Hollies prefer a well-drained, slightly acid soil, in partial shade to full sun. Fertilize conservatively with a low nitrogen product.

In your opinion, what do you think the problem might be? Would you like to post some pictures?

they look normal, they're just not growing much.

We need a fair amount more info. How long have they been in the ground? Did you or a landscaper plant them or were they pre-existing when you bought the property? Are they mulched? Do they get water from a sprinkler system or by hand and have you checked soil moisture by sticking your finger down into the soil? Might there be root competition from nearby trees? Do you know your soil's pH? (though this most likely isn't an issue since they look OK.)

I planted them. they are several different locations. they are china boys & girls. 1 is a china boy/girl combo. I planted 4 in a line this year & they seem to be growing normally. there are 3 in one spot that have hardly grown at all. they've been in the ground for at least 3 years. they are in full sun with good drainage & are not near any competing trees. they are mulched. I water regularly with an oscillating sprinkler. it's been the same for 2 others that are in separate locations. oddly there is one that I forgot about that was completely covered by moonflowers ( daturas ) & it actually grew some. I have a pretty green thumb but so far I haven't had much luck with these hollies.

I wondered if they were new this year. I often find that newly planted shrubs take a year or two to visibly take off because they are busy growing roots. Even plants bought at the same time from the same nursery might have had somewhat different conditions in the pot, so so until they are in their third year, I don't necessarily expect similar growth. Just my experience.

I should have mentioned. 2 were planted 4 years ago, 2 last year, & 4 this year. the ones planted this year have grown more than the others. my local lowes has a lot of perennials on sale cheap & everything else is 1/2 off. I just bought 4 more china boys ( there were no girls ) in 1 gallon pots for $3.00 each. I am trying to make a hedge along a fence line. also when these bloom they are covered in bees!! i'll try to put up some photos tomorrow.

The genus as a whole is not especially fast growing.

All containerized stock should now be assumed to have root deformation and be thoroughly checked for it.

Any newly planted stock should be thoroughly watered with a hose deeply at least once a week, depending on temperature and summer rainfall or the lack thereof. I'm not sure a sprinkler is going to supply adequate water to the rootball unless you put down 2" of water with it.

the sprinkler has a timer & I run it for 3 hours at a time. what would root deformity look like?

horrible sounding video, but good advice and pictures: https://youtu.be/_dFFWx_neYQ?t=101