If you are reading this article, then you are probably just starting out in the game of golf. It is a really fun game, but it is also very challenging and it can be very frustrating from time to time. As you begin, the first thing that you want to do is purchase a set of golf clubs that are made for beginners like yourself. These clubs will not have the high end technology that some clubs have, they will not necessarily have the high price tag or big name associated with them either. The key for a beginning set of clubs is to find some that are easy to hit, will allow you to learn your swing, and will help you appreciate and love the game of golf. This article will help you choose the best set of golf clubs for a beginner.
What Things to Consider When Buying a Golf Club Set For Beginners?
There are really 2 major things to look for when purchasing the first set of golf clubs for a beginner: Forgiveness and Accuracy. Many golfers want to hit the ball a long way from the start, but distance can be increased and developed as you get better. Forgiveness and accuracy are important because without them you will end up in the trees and traps far too often and it is much harder to improve your game if you are always scrambling.
We suggest purchasing a full set of golf clubs as a beginner because most sets are designed for new players and contain clubs that are easier to hit and give you optimal forgiveness. Many of today’s top brands sell full sets of clubs with beginners in mind, so you can have the confidence of carrying Callaway, TaylorMade, Wilson, or Cobra clubs while still gaining the benefits of a beginner set. We will present many of these beginning sets in this article as well as their features and pros and cons, but in general you cannot go wrong with a good beginning set of clubs that offers features designed for forgiveness and accuracy.
What’s Included In A Full Golf Club Set?
Most full golf club sets come with a driver, 1 or 2 fairway woods, 1 or 2 hybrids, 6-9 iron, 2 wedges, and a putter. Most beginning sets do not go below a 5 or 6 iron because the lower the iron, the more difficult it is to hit. While you will see more seasoned golfers purchase different brands of clubs depending on personal preference, full sets are great for those golfers who are just starting out and do not have those preferences yet. These sets will come with all that you need to begin your golf journey and clubs that are built to help you succeed.
Should A Beginner Get Fitted For Golf Clubs?
Like most things in life, there are pros and cons for beginners to get fitted for golf clubs. Being fitted is more than just getting golf clubs built to the right length for your height. It also includes finding the right lofts, lies, and shafts for your game as well. For that reason, and because of the prohibitive cost of being fitted, we do not suggest getting fitted for your initial full set of beginners golf clubs. The fitting would probably cost about the same as the clubs! We would, however, suggest that you generically move up or down in terms of the length of your club depending on your height. For instance, I am 6’4, and my 5’9 father-in-law gifted me my first set of golf clubs. It did not work out well, so make sure, if you are taller or shorter than average, that you get clubs that are the correct length.
Why Use Golf Clubs Made Specifically for Beginners?
There is a reason that certain golf clubs are made specifically for beginners, and it is because most beginners need the same two things like we mentioned above…Forgiveness and Accuracy. Beginner’s golf clubs are made to be easier to hit and more forgiving than more advanced clubs. With more advanced clubs, there is a more defined sweet spot that gives you great distance, better spin, and a more consistent shot when you hit it well. Beginner’s clubs are made to perform well across the face of the club so that even mishits have a chance to go straight and have a little distance as well. As a beginner, you will need this both to improve your game and to keep away the frustration that comes when you cannot get your golf ball to a playable lie. Beginner’s clubs will have oversized heads across the board, the will have a thick topline to give you confidence, the irons be cavity back to make the sweet spot bigger, and they will be very easy to align no matter your lie. The bottom line is that beginner’s clubs help beginners, so if you are one then you should take all the help you can get.
What are the brands offering beginner golf clubs and how do these brands differentiate themselves?
Most brands have beginning golf clubs available, and a lot of purchasing the right set comes down to personal preference. Most of the sets will be similar in terms of the clubs and features offered, and many of them will have roughly similar costs. Even as a beginner, you probably have some type of brand preference even if that preference is not from experience, and if you do, then choosing that brand may be the right choice. Anything that can give you even a little extra confidence on the course is probably worth it. The following is a comparison of the best golf clubs for beginners, and we take many of the best sets out there and help you decide which clubs are best suited for you.
Callaway Strata Men’s Golf Package Set
The Callaway Strata set is the most recognizable and probably the most popular full set of beginning golf clubs on the market. They have been around for a long time and always seem to be at or near the top of any “best of” list of full sets. For one thing, even if you have never played golf before, you probably know the “Callaway” name.
The set is also very inexpensive and the clubs are forgiving and easy to hit. You also have a choice between a 12, 14, or 16 piece set all of which include a stand bag and head covers. All sets have a driver, 3-wood, at least one hybrid, 6-9 irons, at least 1 wedge, and a putter. The 14-piece set has an extra headcover and wedge and the 16-piece set adds a headcover and hybrid to that.
Pros
- Maybe the most forgiving beginner set on the market.
- The lofts of each club are higher than most which makes them easier to launch and the ball goes higher.
- The blade putter is a great option when establishing your putting stroke.
- The affordability/quality ratio is as high as any set you will find.
Cons
- No lob wedge option.
- If you have a naturally fast swing, these clubs may not work as well.
TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite Package Set
This is a beginner set, but the quality and features of the club make it a set that you will be able to use for quite a few years. It is also considerably more expensive than the Strata set even with fewer pieces. The RBZ SpeedLite package set is a 13-piece set that includes 12 golf clubs.
These 12 clubs are some of the fastest and most feature-rich golf clubs available in a full set. The clubs include a driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 2 hybrids, 6-9 irons, PW and SW, and a mallet putter. In general, golfers learn to putt better with a blade putter, but this mallet putter is very compact, easy to align, and has a high MOI. If you are looking for a full set of beginner clubs that give you a little extra distance and that can grow with you for a few years as you improve, these TaylorMade SpeedLites are a great option.
Pros
- The driver boasts a 460cc head with high MOI and gives you more distance and control than most drivers in beginner sets.
- A great looking set of clubs with a great looking golf bag so you will look like a golfer as you learn to play like one.
- Every golfer wants distance, and these clubs are, if not the longest, at least one of the longest full sets of golf clubs that you will find.
- The wedges are really good too with high-volume grooves that give you high end spin and good feel around the green.
Cons
- One of the most expensive sets on the list.
- While they excel in distance, they are not as forgiving as some of the other clubs on the list.
Inesis 100 Package Set
There are only 7 clubs and no golf bag that comes standard in the Inesis 100 package set. The clubs look great and they perform really well, and the price reflects the number of clubs in the set. A 7-club set might be perfect for those who are just starting out in golf.
The truth is, most complete beginners do not need much more than just 7 clubs, and as you improve you will want to find better clubs as well. The 7 clubs in the set include a driver, a hybrid, a 6/7 iron, an 8/9 iron, PW, SW, and a putter. Each club comes with graphite shafts and can often be found for less than $300. They are high quality clubs for the price and their looks are comparable to much higher priced options. If you are just looking to get out on the course and get the feel of the game, this is a really low-priced option that will get you out on the course quickly. It is also not a huge investment, so when you are ready to purchase a more permanent set, you will not have spent a lot of money on the beginners.
Pros
- One of the least expensive options on the list.
- The irons and hybrids excel and are easy to hit and very forgiving.
- Some of the best looking clubs on the list.
- Enlarged club heads inspire confidence at address and make it easier to frame the ball on the club.
Cons
- The bag does not come with the set, you have to pay extra.
- Only 7 clubs does not give you all the clubs most golfers need.
Callaway Golf Warbird 14 Piece Package Set
Another Callaway set, the Warbird package set is a little more high-end than the Strata and it is also a bit more expensive. The driver and irons are a great combination of distance and forgiveness, some of the best on the market.
They are a very popular beginner’s set as well because you get a set of premium performing and premium looking clubs for a good price. The clubs in the 14-piece set includes an oversized driver, 5-wood, 5-9 irons, PW, SW, and a premium Odyssey putter. All of the clubs are built for beginners so they are forgiving and easy to hit, but they also have enough features and provide enough distance to work well for intermediate golfers. The set is a little more expensive than many of the other sets, but it is also a higher quality set than many others. This is another set that you will spend a little extra money for added distance and features.
Pros
- Includes one of the better drivers of any full set.
- Premium looking, feeling, and performing clubs at a good price.
- An Odyssey putter that is as good as any you will find in a full set, and really as good as most you will find anywhere.
- A full set of 7 irons.
Cons
- More expensive than most beginner sets.
- No hybrids in the set, a club that most beginners prefer.
MacGregor CG3000 Golf Club Set
MacGregor may not have the same “brand name power” as some of the others on this list, but the MacGregor name has been around for a long time in the golf world. The 10 clubs, bag, and 3 headcovers make this a pretty complete set, and the irons and driver are particularly good beginning clubs.
In the set, you get a driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, and a mallet putter. For a beginning set, it is very thorough, and all you would have to do to make it a complete set would be to add another fairway wood, hybrid, and LW. The driver has a great loft for a beginner, the offset on the hybrid helps cure the slice, and the irons have a thick, but not too thick topline. In short, the clubs are easy to hit, very forgiving, launch high, and look great next to the ball. It is a really good golf club set for a beginner.
Pros
- The 13.5-degree driver in this set is really easy to hit, pretty long, and very forgiving.
- One of the least expensive options on the list, and the clubs are very high quality.
- The irons have a great top line that is thick enough to look great while not being overly intrusive, they also have perimeter weighting for extra forgiveness.
- The mallet putter is easy to align and has a really high MOI.
Cons
- A very thin grip on the putter, and pretty low quality grips all the way around.
- Not as long as some of the other full sets on the list.
Wilson Profile SGI Package Set
The Wilson ProStaff set contains 10 very high quality clubs. There is a lot of customization options with this set including steel or graphite shafts, different lengths, and right or left handed. This set boasts a driver, a fairway wood, hybrid, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, and a putter.
The driver, at 10-degrees, could use a little extra loft but it gives you good distance and it is a forgiving club. The best aspect of this set is the irons and wedges. They are some of the best irons in any full set in terms of launch, ease of use, and forgiveness. As a beginner, your irons and wedges are some of the most important clubs to learn how to hit, and the ProStaff set makes that process as easy as possible. The putter also looks great at address and has great feel. There are some distance gaps in this set and the front of the set (woods and driver) are not as good as some of the other sets, but the irons are as good as you will find in beginners clubs.
Pros
- A really good set of irons and wedges.
- 10 clubs and a bag should be adequate for any beginner.
- A really good value for the quality of the set.
- The putter is easy to align, provides good feel, and helps with distance control.
Cons
- The driver and woods are not as good as some of the other options.
- Not suited for players with higher swing speeds.
Cobra Fly XL Speed Package Set
Cobra continues to make a name for itself especially with their drivers and woods. Their clubs are known for speed and distance but they are also very forgiving and pretty easy to hit. The Cobra Fly XL Speed package set is a more of a premium set of beginner clubs though they are a better value than the TaylorMade SpeedLite set.
The Cobra Fly XL package is a 13-piece set that includes a driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 4 and 5 hybrids, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, a blade putter, and a cart bag. The driver is a really good club and will grow with your golf game as you improve. Just like the other clubs in the bag, it is long and it is forgiving. The woods are also very fast and long, especially for a beginner’s set. The irons feature a deep undercut and perimeter weighting for a lot of forgiveness and to make them easier to launch and easier to hit. The wedges are cavity-backed as well which used to be unusual but is becoming more common and offers good forgiveness for the wedges as well. The blade putter is a simple and high quality design. If you want to pay a little more for some extra distance and a really high quality full set of clubs, the Cobra Fly XL set is a good choice.
Pros
- Some of the fastest, longest, and lightest clubs for a beginner set.
- You have multiple shaft flex options, steel or graphite shafts, and high-end lamkin grips.
- Good for any swing speed so the clubs can grow as your swing grows.
- 2 hybrids and 2 wedges make it one of the more complete sets.
Cons
- On the expensive side compared to other clubs on the list.
- There is no size options for taller or shorter players.
Wilson Ultra Package Set
In the golf world, Wilson is known as a “value” brand which means they produce high quality clubs at a great price. The Ultra XD set includes 10 clubs as follows: a driver, 3-wood, 4-hybrid, 5-9 irons, PW, and a putter.
The stand bag is a high quality bag as well, especially if you plan on walking a lot when you play. We like the steel shafts across the board as well because the steel shafts usually help a player with feel and accuracy as their swing grows. Overall, the Wilson Ultra set is a really good value with every club focusing on forgiveness and accuracy even at the expense of distance. The putter features toe-heel weighting for extra accuracy and forgiveness which is very important for a beginner in putting.
Pros
- Great for players with naturally high swing speed.
- The driver and wood promote a high ball flight and great forgiveness.
- A really good value for the price.
- You get a good stand bag.
Cons
- Only 1 wedge and 1 hybrid.
- Steel is a little heavier than graphite and all clubs come with steel shafts.
Tour Edge Bazooka 270 Golf Club Set
Tour Edge continues to grow in popularity in the golf world, and this full beginner’s set is one of the most thorough and high quality sets on the market. The set includes a driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 4-hybrid, 5-hybrid, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, putter, 5 headcovers, and a nice cart bag.
That’s 12 clubs in a 18-piece set. There is really no distance gap, and the Tour Edge brand name is known for quality and ease of use. This set has everything a beginner needs and can really serve you through becoming an intermediate player and beyond. The driver has a huge face and a high MOI with a lot of forgiveness. The loft could be a little higher, but it is an easy club to hit and gives you good distance. The fairway woods and hybrids are pretty easy to hit though the shallow heads do not look as good as some of the others at address. The irons and wedges are the stars of this set with a deep undercut, perimeter weighting, and thick toplines that make them very forgiving and easy to launch. The mallet putter lacks some feel, but it is easy to align and gives you good speed control and accuracy. All in all, this is one of the better and most thorough beginner sets on the market, though they are a little more expensive than some of the other clubs on the list.
Pros
- A wide selection of clubs for a beginner set, including 2 hybrids that many beginners like to hit.
- The Tour Edge brand is known for being easy to hit, and the full set definitely lives up to that reputation.
- The clubs look great both in the bag and at address.
- A low center of gravity and perimeter weighting throughout the set give them a high launch and a lot of forgiveness.
Cons
- On the expensive side.
- The fairway woods can be a little difficult to hit.
Precise M5 Package Set
The Precise brand of golf clubs is not as well known as many of the other brands on this list, but this beginner’s set is a good one. You will find a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 5-9 irons, PW, and a putter in this set making it a good option for most beginners.
You may want to add a hybrid and you will definitely want a SW at some point, but this set is inexpensive enough to be worth it. The driver and woods have oversized heads that make them easy to hit with a ton of forgiveness on mishits. The offset makes them easier to launch and even increases their natural loft at impact. In general, this set provides really good accuracy and a high launch not to mention increased forgiveness and these three things together make it a good option for any beginner.
Pros
- The oversized club heads throughout the set gives you extra forgiveness and a huge sweet spot.
- An offset is there throughout the set.
- The 460cc driver looks huge at address and it is easy to align and looks great at address.
- A very accurate and forgiving set of irons and woods.
Cons
- Only 1 wedge, a PW, so you would have to add a SW and probably a LW later.
- Many beginners would do better with an extra hybrid.
Are there any clubs I should avoid as a beginner?
Your temptation, even as a beginner, is going to be to purchase golf clubs with the best and newest technology. The truth is, as a beginner you are just beginning to figure out your swing, and the clubs that work for you right now will be far different, more than likely, than the clubs that you will want your swing is refined and consistent.
With that said, there is no specific club that you should avoid as a beginner, but find clubs that are not too expensive, and not too feature-rich. Most beginning golf clubs setup well for beginners with forgiving irons, big drivers with a draw bias, and a few extra hybrids to replace the difficult-to-hit long irons. Go with these sets to start with. You will find out if you like hybrids or if you would rather use a 7-wood or 3-iron. You will start to know whether you like to hit your irons straight or if you want a set of irons that will help you work the ball around the course more. Beginner clubs exist for a reason, to teach you how to play golf without the frustration of those difficult to hit but high performing clubs. Those will come later, but for now do not worry too much about the technology or the features, work on your swing and your game.
How to choose the best beginner set?
When it comes to choosing the best beginner set, there are a few things that should really influence your decision. The first thing is to look at the club makeup and see if it matches your needs. If you just want a few clubs to get used to playing the game with the expectation of purchasing better clubs later, you may want a 7 or 8 club set. If you are expecting to use these clubs for a while, you may want to go with the TaylorMade or WarBird set. We would also suggest you make sure the set has a driver, at least 1 fairway wood, at least 1 hybrid, 6-9 irons, 2 wedges, and a putter. You may want to add an extra wood or hybrid, but that is the general makeup you want your set to have. Make sure that the set includes a hybrid because hybrids seem to be one of the easiest clubs for beginners to hit and hybrids are gaining popularity across skill level.
Once you find a few sets with the clubs you want, it becomes all about personal preference. We would suggest holding the clubs in your hands, feeling the grip, and taking a couple of swings. Even if you have never really played golf before, you will get a sense of what feels right in your hands. Throughout your golf career, there will be a lot of good club options, but holding them and trying them out is how you really get to know if they are the right clubs for you.
Final Thoughts on The Best Golf Clubs for Beginners in 2023
If you are looking for a proven winner, the Callaway Strata is perfect for a beginner looking for high quality clubs at a great price. They are very forgiving, easy to hit, launch at a high angle, and they are Callaways. The Callaway brand has been putting out inexpensive, high-quality beginning golf sets for a while, and the new Strata clubs are exactly that.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a more advanced set of beginners clubs, maybe you have been playing for a few months with someone else’s spare set for a few months, then the Cobra Fly XL or the TaylorMade SpeedLite may be what you are looking for. They have some forgiveness features and they are pretty easy to hit, but they are more built for speed. You will pay a little more for these sets, but they do have a few more features and the drivers in each set are really long. The TaylorMade wedges set these clubs apart.
A golf club set built for beginners should focus on forgiveness and accuracy above all else. They should also be easy to hit and inspire confidence standing over the ball. A lot of it comes down to preference, so before purchasing a set online, we would suggest going to a local golf store or pro shop and see what clubs look and feel right to you.
