As a beginner golfer, you may wonder if you really need a full set of 14 golf clubs. The short answer is no, you do not necessarily need every type of club as you are learning the game. However, having a varied selection of clubs can help you develop different shots and account for different situations you may encounter on the course.
Driver
The driver is the longest club in your bag and is used to hit tee shots as far down the fairway as possible. For many beginners, the driver can be one of the most difficult clubs to hit consistently. However, it is an important club to have if you want to get the most distance off the tee.
Quick answer: Not absolutely necessary for a beginner, but good to have as your skills develop.
Fairway Woods
Fairway woods are used for long shots from the fairway and rough when you need more distance than an iron can provide. Most sets include a 3-wood and a 5-wood. These clubs are easier to hit than a driver but can still provide a lot of distance. Fairway woods are very helpful for beginners on long par 4s and par 5s.
Quick answer: Good clubs to have as a beginner for long shots from the fairway.
Hybrids
Hybrid clubs are a cross between fairway woods and irons. They provide a high launching, forgiving shot and fill the yardage gap between your woods and irons. Hybrids often replace the harder to hit long irons (2-4 iron) in a beginner set. Their versatility makes them very useful from tricky lies.
Quick answer: Very forgiving and versatile clubs that are almost essential for beginners.
Irons
Irons are used for a wide range of shots from the fairway, rough, and around the green. Most full sets will contain 6-9 irons ranging from 5-iron through pitching wedge. Irons are your main scoring clubs. As a beginner, you may struggle at first with the longer irons, so hybrids can help fill the gap until your skills improve.
Quick answer: Essential clubs as they make up the core of your bag. 4-6 irons should be fine as you are learning.
Wedges
Wedges are essential specialty irons designed for short shots into the green. Most beginner sets will include a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. A pitching wedge is used from 125 yards and in, while a sand wedge is ideal out of bunkers and from 100 yards and under. Having these two wedges will provide you with options around the greens.
Quick answer: Pitching and sand wedge are must-have clubs as a beginner.
Putter
The most important club in your bag is the putter. No matter what level you are, you’ll likely use your putter on every hole. As a beginner, focus on finding a putter that gives you confidence over technical details. Getting the ball to the hole is challenging enough when starting out. A putter that feels good and rolls the ball smoothly will go a long way.
Quick answer: The putter is an essential club for all beginners.
Do I Really Need 14 Clubs as a Beginner?
The answer is no. The full 14 club limit is not essential for a beginner. Here are some guidelines for piecing together your first set:
- Driver – can be difficult to hit, so you can start without one
- Fairway wood – A 3-wood is a versatile club to have in the bag
- Hybrid – A great replacement for hard to hit long irons like the 2-iron or 4-iron
- Irons – Focus on mid to short irons like 6-iron through pitching wedge
- Wedges – Pitching wedge and sand wedge are must-haves around the greens
- Putter – The most essential club in your bag as a beginner
With those guidelines, a beginner set could look something like:
3-wood, Hybrid, 6-iron through Pitching Wedge, Sand Wedge, Putter = 7 Clubs
This provides you with all the essential clubs to develop your skills as you are learning the game. You can always add in additional clubs like a driver or long irons later as your skills progress.
Advantages of Starting With Fewer Clubs
Here are some benefits of starting with a smaller set of 7-8 clubs as a beginner:
- Easier to learn – Less clubs to practice with improves focus
- More confidence – Allows you to get comfortable with hitting a smaller range of clubs
- Better gapping – Spacing between clubs will fit your distance gaps as a beginner
- Saves money – Can buy nicer clubs for your budget with fewer clubs
When to Add More Clubs
As your skills improve, you can look to fill out your bag with more clubs. Here are some signs you may be ready to expand your club selection:
- Consistent shot shape and contact – You are hitting your current clubs reliably well
- Improving distance – You are able to consistently reach 150+ yards with your mid-irons
- Gapping issues – You have large distance gaps between clubs in your bag
- Course demands – You are playing longer courses requiring more clubs off the tee
Having a driver and a full set of irons through the 4-iron is less important when you are just starting out. As you improve and take the game more seriously, filling out your bag follows naturally.
Buying Individual Clubs vs Full Beginner Sets
When buying your first set of golf clubs, you have the option to purchase clubs individually or buy a pre-packaged beginner full set. Here is a comparison of the two options:
Beginner Full Set
- Pros:
- Cost effective way to get a full set
- Everything you need to get started
- Well-matched clubs
- Cons:
- Quality can be lacking
- Factory assembly can be inconsistent
- Includes clubs you may not use
Buying Individual Clubs
- Pros:
- Can cherry pick exactly what you want
- Higher quality clubs
- Better long term investment
- Cons:
- More expensive initially
- Need to do research to get right specs
- May still need to fill gaps later
As a beginner, either option can work well. If you are committed to improving and playing regularly, buying quality individual clubs can make sense. If you are unsure of how much you’ll play, a pre-packaged set gets you on the course affordably.
Hitting a Full Shot with Every Club
While you don’t need every type of club right away as a beginner, it is helpful to practice hitting shots with each club to understand how distance changes through the set. Here are some averages for how far you can expect to hit each club type:
| Club Type | Distance |
|---|---|
| Driver | 200-250 yards |
| 3 Wood | 180-220 yards |
| 5 Wood | 160-200 yards |
| Hybrid | 150-180 yards |
| 6 Iron | 120-150 yards |
| 8 Iron | 100-130 yards |
| Pitching Wedge | 80-110 yards |
| Sand Wedge | 50-80 yards |
These yardages are based on an average male amateur golfer. Distances will vary based on your age, gender, and skill level. But this gives you a good benchmark for how far you can expect to hit shots with each type of club.
Most Forgiving Clubs for Beginners
As a beginner looking to develop consistent ball striking, forgiving clubs can be a big help. Here are some of the most forgiving clubs to consider as you build your first set:
Drivers
- Callaway Big Bertha
- TaylorMade SIM Max
- Ping G410 Plus
Fairway Woods
- Cleveland Launcher HB
- Cobra F-Max
- Callaway Mavrik Max
Hybrids
- Wilson Launch Pad
- Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo
- Callaway Big Bertha B21
Irons
- Wilson Launch Pad
- Callaway Big Bertha
- TaylorMade SIM Max
These club models use a variety of technologies like low centers of gravity, lighter shafts, oversized clubheads, and offset designs to help improve launch, distance, and forgiveness on off-center hits. Test out some of these options to find the best fit for your game.
Building a Complete Set Over Time
Beginners don’t need to buy an elaborate expensive set right away. Here is a solid game plan for building up your clubs over the first couple years:
Year One
- Driver: Used driver from 2-3 models ago
- Fairway Wood: Newer model – focus on forgiveness
- Irons: Cavity back irons 4-6 years old – Ping G-series, Callaway X-series, etc
- Wedges: Pre-owned wedges from major brands
- Putter: Get properly fitted – focus on feel and alignment
Year Two
- Driver: Newer model from last 1-2 years
- Fairway Wood: Fill gap between current wood and hybrid
- Hybrid: 19-21 degree hybrid with high launch
- Irons: Game improvement irons fitted for your swing
- Wedges: Fitted wedges with multiple bounce options
- Putter: Upgrade if struggling with consistency
This incremental approach allows you to spread out costs over time. Buy quality clubs in each category as you are ready rather than feeling compelled to buy a huge expensive set as a beginner. Your skills and needs will evolve over that first couple years, so take your time building out your bag.
Focusing Your Practice
It can be tempting as a beginner to practice with every club in your bag to improve your skills. However, it is actually better to narrow your focus when you practice:
- Pick 3-4 clubs to focus on mastering first
- Always practice with your scoring clubs – mid irons, wedges, putter
- Use range time to dial in your main wedge yardages
- Only use the driver if you can do so consistently; leave it if you can’t
- Track stats and know your shot dispersion patterns with each club
Practicing this way establishes solid fundamentals and feel with your go-to clubs. As you improve, you can incorporate more clubs gradually. But keeping things simple is key when getting started.
Conclusion
Ultimately, you do not need a full set of 14 clubs as a beginner golfer. Prioritize the essential clubs like mid-irons, wedges, and putter while holding off on harder to hit woods for now. Build your set slowly over time as your skills improve. Focus practice on mastering a few clubs at a time. With the right plan, you can develop into a capable golfer without the high cost of a full bag you may not need yet.
