For people wanting to enter the addictive world of golf, deciding upon a set of gold clubs can seem a little daunting. There are literally hundreds of variations of clubs and sets, all varying in price. To help you get started, we have a written a quick guide on what to look out for and how much to pay.
What clubs?
Deciding what clubs you want to use has a major impact on price. According to USGA rules, you are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs.
A typical set is made up of:
• 1 Driver
• 2 Fairway Woods
• 1 Hybrid
• 7 Irons
• 2 Wedges
• 1 Putter
Whilst pros make use of every club, beginners generally don’t require all 14 and can get way with around 10. A beginner set would typically contain 1 driver, 7 irons, 1 wedge and 1 putter. When your game progresses and you shots become longer, then you may wish to upgrade to a full set.
Beginners should also make sure to purchase graphite clubs as these provide much more flexibility in the shaft which allows for a certain degree of mishit. Whilst steel shafts are more accurate, they hurt your arm severely if you don’t connect cleanly every time.
Beginners will also want to make sure their set of irons have large cavity backs which increases the size of sweet-spot on the face of the club and minimises mishit shots. Larger cavities are a great way of giving you extra confidence over the ball.
Cost of Beginner Golf sets
As with most things, cost varies considerably on quality and brand. A good beginner golf driver should set you back somewhere in the region of $75-100, a basic iron set will be $200-300, and a good beginner putter should be $50-60. All in, you’ll be looking at around $400 for the cheapest option.
However, if you want a top brand like Taylormade or Callaway, you should expect to pay double that price at least. Always remember though, if you’re just starting out, you really won’t notice the difference between brands and a basic set will do you just fine.
There is also often the option to purchase a complete beginner package set. We highly recommend this as it is generally cheaper and also includes a bag! These sets include everything from a driver to a putter, and you’ll save yourself a couple of hundred bucks at least. Package sets start from around $260 and come with everything you need to hit the golf course straight away.
So get out there and enjoy the game!