If you’re new to golf it can be extremely overwhelming to determine what you do and don’t need in a set of clubs. From drivers to putters, you can find out everything you need to know before heading out onto the golf course.
On average a typical golf set consists of 12 clubs:
- 1 driver
- 1-2 fairway woods
- Six irons
- 1-2 wedges
- 1 putter
However, according to official rules you are allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in your set. Having said that, it doesn’t mean you should and have to have 14 clubs, especially if you’re just starting out. Usually the number of clubs you carry in your golf club set is determined by your ability levels.
It’s really important you choose an appropriate set of golf clubs for you as they are key in improving your performance. When choosing your golf club set remember to select a wide variety of clubs as they all have different clubfaces and capabilities catering for the different shots you’ll likely use when playing a round of golf.
With that in mind let’s explore the different types of golf clubs you should short list for your golf club set.
Types of Golf Clubs in a Set
For most golfers, a golf club set consists of a driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges, and a putter. Below I will cover the types of clubs and why you need them in a golf club set.
Driver
Your driver is the longest club in a set and has the lowest degree of loft which is needed to help the ball travel further; however it does make this one of the hardest golf clubs to master, this is why a driver is one of the last clubs you will learn to use.
Your driver is mainly used to tee off a game of golf which is why golfers only have one in a set and why played correctly an amateur golfer can expect the ball to travel on average between 150 and 260 yards.
Fairway Woods
After the driver, you’ll need a fairway wood in your golf club set. Beginner’s golf club sets tend to only include one 3 wood, while more experienced golfers sets include a 5 wood as well. Golfers need a fairway wood in their set for the longer fairway shots or for when you want a more accurate long-distance shot from the tee.
An amateur golfer can expect their 3 wood to cover 125-235 yards, whereas with your 5 fairway wood you should achieve a short distance of 105-210 yards.
Irons
Your clubs mainly consist of irons, with a traditional club set consisting of a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 iron. However if you are a low handicapper you may choose to swap out for 3 and 4 iron in favour of hybrids.
After teeing off, most golfers would reach for their irons and you choose the iron depending on how far away from the green, as this dictates how much loft is needed. Below is a list of the average distances most amateur golfers reach with the corresponding iron.
- 3 iron = 190 yards
- 4 iron = 180 yards
- 5 iron = 170 yards
- 6 iron = 160 yards
- 7 iron = 150 yards
- 8 iron = 140 yards
- 9 iron = 130 yards
What do the Numbers Mean on Each Iron?
The numbers found on the clubhead of your irons are used to indicate the amount of loft each iron has and how far your golf ball should travel.
The best way to think about this is, the lower the number the less amount of loft meaning the ball won’t launch into the air as high however it should travel further. Whereas, the higher numbered irons in your golf club set have more loft which is needed to propel the up and down to cover less ground.
Hybrids
While these are not a requirement in a golf set, hybrid clubs have quickly grown in popularity as they offer excellent accuracy and achieve the distance of a long iron. Adding a 3,4,5 or 6 hybrid to your set of clubs instead of your 3 and 4 iron can improve your game.
As a general rule you can expect hybrid clubs to average a distance of 173 yards to 194 yards.
Wedges
Each wedge has a high degree of loft enabling you to hit the ball high into the air. This makes them ideal for short distances close to the green and difficult shots such as playing out of a bunker. A standard golf club set consists of 2 wedges, a pitching wedge and sand wedge which is essential for beginners.
More experienced golfers might want to add a gap wedge and lob wedge. The gap wedge is also known as an approach wedge which offers a high trajectory and short distance strike. Whereas, lob wedges work best on extremely close shots.
Amateur golfer’s can expect their wedges to achieve the following distances.
- Pitching Wedge = 116 yards
- Gap Wedge = 103 yards
- Sand Wedge = 88 yards
- Lob Wedge = 73 yards
Putters
Finally, you need a putter to complete a standard golf club set. This is the club you’ll use to keep the ball on the green and put into the hole. You might notice, a standard set putter has a flat face (Blade putter) allowing golfers to have a straight putting stroke, however you’ll also see more experienced golfers use putters that have a slight angle, weight or larger head (mallet putter).
While there are many different styles and types of putters, most golfers carry only one with them during a round.
What’s in a Beginner’s Golf Club Set?
Although you are allowed to carry up to 14 golf clubs in a set as a beginner, you can expect to purchase a set of golf clubs with a round 12 clubs. Clubs like the 5 wood, lob wedge, or other specialised clubs are not needed to enjoy a round of golf.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what a beginner should look for in a set of golf clubs:
- 1 driver
- 1 3 wood
- 1 3 hybrid
- 1 of each iron – 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons
- 1 pitching wedge
- 1 sand wedge
- 1 putter
What’s in a Min-Advanced Golf Club Set?
If you are a more advanced player with a mid to low handicap you might find a complete off the shelf golf club set doesn’t quite fit your style and yardage which is why you might look to swap out clubs for your preferred choice.
A more advanced golf club set may look like the below:
- 1 driver
- 1 3 wood
- 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons
- 1 pitching wedge
- 1 gap wedge
- 1 sand wedge
- 1 lob wedge
- 1 putter
How to Choose The Right Golf Club Set
With so many different types of clubs to choose from and so many different levels of golfers, the choice of clubs in your set can seem overwhelming at first.
Generally speaking, it’s encouraged to select clubs that compliment your game the most. If you’re a shorter hitter, it may be beneficial to stack your set with multiple fairway woods and hybrids in place of some wedges for added distance.Vice versa, if you’re a longer hitter you may find great benefit in sacrificing a 5-wood or hybrid in place of another wedge for increased accuracy and feel with your short game.
As a beginner you might not know what your golfing style is which is why you should look to test different types and makes of golf clubs to see which suits you best. You can normally do this but going to your local golf course which has a golf shop to try out clubs.
Conclusion
Now you know how many golf clubs are in a set. While learning about golf equipment can be intimidating, it doesn’t have to be. Following the instructions above, you’ll quickly learn what is in a set of golf clubs.
As long as you keep your set under 14 clubs, you are following the official rules and won’t have any issues during the round.