Golf clubs and equipment are expensive and many people wouldn’t argue with that statement. At the same time, there are ways, especially starting out, that you can save money while you are learning the game and prior to being ready for the more expensive clubs and equipment out there.
One of the best ways to save a little money and still get a high quality beginner’s set of clubs is to purchase a complete set from driver to putter with a golf bag and some head covers included.
The Callaway Strata set, in our opinion, are the best complete set of clubs on the market right now. If you are planning to pick up golf or if you need a set for a business outing, read the following Callaway Strata Review to learn why we at Red Birdie Golf believe it to be the best complete set out there.
When we say “complete” set of golf clubs, we mean just that. In fact, here is a list of what you get when you purchase the Callaway Strata set:
- A 460cc titanium head driver.
- A low profile 3-wood with 15.5 degree loft.
- A 4-hybrid and 5-hybrid club that replaces your 4-iron and 5-iron.
- 6-9 cavity-backed irons.
- A Perimeter weighted 44 degree PW and a 56 degree SW.
- A high MOI Mallet Putter.
- A Callaway Strata Stand bag great for walking or riding.
- 4 headcovers, 1 each for the driver, 3-wood, and both hybrids.
Things To Consider Before Buying The Callaway Strata Set
With the 16-piece complete set of Callaway Strata golf clubs, you really have everything you need to get started in the game of golf. As you improve, you will want to add a wedge, maybe try a 5-wood, and see how well you can hit the longer irons just in case you like them better.
However, all of these things come later and may not even be necessary until your game improves to the point that you are ready to purchase a more “player oriented” set. With the Strata complete set each of these things is true:
- Your driver is really forgiving and long.
- Your irons are cavity-backed and made to be easy to hit and easy to get the ball off the ground.
- Your hybrids are easier to hit than long irons or woods and may very well be your favorite club in the bag.
- Your wedges, while a little too far apart in loft, give you some options around the green and getting out of hazards.
- Your mallet putter is easy to align, has a high MOI, and has a really big sweet spot.
Of course, there are weaknesses to this set. It is not very customizable and many golfers will outgrow the set very quickly if they play consistently. The driver is years behind the technology that you can find on the market now, and for that matter the other clubs are as well. However, for what this set is, it is really good. If you are just starting out, the set is built for exactly that. It has clubs that are easy to hit, their lofts are spaced out reasonably well, and they are very forgiving.
Pros
- Has everything a beginner needs at a low price.
- 2 wedges while most complete sets only have 1.
- Great accessories including a good stand bag and 4 headcovers.
- The mallet putter is higher quality than what you find in the majority of complete sets.
- Every club in the bag is both easy to hit and very forgiving of mishits. Even the wedges are perimeter weighted.
- You could play for a while before needing to upgrade your set.
- It takes the guesswork out of equipment purchasing.
- The Callaway name is well-known for quality.
- The Strata bag, headcovers, and clubs all have a professional look.
- The stand bag is large enough to add a club or 2 when the need arises.
- The fairway wood and hybrids have good graphite shafts and high quality, stainless steel heads.
Cons
- 2 wedges and 4 irons may not be enough, especially with the big gap in loft between the PW and SW.
- The 5-hybrid and 6-iron are very similar in loft.
- There is another big loft gap between the 3 wood and the hybrids.
- If you like blade putters, you will either have to find another set or purchase a separate putter.
Features and Benefits of The Callaway Strata Set
Construction (3.5 out of 5)
Head
The driver head is a 460cc titanium face which is big, forgiving, and easy to hit. The titanium face provides a lot of ball speed while the oversized head looks great on the ground, is easier to hit, and has a high MOI.
The 3-wood and hybrids have stainless steel heads with low profiles. All 3 of these clubs are easy to hit, and the hybrids are especially great with approach shots as they get the ball up high quickly. The 3 wood has enough power to be a great driving club the first day.
The irons are perimeter weighted around the face to enlarge the sweet spot and cavity-backed to make it easier to hit and more forgiving. The club heads are slightly oversized which makes it easier and to get the ball off the ground more quickly and allows the club to cut through whatever terrain your ball takes you.
The mallet head of the putter is becoming more and more popular among golfers because of the easy alignment, high MOI, and large sweet spot. The Callaway Strata mallet putter is great because most complete sets include a blade when the features of a mallet head is much more beneficial to beginners and high handicappers.
Shaft Options
You do not really have stock shaft options with the Callaway Strata. The driver, 3-wood, and hybrids will come with a graphite shaft and the irons and wedges will come with a steel shaft. Each shaft has what is called a “uniflex” option designed to work well for moderate to slower swings.
Club Specs
- 460cc titanium driver
- Lofts in degrees: 12 (driver), 15.5 (3-wood), 22 (4 hybrid), 25 (5 hybrid), 30 (6 iron), 34 (7 iron), 38 (8 iron), 42 (9 iron), 46 (PW), 56 (SW), 3 (putter)
- Club Lengths (in): 45 (driver); 42.5 (3 wood); 38.5 (4 hybrid); 37.75 (5 hybrid); 37 (6 iron); 36.5 (7 iron); 36 (8 iron); 35.5 (9 iron); 35 (PW, SW, putter)
Bag
The stand bag has plenty of pockets and a lot of space for the clubs. You could even add a couple while still using this bag. It is a stand bag so it is lightweight and easy to walk around the course. It is also easy to stand up next to you when you are waiting to hit your shot. One of the best things about it is that it says “Callaway” in huge letters across the side so that you at least look like you know how to play.
Performance (4 out 5)
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the hallmark trait of the Callaway Strata complete set. The golfer who is investing in these clubs is spending about the same amount for every club in their bag that many golfers spend on just their driver, and there is a reason for this. There is a reason 16-year-olds don’t (or at least they shouldn’t) start out with a Porsche. They are not ready for it, and you do not want to spend all of that money on something that the kids is just not ready to use yet. Golfers who are purchasing the Callaway Strata set need forgiveness because they are just learning. There will be a lot of mishits with this set, and the design of the clubs will help as much as possible to make those mishits not as bad.
Control/Shot Shaping
The Strata set is not overly concerned with shot-shaping capability. The target consumer for these clubs will just be learning how to make solid contact with the ball so that working the ball right-to-left or left-to-right is neither the concern of the golfer nor the club. Each club in the set was designed to promote a straight and penetrating ball flight with as little spin as possible.
Distance
While the Callaway Strata complete golf club set will not be the longest clubs on the course, they do provide you with better than average distance. The driver head is big and has a large sweet spot and generates a lot of ball speed. The hybrids are longer than their iron counterparts and easier to get off the ground than a wood. In general, these clubs help provide extra distance both because of how they were constructed and the type of clubs you find at each loft.
Looks and Feel (5 out of 5)
It is a great looking set of clubs made by a great golf company. They do not even look like a beginner’s set because of the noticeable quality of construction, and the old adage “When you look good you play good” definitely applies.
When it comes to beginning golfers, you can take feel in the traditional sense and just throw it out. The softness of the ball and the way that the ball interacts with the club take a back seat to how the clubs feel in your hand and how naturally they fit your swing.
These clubs were made for the masses of beginner golfers and the majority of beginner’s swings fit these clubs well.
Cost (4.5 out of 5)
At a cost of about $450 to $550 at most golf retailers, you get great value with the Callaway Strata complete set. A good Callaway Mavrik driver will cost you close to the same thing you will pay for every club in the Strata set. WIth that said, the cost is great and is not prohibitive of letting new people try this great game.
Alternatives To The Callaway Strata Set
Wilson Profile SGI
In general, when you see a “best value” or “Most Affordable” golf club list, the name “Wilson” shows up frequently and is usually high up on the list. Wilson has found a great niche in creating value golf equipment and there are a lot of people looking for just that.
When you think of a starter set of golf clubs, the same terms like “Best Value” and “Most Affordable” are terms that you are probably looking for. In short, a starter set of golf clubs is right up Wilson’s alley. The Profile SGI set does not disappoint.
Pros
- With 2 wedges and 4 irons, it is a pretty complete starter set.
- Very affordable.
- A high value to cost quotient.
- Great head covers.
- A blade style putter.
- Irons are forgiving and easy to launch.
- 460cc driver with a lot of forgiveness and a big sweet spot.
- Not really missing any clubs for beginners.
Cons
- Not as many clubs or accessories as the Strata set.
- The stand bag is not as big or as high quality.
- The driver and irons lack durability.
- Mallet putters are generally more geared towards beginners.
Tour Edge Bazooka 370, 17-piece Set
This 17-piece set is very thorough and includes both a 5-wood and a 5-iron. For beginners who like the idea of a more traditional set, including only 1 hybrid and 12 total golf clubs (the other pieces are the stand bag and 4 headcovers) this is a good set for you. Tour Edge continues to improve their reputation of a high quality club manufacturer, and you can see that in this set.
The irons are easy to hit, the driver is long, and the entire set was created for distance and forgiveness. At a great price point, the Tour Edge Bazooka clubs are built for beginners and high handicappers, and you get a lot of good clubs with game improvement features.
Pros
- A more traditional golf club set.
- Cavity-backed steel irons are long and forgiving.
- The hybrid is a high quality, easy-to-hit club we just wish there was at least 1 more in the bag.
- A little more customizable with options for taller players and some shaft options.
- The anser style putter is big and easy to align.
- The stand bag is both lightweight and easy to carry with no durability issues.
Cons
- Only 1 hybrid.
- The Anser putter design does not really fit with the rest of the set.
- The clubs do not feel as solid or look to have the same quality as the Strata or the Wilson sets.
Final Thoughts On The Callaway Strata Review (Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5)
The Callaway Strata complete set is, in our opinion, the best complete beginner’s set out there. It is thorough, only has a couple of minor loft gaps, and the clubs are high quality. Having 2 hybrids and starting at a 6-iron rather than a 5 was a great choice and while you may eventually add a wedge, starting with the PW and SW was a good decision as well.
We also like that the increasingly popular mallet style putter was chosen rather than the oft chosen blade style. In fact, for a beginner set, we do not find much fault with it at all, and even the price tag is good for all that is included.
If you are just starting out in golf or have been using someone else’s used clubs for a while and need an inexpensive option, the Callaway Strata set is a great choice.
