Golf Club Sets Buying Guide: What is It, Why Use It, How to Use, Who Is Using It, What Brands, Best Options, and Comparisons
One of the key pieces of equipment you’ll need to learn how to play golf and improve your game is a set of golf clubs. Golf clubs come in all shapes and sizes, but each adheres to a specific structure. According to the official USGA rules, you can carry up to 14 clubs per set.
This rule doesn’t imply that you need to carry 14 clubs every game. You can carry less, but not more than 14. However, there is no specific rule dictating which clubs you must use. It’s entirely dependent on your ability and skill level. Such freedom allows you to choose the clubs that bring out your best game.
Like other players, you should try out other types of clubs to see which work and which don’t. As you build your golf club set, pick the clubs that are good for your game and work in any type of situation you’ll encounter on the course. Every pro golfer has started somewhere and changed clubs numerous times throughout their career. Having said that, you’re better off starting from scratch and feel different clubs out. Once you pinpoint which clubs are best suited to your playing style, you can build the rest of your golf club set from them.
So what are the types of golf clubs that should be included in your set, and how many of each type must be present? Let’s look at the different golf club types to consider investing in.
Golf Club Types
Driver
Drivers are frequently the most coveted club that golfers want in their bag primarily due to the distance they can hit a golf ball and the golfer’s ego pushing them to hit the ball as far as possible.
Usually, drivers are available in loft degree options ranging from 9 to 13, with most club manufacturers offering 9, 10.5, and 12-degree options.
However, some produce the driver in 8-degree or 13-degree loft variations as well. You can check with your preferred manufacturer for availability, especially if these loft configurations are more suitable for your game than the conventional options.
Drivers are constructed using steel and graphite shafts, while the clubhead is made from alloy or aluminum materials. There are times when carbon fiber is the preferred material for the clubhead due to its lighter weight.
Compared to the other clubs in your set, drivers have larger club heads, providing them a larger sweet spot to make contact with the golf ball. There are different head sizes available, but the standard size for drivers these days is 460cc (cubic centimeters), which is the maximum allowed by the USGA.
Due to the length of the shaft and the club design, your swing speed is fastest with the driver. Most golfers have swing speeds ranging from 80 to 120 mph, and an average player with a swing speed of 95 mph may hit the ball at 230-240 yards.
Since you only use drivers for certain tee shots, there’s no need to have more than one in your set.
Irons
Irons are aptly-called because their clubheads are made of metal. They have thin clubheads from front to back, with grooved clubfaces to impart spin on the golf ball. More experienced players may prefer a “muscle-back” or “blade” style iron, but most recreational players and beginners prefer a “cavity back” style.
The primary distinction is that a blade-style iron has a full back on the rear of the clubhead, while a cavity back’s rear clubhead is, you guessed it, hollowed out to some extent. Such design produces an effect known as “perimeter weighting,” which is beneficial to you as a less-experienced player. Beginners are encouraged to play with irons labeled as “game improvement” or “super game improvement” since they can provide the most in-game help.
A standard, off-the-shelf iron set consists of a 3-iron through pitching wedge (labeled as “3-PW”). Except for the pitching wedge, which has a “PW” or “P,” each club is identifiable by a number (3, 4, 5, etc.) on the sole. Other irons, such as a 2-iron and additional wedges (gap wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge), may be purchased separately. Before, irons made up the majority of clubs in golf sets. However, irons have changed recently. That’s why more experienced golfers began to replace their 3 and 4-irons in favor of hybrid clubs. If you’re still a beginner, none of the additional clubs are necessary, especially the 2-iron.
Hybrids
As we mentioned previously, if you’re struggling to hit longer irons, you can turn to hybrid clubs to help bridge the gap between your woods and your shorter irons.
Most beginners struggle to gain much distance off of a 3 or 4 iron because they don’t make optimal contact with them. These long irons are challenging for most beginners to keep straight, with slices and hooks being the most prevalent shot tendencies.
Using hybrids instead of 3 and 4 irons can improve playability and make your swing more forgiving on off-center golf shots.
If you opt to replace those irons, you may add a 3, 4, 5, and 6-hybrid to your golf club set.
Fairway Woods
These clubs are called such because they were made of wood back in the day. Today, most are constructed using aluminum, stainless steel, and other alloys, making “fairway metals” more apt, but they’re still referred to as fairway woods.
Fairway woods are also available in different loft options. You can choose to have multiple woods in your set if they can help you make up for the distance gaps in your golf game.
Beginner golfers usually find it easier to play with a wood than a driver. Thus, it’s typical to carry a 3-wood in your bag for tee shots and also use it for fairway shots on long par 4’s and par 5’s.
Alongside the 3-wood, you may also bring a 7-wood to cover the next distance gap between a 3-wood and hybrid (with a 19-21 degree loft) or 4-iron. For instance, on lengthy par 3s that stretch 200 yards, you can use a hybrid or 7-wood if they’re easier to hit than a 4-iron in the same distance.
For more experienced golfers, a 5-wood is an excellent addition to their set. While one fairway wood is enough in most cases, other golfers, especially those with a higher skill level, may have a couple of fairway woods in their set.
Wedges
Wedges are designed to help improve your score as you approach the green. They are designed with higher loft, which allows for more accuracy and spin while enabling you to gain more control over the distance of the golf ball.
When choosing wedges for your club set, one factor you need to consider is bounce. Bounce is calculated through the angle between the leading edge of the wedge’s clubface and the bottom of the sole. The greater this angle, the more bounce the wedge has, and the easier it is for the club to bounce off the ground instead of digging into it.
Bounce can aid in allowing the wedge to continue going forward in your swing after hitting the ground to help your chip shot generate consistent results and prevent jabby or jerky movement that causes inconsistent ball distance.
There are several types of wedges you can choose from, namely:
- Approach Wedge
- Gap Wedge
- Sand Wedge
- Lob Wedge
The gap wedge “bridges the gap” between your pitching wedge and your sand and lob wedges. It features 50 degrees of loft to help with shots from 90-120 yards and chip shots around greens.
Lob wedges can have lofts ranging from 54-64 degrees. Professional golfers, particularly Phil Mickelson, carry a 64-degree lob wedge meant for hitting high-arcing flop shots out of sand bunkers and around the greens.
A complete set of clubs usually includes a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. Adding a gap or lob wedge is optional but not necessary.
Putters
The putter is probably the only golf club used on nearly every hole. Unless you make a miraculous approach shot that falls directly into the cup, you’ll have to finish off the hole with your putter.
Primarily, putters are utilized to tap the golf ball toward the hole once golfers have arrived at the green. It has a minimal loft that allows the ball to roll along the low grass in the green. Unlike the other clubs in your golf bag, putters don’t have any grooves on their clubface to produce spin on the ball.
There are three primary putter head designs: blade, mallet, and peripheral-weighted.
Blade putters are best suited for players who have straight putting strokes as they typically prefer challenging, fast greens and require a more delicate touch. Meanwhile, mallet putters are the most forgiving of the three due to their deep head designs, which provide a lower and deeper center of gravity for improved performance on off-center strokes.
Finally, peripheral-weighted putters (also referred to as heel-toe weighted putters) are the result of the natural progression of blade putters. While they are still delicate to handle, they are longer and thinner than blades at address and feature additional weight in the heel and toe for additional forgiveness.
While various types of putters are available, you usually need to include just one in your golf club set.
Best Golf Club Sets for Beginners
The best golf club sets specifically designed for beginners feature clubs that provide plenty of forgiveness. Additionally, they feature thicker top lines, which provides any player greater confidence when looking down on the ball. Finally, these golf club sets include everything you need to get started, including a fairway wood, driver, hybrid club, a set or half set of irons, and a putter.
Before going deeper into the actual sets, let’s first review the components of a golf club.
Beginner Golf Club Components
Grip
To help you hold a golf club firmly, an eight-inch rubber grip is attached to the steel or graphite shaft of every golf club in your bag. This grip comes in handy to keep clubs from slipping out of your hands while swinging at 80-120 mph.
They come in different sizes: standard, medium-size, and oversized. So when should you use each?
You’ll find a thicker grip more useful if you have larger hands. For instance, thicker grips on putters are common to help golfers keep their hands and wrists less active throughout the putting stroke.
Grips are also available in various textures, colors, and designs. Feel free to try out the conventional grips that come with your golf club set first. If they don’t feel comfortable, you can always replace them by purchasing custom grips.
Shaft
The shaft is an essential part of your golf club for its ability to pass speed and force from your hands to the clubface. Since there are many different types of golf shafts, club fitting is the best way to find out which will suit you best.
When picking a golf shaft, you need to consider the following factors:
- Swing Speed
- Ball Trajectory
- Distance Control
- Flight Direction Tendency
Your local fitter can provide pertinent data about your swing. Use this information to figure out the numbers for the aforementioned factors and get the most suitable shafts. Before buying any, remember to try the equipment out and see how it feels and works.
Keep in mind that you can achieve better contact quality with the ball with the right shaft and flex, leading to more consistent shots.
Clubhead
For most golfers, the look of their clubs at address should be at par with their preferences. Thus, the psychological aspect of clubhead selection is also important. If you don’t like the way your new clubs appear, the overall success of the fitting can be jeopardized, no matter how much improvement there is.
For this reason, you must fit into clubheads that have the potential to improve your performance in specific areas, such as misdirection tendency and overall launch conditions/trajectory, among others, while prioritizing the shape and design of the clubheads at the same time.
Also, having different-sized clubheads can offer a significant advantage if you want to get the most out of your golf club. Most manufacturers offer standard, midsize, and oversized heads for their golf clubs. Your choice will come down to your level of playing experience on the course.
But in general, the larger the clubhead, the more forgiveness your swings will have. You can manage a poor shot with an oversized clubhead and still get a decent outcome, but they are usually heavy and challenging to control.
Overall, the clubhead is what puts the ball from the tee box to the green. Golf club manufacturers make it a point to optimize the clubhead’s design to help you hit the ball longer and straighter.
Hosel
The final golf club component we’re going to discuss is the hosel. It’s also important because it joins the clubhead to the shaft and helps determine the club’s lie angle, which is the angle formed by the club’s sole and the shaft.
Certain golf clubs, specifically drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids, have adjustable hosels that allow you to modify the loft settings. Irons, wedges, and putters typically do not have adjustable hosels since the clubs are designed with predetermined lie angles applicable for that specific golf club.
Depending on your height and swing, you may be able to have your golf clubs customized to lie angles most suitable to you. This practice is common among professional golfers who can distinguish their club settings from the standard club settings that average players purchase at a store.
What to Look for in a Beginner Set of Golf Clubs?
After a refresher on the different components of a golf club and what clubs need to be present in the set you’ll purchase, let’s get right to the things you need to look for in a beginner set of golf clubs.
Golf club sets are usually made up of 14 clubs, which is the maximum number allowed by the USGA. Your beginner golf club set should have an excellent combination of drivers, irons, wedges, woods, hybrids, and a putter.
Most importantly, you’d want your golf clubs to fill in your distance gaps. For instance, if you hit your driver 230 yards and your 4-iron at 180 yards, the 50-yard distance gap must be covered with a proper mix of fairway woods and hybrids with varying lofts.
A sample breakdown of the clubs in the set looks like this:
- Driver (9-13 degree loft)
- Iron Set (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 iron)
- Hybrid (19-21 degrees loft)
- Fairway Wood (15-17 degrees loft)
- Lob Wedge (54, 56, 58, 60-degree loft)
- Pitching Wedge
- G, S, or A Wedge
- Putter
As a beginner, you should specifically look for drivers with higher loft angles and more forgiveness to help you hit higher and longer shots that are straighter, thanks to the forgiveness factor.
Average Golf Club Distance Chart
It’s important to know which golf club to use for a particular shot. Although that can be challenging, a little estimation and referring to this chart should do the trick.
Golf Club
Average Golf Club Distance (in yards)
Driver (Total)
258
Driver (Carry)
240
3-Wood
217
5-Wood
205
Hybrid
201
3-Iron
189
4-Iron
181
5-Iron
173
6-Iron
163
7-Iron
154
8-Iron
143
9-Iron
132
Pitching Wedge
121
Top 5 Golf Club Sets for Beginners in 2022
Top Flite XL 13 Piece Complete Set
Pros
Cons
Set provides two hybrids for beginners instead of one
Set doesn’t include a 5-iron or sand wedge
Simple cavity back design of the irons is ideal for beginners
Isn’t intended for golfers taller than 6’1
Comes with a stand bag that offers sufficient storage
The Top Flite XL 13-Piece Complete Set is an excellent choice for beginner golfers at a competitive price point. The driver, fairway wood, and hybrids all have graphite shafts makes them more convenient to swing while also increasing distance. Meanwhile, the irons have steel shafts, which enable newer players to learn to control their distances as they play more frequently.
It’s also worth noting that each club in the set was engineered to generate higher launch, which can be a concern for golfers who are just starting. The driver has a low center of gravity to help with this and the shallow profile of fairway woods and hybrids aid in launching the ball effortlessly.
Cobra Fly XL Complete Golf Set
Pros
Cons
Premium quality clubs from a trusted brand
Irons need more workability
Low center of gravity for higher launch conditions
Not ideal for golfers with faster swing speed
Graphite shafted irons are lightweight, making them easy to launch
If you’re after a premium golf club set for beginners, the Cobra Fly XL is worthy of consideration. It comes with ten clubs in total, which is disappointingly short of a complete set but does come with a 10.5° 460cc driver, a 5-wood, and easy-to-hit hybrid clubs.
These irons (6-SW) come equipped with graphite shafts instead of steel, making them exceptionally lightweight and allowing the ball to launch way more easily. This shaft combination is ideal for senior golfers trying out the sport for the first time and prefer clubs with a lightweight feel.
The trolley bag that comes with the set is also of great quality. But, you’ll need a trolley to put it on. Overall, the Cobra Fly XL is a premium set specifically designed for the beginner who’s committed to playing golf for a while.
Callaway Edge Complete Golf Set
Pros
Cons
Extremely forgiving clubs for beginners
Set isn’t complete as it only comes with ten clubs
Woods come with graphite shafts, making them ideal for golfers with slower swing speeds
Glaring gap between hybrid and 6-iron is existent
Excellent quality and easy-to-launch driver and 3-wood
If you’re new to golf, you’ve probably learned how pricey the equipment and challenging the game can get. For these reasons alone, many novice players try it only once for these reasons before concluding it’s not for them.
That’s why Callaway engineered the Edge Complete Set. It comes with specially designed irons meant to equip beginners and high handicappers with every advantage to ensure performance and maximum enjoyment. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank to get all these.
While the same irons are unlikely to benefit golfers with lower handicaps, there’s hardly a better option if you’re still a beginner or struggling to hit the ball consistently. You can count on the Callaway Edge Complete Set to provide maximum forgiveness and easy playability. However, it leaves a bit to be desired when it comes to ball speed, feel, and workability.
Wilson Men’s Profile XD Complete Golf Set
Pros
Cons
Clubs are easy to hit with perimeter weighting for increased forgiveness
Only has ten clubs in total
Excellent game improvement clubs
Set doesn’t come with long irons
Comes at an affordable price point from a trusted brand
The Wilson Profile XD sets itself apart from other golf club sets with its top-of-the-line forged Titanium composite 460cc driver. Titanium is the same material often used in aircraft for its strength and durability. Hence, it’s pretty rare to get hold of a driver of this caliber at a comparable price range.
Apart from the driver, the set comes with other excellent clubs. You’ll find a hybrid club offering a greater degree of loft, thus, greater distance, and a fairway wood with a low-placed weight that makes greater loft and carry possible.
It also includes six stainless steel irons, a pitching wedge, and a 6-sand wedge with a heel-toe weighted putter. You can conveniently place the clubs included in the set into the durable and lightweight carry bag it comes with on your way to the course.
The Wilson Profile XD golf club set is designed to aid beginners in overcoming every obstacle they may encounter on the course. From the sturdy driver to the extra-forgiving irons and high-launching fairway woods and hybrids, beginners will have everything they need to master golf, starting from the basics.
Tour Edge Bazooka 270 Complete Golf Set
Pros
Cons
Every club in the set is extremely easy to hit
Some of the shorter irons don’t provide decent spin
Putter aids in improving accuracy for beginners
Putter isn’t that forgiving
Features ultra-thin clubfaces for better CG weight placement
There isn’t anything fancy about the clubs included in the Tour Edge Bazooka 270 set, but beginners will appreciate the effortless distance they get off the tee and the ease with which the irons may be used.
While iron play can be a challenging part of the game for a beginner, these huge irons (5-SW) have an undercut cavity to produce a larger sweet spot for higher launch and more forgiveness. Perhaps more than anything, they’ll enjoy how easy it is to hit with the oversized irons. Also, the driver and fairway wood in the set both explode off the tee and the turf, making the name “Bazooka” an apt moniker.
As a downside, practically all of the irons in the set lack workability, which is to be expected from a game-improvement set of clubs. The longer irons could do well with a higher launch too.
However, as a beginner, you’ll hardly notice these disadvantages and will soon find the Tour Edge Bazooka 270 to be the kind of set that lasts longer than most game-improvement and beginner golf club sets.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Golf Club Set for Beginners
Quality
Quality is a relatively common issue among beginner sets. Many can be poorly constructed and have issues with the clubhead, shaft, grip, or all three. Therefore, choosing wisely and going for established, well-known brands in the golfing world is a must. You can be sure their products are well-made and designed to provide as much help to beginners as possible.Forgiveness
As we previously stated, forgiveness is the most important consideration when purchasing beginner golf club sets. Mishit shots are one of the most common areas of concern for new golfers, as it limits distance and hinders accuracy. Beginner golf clubs are specially designed with larger clubheads and sweet spots, providing more forgiveness while still allowing players to make solid contact with the golf ball.Frequently-Asked Questions
What is the Specific Price Point for a Beginner Golf Club Set?
This question is tough to answer since there are golf club sets designed to come at a lower price point, while others are manufactured by premium brands. Hence, they cost more. Realistically, you can spend anywhere from $200 to $1,000 on a beginner set. While there’s no exact answer, we can say that you should be aware of how much you are willing to spend on your first set of clubs, then choose appropriately from there.As a Beginner, Should You Get Fitted?
Usually, we recommend golfers to get fitted for golf clubs these days, but as a beginner, we believe that investing in some lessons is a better way to spend money because it will allow you to hone your skills faster. Once you start to level up and see sustained success with your shots, it’s time to consider getting fitted for a proper set of clubs.How Much is a Good Set of Golf Clubs?
If you look at the most recent golf sets from the leading golf club manufacturers, you’ll find that a complete set can cost anywhere from $699 to $1,999. Tour-level golf club sets are even more expensive, but they cater specifically to more skilled players, so they’d be difficult for beginners to play with. These golf club sets cost in the range of $1,499 to $1,999.Should I Buy New or Used Golf Clubs?
As a beginner, you always have the option to buy used golf clubs. Many other players opt not to purchase a new set of clubs at the onset of their golfing journey to save money. However, like any other second-hand purchase, there are risks that go with buying something already used before.
Finding a set of cheap golf clubs is easy, and going for it without hesitation is tempting. But if you want to make sure and be economically responsible, see to it that you check the clubs carefully before getting them from the seller. Examine everything, from the clubhead and shaft to the grips, for cosmetic defects.
If you’re examining a brand new set of clubs (at least a little), you can certainly do the same with a used set.
It’s also possible that you can get the same clubs for a similar or even lower price, so don’t grab the first deal you find.
What’s the Difference Between Buying a Golf Club Set and Buying Clubs Individually?
Choosing to purchase clubs individually gives you a lot more flexibility. For this reason, many professionals choose not to have equipment contracts, allowing them to chop and change as they like and use different clubs they like. Meanwhile, buying a complete set is perfect for beginners since it can save a lot of time choosing from seemingly endless equipment options, often at a much more affordable price.Best Golf Club Sets for Intermediate Golfers
Intermediate Golf Club Components
Shaft
The shaft is an essential part of a golf club, and it has a significant effect on how you hit the ball. Different materials are used to create golf club shafts, like graphite, stainless steel, and alloy steel.
As an intermediate golfer, you should choose a graphite shaft club or an alloy steel shaft club with a regular club flex. Clubs with stiff flexes aren’t recommended because you won’t get the perfection you’re looking for in your shot while using them.
Clubhead
Many intermediate golfers forego checking the clubhead because they think they have enough experience to handle any mishap.
You are not supposed to do that. The clubhead is too significant to a golf club to be overlooked. It’s the part involved in most of the action when you hit the ball and is specifically designed for launching the ball once the ball connects with it.
As an intermediate player, you’re recommended to choose golf clubs with larger clubheads for maximum forgiveness and a more prominent sweet spot.
Grip
Grip is essential to holding a golf club correctly. It’s a critical component you can’t skip over, so your golf club doesn’t slip as you play the shot.
Golf clubs have an 8-inch grip to help you hold them and are available in different sizes: standard, midsize, and oversize. Your choice will depend mainly on the size of your hands and palms.
The rule of thumb is that if your palm area is huge, you should choose an oversized grip. If your palm is small or medium, you should choose a standard or midsize grip.
These are the fundamental aspects you need to look at when ordering a golf club set as an intermediate golfer.
Top 5 Golf Club Sets for Intermediate Golfers in 2022
Callaway Strata Complete Set
Pros
Cons
Forgiving golf clubs
Limited workability
Easy to launch
Driver loft is at 12°. A lower option would be better for intermediate golfers
Set includes a sand wedge
If you’ve been searching for the best golf club set for intermediate golfers, look no further than the Callaway Strata Complete Set. It comes with five woods, four irons, two hybrids, two wedges, a blade-style putter, and an easy-to-carry stand bag that’s also lightweight.
It also features an additional 4-hybrid and sand wedge, but the highlight of this 16-piece set has to be the new-look irons. Callaway is smart to leave the 4- and 5-irons to the hybrids that come with the set, but the irons have a broader, less boxy shape that makes the sweet spot bigger and provides each shot exceptional forgiveness.
If there’s one issue, it’s about the driver and its 12 degrees of loft. Intermediate golfers might do better with a 10.5-degree driver, so the higher lofted option will lose a bit of distance.
Cobra XL Speed Complete Set
Pros
Cons
Has the most forgiving clubs of the bunch
Is quite pricey
Delivers maximum stability through impact
You’ll require a cart to transport the bag around the golf course
Well rounded set of clubs overall
Limited workability
Even if your handicap is getting better, it doesn’t mean that you can already overlook forgiveness. The Cobra XL Speed is the most forgiving intermediate golf club set of all. In addition to being forgiving, this is one of the few sets that come with a cart bag.
There are three woods, two hybrids, four irons, two wedges, and a putter in this set of clubs for intermediate golfers. They fill in most of the distance gaps in your bag and give you the necessary tools to play well from tee to green.
A more aerodynamic design on the woods speeds up the clubhead speed. Plus, they have more prominent sweet spots, making them more forgiving. The center of gravity (CG) is low and back in the woods to encourage a high launch for terrific carry distance.
Hybrids may take the place of your long irons, and the strongest lofted iron is a 6. The set also comes with a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a blade putter.
Ultimately, the Cobra XL Speed works exceptionally well for intermediate golfers who value forgiveness and other players who prefer their golf club set to come with a cart bag.
Taylormade RBZ Speedlite
Pros
Cons
Excellent balance of short, mid, and long-game clubs
Expensive
Clubs included in the set provide impressive forgiveness
Bag included in the set is flimsy
Clean aesthetics
The TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite golf club set should be appealing enough for intermediate golfers with deep pockets who demand the best. This set is the best premium collection of golf clubs on the market. It stands out because of the diversity of the clubs and how well they were constructed.
Indeed, quality doesn’t come cheap, and this set costs more than most of the other golf club sets on this list. But, it provides an excellent long game setup, with good wedges and a consistent putter, which, in turn, helps with your short game.
Low and back center of gravity (CG) is present in the mid-irons, woods, and hybrids to initiate a high launching ball with added carry distance. Also, the irons, fairway woods, and hybrids interact with the turf in a way that produces a clean shot from any lie on the golf course.
The wedges also feature a C-grind sole that helps you perform better in different scenarios. The C-grind works best off of tight lies and from the bunker. Last but not least, the set comes with a spacious cart bag that features additional storage compartments so you can be very comfortable while playing on the course.
Wilson Ultra Set
Pros
Cons
Affordable
Doesn’t include a sand wedge
Included clubs in the set are well-designed and attractive
Putter is very light, which can be a turnoff for some
Comes with a quality bag
The Wilson’s Ultra Complete Golf Set is made for golfers who have recently transitioned into the intermediate skill level. It’s a super game improvement set that contains only the most essential playing clubs. It provides any golfer an excellent foundation to build a customized and more complete set in the future.
The set comes with three woods, five irons, a blade-style putter, and a stand bag. Each club features a prominent sweet spot that works to get the ball in the air and down the target line with minimal fuss or complexity.
Among the lot, the irons are the best part of the set. They tend to be a bit bulky, but that isn’t always a bad thing, especially when improving consistency since the club stays low and easily cuts through the turf to produce clean divots.
If there’s a drawback with this set, there aren’t enough golf clubs for intermediate golfers as they improve their game. Every player will likely need to add one or two wedges and another hybrid down the road to complement this starter set.
As a package, the Ultra set does have a lot to offer an intermediate golfer who wants to start small with minimal expense to get their collection off on the right foot.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Golf Club Set for Intermediate Golfers
Set Composition
Putting together your set can always pose a challenge. You can only carry 14 clubs, and the putter and driver are already a given. That leaves you with 12 club slots to fill. Complete sets usually have four irons, a driver, a putter, a fairway wood, a hybrid, and two wedges. When you purchase a set, consider the clubs it comes with and how well they fit your game. Most golf sets only come with 9 or 10 clubs, so you can always add more as you need them. Many golf sets only include a pitching wedge. Typically, that won’t work for intermediate golfers because you’ll need a sand wedge. But if the set isn’t too expensive, you can always buy a second wedge separately.Budget
The cost of intermediate golf club sets depends on the brand, the number of clubs, and the type of clubs that come with them. When you create your budget, think about how often you will play golf. If you intend to frequent the course, like once a week, you should get a good set that will last and help you get a lower handicap.
On the other hand, those who don’t play much and only need a standard set can look into entry-level alternatives. Intermediate golf sets can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand. If you have a set budget, you won’t waste time researching sets you don’t intend to purchase.
Gapping
Gapping helps you figure out how to put your set together. Golfers who have access to a launch monitor can look at historical data to learn more about gapping challenges. Gapping is the term for the distance gaps in your bag. For example, if you can hit a driver 250 yards but only 225 yards using a 3-wood, there’s a 25-yard gap in your game.
Also, if you can hit a 3-wood 225 yards but only 200 yards with a 3-hybrid, you have another 25-yard gap in your bag. Your wedges serve as a final example. You may hit a pitching wedge 100-yards and a sand wedge 70-yards, giving you 30 yards between clubs.
So, from 80 yards away, you can either use a forced sand wedge or a ¾ pitching wedge. Neither of these shots is recommended, and they could cause poor accuracy and distance control.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Who are Considered to be Intermediate Golfers?
Intermediate golfers are those who regularly break 100, with average scores in the 90s and the occasional round in the 80s. They could also be someone who hasn’t played golf for very long but knows more about the game, thus can’t be considered a beginner or inexperienced golfer.
Intermediate players often struggle to find consistency in the distance and quality of their shots. Meanwhile, advanced golfers are able to produce accurate distances using various golf clubs and showcase repeatability in major aspects of their game.
For intermediate golfers to become single-digit handicappers, they need to find a consistent game all around. Maybe their short game needs improvement, or their driving isn’t as good as possible. The intermediate golfer’s inconsistent play keeps them from being an advanced golfer or low handicapper.
How Long Before I Need to Upgrade My Golf Club Set?
If used sparingly, an intermediate club set should last for several years. Keeping your golf clubs maintained, out of humid conditions, and away from other weather-related elements are also factors that help your golf clubs stay relatively healthy.
One of the essential factors in determining how long golf club sets will last is how well you continue to play the game. As your golf skills improve, there are club options that will allow you to take full advantage of your mastery of the game.
It could take the form of a set of irons tailored to advanced players and their expected consistency or an adjustable driver that allows you to shape your shots with greater precision. As your game improves, so will your options for playing with golf clubs that provide far more control.
What’s the Expected Cost of an Entire Set of Intermediate Golf Clubs?
An intermediate set of golf clubs can cost between $200 and $400 (USD). For this price, you can expect the set to include three woods, a hybrid, four to six irons, one to two wedges, and a putter. The set should also include a bag and other features that make the game more comfortable for you on the course.
If the club set is at the lower end of the price range, you can expect fewer clubs, lower quality, and lower performance. However, club sets around lower price points are also worthy of your consideration primarily because they’re incredibly affordable but may not perform as well as club sets from name brand companies that are slightly more expensive.
It could take the form of a set of irons tailored to advanced players and their expected consistency or an adjustable driver that allows you to shape your shots with greater precision. As your game improves, so will your options for playing with golf clubs that provide far more control.
How Important is it for Intermediate Golfers to Get a Complete Golf Club Set?
Wedge selection becomes more critical as your skill level increases. As an intermediate player, one of the minor drawbacks or advantages (depending on how you look at it) of purchasing a complete club set is that you’ll most likely need to add more wedges to complete your short game.
Most complete sets only include a single wedge, though some come with a pitching and sand wedge. For this reason, you need to grab a couple of higher lofted wedges, beginning with a 52-degree sand wedge and a 56 or 60-degree lob wedge. These additional clubs will give you more options around the green.
Key Takeaways
When you’re new to golf, the type of clubs you get matters. Beginner clubs are usually a bit more user-friendly. If your swing and ball contact is still far from ideal, you can turn to them for much-needed wiggle room.
The clubs in beginner golf sets have larger clubfaces and shorter shafts. This design makes it easier to get the ball into the air no matter how you hit it. They also allow you to practice your golf swing without getting frustrated and thinking about quitting the game.
Meanwhile, as an intermediate golfer, you’d want clubs that amplify your distance and optimize playability without compromising forgiveness. The club sets included in the list cater to every type of intermediate player. Whether you’re on a budget, have the resources to spend, or demand distance and forgiveness, you can find what you need and need not look further.
