbalanced. This forces the child into that inefficient "lifting" motion we talked about, as they can't physically rotate properly with such a heavy weight at the end of the stick.
• Shaft Flex: Adult shafts, even on the most flexible end of the spectrum, are far too stiff for a child. When you cut them down, they become even stiffer. Imagine trying to swing a steel rod - there’s no "whip" or feel. A kid needs a super-flexible, lightweight graphite shaft to be able to generate any kind of clubhead speed and load the club properly. A cut-down adult shaft completely robs them of this.
• Grip Size: Even if you put a junior-sized grip on a cut-down club, the shaft underneath is still wider than a junior shaft. This creates a bulkier grip that small hands can't hold correctly. This often leads to a "baseball" or "palmy" grip, which hinders the proper use of the wrists in the swing.

Dedicated junior clubs are engineered from the ground up to be lighter, more flexible, and perfectly balanced for a child’s strength and size. Investing in a proper set is an investment in their enjoyment and proper development in the game.

How to Measure Your Child for Golf Clubs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Thankfully, most manufacturers have made this process pretty straightforward. You don't need a high-tech launch monitor, just a tape measure and a few minutes. There are two key measurements that will help you find the perfect set.

Step 1: Get the Player's Overall Height

This is the most common and important measurement. Manufacturers like U.S. Kids Golf and others size their entire club systems based on a player's height. Getting a precise measurement is simple:

1. Have your child stand with their back against a wall, nice and straight.
2. Make sure they are in their socks or barefoot, not shoes, to get the most accurate number.