The Best Golf Clubs For Beginners, According To Golf Pros
Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Annika Sörenstam—every great golfer was once a beginner, learning the basics as they picked up their first set of clubs. If you're ready to take that first swing, we've got you covered with the best golf clubs for beginners, based on expert-backed recommendations. According to the pros we spoke with, the Callaway Edge 10-Piece Club Set stands out as the best set for beginners, offering performance and forgiveness in one sleek package. And for those on the lookout for value that doesn't sacrifice quality, the Top Flite XL 13-Piece Complete Set is another great option.
A set of beginner golf clubs makes it easier to learn and enjoy the game.
As tempting as it may be to buy cheap clubs, doing so can establish bad habits and take the fun out of those first few rounds. 'Golf is a journey, not a race—start with clubs that help you enjoy every step,' says Julieta Stack, an LGPA professional and director of instruction at the Baltimore Golf Academy. Whether you're a youngster, a senior or somewhere in between, we've rounded up the best beginner golf clubs to help you come out swinging and start hitting shots with confidence.
Amazon
Club count: 10 | Shaft material: Graphite | Flex: Stiff | Bag included: No | Left hand available: No
The Callaway clubs that make up this 10-piece Edge set are true winners. The set has all the sticks an amateur golfer could possibly need, including an Edge Driver with a huge titanium head and deep center of gravity that sends balls flying off the tee and soaring toward the green. Six, seven, eight and nine irons, along with a few woods, give you plenty of choice as you close in on the cup, and of course there are wedges and a putter tossed in for good measure. While the set doesn't come with a bag, you can usually pick one up secondhand and save some money.
'The one set I suggest most, and I have no affiliation, is the Callaway Edge,' says Justan Johnson, PGA associate and golf instructor at Troon Golf Administration. 'This set offers 10 clubs, driver to putter, and you have all the clubs you'll need for a beginner or intermediate golfer. You can keep it for a while and not have to purchase an upgrade set like you would once you outgrow your starter set.' Keep in mind these clubs are on the stiffer side, which can be a deterrent to some novice golfers who prefer a more flexible shaft and forgiving face. That said, many experts advise using stiff clubs even as you learn because you won't have to replace them down the road as you get better.
Dick's Sporting Goods
Club count: 11 | Shaft material: Graphite/steel | Flex: Regular, senior | Bag included: Yes | Left hand available: Yes
If you want a complete set of golf clubs and don't want to spend much cash, this set from Top Flite is a real ace. While the most fully-stocked golf bag have 14 clubs, experts agree that most new golfers won't use nearly that many. 'Newer golfers typically use five to seven clubs per round,' says Johnson, so this 11-piece set will certainly suffice. (It's called a 13-piece set because of the included bag and club covers.) The driver is made from a composite titanium material and measures a whopping 460 cubic centimeters—the largest driver size allowed by the USGA,. And it's a size that ensures maximum connectivity and power delivery. Plus, it's a size most new golfers prefer.
Once you're on the green, you'll appreciate the visual markers etched into the putter that help you line the head up for a clean, well-aimed tap. And as you move between holes, you'll take full advantage of the bag's many pockets and its broad carrying strap. You won't get hundreds of rounds out of these clubs—they're just not as durable as beginner sets that cost twice as much. But if you want to hit the course with your own set and give golf a try, this is a smart buy.
Callaway
Club count: 6 | Shaft material: Graphite | Flex: Light | Bag included: Yes | Left hand available: Yes
Any woman looking to hit the course with top-quality gear in hand should choose clubs specifically designed for female athletes, and this Callaway set fits the bill perfectly. It features a flexible driver shaft, irons tailored to match the average female swing speed and a putter inspired by insights from LPGA pros. Essentially, it's a set built to help women succeed on the course.
'My students have almost exclusively been women, and keeping that in mind, I cannot recommend the Callaway Women's Reva complete set more highly,' says golf instructor Douglas Bennink of TeachMe.To. 'This set gives the beginner golfer the confidence to move from the practice range to the course in one fell swoop.' It's worth mentioning there are just six clubs in this set, which is sufficient for most golfers but hardly ample, and it isn't a cheap set either. Still, if you find yourself in need of a club as your game levels up, you can simply add it to the mix—these grow with you, so there's no need to replace them as you get better.
Dick's Sporting Goods
Club count: 10 | Shaft material: Graphite, steel | Flex: Stiff, regular | Bag included: Yes | Left hand available: Yes
Callaway's XR line is specifically aimed at mid-to-high handicappers looking for distance and easy-to-hit clubs. It's not a cheap set, but if you're struggling to improve your score, you'll want to get your hands on top-notch clubs designed to be forgiving and easy to use. Callaway's XR irons in particular are well-suited for high handicappers because they are designed as game-improvement irons, offering features like a large sweet spot, forgiving face technology and a high launch trajectory. All of these factors make them easy to use, help you get the ball in the air and down the fairway with more reliability, each and every swing.
The fairway woods are also designed with forgiveness in mind, featuring a channel that helps send a ball straight down the line even after an off-center hit. And the massive 460cc driver will help you gain extra yardage off the tee. Finally, a putter designed for precision and control will help you inch closer to—and someday below—par. Again, these clubs are on the expensive side for a beginner set, but if you've been out on the links enough times to know you need better gear, go ahead and treat yourself.
Amazon
Club count: 7 | Shaft material: Graphite | Flex: Regular | Bag included: Yes | Left hand available: Yes
This set from Tour Edge is available in different sizes for different age ranges, including kids three to six, five to eight, seven to 10, nine to 12 and 11 to 14, so no matter how young your aspiring golfer may be, you can match them with a set that fits just right. There are the seven classic clubs needed to constitute a complete set here, including a driver with a 350cc head—a great size for young players. Meanwhile, the irons have oversized heads with extra large sweet spots that make it easier to strike the ball with accuracy.
The included golf bag has plenty of pockets and a built-in stand, and it features a dual-strap carry system that helps evenly distribute the weight. The driver isn't all that durable, as evidenced by several verified buyers who reported signs of damage with moderate use, so if you have a young golfer who seems committed to the hobby, consider leveling up. Otherwise, this is a fantastic set that helps them learn the basics without burning a hole in your pocket.
Amazon
Club count: 12 | Shaft material: Graphite | Flex: Senior | Bag included: Yes | Left hand available: No
The 'senior' golf club flex is specifically designed for older golfers with swing speeds between 70 and 85 miles per hour. It offers a good balance of flexibility and weight, making it easier to generate club speed and send the ball a good distance. And of course, it's the exact flex you'll find in this 12-club set from Tour Edge. The total number of clubs means you can always choose the best tool for the shot at hand, whether you're teeing off, halfway down the fairway or digging your ball out of a bunker.
Many golfers who have used these Bazooka clubs call them forgiving and comfortable, though we do have to flag that among the many five-star reviews, several people reported breaking the heads off their irons during normal play. Obviously, this isn't what you want to see when you shell out $600 for a new set, but these occurrences are rare, and Tour Edge offers a lifetime warranty on its clubs for added peace of mind.
The gear team at Forbes Vetted conducts thorough research before recommending products to our readers. We read scores of customer reviews, cross-reference brand claims with online comments and speak to experts with extensive subject knowledge.
Golf is one of the more intimidating sports to pick up because it requires a certain level of commitment. Sourcing all the gear, booking a tee time, learning the jargon and making mistakes on the course are all a part of the process. That's why we've chosen the best golf clubs for beginners based on factors like shaft flex, head size, club selection and more, so you can spend less time worrying about your equipment and more time enjoying the process.
You don't need a 14-club set to get out there and start working on your golf game, but you do need a basic assortment of options. 'I always suggest purchasing a new set that contains at least a driver, three wood, hybrid, five iron, seven iron, nine iron, pitching wedge and putter,' says Johnson. With that said, many pros are also comfortable recommending a seven-club set, though Johnson adds that eight-club sets truly provide "all the clubs you'll need for a beginner or intermediate golfer.'
It's imperative that you invest in golf clubs suitable for your body. 'Get clubs that fit you,' says Stack. 'If you are above or below average height, it's worth getting a basic fitting or selecting clubs labeled as 'long' or 'petite' to better match your body type." Clubs of the right height can drastically impact and improve your game.
Golf club 'flex' refers to the degree of bend—or lack thereof—in a golf club's shaft. This affects how much the shaft bends during a swing, influencing factors like club head speed, distance and accuracy. Shafts are categorized by flex with options ranging from extra stiff (X) to ladies flex (L). Stiffer clubs are faster and hit harder, but they're generally considered harder to control and better-suited for experienced golfers.
Steel shafts are strong and stiff, albeit heavy, delivering power and speed to the ball when handled well. Graphite club shafts are much lighter in weight and allow for fast swings with reduced effort, but they don't deliver as much power. Composite shafts, usually made of a blend of both materials, fall somewhere in the middle, balancing speed and power.
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