Choosing golf clubs as a beginner
You do not need fourteen clubs to start playing golf. You need a few forgiving ones that fit you reasonably well, and the patience to learn what each one does.
New golfers often feel they must buy a full set before they are allowed on a course. In reality, many people learn faster with fewer clubs, because they get to know each one properly. The Rules of Golf allow up to fourteen clubs in the bag during a round. That is a maximum, not a target.
What a beginner needs
A sensible starting set covers each type of shot without duplication.
| Club | What it is for | Beginner notes |
|---|---|---|
| Driver or fairway wood | Tee shots on longer holes | A driver with more loft is usually easier to get airborne; some beginners find a fairway wood easier still |
| Hybrid | Long shots from the fairway or light rough | Easier to hit than long irons for most players |
| Mid and short irons, roughly 6 or 7 iron to pitching wedge | Approach shots | Cavity-back designs are more forgiving |
| Sand wedge | Bunkers and short shots around the green | Useful from the first day |
| Putter | On the green | Choose one that feels comfortable and that you can aim |
That is often eight to ten clubs. You can add more as you discover gaps in your distances.
Half sets, package sets and full sets
- Half sets contain a selection of clubs, often a wood, a hybrid, alternate irons, a wedge and a putter, sometimes with a light carry bag. They are a cheap way to find out whether you enjoy the game.
- Package sets are complete boxed sets aimed at beginners, often including a bag. They are designed to be forgiving and are usually good value compared with buying the same clubs separately.
- Full sets of separate clubs make more sense once you have a repeatable swing and know what you need.
Second-hand clubs are another good route. Golf equipment is durable, and lightly used clubs can be excellent value. Check grips, shafts and clubfaces for damage before buying.
Forgiveness: what to look for
“Forgiving” clubs are designed so that shots struck off the centre of the face still travel reasonably straight and far. Signs of a forgiving design include:
- Cavity-back irons with weight moved to the edges of the head, rather than slim blade-style irons,
- Wider soles that help the club glide through the turf instead of digging,
- Larger club heads on woods and drivers,
- Hybrids in place of the longer irons.
Blades and players’ irons give skilled golfers more control over shot shape, but they are much less helpful on mishits.
Shafts: flex and material
The shaft affects how the clubhead moves through impact. Flex is usually labelled from more flexible to stiffer, with names such as ladies, senior, regular, stiff and extra stiff. As a general rule, slower swings suit more flexible shafts, which help the ball launch higher, while faster swings suit stiffer ones. Most beginners are well served by regular or more flexible shafts.
Graphite shafts are lighter and are standard in drivers and woods. Irons come with steel or graphite shafts. Graphite can be a good choice for players with slower swings or who find a lighter club more comfortable to swing.
Length, lie and grip size
Off-the-shelf clubs are made for average heights and builds. If you are particularly tall or short, standard clubs can make it hard to stand to the ball comfortably. Lie angle, the angle between shaft and sole, also affects where the ball starts. Grip thickness matters too: grips that are too thin or too thick for your hands can affect how you release the club.
A basic static fitting, where someone measures your height and wrist-to-floor distance, can tell you whether standard lengths are likely to suit you.
Is a full fitting worth it for a beginner?
A full dynamic fitting, where you hit balls while a fitter uses a launch monitor, is most useful once your swing is reasonably consistent. For a complete beginner, a quick check of length and grip size, combined with forgiving off-the-shelf clubs, is usually enough. Lessons with a qualified professional will improve your game far more than any equipment change at this stage.
Choosing a putter
Putters come in two broad shapes: blade putters, which are narrow, and mallet putters, which are larger and often more stable on off-centre strokes. Try several on a practice green. Choose the one you can aim most easily and that leaves you feeling confident, and make sure its length lets you stand with your eyes roughly over the ball.
A sensible plan
- Start with a half set, a package set or good second-hand clubs.
- Take a few lessons and play regularly for a season.
- Notice which distances you struggle to cover and which clubs you never use.
- Then consider a fitting and upgrade the clubs that will make the most difference.
Once you have your clubs, read our guides to bags and trolleys and to looking after your equipment.