How Often Should a Junior Golfer Get Reassessed for Club Fitting?
Kids outgrow their clubs faster than most parents expect - here's a practical guide to when a re-fitting is actually worth it.
A club length and setup that fit perfectly a year ago can quietly become a handicap as a child grows through a growth spurt - and because kids adapt to whatever they're given, they often won't complain even when their equipment has become genuinely too short.
Height Changes Are the Main Trigger
As a rough guide, it's worth reassessing club length whenever a child grows several centimetres, rather than on a fixed yearly schedule - growth happens unevenly, and a child who shoots up over a few months may need new clubs sooner than one who grows steadily.
Our guide on how often to replace junior clubs as kids grow covers the signs and timing in more detail.
Watch for Swing Compensation, Not Just Height
Clubs that have become too short often show up as a child standing unusually crouched over the ball, or swinging with more of an upright, chopping motion than before - these are compensations for equipment that no longer fits, not necessarily swing faults to be coached out.
A Quick Fitting Check Doesn't Need to Be Formal
A full custom fitting session is great if it's available, but a simple check - having your child hold the club in their normal address position and looking at whether their posture looks natural rather than hunched or overly upright - can flag an obvious problem even without a formal fitting.
Balance Cost Against Growth Stage
For a child in a rapid growth phase, it may not make sense to invest heavily in a premium set that will be outgrown within a year - a more affordable, slightly adjustable option can make more financial sense until growth slows down in the mid-to-late teens.
How do I know if my child has stopped growing enough to invest in better clubs?
There's no exact test for this at home, but growth generally slows significantly in the later teenage years - if your child's height has been stable for a year or more, that's a reasonable signal that a more premium, longer-term set is a safer investment.