Deciding on the best kids golf driver for kids and juniors can be complicated. In this article we explore considerations for transitioning from kids golf drivers to an adult drivers. We also provides an overview of some of the best kids golf drivers as well as adult drivers that are suitable for older juniors.
For reviews and rating of golf club sets for kids and younger juniors read more here: Best Kids Golf Clubs.
If you are looking for irons for juniors that are transitioning from kids golf clubs (e.g. US Kids or Flynn Golf) to adult irons, read our post on Best Golf Clubs for Juniors Transitioning to Adult Irons.
Since proper fitting of kids golf clubs is very different to fitting adult clubs, we will first provide you with a basic understanding of club fitting factors that go into selecting the best driver for juniors.
If you are in a rush or already know about driver fitting and want to go straight to our recommended list of golf drivers, refer to the quick links in the navigation table below or jump to Part 1.
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Overview
Junior golf drivers fall into two main categories:
Drivers for younger junior golfers ~ age approx. 6 to 10 years old
Driver swing speeds of less than ~90 mph.
Drivers for junior golfers ~ age approx. 9 and up
Driver swing speeds of ~85+ mph that could benefit from adult club technology but may need a lighter weight driver than the standard adult drivers. This is a transitional age between a kids golf driver and true full size adult drivers and therefore we spend most of this post on this age group that is more difficult to fit.
Note that kids size and strength varies greatly in the 9-13 year old range. Some 10 year old's may be strong enough to use full size adult drivers. Unless driver club head speeds are above approx. 85 mph it does not do juniors much good by putting them into an adult driver too early just to try get a few more yards of distance - i.e. instead of focusing on an appropriately weighted driver that will benefit the junior's swing in the long term.
Driver Fitting Considerations
The following are the most important factors to be considered in fitting kids golf clubs including drivers:
Club fitting is as much an art as a science. However, below are some reliable “rules of thumb” that simplify the process. For tournament players, we highly recommend professional club fitting for juniors once their driver club head speed reaches the mid 90 mph range.
Club Head Weight
For younger juniors, a driver club head that is lighter than a regular adult driver will promote increased club head speed. It will also make it easier for your junior to keep the club on the right swing plane (i.e. as opposed to being head heavy) thus helping with desired club head position at impact and more center face strikes.
Shaft Length
Shaft length will be determined primarily by your junior’s height and the length of their arms. A longer shaft may generate more speed but may also lead to more off-center strikes and can negatively impact the swing plane (a longer club often leads to a flatter swing plane).
When in doubt always go for a shorter shaft than a longer one. It will help with center face strikes, swing plane and tempo. Despite a shorter shaft this will often lead to higher ball speed and carry distance. A number of PGA Tour pros opt for shorter shafts including Cam Smith (read why it helped Cam), Brooks Koepka, Jimmy Walker, Rickie Fowler and many others.
General driver length to height guidelines are as follows:
Junior Golf Driver - Height to Shaft Length Chart.
Shaft Weight
The heavier the total club weight the more difficult it is for juniors to get the ball in the air. Graphite shafts can help keep weight down. Average driver shafts for men are approx. 55-65 grams and 45-50 grams for women (add 10-15 grams for PGA and LPGA tour players).
The best junior golf drivers have light weight graphite shafts. Cobra’s extensive fitting and research has resulted in their junior driver shafts ranging from 46g to 52g for ages of 8 through 14. Many drivers now come with shaft options as light as 40 grams.
Shaft Flex & Flex Point
Optimal shaft flex is dependent on both swing speed and tempo. Slower swing speeds and tempo benefit from a more flexible shaft whereas a faster swing speed and tempo demands a stiffer shaft. A lightweight Junior, Senior or Ladies flex shaft is often a good option for juniors with swing speeds of less than approx. 85 mph.
The True Temper chart below shows how swing speed and tempo interrelate when it comes to choosing the right shaft.
True Temper Swing Speed and Tempo to Shaft Flex Chart
Shaft flex point / kick point is the part of the shaft that bends the most in the downswing and at impact. A shaft with a low kick point bends near the head of the club, resulting in a higher ball flight and is better for slower swing speeds. For very high swing speeds like on the PGA Tour, shaft tipping is an option where the the inch or so of the shaft is "tipped" to have no or very little flex.
Club Balance or Swing Weight
The club balance point that is the equilibrium point of the finished club (including the head, shaft and grip). The balance point impacts the swing weight - i.e. how the club “feels” when swinging. This is relevant to junior clubs as you don’t want a heavy club head and light shaft and grip which is what happens if an adult driver is simply cut down – not a good idea as the club head will feel very heavy.
Grip Size & Weight
Make sure the grip is a junior size or undersized grip. Once junior’s hands are large enough to use a men’s medium golf glove or ladies large golf glove they can transition into a standard size grip. Some teen golfers with large hands may benefit from Mid-size grips which are slightly larger than Standard size.
Driver Loft
A general rule of thumb is the younger the junior the more loft they should have on their driver. As swing speeds get higher juniors can transition into lower loft drivers.
For example, juniors under 4 feet (48 inches) should use a driver with more loft (e.g. 20 degrees). As their swing speed increases, juniors from 4 feet to 5+ feet tall, will transition into drivers with less loft – e.g. starting with 18 degrees and move up to 12 degrees or less.
Adjustable lofts can be very convenient as a junior's swing speed increases and their swing changes. Adjustable lofts, however, do usually result in a slightly heavier club and can also lead to open or shut faces.
Technology
Modern technology definitely helps with accuracy and distance, especially with off center hits. In recent years some of the major manufacturers have begun making junior specific drivers (e.g. lighter club heads, appropriately matched flex and weight shafts, low kick point, junior grips, adjustable weights etc.) that also use the same technology employed in the high-end drivers used on the PGA and LPGA Tour. We will look at some of these below.
COBRA King Junior Driver Technology
Drivers for Junior Golfers Age 6-10
Both U.S.Kids and Flynn Golf make great drivers for juniors older than 10 years old. We also see many juniors start transitioning into light weight adult drivers around 9 to 11 years old. Very recently we have also seen juniors as young as 6 to 8 years old starting to use adult drivers with lighter weight heads and light weight, flexible shafts.
If you do decide to move a very young junior (e.g. age 6-8) into an adult driver, make sure to have the driver properly fitted and not just chase a few extra yards at the potential downside of negatively affecting your junior's swing.
U.S.Kids Drivers
If your junior is between the ages of 6 and 10 years old then we highly U.S.Kids clubs. U.S.Kids makes two series of club sets and drivers, the Ultralight and the Tour Series.
These are excellent quality clubs and there is a reason they are used by most of the top young kids in the USA. At the kids world championships in Pinehurst NC, the majority of kids 10 years of age and under use U.S.Kids Tour Series clubs.
U.S.Kids has a great fitting system that lets you know exactly what club(s) are best suited for your child. You can buy direct from their website and they have a nice program whereby every 6th club you buy is free. We have tested their fitting system and found it to be a very good guide.
USKids Ultralight Drivers ($)
USKids ultralight driver
The Ultralight Series is designed for beginner to intermediate players who have played some golf, but need a lighter club to improve club head speed. They are available for junior golfers ranging in height from 39” through 66”, so really for any age child. Their sets are appropriate for both boys golf clubs sets and girls golf club sets.
Ultralight (junior height from 36” to 66”):
- Club length: 26” to 42” (ave adult size club is 45”)
- Club head weight: 140g to 180g (ave adult: 200g)
- Club head size: 210cc to 360cc (ave adult: 460cc)
- Loft: 22 degrees to 14 degrees (ave adult: 10 degrees)
- Lie: 56 degrees (ave adult: 57 degrees)
- Grip: Junior sizes .43 (35g) to .54 (48g)
At around $50 (new), these are great first driver for kids getting into golf.
USKids Tour Series ($$)
USkids Tour Series Driver
The Tour Series is designed for intermediate-to-advanced junior golfers who play competitive golf events and have higher than average swing speeds. The Tour Series is a great bridge that prepares a junior player for adult clubs. They are available for kids ranging in height from 51” through 66”, so for any age child.
Tour Series (junior height from 51” to 66”):
- Club length: 34” to 44” (ave adult: 45”)
- Clubhead weight: 187g to 197g (ave adult: 200g)
- Clubhead size: 440cc to 460cc (ave adult: 460cc)
- Loft: 13° to 17° (ave adult: 10-12°)
- Lie: 56° (ave adult: 57°)
- Grip: Junior sizes .46 (40g) to .54 (48g)
The USKids TS driver models are for:
- Younger kids (the V10 and V15 models) at 15-17° Loft, 420cc-440cc Head
- Older juniors (V5 model) 13° Loft, 460cc Head
The V15/V10/V5 denotes the difference in weight compared to the average adult driver - i.e. V15 is approx. 15% lighter, V10 is 10% lighter and V5 is 5% lighter.
At around $200 (new) they are about half the price of a typical adult OEM driver.
USKids EP Tour ($$$)
The EP Tour Series is designed for advanced junior golfers.
Introduced in 2023, the ep Tour is the most advanced and most expensive US Kids clubs, designed to compete with adult OEM drivers while still being slightly lighter weight. A carbon fiber crown allows a design that has forward and low COG for lower launch, lower spin trajectory.
Unlike other US Kids drivers, the EP Tour driver has an adjustable hosel and head weighting system. At $400 it is almost as expensive as adult OEM drivers.
EP Tour Series specs:
- For junior height from 51” to 69”
- Club length: 34” to 44” (ave adult: 45”)
- Clubhead weight: 192g / adjustable (ave adult: 200g)
- Clubhead size: 460cc (ave adult: 460cc)
- Loft: 11° / adjustable (ave adult: 10-12°)
- Lie: 57° (ave adult: 57°)
VT Max / Flynn Golf
Flynn Golf produces junior clubs exclusively for younger golfers. Their pre-made sets are for kids from 48 inches to 66 inches tall. Their customized individual clubs, including drivers, can be made for any age and size junior golfer.
Reviews of these clubs are very good and they are very comparable to the U.S.Kids Tour Series with some people preferring the Tour Series and some preferring the Flynn Golf VT Max.
The VT Max clubs are highly customizable including selection of colors for shafts, grips etc., something which is sometimes particularly attractive for some younger juniors. If this helps get kids out on the golf course then it might worth it.
VT Max Alto+ Junior Driver
The VT Max drivers have a 440cc size head with a 12° or 15° loft (adjustable from 10.5° to 16.5°), club length 31" to 43", and a head weight of 182 grams. The heads are available in white or black and the custom-built drivers sell for approx. $229.
The specs for the shaft and grip can be determined by Flynn Golf based on various factors that the customer provides to Flynn Golf on their webform, including: age, weight, height, wrist to floor length, hand size, experience level, swing tempo, average drive distance etc.
VT Max Junior Shafts
VT Max Flynn Golf Driver Iron shafts with OEM Adapters Ready-To-Play
One popular option for juniors that are "in between" the younger junior drivers (like the U.S.Kids Tour Series and the VT Max) and light weight adult drivers, is to get a high quality UST Mamiya junior shaft from Flynn Golf and attach it to one of the lighter weight adult drivers such as those reviewed in this article (see below).
Flynn Golf sells quality light weight UST Mamiya shafts that are compatible with the major OEM drivers listed in this article including most adapter sleeves. The price of shafts including OEM adapter is approx. $79.
Junior Golf Drivers Age approx. 9+
The golf drivers reviewed below are recommended high-quality golf drivers for accomplished competitive youth golfers ranging in age from approx. 9 and older. This is the age when juniors typically start to grow out of kid specific golf clubs but are not yet strong enough and have enough swing speed for adult golf clubs. These junior golfers typically will have driver swing speeds of over 85 mph and they can thus benefit from adult club technology in a lighter weight driver than standard adult drivers.
Note that since kids develop at very different ages this is a general age categorization but juniors can move into heavier drivers much earlier or later depending on their size and strength. Always test any potential new "heavier driver" against your child's current driver before making a change. Just because you see other juniors with adult drivers does not mean it is the best idea for your junior. "Moving up" too early sometimes does not add the distance you might think and may be detrimental to ball dispersion (accuracy).
That said, if your junior is ready to transition into slightly heavier drivers, the driver options below are great choices.
COBRA:
COBRA has been leading the way in making some of the best junior golf drivers that have all the technology of adult tour level drivers but are lighter and have been expertly fitted with shafts for junior golfers in that range between kids clubs and adult clubs. Knowing that junior golfers grow out of shafts quickly they also have a free shaft upgrade program for your junior driver when you purchase it from their website.
The COBRA junior drivers are designed with a higher loft range and a lighter head weight to help promote a higher launch and more club head speed for junior golfers. The new drivers include movable weights and the MyFly Technology allows juniors to manage distance and trajectory as their game develops.
Cobra Junior Aerojet MAX Driver
Introduced for in 2023 season, the Cobra Junior Aerojet MAX Driver is an excellent option for younger juniors. It is a high tech great performing driver and comes fitted with a junior shaft that also has the Cobra free shaft upgrade for juniors. MSRP for this junior driver is $449.
- Two adjustable weight settings in the back and heel for a neutral or draw-biased ball flight.
- Carbon fiber crown and sole for light, strong shell, allows for weight to be positioned low and forward in the clubhead.
- Adjustable loft up to +/- 1.5 degrees.
Cobra LTDx MAX Junior Driver
Introduced for the 2022 season, the COBRA LTDx MAX Junior Driver is a high tech great performing driver and comes fitted with a junior shaft that also has the Cobra free shaft upgrade for juniors. MSRP for this junior driver is $399.
The LTDx Max was designed with lower spin and higher forgiveness than the previous Radspeed XB model. Weight is added low and forward for faster ball speed and reduced spin. An additional tungsten back weight provides extra forgiveness and playability for juniors.
The LTDx MAX Junior driver has the same technologies as the standard LTDx MAX but with a shorter shaft length, lighter swing weight, and higher lofts which are ideal for junior golfers.
The MyFly8 adjustable loft technology lets junior golfers fine-tune launch and spin as their game develops. Eight adjustable lofts range from 10.5° - 13.5° (standard loft is 12.0°) and three draw settings at 11°, 12°, 13°.
Performance wise this is an excellent driver and continues the top level performance of the Radspeed XB.
Cobra King Radspeed Junior Driver
The COBRA KING Radspeed XB Junior Driver was introduced in 2021. A great option for juniors, high tech, great performance, and comes a junior shaft that has the Cobra free shaft upgrade for juniors. In addition, it is priced at almost 1/3 less than comparable OEM drivers.
Performance wise this is an excellent driver and continues the top level performance of the Speedzone. It is also one of the best looking drivers available.
Callaway
The Callaway Junior XJ youth golf sets are available in three sizes for juniors ranging in height from 38 inches to 61 inches. Level 1 is a 4 piece set for younger kids, level 2 is a 6 piece set and level 3 is a 7 piece set. The XJ junior clubs are decent quality and are an ok option for a beginner junior golfer. Ranging from $200 (4 piece set) to $400 (7 piece set), they are an acceptable value. We do not see many of these sets being used at regional or national junior tournaments. One downside is that they are not a complete set and therefore for more advanced junior golfers there is too large a gap in distances. Level 2 and 3 sets include a junior driver.
Callaway produces far more technologically advanced drivers than the junior ones, some of which are actually lighter weight than the XJ driver. There are some very good light weight Callaway adult drivers are great option for junior golfers with faster swings.
Insider tip - the Callaway pre-owned site has a great selection of used drivers:
Callaway Rogue ST Max Drivers - 2022
At approx. 194 grams the head weight is a little lighter than most other OEM adult drivers. With loft options of 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees (adjustable), these drivers are suitable for beginner to advanced juniors. The stock shaft options range from 45g and up, which makes these a great option for younger juniors.
Callaway's Rogue ST Max driver lineup offers even more forgiveness and speed than the 2021 Epic line. Callaway managed to improve on already great technology and the use of a titanium body construction allowed for a reduced weight. This meant they could move weight towards the back of the club and increase MOI (forgiveness) and also is said to increase speed on off center strikes. Weight is moved to the back by adding a new Tungsten Speed Cartridge (thus the "TS" in the name) which places up to 26 grams low and deep in the driver head.
The Rogue ST Max is the standard model, suitable for most players. The ST Max D is a high launch, draw bias model. The ST Max LS is the low spin model and could be suitable for juniors with higher swing speeds. The ST Max Triple Diamond is a smaller club (smaller face and lower volume), Tour preferred and also low spin. This model could be suitable for advanced juniors. The one downside for advanced juniors is that this line all favor a draw bias which may not be suited to all juniors, especially if they are trying to avoid the "left" shot. If that is the case then we suggest potentially sticking with the Epic (as have a number of Tour players).
Callaway Epic Drivers
Callaway's Epic driver lineup is an excellent option for juniors and definitely an improvement on the Mavrik line. Most comparable to the Epic Flash line, the Epic Speed replaces the Epic Flash and the Epic Max LS (low spin) replaces the Epic Flash Sub Zero. Lastly the Epic Max is a more forgiving, higher launch driver aimed at the beginner to intermediate golfers.
For most juniors the Epic Speed is a great driver. The Epic Max LS could be suitable for juniors with swings speeds over about 105 mph who are looking for a lower spin option. Overall this is a forgiving driver with excellent ball speed across a large part of the head thanks to the AI designed face (i.e. fast and forgiving, even on off-center strikes).
Callaway options that are suitable for juniors include light weight shafts (e.g. Project X Cypher 40 gram shaft for younger juniors with slower swing speeds) and up to 12 degrees of loft.
Callaway Mavrik Driver
Similar to other Callaway driver lines, the Mavrik comes in various models to suite different players - the Standard, Max, Sub Zero and Women's. All models have an adjustable shaft and the Max and Sub Zero have movable 14 grams and 2 grams weights. The Mavrik is the next generation from the Epic Flash and includes all the great technology found in that excellent driver - i.e. AI designed flash face and jail break bars. The new titanium materials on the face are 6 grams lighter.
The Women's Mavrik comes with a very good UST Mamiya shaft that weighs only 42 grams. The Standard Mavrik also has a couple of excellent light weight UST Mamiya shaft options with a Light flex that weighs 44 grams (great for younger juniors with a slower swing speed) and a Regular flex at 45 grams. Lofts go from 8 to 14 degrees depending on the model. The Mavrik driver head weighs only 191 grams (including the 5 gram head weight it comes with). This is slightly lighter than the Epic, about the same as the XR and a few grams heavier than the super light weight Big Bertha V-Series. The Standard and Women's Mavrik are both great options for juniors.
The Sub Zero is designed for higher swing speeds, lower spin and has a slight smaller head (450cc compared to the regular 460cc), could be suitable for low single handicap or plus handicap juniors.
Callaway Epic Flash Driver
Callaway GBB Epic Flash Driver
The Callaway Epic Flash driver has excellent distance and forgiveness. The clubs benefits from Callaway's "Flash Face" and "Jailbreak" technology.
For juniors with slower swing speeds it is also available with a 12 degree head and a senior flex light weight (40 gram) Evenflow Green shaft. We see a lot of the Epic Flash drivers in junior bags.
These are some great deals on these at eBay!
Callaway Rogue Driver
Introduced in 2018, the Callaway Rogue driver comes in 3 models; Standard, Sub Zero, and Draw. The Rogue Standard driver is a good option for juniors and is reviewed here. Thanks to the use of lightweight materials the Standard Rogue is more forgiving than the Epic (by approx. 16%). This will be attractive to many junior golfers.
The Standard Rogue head weighs 192 grams, which together with a 40 gram shaft and 41 gram grip result in a super light weight, forgiving driver at less than 280 grams. Note that the standard rear weight is 5 grams. If you order the club with a shorter shaft there is a good chance that they will equip your junior's driver with the heavier 14 gram weight to maintain the swing weight. Most juniors do not need a heavier weight and most actually prefer the lighter feel/swing weight - so you can easily swap out the weight if you prefer.
Ping
Ping Prodi G Junior Driver
In 2018 Ping launch the Prodi G line of juniors clubs designed to fit juniors from 4.5" to 5.2" or approximately ages 7 to 13 years old. The Prodi G junior golf sets have similar technology to Ping's 2018 adult clubs. If you buy a set of at least 5 clubs, Ping will provide a one-time free fitting to re-shaft, lengthen, re-weight or regrip the set of junior clubs. They have called this the "Get Golf Growing" program.
At the time of launch, Ping claimed that juniors will see up to 15 yards extra distance off the tee compared to other top-selling junior drivers. The driver is a 460cc titanium driver and has the forgiving technology of Ping's adult drivers. It has the speed-inducing turbulators on the top of the driver head, dragonfly technology (similar to the G-series drivers), and comes fitted with a lightweight graphite shaft.
The graphite shaft has 2 options, a kids regular flex and a kids stiff flex. The standard length is 39.5 inches. The regular flex can be ordered in either 39.5 inches or 37.5 inches. The stiff flex has 39.5, 41 and 42.5 inch options. The loft is 15 degrees which is suitable for younger juniors. The driver head weight is approx. 190 grams which is roughly the same as the USKids drivers, the Flynn Golf VT Max drivers and even some of the adult OEM drivers.
It is nice to see another major equipment manufacturer start to develop a junior specific driver. Priced at around $200 we expect this to be a very popular and competitive driver for younger juniors.
Ping G425 Driver
The Ping G425 improves forgiveness as compared to the G410 and combines some technology from the G400 and G410 to accomplish this. Ping claims it has from 7% to 20% more forgiveness (depending on neutral/fade/draw settings) higher ball speed across the face and lower spin due to the rougher face material.
The line-up is:
- G425 Max Driver, 460cc sized head, 9 to 12 degree loft options
- G425 LST Driver, smaller 445cc head, 9 and 10 degree loft options
- G425 SFT Driver, 460cc head, draw biased weightings
For most juniors the G425 Max is most suitable. Some juniors with high swing speeds may like the lower spin and smaller head of the G425 LST. Overall an excellent option for juniors and the wide range of stock shafts (starting at 40 grams) will suite all junior swing speeds.
Ping G410 Driver
The Ping G410 is the same size and weight head as the G400 (see below) at 455cc and 206 grams (same weight as the Callaway Epic Star). Ping offers the excellent super-lightweight ALTA Distanza (40 gram) shaft. Pared with a junior size grips this is an excellent driver for advanced juniors.
Ping G400 and G400 Max Driver
Still one of the best drivers ever produced by Callaway! The Ping G400 Max is the 460cc version of the G400 which is only 445cc in size. The 460cc is more similar in size to the old Ping G drivers. Both drivers have the same adjustable hosel and excellent stock shaft options. For most junior golfers, the G400 Max will launch the ball slightly higher with more spin as compared to the G400. Both drivers have been used on the PGA Tour.
Both models have a 206 gram head that is suitable for juniors when paired with a light weight shaft such as the ALTA 55 gram shaft that is offered as a stock shaft.
TaylorMade
TaylorMade has also recently started selling an entry level junior set of clubs. The TaylorMade Junior Phenom clubs were introduced by the company in 2016 and the Taylormade "Rory" clubs replaced them in 2019. Both sets include a driver that is suited for younger junior golfers that are beginning golf. The approx. age range for these sets is 5-8 years old (6-piece set) and 9-12 years old (8-piece set). These are appropriately priced for a partial set of entry level junior clubs.
TaylorMade Stealth Driver
The TaylorMade Stealth driver claim to fame is the first full production driver with a carbon face. Using a carbon face allowed TM to reduce the weight of the face by 40%, from 43 grams to 26 grams. This allows for the "saved" weight to be redistributed to other parts of the driver head for improved performance and forgiveness. The face of the Stealth is also 20% larger than the SIM.
Similar to prior line, there are three driver option. The Stealth Plus is for lower handicaps / higher swing speeds, has a sliding weight for adjustability and is available in 8, 9, and 10.5 degrees. The "regular" Stealth is suitable for most juniors and is available in 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees. It does not have a movable weight but boasts maximum forgiveness for off center strikes. The Stealth HD (High Draw) is available in 9, 10.5, and 12 degrees and has weighting in the low heel for a draw bias shot.
TaylorMade Sim 2 Driver
The Taylormade SIM 2 driver is excellent driver for older juniors and can be ordered withy a good light weight shaft option.
Three models available are:
- SIM 2: In use in Tour players' bags. Lower spin and launch than the SIM 2 Max. Slightly larger face than the 2020 SIM driver. The highest loft available is 10.5 degree. No longer has a movable weight track on the sole as was in the prior year model. Suitable for advanced juniors with swing speeds over 100 mph.
- SIM 2 Max: Higher MOI and forgiveness than the SIM 2 thanks partly to a 24g weight compared 18g in the SIM 2. Slightly larger face than the SIM 2 and has a higher spin rate. Available lofts are 9, 10.5 and 12 degrees. Suitable for most juniors with swing speeds over ~85 mph.
- SIM 2 Max D: This is a draw bias version of the SIM 2 Max with more weighting in the heel.
Overall these are excellent drivers with good distance (in general slightly more than the SIM 2020 drivers) and as much forgiveness as your junior might want in the Max. Opposite to the Ping, these have a rather muted sound off the face which some juniors will like.
TaylorMade Sim Driver
The Taylormade Sim driver is an excellent performing driver and more forgiving than the previous M5 and M6 drivers. The Sim driver head weighs only 192 grams making it suitable for juniors when paired with a quality light weight and appropriate flex shaft. The Sim driver has 3 options, the standard Sim, Sim Max and Sim Max Draw. The three have progressively larger faces for more playability and forgiveness and are available in lofts up to 12 degrees. The standard Sim is suitable for advanced players (e.g. single handicaps) where the Sim Max offers more forgiveness for all levels of players.
Titleist
Titleist TSR Drivers
The TSR line up consist of 4 different drivers for every level of junior and are exceptional drivers, improving on the already great TSi line.
TSR1
A great "adult" driver head for younger juniors or juniors who need or prefer a lighter weight driver. The ultra-lightweight design works great for smaller and younger juniors with slower to moderate swing speeds (below approx. 90 mph).- The TSR1 is 40g lighter than the TSR2. Combined with a light weight 45g shaft and grip of 20g, total club weight is only 275g.
- Most forgiving
- High Launch, Mid Spin
- Available lofts are 9, 10, and 12
TSR2
The TRS2 is suitable for intermediate to advanced and older/stronger juniors with higher club head speed.- High launch. Lower spin than TSR1. CG is lower and forward
- Available lofts are 8, 9, 10, and 11
- Found in many professional tour player's bags
TSR3
For more advanced juniors and older juniors with high club head speed.- This is the TSR "Tour" driver and is not as forgiving as the TRS1or TRS2.
- Available lofts: 8, 9, 10, 11
- Found in many professional tour player's bags
TSR4
This is a low-spin driver with a smaller, 430cc head. Ideally suited to advanced players looking for lower spin. - Low launch
- Available lofts are 8, 9, and 10
Titleist TSi Drivers
Titleist entered the light weight driver market with the excellent TSi1 driver. It is designed for golfers with slower swing speeds and ideally suited to younger juniors (e.g. in the 8 to 13 year old age range) that are looking for an OEM driver that is a super light weight and high launch. The TSi1 is almost 40 grams lighter than the weight of an average adult driver making it ideal for junior golfers who do not yet have the size, strength or speed for a regular adult driver.
The TSi1 is available in a 9, 10 and 12 degree loft. The standard lie angle is 59 degrees but both the loft and the lie can be customized with Titleist's SureFit® Hosel and custom order, respectively.
For slightly older juniors or juniors with driver swing speeds above ~90mph, the TSi2 and TSi3 are also great options to consider. The TSi2 has a slightly higher launch than the TSi3 while the TSi3 is more adjustable. For advanced or elite juniors (single digit handicap and better), the TSi4 is a low spin option and has a slightly smaller size head (430cc vs the other models, which are all 460cc). Drivers can be purchased with light-weight (Mitsubishi) shafts from 46 grams to regular Project X shafts of up to 65 grams. Try out the easy to use Titleist driver selector tool to see which of the models are best suited to you.
Titleist TS1 Driver
The prior generation Titleist TS1 is also an excellent light-weight driver suitable for younger juniors at approx. 40 grams lighter than a standard adult OEM driver. You can find reasonably priced options at Callaway Pre-Owned and on eBay:
Wilson
Wilson D9 and Launch Pad Drivers
Both the Wilson D9 and the Launch Pad (LP) drivers are designed for golfers with slower swing speeds. Both were specifically engineered to be super light-weight and forgiving drivers and are very suitable for younger juniors, especially when paired with the light weight shaft options provided by Wilson.
At 30% to 50% cheaper than other OEM drivers, these are great light weight driver options for younger juniors.
Conclusion
Younger juniors (swing speeds of less than approx. 80 mph and ages 9 and under):
- The U.S.Kids or VT Max (Flynn Golf) driver are specifically made for these juniors and we highly recommend them. Also consider the Ping Prodi G driver.
- Juniors that are "in between" kids and adult clubs (swing speeds of approx. 80 to 95 mph and ages 8 to 12):
- Fitting starts to become more important in this age group but not essential, especially at the younger end. If you do buy a driver without fitting make sure to get a lighter weight and more flexible shaft.
- Use the Flynn Golf shaft ordering if need be or if you know what you are looking for you can usually find a good deal on eBay. You can use the fitting guidelines in this article to determine the optimal shaft.
- Be careful not to fall into the trap of being tempted to go too long with the shaft as this can result in your junior forming bad swing habits.
Older juniors - swing speeds 95 mph and above:
- For competitive golfers in this group (generally ages 13 and up), professional fitting is highly recommended for all the reasons set out above. Many of the driver mentioned above are also fine for teens or juniors with higher swing speeds as long as the shaft is appropriate for their swing tempo and speed.
