If you are new to golfing, the one question that you’ve probably asked yourself a lot of times by now is what clubs should be in my golf bag ? With so many options and combinations, it can be quite confusing to pick the best and the right kind of clubs that you should always have in your golf bag.
Golf clubs are undoubtedly the most important equipment that you will use when playing golf. It is important to note here that each situation calls for a different kind of golf club. These situations are often influenced by factors like the weather, the competition, and the yardage, to name a few.
Choosing the Right Golf Clubs
Whether you are a beginner or a highly experienced golfer, you should be well-informed on what clubs should be in your golf bag. This is because when it comes to golf clubs, it is a given that the “right” kind of clubs will work for you and the “wrong” set composition just won’t do the job. For instance, a seasoned golfer will typically carry clubs like putters and hybrids while a beginner’s golf bag will commonly include lob wedges and drivers, among many others.
So, which golf clubs should you have in your golf bag? In order to help you with that, we have compiled a list of the types of golf clubs that you should ideally carry in your bag.
1. Driver
The driver club is considered to be the most powerful club that any golfer will have in their arsenal. It is the longest type of golf club and also most golfers’ go-to kind of club. It is often identified by the number “1” that is generally located at the bottom of the clubhead. A driver is a wood but a wood is not necessarily a driver as there are, for instance, 3 woods and 5 woods.
A driver has a really long shaft which gives it a greater amount of power. The length of the club allows golfers to hit the ball far off the tee and potentially even hit the ball from the fairway with a good lie. You’re likely to find numerous types of driver clubs that differ in terms of their head sizes, length, shaft flex, weighted heads, etc.
2. Woods
Often referred to as a beginner’s best choice, woods are the golf clubs with the largest heads. Their heads are typically hollow, and they extend a few inches from front to back as well from side to side. They’re more rounded than irons and often covered in shiny paint.
Woods are commonly used for making the longest shots, which may also include strokes that are played from the tee box. They are a lower lofted type of club that help you advance from long distances out on the golf course. Like the driver, other woods have different styles and shapes between brands. There are a few common wood types, namely 3 woods, 5 woods, and 7 woods. These types mainly differ in their range of degrees and how far and high you can hit them.
3. Irons
Iron golf clubs are considered to be the most versatile type of clubs that will help you get out of sticky situations when playing golf. This is one reason why these are important clubs that you should have in your golf bag. For instance, irons are much easier to hit out of the rough (longer grass) than woods are.
The name of this club comes from the fact that older versions were made of solid iron; however, newer and more modern iron clubs are made of a steel alloy.
Irons are known for their ability to cut through glass fairly well, which helps one get the ball onto the green. As compared to woods, irons offer a far better loft which grips the golf ball and helps create backspin. Hitting the ball with more spin allows for your ball to land on the green softer and stay near where it lands. Irons are ideally used on short holes, tee shots when you don’t need to hit it as far, or shots from the fairway.
4. Hybrids
As the name suggests, hybrids are a combination of two different types of golf clubs; woods and irons. These clubs are a fairly newer category of golf clubs, and they are sometimes also called ‘rescue clubs’ or ‘utility clubs.’
Hybrids are considered to be ‘iron-replacement clubs’ because they are numbered exactly like irons are. For example, hybrid categories include 2-hybrids and 3-hybrids, where the number corresponds to the iron that they replace. What this suggests is that many golfers find hybrids easier to use than the irons these clubs replace. Hybrids are especially popular for average golfers. Typically higher-level golfers (low handicappers) don’t carry many hybrid clubs in their golf bag.
A great feature of hybrid clubs is that their clubface has a lot of depth as compared to iron clubs. This depth allows a great amount of flexibility in a golf game, and even if you miss-hit a hybrid, the chances are that you won’t lose as much distance on your shot as you’d normally expect to.
5. Wedges
This is quite a diverse type of golf club considering how golf wedges come in such a great variety of sizes and lofts. Wedges are often considered to be ‘their own type of golf club’; however, they are also a subset of irons.
Wedges are one of the most essential types of clubs you should have in your bag, but you should know which type of wedges you should carry. There are four main types of wedges. These include gap wedges, pitching wedges, lob wedges, and sand wedges. Each of these types has a unique design and varying uses, but all wedges, in general, have the highest lofts, the shortest shafts, and the heaviest heads.
Wedges are popularly used for pitches around the greens and shorter approach shots into the green. Wedges typically range in loft from 48 degrees to 62 degrees.
6. Putters
Just like wedges, the putter golf club is another diverse kind of club with a great many varieties. It is also one of the most specialized golf clubs and is only used for putting purposes. This may include putting the greens and making those last strokes that are played on a golf hole. In other words, putters are simply used to roll the ball into the hole with precision touch.
There are three major types of putters, which include mallet putters, blade putters, and weighted putters. Having the right kind of putter in your golf bag is imperative because it is one of those clubs that golfers use the most during a golf game. Deciding which putter is best for you depends on personal preference and feel. You want your putter to feel comfortable to swing.
Tips for Buying the Right Golf Clubs
Now that we have answered your question of ‘what clubs should be in my golf bag’, we also have some helpful tips for you that you should bear in mind when buying golf clubs for yourself.
1. Try Before Buying if Possible
This goes without saying; it is always a good idea to try out golf clubs before you actually buy them. When it comes to golf clubs, there is no concept of “one-size-fits-all,” which is why you should test the clubs first to see which ones best fit your playing needs. Many times you can try out clubs at a local store to see if you like the feel but can find the best prices online.
2. If You’re a Beginner: Buy a Half Set
This tip is especially for those who are new at this game. Buying a half set in the initial stages is ideal so that you can concentrate on learning how to play with the beginner golf clubs properly before you advance to higher levels of golf. Many sets of irons have the option of buying just a 5 iron through 9 iron or pitching wedge.
3. Consider the Shaft Materials
The material of the golf club can significantly affect your playing performance. Many golfers opt for clubs that have shafts made of graphite rather than steel. This is because graphite is lighter in weight and more concentrated in the head, which makes it really easy for the golfer to swing the club. Graphite shafts are especially popular for young golfers, beginners, seniors, and women.
Our Favorite Beginner Set of Golf Clubs
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re a beginner golfer. Or maybe you’ve never even swung a club in your life. If this is you, take a look at our favorite complete set of golf clubs to get started with. This set of clubs will be perfect for learning how to golf and will be good enough until you become an average golfer. At that point, you may want to upgrade clubs.
Our Final Thoughts
Golf clubs are indeed the most essential pieces of gear that need to be in your golf bag. They play a key role in greatly improving your performance during the game and also making it thoroughly enjoyable. The main idea here is to know and understand the different types of golf clubs there are, in order to start getting into golf.
