Junior golf has a short gear list and a long learning curve. The gear isn’t what makes it hard.
One truth before anything else: club length matters more than brand. A kid swinging a club that’s too long can’t develop good mechanics, no matter how much it costs. Properly sized junior clubs let kids actually learn the swing. Undersized adult clubs don’t.
Ages 5–7 (Starter and intro programs)
At this age, golf is mostly about grip, stance, and making contact. Nobody is keeping score in a way that matters. The gear list is very short.
A starter set — properly sized
US Kids Golf is the gold standard for junior sets because they build clubs specifically sized for kids by height, not age. The right club length is the single most important equipment decision in junior golf. A set that’s too long fights the swing. Too short and your kid is crouching.
How to size: US Kids Golf sizes by height in inches. Measure your kid standing flat-footed with shoes on. Their sizing chart is on the website and is accurate.
Used clubs are fine at this age. Check that the grips aren’t cracked or slippery and the club faces don’t have major dents. Minor wear on the face is expected. Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Play It Again Sports all carry junior sets.
A golf glove
Worn on the non-dominant hand (left hand for a right-handed golfer). Improves grip consistency and prevents blisters during longer sessions. Not required but common.
How to choose: glove should fit snugly without bunching at the knuckles. Most junior gloves come in S/M/L.
US Kids Golf junior starter set
Complete starter set sized by height, not age. Driver, fairway wood, irons, putter, and stand bag. Available in multiple height ranges.
Our take: Size by height, not by age. A set that fits develops the swing. A set that doesn't teaches bad habits that take years to unlearn.
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FootJoy junior golf glove
Cabretta leather palm in youth sizing. Improves grip and prevents blisters in longer practice sessions.
Our take: Buy the right size. A glove that's too big bunches and slips. Measure the hand, not the age.
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Ages 8–12 (Junior programs and leagues)
The swing is developing. The gear list doesn’t change — it’s the same set, upgraded as your kid grows out of it.
Upgrade the set when they outgrow it
US Kids Golf recommends measuring annually. A kid who grew 2 inches is playing with clubs that are too short, which forces compensation and costs shots.
Golf balls — a dozen of something durable
Beginners lose a lot of balls. Buy a dozen recycled or inexpensive range balls. Don’t buy tour-quality balls until they’re not losing two per hole.
Ages 13+ (Competitive junior golf)
A properly fitted set, quality bag, rangefinder, and soft spikes or spikeless shoes. Most high school programs are self-supply — the team provides the shirt; you provide everything else.
Sizing notes
Club length is the most important sizing variable. Use the US Kids Golf chart by height. Measure annually. Too long promotes a casting swing. Too short causes crouching. Either builds habits that cost shots later. in a stiff shaft is fighting the club through impact. The fitting costs $50 to $100 at most shops and saves you from buying the wrong thing.
Wedges
High school players benefit from having a full wedge set: pitching, gap, sand, and lob. Most junior sets come with a pitching wedge only. Adding a sand and lob wedge opens up the short game. Vokey and Cleveland make youth-accessible wedges in the $50–90 range used.
What the program provides
Most school golf teams require players to provide their own equipment. The school provides the tee time and coach. Some clubs and First Tee programs have loaner sets for beginners.
Sizing notes
Need to know what size? See our Golf sizing guide.
Used gear notes
Used clubs are a smart buy at every age. Check the club faces for deep gouges (minor wear is fine), confirm the grips are intact or plan to regrip ($5–10 per club at a shop), and verify the shaft isn’t cracked. Putters especially hold up well used. Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Play It Again Sports, and 2nd Swing Golf are all reliable sources.
What you can skip
Skip rangefinders before age 12. Skip branded golf apparel — kids don’t care and courses don’t require it. Skip GPS watches for beginners. Skip professional-grade club fitting before age 10. Skip the cart bag until your kid is competing seriously and someone else is carrying it.