| Stage | What's actually needed | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Trying golf out, occasional lessons or a few holes a week | Comfortable trainers are fine. Grip and support matter more than "golf-specific." |
| Stage 2 | Playing 9 holes regularly, out in all weather | Worth buying now. Entry-level spikeless is the right choice. |
| Stage 3 | Handicap, entering club and county competitions | Effectively required. Spikeless still fine; waterproofing starts to matter. |
| Stage 4 | Training with intent, competing at county level | A proper pair, replaced as they grow. Consider spikes if regularly on wet or hilly courses. |
| Stage 5 | Adult or near-adult competition | Adult-spec golf shoes. Same decision criteria as an adult player. |
- Lighter and more comfortable for a still-developing gait
- Doubles as a normal outdoor shoe — better value for a child who plays occasionally
- No spike replacement cost as they wear
- Grip is genuinely good enough for the vast majority of junior swing speeds and course conditions
- Worth it for a competitive junior regularly on wet, hilly or links courses
- More stable at higher swing speeds — relevant from Stage 4 onward
- Not a beginner requirement — buying spikes early is a common overspend
- Some club dress codes still specify spikes for competitions — check before assuming
Genuine waterproofing adds cost, and for a Stage 1–2 junior playing occasionally in decent weather, it's rarely worth it — wet feet on an occasional wet day isn't a real problem. It becomes worth paying for once a child is playing regularly through a UK winter, or entering competitions that go ahead regardless of ground conditions, because a child who's uncomfortable and cold plays worse and enjoys it less. Most junior-specific ranges (rather than adult shoes sized down) build this in appropriately for the price point, so it's less about hunting for a specific feature and more about not buying the cheapest option once weather-in-all-conditions golf actually starts.
Buy with genuine growth room, not a snug fit. Golf shoes are worn for a whole round rather than short bursts, so a size that's slightly generous is far more forgiving than the tight fit you might choose for a school shoe.
Expect one pair to last roughly a season, sometimes less during the fastest growth years (typically Stage 1–3). That's normal, not a sign of poor quality — it's the same story as junior clubs. Budget for it rather than being caught out.
Barely-worn pairs hold real resale value precisely because juniors grow out of them before wearing them out — check the JuniorCaddie marketplace before buying new, and list outgrown pairs there rather than letting them sit in a cupboard.
| Budget | Right for |
|---|---|
| £0 | Stage 1 — ordinary trainers, no golf-specific spend needed |
| £25–£45 | Entry-level junior spikeless, second-hand or budget new — Stage 2 |
| £45–£70 | A properly fitted junior-specific spikeless shoe with real waterproofing — Stage 3–4 |
| £70+ | Spiked or performance junior shoes for a serious, competing junior — Stage 4–5 |
The junior golf shoe market is smaller than the junior clubs or clothing market, and fewer brands build a true junior-specific last rather than simply sizing an adult shoe down. FootJoy is the clearest example in the UK market — its junior range (sizes 1–6) is built as a dedicated line rather than a scaled-down adult shoe, with waterproof spikeless models as the mainstay. We cover FootJoy in more detail, alongside the rest of its junior range, in the clothing guide.
Several multi-sport brands (Skechers Go Golf, Under Armour, Nike, adidas) also sell junior or youth-sized golf shoes, though availability and true junior-specific sizing varies more than with a specialist. Worth trying in-store where possible, particularly for a child at the wider or narrower end of standard sizing.