Both of my kids play golf and while I’ve tested more training aids than I can count, I’ve found many of them don’t transfer well to junior golfers. They’re too heavy, too complex or built for adult-sized swings. Kids struggle to get the same feel, feedback and progress that adults experience when using the right gear. I’ve pulled together a list of junior golf training aids that either were made for kids or happen to work well for them anyway. Here are some of my favorite junior golf training aids.
The Connector Junior
The Connector is a training aid I’ve been using for a few years. The junior version is perfect for kids.
It helps young players experience what it’s like to stay connected during the backswing and downswing, a concept that can be challenging for kids to grasp. We love it for both short-game practice and full swing. The arm bar ensures their elbows stay in sync and prevents flaring.
It’s lightweight, easy to use and reinforces some of the most important fundamentals in the golf swing.
Garmin Approach J1
I didn’t think a GPS watch belonged in a junior golf training aid story until we tested the Garmin Approach J1 with my nine-year-old daughter.
Unlike most golf watches, the J1 is designed specifically for kids. It’s lightweight, easy to use and focuses on simple information like front/middle/back yardages, hazards and basic scoring without requiring a phone during the round.
What stood out most was how quickly it improved on-course awareness. My daughter started understanding pin positions, green depth and real on-course yardages while becoming much more engaged in tracking her own game.
It’s one of the few golf tech products I’ve tested that genuinely felt built for junior golfers instead of adapted from an adult product.
Sure Strike Junior
The Sure Strike Junior promotes proper wrist mechanics and encourages a descending strike through impact. It’s scaled for juniors, which means the shaft length, weight and overall feel won’t overwhelm their swing. I like this one for kids who are a little more into golf and want direction on mechanics. However, it’s a tough one if this is the kid’s first time swinging a club.
Lag Shot Junior
“Lag” is tough to teach, especially to juniors who tend to rush through the swing. They’re excited to hit the ball and I can’t blame them.
The Lag Shot Junior is a whippy, flexible-shafted training club that exaggerates tempo and sequencing. It gives immediate feedback when the transition is too fast or when they’re casting. My favorite thing about Lag Shot is that it can be used to swing and train or you can hit balls with it. If you want a way to help juniors learn some technical concepts without making them think, it’s a good tool.
U.S. Kids Alignment Sticks
Traditional alignment sticks are too big for kids’ golf bags and they can be difficult for them to work with. The U.S. Kids version is a better fit. They are light, manageable and easy for kids to set up themselves. You can use them to reinforce alignment, ball position, swing plane or even putting drills. They have magnetic tips so they stay together nicely in the golf bag.
SKLZ Smash Bag
The SKLZ Smash Bag is great for helping juniors understand what solid contact feels like. Swinging into the bag teaches impact position in a way that’s safe and effective. It encourages proper shaft lean and weight shift. For young players trying to gain distance and go about it the right way, this is a good warm-up tool and training aid.
Wellputt Stars & Stripes Putting Mat
Putting practice can get boring for kids, especially if it’s just endless straight putts into a cup. The Wellputt Stars & Stripes Putting Mat adds a bit of flair with games, graphics and challenges that keep kids engaged. It also teaches speed control and alignment in a structured way, making practice more productive. The Wellputt app is what truly sets this apart from a standard putting mat.
Divot Board
The Divot Board provides instant feedback on low point and swing path, two of the most important pieces in ball striking. My kids love the Divot Board to the point that we completely wore through one and need to replace it (after a few years). After each swing, kids can immediately see where their club made contact and whether the path was too far inside or out. It’s simple, visual and surprisingly addictive for kids and adults.
Final thoughts
As important as it is for kids to learn skills and improve, if you want to see them get hooked on golf, you have to make practice fun. These training aids offer a range of options that cater to a wide variety of player abilities.
Fake
12 months ago
Be patient with your young ones. My dad was a decent golfer (single digit handicap) but had zero patience for me learning the game. I gave it up as soon as I could, and I came back to it on my terms 15+ years later. That is a lot of lost time that could have been a great father-son activity.