Quick answer
To choose a kids golf driver, match your child's height to a size band first, then size down, not up. A child up to 45 inches tall fits the smallest junior driver, 45 to 54 inches fits the mid size, and 55 inches and up fits the largest. Should you buy a bigger driver so your child grows into it? No. A driver that is too long is heavier and harder to square up, so it hurts control and early swing habits more than it helps. When your child is between two sizes, pick the shorter one, choose the correct handedness, and start with one fitted junior driver rather than a cut-down adult club.
The mistake almost every parent makes
You are standing in the aisle or scrolling the size chart, and the bigger driver is right there. It feels like the smart buy. Your child will grow into it, and a longer club looks like it will send the ball farther. That instinct is exactly the one to fight. The most common kids driver mistake is sizing up, and it is the fastest way to make those first swings harder than they need to be.
A driver that is too long and too heavy forces a young child to heave the club instead of swing it. The contact gets worse, the misses pile up, and the child loses interest before they ever feel a clean strike. The good news is that choosing the right one is simple once you flip the rule: size to the child you have today, not the one you hope to have in two years.
Start here: size by height, not age alone
Height is the most reliable starting point for a junior club. U.S. Kids Golf fits junior equipment by player height and hand selection, and PGA junior fitting guidance uses height bands too, noting that standard junior clubs work well until a child reaches about 60 inches tall. Measure your child in regular shoes on a flat floor, then read across to the band:
- Up to 45 inches tall (roughly ages 2 to 6): the smallest junior driver. Short, light, and easy for little hands to lift and swing.
- 45 to 54 inches tall (roughly ages 6 to 9): the mid junior size. Enough length for a fuller turn while staying controllable.
- 55 inches and up (roughly ages 10 and older): the largest junior size, before a child moves toward longer junior or petite adult lengths.
Age is only a rough guide because children develop at different rates, so two kids the same age can need different sizes. Use the tape measure, not the birthday. If you want the full set chart across every club, our kids golf club size by age guide lays it out.
The one rule: size down, not up
When your child lands between two bands, choose the shorter driver. Here are two checks you can run at home in ten seconds, no launch monitor required.
- The choke-down check: have your child grip the club. If they have to choke down more than about one and a half to two inches to feel balanced, the driver is too long. PGA guidance treats that much choking down as a sign the club is oversized for the player. A little grip-down room is fine and lets a child grow into the full length over a season or two.
- The top-of-the-backswing check: watch one slow practice swing. If the child can swing the club all the way up without straining or dropping the head, the weight is right. PGA fitting notes that an overly heavy club makes a junior struggle to reach the top of the backswing, which leads to inconsistent shots.
Why does a too-long driver backfire? PGA guidance warns that a driver that is too long can lead to timing problems and a flat angle into the ball. A child swinging a club they can actually control makes cleaner contact and wants to keep swinging, which matters far more at this age than length. For more on what makes a club swing easily, see what makes a kids golf club easier to swing.
Buy a junior driver, not a cut-down adult club
A hand-me-down adult driver with the shaft trimmed is a reasonable place to start if it is all you have, and plenty of golfers learned that way. It is just not the easiest setup for a young swing. Cutting down an adult shaft leaves it stiff, and the head stays heavy, so the ball is hard to get in the air. PGA guidance points out that cut-down adult clubs end up extremely stiff for a child and that junior shafts are built with the right flex for a kid's slower swing speed.
When you can, choose a club made for juniors: a lighter head, a more flexible shaft, and a thinner junior grip sized for small hands. You do not need a full set to begin. One fitted driver, a few soft balls, and a backyard or range bay are enough for a first session. If you are still deciding whether a driver is even the right first club, read should kids start with a driver or an iron.
Pick the right handedness
Match the driver to the side your child naturally swings from, which is not always their writing hand. Hand them any club or even a broom and watch which way they turn to take a cut. U.S. Kids Golf treats hand selection as part of fitting a junior club, so it is worth a quick check before you buy. If your child switches sides or you are unsure, our guide on choosing a right or left handed golf club for a child walks through how to tell.
One driver built around these size bands
We built the Little Links Big Swing Kids Golf Driver around this same size-down approach. It is an oversized kids driver that comes in three ranges by age and height, so you can size to the child in front of you: ages 2 to 6 up to 45 inches, ages 6 to 9 from 45 to 54 inches, and ages 10 and up from 55 inches. Choose right or left handed to match your child's natural swing side.
Each driver includes two oversized foam golf balls, two oversized plastic golf balls, and four Play Anywhere Tees. Whichever driver you choose, the rule is the same: pick the size your child can control today, and keep those first swings fun. For more on that, see how to make golf fun for kids.
FAQ
How do I choose a kids golf driver?
Match the child's height to a size band first, then size down rather than up. A child up to 45 inches tall fits the smallest junior driver, 45 to 54 inches fits the mid size, and 55 inches and up fits the largest. When a child is between sizes, choose the shorter one for control, pick the correct handedness, and start with one fitted junior driver instead of a cut-down adult club.
Should I buy a bigger kids golf driver so my child grows into it?
No. A driver bought too long so a child can grow into it is heavier and harder to square up, so it can teach a worse swing and frustrate the child. Size to the child you have today and let them move up a band later. A club they can control beats one they have to fight.
Is a longer driver better for a kid?
No. A longer driver is not better for a young child. PGA junior fitting guidance warns that a driver that is too long can lead to timing problems and a flat angle into the ball. A shorter, lighter club the child can swing under control is the better choice.
Should I buy a junior driver or cut down an adult club?
A fitted junior driver is usually the better choice. Cutting down an adult club leaves a shaft that is too stiff and a head that is too heavy for a young swing, which makes the ball hard to get in the air. Junior drivers use lighter, more flexible shafts matched to a child's slower swing speed.
How heavy should a kids golf driver be?
Light enough that the child can swing it all the way to the top of the backswing without straining. PGA fitting guidance notes that an overly heavy club makes a junior struggle to reach the top of the swing, which leads to inconsistent shots. If the child drops the clubhead or cannot finish the backswing, the driver is too heavy.
Right or left handed driver for my child?
Match the driver to the side the child naturally swings from, which is not always their writing hand. Hand them a club and watch which way they turn to take a swing. U.S. Kids Golf treats hand selection as part of fitting a junior club.
