{"id":3069,"date":"2026-11-04T22:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T21:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2026-11-09T22:55:44","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T21:55:44","slug":"golf-clubs-for-beginners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/guides\/golf-clubs-for-beginners\/","title":{"rendered":"Golf Clubs for Beginners: A Simple Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"bgt-chapo\">When you're just starting out, it's tempting to buy a complete set or the clubs the pros use. That's a bad idea: a beginner needs clubs <strong>tolerant<\/strong>, in small numbers, suited to your swing speed. Here\u2019s how many clubs to bring, which ones to choose, whether you need a fitting, and when to add to your bag\u2014with video tips from instructors and equipment testers.<\/p>\n<h2>How many clubs do you need to get started?<\/h2>\n<p>The regulation permits <strong>A maximum of 14 clubs<\/strong> in the bag, but no one needs 14 clubs to get started. <strong>Seven or eight clubs are enough<\/strong> For the first part, half a set may be enough for quite a while.<\/p>\n<p>A typical beginner's bag, as recommended by many teachers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>wood<\/strong>: a forgiving driver or a fairway wood, which is often easier to hit than a driver when you're just starting out;<\/li>\n<li><strong>a 5-wood or 7-wood, or a hybrid<\/strong>, to replace the long irons (irons 4 and 5), which are difficult to install;<\/li>\n<li><strong>three irons<\/strong>: 7, 8, and 9;<\/li>\n<li><strong>two wedges<\/strong>: pitching wedge and sand wedge;<\/li>\n<li><strong>a putter<\/strong>, the club you'll use most often on the course.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To learn about each club's role, see our guide <a href=\"\/en\/guides\/types-of-golf-clubs\/\">Types of Golf Clubs<\/a> and the one on the <a href=\"\/en\/guides\/golf-club-distances\/\">Average Distances by Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Which Clubs to Choose: Tolerance Above All Else<\/h2>\n<p>A \u201cforgiving\u201d club makes up for off-center hits: the ball veers less off course and loses less distance. For a beginner, this is the number-one factor, even more important than distance or brand.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cavity-back irons and wedges<\/strong> rather than blades: blades require a level of precision that few hobbyists possess.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A hybrid or a 7-wood<\/strong> rather than long irons: they get the ball in the air much more easily, and the hybrid is also useful around the green.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A driver with loft<\/strong>: around 10.5 to 11.5\u00b0 for a beginner man, at least 11.5\u00b0 for seniors and women, according to the instructor <a class=\"wpil_keyword_link\" href=\"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/pro\/kevin-faivre\/\"   title=\"Kevin Faivre\" data-wpil-keyword-link=\"linked\" data-wpil-monitor-id=\"340\">Kevin Faivre<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Graphite handles<\/strong>, which are lighter than steel, are often recommended for beginners.<\/li>\n<li><strong>A simple putter<\/strong>, one that appeals to you visually. A more stable mallet helps with alignment and is forgiving of off-center hits. See our guide <a href=\"\/en\/guides\/choosing-a-putter\/\">The putter: How to Choose One<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The Shaft and Grip: Based on Your Swing, Not Your Skill Level<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"\/en\/definition\/shaft\/\">shaft<\/a> is chosen first based on your <strong>swing speed<\/strong>. A shaft that\u2019s too stiff for your swing speed causes the ball to launch too low; a shaft that\u2019s too flexible causes it to rise and fly erratically. Being a beginner doesn\u2019t mean you need a \u201cflexible shaft\u201d\u2014it\u2019s your swing speed that determines the right one.<\/p>\n<p>The size of the grip matters, too. A grip that\u2019s too small\u2014where your fingers touch your palm\u2014can cause your hands to rotate too much at impact. Finally, the lie angle depends on your height: a straighter club for taller players, and a flatter one for shorter players.<\/p>\n<h2>Should you get a fitting when you're just starting out?<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"\/en\/definition\/club-fitting\/\">fitting<\/a> involves adjusting your clubs (length, lie, shaft, grip, head) to fit your body type and swing. \u201cStandard\u201d clubs are designed for a standard golfer, which is rare. But a fitting only really makes sense if your swing is already fairly consistent.<\/p>\n<p>A piece of advice from the Golfiteurs\u2019 instructors: Before you invest, you have to succeed <strong>six or seven out of ten successful contacts<\/strong>. In the meantime, a used, well-fitting pair will do just fine. When the time comes, a fitter can offer you a <strong>combo series<\/strong>: Irons that are precise on the shorter shots and more forgiving on the longer ones, ensuring consistent distance gaps between each club.<\/p>\n<h2>New or Used: When and How Should You Buy?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Price is not a factor.<\/strong> An expensive club isn't necessarily one that helps you play better.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Try it on the course<\/strong> rather than at the driving range, and tell the salesperson your actual distances, not your best shots.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Opportunity<\/strong> is a good choice for beginners, as long as you get guidance from a pro on the head and neck.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fill up your bag<\/strong> when you consistently fall short of a certain distance on the course\u2014not before.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Video Lessons on How to Choose the Right Clubs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bgt-art-les\"><a href=\"\/en\/video\/materiel-debuter-golf-clubs-balles-accessoires\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/jy4OV5DL0Y8\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Golf Equipment for Beginners: Clubs, Balls, and Accessories<\/b><small>Kevin Faivre \u00b7 11 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/what-clubs-to-take-first-round\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Uba2BZ2UX7I\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Which clubs should you bring for your first round of golf?<\/b><small>Golfbidder \u00b7 9 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/7-forgiving-clubs-beginner-bag\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/3LA2HrYj9Oc\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>The 7 Types of Forgiving Clubs for a Beginner's Set<\/b><small>Golf Monthly \u00b7 12 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/6-tips-before-buying-first-golf-clubs\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/9Y4Xl6duM-0\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>6 Tips Before Buying Your First Set of Clubs<\/b><small>Golf Monthly \u00b7 6 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/club-fitting-lie-grip-putter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/CQ22JiQExI8\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Getting Fitted: Lie, Grip, and Putter Tailored to Your Game<\/b><small>Good Good \u00b7 9 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/fitting-fers-serie-combo-shaft-grip\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/lLuDW8LZD3E\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Iron Fitting: Combo Set, Shaft, and Grip Tailored to Your Game<\/b><small>Lewis Wallace \u00b7 14 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/changer-de-club-3-conseils-avant-achat\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/kCphklnDrrY\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Changing Clubs: 3 Tips Before You Buy<\/b><small>Jo\u00ebl Bernard \u00b7 8 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><a href=\"\/en\/video\/demi-serie-ou-serie-complete-quand-acheter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ugylCcwvtGk\/mqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"320\" height=\"180\"><span><b>Half Set or Full Set: When Should You Buy Your Clubs?<\/b><small>The Golfers \u00b7 5 min<\/small><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p>All videos about equipment are grouped together in this category <a href=\"\/en\/topic\/equipment-and-fitting\/\">Equipment and Fitting<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing Clubs<\/h2>\n<div class=\"bgt-faq\">\n<details>\n<summary>How many clubs do you need to get started in golf?<\/summary>\n<p>Seven or eight clubs are enough: a wood, a hybrid, or a 5-wood or 7-iron; a 7-, 8-, and 9-iron; a pitching wedge; a sand wedge; and a putter. The rules allow for a maximum of 14 clubs.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Should you buy a complete set when you're just starting out?<\/summary>\n<p>No. A half-set of forgiving clubs\u2014whether new or used\u2014is more than enough to start with. You can add to your bag when you find yourself consistently missing a certain distance on the course.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Which driver should a beginner choose?<\/summary>\n<p>A forgiving driver with plenty of loft: about 10.5 to 11.5\u00b0 for a male beginner and at least 11.5\u00b0 for seniors and women. A fairway wood can also be used instead of a driver when you're just starting out.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>When should you get your clubs fitted?<\/summary>\n<p>When your movement becomes somewhat consistent\u2014for example, six or seven correct hits out of ten. Before that, fine-tuning has little effect.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How many clubs to start with, which ones to choose (tolerance, hybrids, driver loft, shaft), do you need a fitting, and when to buy: a simple guide, with videos from the pros.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3071,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3069","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3069"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3075,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3069\/revisions\/3075"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3069"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3069"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/best-golf-tips.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}