Drake & Birdie vs US Kids Golf Putter: Which is Right for Your Toddler? (2026 Honest Comparison)
If you are searching for a toddler golf putter and have done any research at all, two names keep coming up: Drake & Birdie and US Kids Golf. One is a small family-owned brand built specifically for toddlers ages 2 to 5. The other is the world's most established junior golf brand, trusted by junior programs, golf coaches, and PGA Tour Superstore locations across the country.
They are not really competing for the same customer, and once you understand the difference, the right choice for your child becomes obvious.
This comparison will give you an honest, complete breakdown. No fluff. Just specs, sizing, real differences, and a clear answer for parents of true toddlers ages 2, 3, and 4 who are trying to find the right first putter.
FIRST — WHO IS US KIDS GOLF?
US Kids Golf was founded in 1996 and has become the dominant force in junior golf equipment globally. Their clubs are used in school programs, junior tournaments, First Tee chapters, and driving ranges worldwide. They take junior club fitting seriously — their entire lineup is built around a height-based sizing system in three-inch increments, which is the right approach for growing children. Their UL7 (Ultralight 7) clubs are genuinely well-engineered and represent the seventh generation of their flagship system, built using TrackMan data and serious development research.
They are, without question, the gold standard for junior golf equipment for children ages 5 and up.
The operative phrase there is ages 5 and up. Their UL7 system starts at the 39-inch height range, which corresponds to children approximately 4 to 5 years old on the taller end. For true toddlers ages 2, 3, and most 4-year-olds, US Kids Golf has a significant gap in its lineup that parents only discover after they start measuring their child against the sizing chart.
That gap is exactly why Drake & Birdie exists.
THE CORE DIFFERENCE: THE TODDLER SIZING GAP
This is the single most important thing to understand before choosing between these two brands, and it is something most review articles completely miss.
US Kids Golf offers two options that could theoretically apply to toddlers. The first is their "Baby's First Club" — an 18-inch putter marketed as a gift for new parents and infants. It comes in a gift box, has a colored rubber grip, and is designed as a novelty introduction to golf for the very youngest children. It is not a functional putting tool for an active 2 or 3-year-old who is going to the practice green regularly.
The second is their UL7 putter lineup, which starts at the UL7-39 — designed for children in the 39-inch to 42-inch height range. That corresponds to approximately age 4 on the taller end, or age 5 for average-height children. For a 2-year-old at 32 inches or a 3-year-old at 36 inches, there is no UL7 putter. The lineup simply does not go there.
The Drake & Birdie Toddler Putter at 21.5 inches is specifically engineered for children 30 to 45 inches tall — covering the full ages 2 to 5 range with a single purpose-built club. It is the only option on the market that fills this gap with real materials, correct length, and proper grip sizing for toddler hands.
The Toddler Sizing Gap — Who Actually Covers Ages 2–5?
Putter coverage across the 30"–45" toddler height range
SPEC-BY-SPEC COMPARISON
Now that the sizing gap is clear, here is the complete head-to-head breakdown across every spec that matters for a toddler golf putter.
Length
Drake & Birdie: 21.5 inches — designed for 30 to 45 inches of height, allowing natural posture across the full ages 2 to 5 range.
US Kids Baby's First Club: 18 inches — too short for a standing, walking toddler who wants to putt properly. This length is appropriate as a novelty for infants and very young toddlers who are not yet putting in earnest.
US Kids UL7-39: 20 inches — designed for children 39 to 42 inches tall only. Correct length for that specific range, but does not serve children under 39 inches.
US Kids UL7-42: 21 inches — designed for children 42 to 45 inches tall. Actually quite close to the Drake & Birdie length and a reasonable option for children in that specific height window.
The practical implication: if your child is under 39 inches tall — which is every 2-year-old, most 3-year-olds, and many 4-year-olds — the Drake & Birdie putter is the only purpose-built option at the correct length. If your child is between 39 and 45 inches, both brands have appropriate options, and the choice comes down to other factors.
Head Design and Material
Drake & Birdie uses a precision-milled stainless steel blade-style head. Blade putters have a classic, clean look and provide direct face feedback — a center strike transmits a noticeably different feel than an off-center hit, which helps children develop consistent contact over time.
US Kids Golf's UL7 Sandhills putter is a mallet style — a half-moon shape with a plumber's neck hosel and a built-in alignment line. Mallet putters are more forgiving on off-center hits, and the alignment line assists with target aiming. For children who are very early in their putting development, the extra forgiveness and visual alignment aid of the mallet can be a genuine benefit.
This is the one category where there is a real stylistic choice rather than a clear winner. Blade-style teaches feel and face awareness faster. Mallet-style is more forgiving and easier to aim. Neither is objectively better — it depends on the child and how detail-oriented you want to be about skill development at this age.
Grip
Drake & Birdie uses a junior pistol grip specifically dimensioned for toddler hands under 4 inches across. The grip is proportionally slimmer than a standard junior grip, which allows small fingers to sit naturally on top of the club rather than wrapping awkwardly around an oversized grip.
US Kids Golf's UL7 putters use rubber grips sized by their height categories. Their size 39 grip is appropriate for children in the 39 to 42-inch range and is properly fitted for that group. Their Baby's First Club uses a standard colored rubber grip, not specifically sized for active toddler hands.
For children under 39 inches, the Drake & Birdie grip is the better fit. For children 39 inches and above, both brands offer appropriately sized options.
Headcover
Drake & Birdie includes a premium white Sherpa headcover with a magnetic closure with every putter. The magnetic closure is a deliberate design choice: Velcro closures are frustrating for toddler hands and eventually stop being used, which leads to unprotected club faces and damaged grooves. The magnetic snap opens and closes in a single motion, and even a 2-year-old can manage it independently.
US Kids Golf's individual UL7 putters and Baby's First Club do not include a headcover. Their complete sets do include bags and some accessories, but the standalone putter at $39.99 ships without head protection.
Price
Drake & Birdie Toddler Putter: $49.99 with headcover included.
US Kids Golf Baby's First Club: approximately $20 without headcover — but this is a novelty product, not a performance putter.
US Kids Golf UL7-39 Putter: $39.99 without headcover — comparable price to Drake & Birdie for children in the 39 to 42-inch range, though the headcover is an additional cost.
On a pure price basis, these are comparable products for children who fall into the UL7 range. Below 39 inches, the Drake & Birdie putter has no real US Kids Golf competitor at any price.
Left-Handed Options
This is the one category where US Kids Golf has a genuine advantage. Their UL7 putters are available in both right-hand and left-hand configurations across all sizes. Drake & Birdie currently offers right-hand only, with a left-hand option in development.
If your child is left-handed and under 39 inches tall, this is a real gap in the current Drake & Birdie lineup. The closest available option would be the US Kids UL7-39 left-hand putter, understanding that the 20-inch length is not ideal for children under 39 inches.
Brand Focus and Expertise
US Kids Golf serves children from infancy through age 18. Their expertise is deep across the entire junior golf spectrum, and their investment in research — TrackMan data, thousands of data points, seven generations of product development — is genuinely impressive. For a child who is 5, 6, 7, or older, US Kids Golf's ecosystem of fitted clubs, training programs, and tournament infrastructure is best in class.
Drake & Birdie is 100 percent focused on ages 2 to 5. Every product decision — the 21.5-inch putter length, the 2.1-pound bag, the XS leather glove — is made specifically for this age group. The founding story is of a golf parent who could not find this gear for their own daughter and built it from scratch. That singular focus produces products that the US Kids Golf lineup does not have a direct equivalent for in the toddler range.
Head-to-Head: Drake & Birdie vs US Kids Golf — Ages 2–5
| Spec / Feature | Drake & Birdie Toddler Putter | US Kids Golf (Closest Option) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Range | Ages 2–5 (purpose-built) | Baby's First (infant gift) or UL7-39 (ages 4–5 taller end only) | Drake & Birdie |
| Height Range | 30"–45" — full toddler range covered | Baby's First: infant / UL7-39: 39"–42" only | Drake & Birdie |
| Club Length | 21.5" — correct for 30"–45" | Baby's First: 18" (too short) / UL7-39: 20" (39"–42" only) | Drake & Birdie |
| Head Material | Precision-milled stainless steel | Baby's First: unspecified / UL7: steel mallet head | Tie (UL7) |
| Putter Style | Blade — classic alignment, real-feel feedback | UL7: Mallet (Sandhills) — forgiving, alignment line | Preference |
| Grip | Junior pistol grip — sized for hands under 4" | Rubber grip sized by height; Baby's First: standard rubber | Drake & Birdie |
| Headcover | Premium Sherpa, magnetic closure — included | Not included on standalone putters | Drake & Birdie |
| Price | $49.99 (headcover included) | Baby's First: ~$20 / UL7-39 Putter: $39.99 (no headcover) | Comparable |
| Complete Set | Yes — Putter + Bag + Glove ($124.98) | UL7 sets start at 39" minimum — no true toddler complete set | Drake & Birdie |
| Left-Handed | Right-hand only (left-hand coming soon) | Available in left hand across UL7 range | US Kids Golf |
| Brand Focus | 100% dedicated to ages 2–5 toddlers | Ages 3–18, with primary focus on ages 5 and up | Drake & Birdie |
| Where to Buy | drakeandbirdiegolf.com — direct only | uskidsgolf.com, Golf Galaxy, PGA Tour Superstore | US Kids Golf |
Prices current as of 2026. Complete set total reflects Putter ($49.99) + Bag ($59.99) + Glove ($15.00).
Which Putter Is Right for Your Child?
Match the right option to your child's age, height, and how you plan to use it.
THE HONEST VERDICT
This is not a case where one brand is better than the other across the board. It is a case where each brand owns a distinct age range, and the right answer depends entirely on your child's current height.
If your child is under 39 inches tall — which is essentially every child ages 2 and 3, and many children at age 4 — Drake & Birdie is the only option that serves them with proper length, real materials, and correct grip sizing. US Kids Golf does not have a suitable product for this range outside of a novelty gift item.
If your child is between 39 and 45 inches tall — typically ages 4 to 5 — both brands have appropriate options. The Drake & Birdie 21.5-inch putter still works well through 45 inches. The US Kids Golf UL7-39 at 20 inches and UL7-42 at 21 inches are both reasonable alternatives, particularly for left-handed children or families who prefer buying from a retail store.
If your child is over 45 inches tall and ready to grow into a full junior set — US Kids Golf's UL7 ecosystem is the natural next step and genuinely excellent equipment for that age group.
The two brands are not competitors. They are sequential. Start your toddler on Drake & Birdie at ages 2 to 5. Graduate to US Kids Golf at ages 5 and up when the UL7 system becomes the right fit. That progression gives your child properly fitted, real equipment at every stage of their early golf development.
WHAT ABOUT THE COMPLETE SET?
One final dimension that the putter-only comparison misses entirely: the complete starter set.
US Kids Golf does not have a complete toddler set for children under 39 inches. Their complete UL7 sets start at the 39-inch range and are designed for children who are ready for a driver, irons, and a wedge — not 2 and 3-year-olds who are learning to putt.
Drake & Birdie offers a complete three-piece starter set purpose-built for ages 2 to 5: the 21.5-inch putter, the 2.1-pound stand bag with auto-deploy legs, and the 100% leather XS golf glove. It is the only complete toddler golf setup on the market where every component is specifically engineered for children in the 30 to 45-inch height range.
A 3-year-old with the Drake & Birdie starter set can carry their own bag to the putting green, pull out their own putter, putt on a real green, replace the club, pick up the bag, and walk to the next hole, completely independently, without any adult intervention. That ownership and independence are the experience that builds a lifelong love of golf before kindergarten.
For children 39 inches and above who are ready to expand beyond putting, pairing the Drake & Birdie starter set with US Kids Golf irons and driver as they grow is actually the optimal progression — best-in-class toddler gear from Drake & Birdie, transitioning to best-in-class junior gear from US Kids Golf as the child develops.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is Drake & Birdie better than US Kids Golf? For children under 39 inches tall — ages 2, 3, and many 4-year-olds — Drake & Birdie fills a gap that US Kids Golf does not address with a functional, properly sized putter. For children 39 inches and above, both brands have suitable options, and the choice depends on height, handedness, and budget. They are not competitors so much as sequential brands for different age ranges.
What is the shortest US Kids Golf putter available? The shortest functional putter in the US Kids Golf UL7 lineup is the UL7-39 at 20 inches, designed for children 39 to 42 inches tall. Their Baby's First Club at 18 inches is marketed as a novelty gift for new parents and infants rather than a functional putting tool for active toddlers.
At what height should I switch from Drake & Birdie to US Kids Golf? The natural transition point is around 45 inches — the top of the Drake & Birdie putter's intended range and the beginning of the US Kids Golf UL7-45 range. For a complete club set including irons and driver, US Kids Golf's UL7-39 set (for children 39 to 42 inches tall) is the natural progression from a Drake & Birdie starter set.
Does US Kids Golf make a toddler golf bag for ages 2–3? US Kids Golf makes bags as part of their complete sets starting at the UL7-39 range — designed for children 39 inches and taller. They do not offer a stand bag purpose-built for children under 39 inches. The Drake & Birdie Toddler Golf Bag with Stand at 24 inches and 2.1 lbs is the only stand bag specifically engineered for the 30 to 45-inch height range.
Can I buy a Drake & Birdie putter in a store? Drake & Birdie is currently direct-to-consumer only at drakeandbirdiegolf.com. US Kids Golf is available at Golf Galaxy, PGA Tour Superstore, and other major golf retailers. If buying in-person is important, US Kids Golf has broader retail availability — though their options for children under 39 inches are limited.
What comes after the Drake & Birdie starter set? When your child grows past 45 inches and is ready for more than a putter — typically around ages 5 to 6 — the US Kids Golf UL7 system is the natural and excellent next step. Their height-based fitting system, comprehensive club selection, and junior golf program infrastructure make them the right choice for the 5-and-up stage of development.
