The Best Golf Clubs for Beginners: Tested and Reviewed

You have been to the driving range with your buddies and have decided you enjoy smashing a 1.68-inch ball around. Now, you are on the lookout for some golf clubs. But how do you go about making your first purchase?

The best golf clubs for beginners will offer forgiveness if you don’t hit the ball 100% perfectly. You’ll also find reasonable prices that will let you start playing consistently without breaking the bank.

You do need to consider which shafts, grips, and types of clubs will work best. We know that purchasing your first set of clubs is an exciting experience. But it can be overwhelming. That is why we compiled a buyer’s guide and outlined the purpose of each golf club included in the average set.

Plus, we touch on the long, mid, and short game performances of each. If you already have woods, hybrids, and a putter, you will extract more value from our review on the best irons for beginners.

Overview Of The Best Golf Club Sets For Beginners

	Best Overall Set	Most Forgiving Set	Best Budget Set
	Callaway Strata 16-Piece	Wilson Profile SGI	MacGregor Golf CG300
Pros	The clubs cover all areas of your long, mid and short game Large driver head provides increased forgiveness The irons are forgiving and promote a straighter ball flight The mallet putter includes alignment assistance to improve your putting accuracy The set comes with a stand bag	The set covers all aspects of your game, from tee to green Hybrids replace long irons for distance and accuracy on approach The set includes a sand wedge Promotes a high, powerful launch The quality of the bag is good	Covers all the gaps of your long game Easy launching irons and woods The hybrid produces optimal turf interaction Includes a lightweight stand bag Forgiving putter
Cons	Marginally more expensive than competitor products The set does not include longer irons for players who may appreciate a lower ball flight	The omission of a 3-wood could create a gapping problem for some players Expensive	The set does not feature a sand wedge The nylon material rips easily, reducing the durability of the bag.
Clubs In The Set	11	10	9
Price	88.3	91.8	98.6
Club Composition	95.4	93.5	84.2
Performance	92.6	90.4	89.6
Rating	4.5 Stars	4.5 Stars	4.5 Stars

Our Research Parameters

Golfspan is independent and not pressured by manufacturers to recommend products. We were not paid for the reviews in this article. These golf club sets were selected by our team, who have over 100 years of experience playing golf and hundreds of hours reviewing products. We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase something through our retail links.

17 products were considered from 8 brands on:

• Club Composition
• Bag
• Forgiveness
• Distance
• Spin
• Price

The Best Golf Clubs For Beginners

1. Callaway Strata 16-Piece Set – Overall Best Golf Set For Beginners

Pros

• The clubs cover all areas of your long, mid and short game
• A large driver head provides increased forgiveness
• The irons are forgiving and promote a straighter ball flight
• The mallet putter includes alignment assistance to improve your putting accuracy
• The set comes with a stand bag

Cons

• Marginally more expensive than competitor products
• The set does not include longer irons for players who may appreciate a lower ball flight

Features

• 11 clubs
• Hybrids instead of long irons
• Sand wedge included
• Lightweight durable stand bag

To be the best beginner golf clubs, the set needs to be affordable, complete, and user-friendly. The best overall set may not win any categories outright, but when you tally the final score, it is the one who performed consistently throughout.

The Callaway Strata set includes eleven clubs, more than most beginner sets. The longest clubs in the set are a 12-degree driver and a 15.5-degree 3-wood that should suit most average golfers.

Sticking with the tradition of beginners’ golf club sets, Callaway exchanged the four and 5-iron for a 4 and 5 hybrid. This setup helps you achieve a consistently high launch on longer strikes. A 6,7, 8, and 9-iron account for the mid and short irons.

Most beginner sets only include a pitching wedge, making chipping a challenge. Fortunately, Callaway realized this and added a sand wedge. Capping off the set is a putter and a standard lightweight stand bag.

The Callaway Strata set is slightly higher in price than its competitors. But it offers a well-rounded selection of clubs to help you hone your skills on the course.

Out of all the beginner’s golf club sets we looked at, our team firmly agreed that this one is the best on the market.

Rating: 4.5

2. Wilson Profile SGI – Most Forgiving Beginner Golf Set

Pros

• The set covers all aspects of your game, from tee to green
• Hybrids replace long irons for distance and accuracy on approach
• The set includes a sand wedge
• Promotes a high, powerful launch
• The quality of the bag is good

Cons

• The omission of a 3-wood could create a gapping problem for some players
• Expensive

Features

• 10 clubs
• 5-hybrid replaces the 5-iron
• Sand wedge included
• Ergonomic carry bag

If your main priority is accuracy, keep reading. This award focuses on a set’s ability to keep you out of trouble on off-center strikes.

This ten-club set offers an excellent balance between your long, mid, and short game. The set is captained by a 10.5-degree driver, followed by a 5-wood and a 5-hybrid.

As is customary with beginner’s sets, there are no long irons. A 5-hybrid substitutes a 5-iron, followed by a 6, 7, 8, and 9-iron.

Unlike other beginner’s golf club sets, the Profile SGI includes a pitching and sand wedge to cover your short game. Rounding off the package is a putter and a premium lightweight stand bag.

Wilson coated the clubs in this set with anti-glare PVD for more comfort at address. Furthermore, each club is fitted with Profile SGI technology, which positions the weight in the clubhead, low, and back for a high, powerful launch.

These are among the best starter golf club sets, especially if you value forgiveness above all else.

Rating: 4.5

3. MacGregor CG3000 – Best Budget Beginner Golf Set

Pros

• Covers all the gaps in your long game
• Easy launching irons and woods
• The hybrid produces optimal turf interaction
• Includes a lightweight stand bag
• Forgiving putter

Cons

• The set does not feature a sand wedge
• The nylon material could rip, reducing the durability of the bag

Features

• 9 clubs
• A 24-degree hybrid replaces your long irons

• No sand wedge
• Stand golf bag

Those beginners on a budget and not ready to splash out on a premium set also have options. After assessing the quality and performance of various golf club sets under $500, it was the MacGregor CG3000 that stood out above the rest.

Its composition of forgiving, high launching clubs and a lightweight carry bag offers excellent value for money. The only downside of this set is that it does not include a sand wedge, increasing the difficulty of chip and bunker shots.

The set consists of a driver, 3-wood, 4-hybrid, four irons, a pitching wedge, and a putter. The driver contains 13 degrees of loft and is a high launching driver, ideal for slower swing speeds. Topping off the big clubs is an 18-degree 3-wood which is also easy to launch, forgiving, and consistent.

A 24-degree hybrid replaces your long irons, making it easier to get shots airborne and land neatly. The hybrid produces exceptional turf interaction to encourage a clean strike from any lie on the course.

The set includes a 6, 7, 8, 9, and pitching wedge, which features a low center of gravity for an easy, high launch.

The final components of the set are a Tour Mallet putter and a lightweight nylon carry bag. The mallet putter produces consistent topspin on mishits for optimal roll and distance control to increase consistency on the green. In addition, the lightweight carry bag is comfortable and easy to carry over 18-holes.

In conclusion, the MacGregor CG3000 lacks in the short game but makes up for it with its robust long game selection. If you are on a budget and willing to forego a sand wedge, this could be the best beginner golf set.

Rating: 4.5

4. Cobra F-Max Superlite – The Golf Club Set For Distance

Pros

• Complete set
• It includes a sand wedge
• The lightweight construction helps to increase clubhead speed
• High launching clubs for optimal carry distance
• Spacious bag

Cons

• Expensive
• The cart bag is not suitable if you intend to carry your clubs

Features

• 11 clubs
• 2 hybrids substitute long irons
• Sand wedge included
• Lightweight cart bag

To optimize your long game distance, you need a combination of accelerated clubheads and ball speed. The Cobra F-Max Superlite set helps beginners generate optimal clubhead speed, which leads to hitting longer shots.

The above features are why the F-Max Superlite top the charts for the best golf clubs for beginners who seek extra distance. The eleven-club set covers every element of your game to avoid gaps.

A 10.5-degree driver kicks off the set, ideal for moderate to fast swingers, who can consistently launch with a stronger loft. Next, a 16-degree 3-wood produces a high launch with superior forgiveness in your long game.

The long irons are replaced by a 4 and 5-hybrid, which deliver optimal turf interaction from any lie on the golf course. These clubs are high launching and forgiving and possess excellent shot-stopping power on the green.

After the hybrids, the set offers a 6, 7, 8, 9, and pitching wedge. These adequately cover your mid-length game. This set contains a sand wedge, which boosts your short game. It provides better control for chipping and is easier to launch in the bunker.

Capping off the set is a simple mid-mallet putter that produces a soft feel and optimal topspin off the face. All the clubs mentioned above are stored in a Cobra cart bag that offers superior storage to carry bags. The only downside is that they are heavier than stand bags and can weigh your shoulders down.

Overall, the Cobra F-Max Superlite set is a premium option for those players who place the importance of distance above all else.

Rating: 4

5. Robin Essentials – Best Carry Golf Clubs For Starters

Pros

• Lightweight carry bag
• Sleek looking clubs
• High launching clubs for maximum carry distance
• Club feature increased sweet spot

Cons

• Distance gaps in the irons
• Minimal storage space in the bag

Features

• 9 clubs
• A  hybrid replaces your 4-iron
• Includes a 5-iron and sand wedge
• Lightweight carry bag

The final award for beginners’ golf sets for 2023 is for the best carry golf clubs. If you do not own a cart and wish to cut your golfing expenses, the best option is to carry your clubs. Those who opt for this route will need a comfortable light carry bag that fits all the clubs they need.

The Robin Essentials Set combines sleek-looking clubs with a lightweight bag that is easy to carry around 18-holes. Plus, considering their forgiving nature, they are perfect for beginner golfers.

Robin added an excellent beginner driver, 3-wood, hybrid, 5, 7, 9, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and a putter. Each club is coated in a black matte finish giving them an attractive appearance and glare-resistant qualities.

The titanium driver produces explosive ball speed across the face to promote high and straight launching shots. In addition, the 3-wood and hybrid deliver improved turf interaction to promote a clean strike from the tee box, rough, or fairway. As a result, you enjoy consistently high launching shots that land softly on the green.

Although many beginner’s sets leave out a 4 and 5-iron, Robin left in the latter. However, they left out all the even number irons, leaving you with a few distance gaps in the set. On the positive side, it does come with a sand wedge to help you hone your short game.

Closing out the set is a steel face putter that is precisely milled to maximize topspin off the face. Therefore, you enjoy more consistent rolls, even on off-center strokes. Finally, Robin included a lightweight bag, easy to carry during a round.

In summary, the Robin Essentials set is light and well constructed for players who carry their clubs. It does not harm that they present an attractive appearance thanks to the black matte finish.

Rating: 4

5. Tangkula Golf Set – Cheap But Decent

Pros

• Sturdy bag
• Bargain price
• Surprisingly forgiving

Cons

• They look cheap
• “Alloy” driver

Features

• 8 clubs
• A hybrid replaces your 4-iron
• No sand wedge
• 43″ Driver

While this golf set lacks some of the tech packed into the more expensive beginner clubs, the Tangkula golf set is the perfect starting point if your budget is super tight.

It comes with a 460cc driver made from a mix of metals. a 3-wood, 4-hybrid, 6-9 irons, and a pitching wedge. It’s missing the sand wedge and extra woods, hybrids, or irons offered by some of our other top contenders, but it’s hard to argue for 1/3 of the price.

As these clubs are made from an alloy mix of metals, they have a less satisfying sound and feel than some others. Despite this, they are still fairly forgiving and should help you to keep your score low.

Overall, these are the best starter golf clubs for the budget conscious, but it’s hard to recommend them over the others in our top picks.

Rating 3

6. Victor PGM Golf Set – Best Beginner Seniors Set

Pros

• Titanium driver
• Senior flex shafts
• Premium aesthetics

Cons

• Not ideal for fast swing speeds

Features

• 12 clubs
• 4 hybrid
• Pitching and sand wedge

You have enough hurdles to jump through if you’re picking up golf for the first time as a senior. It seems strange that many manufacturers don’t make beginner golf sets with senior flex shafts. Luckily you can pick up the Victor PGM golf set as your starter golf clubs.

The senior flex of the shaft is also complimented by titanium club heads which are light and allow you to get the best swing speed possible. Higher swing speed usually equals more distance, especially off the tee.

With heel-toe weighting, this golf club set is also among the most forgiving. This is necessary if you’re learning to play as an older person as it will take you a little longer to learn the correct swing technique.

In short, these are an excellent and forgiving set for the price and are good golf clubs for a beginner of a certain age.

Rating 3

Factors To Consider When Purchasing A Set Of Golf Clubs

Golf Club Parts

Golf clubs consist of four parts:

1. A grip
2. Shaft
3. Hosel
4. Clubhead

These golf club parts promote varying launch and shot shapes to help you maximize your distance and enhance your shot accuracy. Your swing speed, grip setup, and shape dictate which options suit you. As you’re new to the game, opting for somewhere in the middle ground for each of these is a good idea.

The Grip

In this context, grips refer to the synthetic or rubber material at the top of your club. Fitting your clubs with the correct grip is essential for maximum control.

Golf Digest’s Hank Haney explains that using a weak grip can lead to you opening your clubface at impact, prompting a slice. Conversely, he says that a strong grip is a common cause of a hook.

Grips for golf clubs are available in four designs: velvet, corded, multi-compound construction, and wraps. The material of your grip depends on your preference and the most comfortable feel.

After identifying your favorite material, the next step is to look at grip size, where there are also four options. Undersize grips are the thinnest option and are usually found on junior golf clubs.

A standard-size grip and midsize grips allow for more wrist action, which some golfers prefer, as it helps them generate optimal clubhead speed.

However, other golfers turn to oversize grips, which are ideal for limiting wrist movement. It also suits players with larger hands who struggle to achieve a firm grasp with a thinner grip.

As a beginner, try out a standard grip first. If you have trouble with control, perhaps switch to an oversize grip.

Shaft

The type of shaft that you should be playing with is determined by your clubhead speed and the ability to transfer that energy to the ball. Flex is the main factor when identifying the best shaft for your game. Traditionally, there are five options: extra stiff, stiff, regular, senior, and ladies.

In this article, Zephyr Melton from Golf.com provides a guideline for the level of flex you should consider based on your swing speed. If you have no idea, you can visit your local pro or club fitter for a session. Or, you could invest in a launch monitor.

If your driver’s swing speed exceeds 105 mph, an extra-stiff shaft may suit you, while a stiff flex works best for swing speeds between 97 mph and 104 mph. Those of you swinging from 84 mph to 96mph generally fit a regular flex shaft.

Anyone with a driver swing speed below 72 mph should consider a senior flex shaft. But, if that is still too stiff for your game, your best option is a ladies flex.

Again, as a beginner, a standard flex shaft will most likely be the right one for you if you can’t measure your swing speed.

Hosel

The hosel may look like an insignificant golf club part. But it is helpful to determine the lie angle of the face. It also helps manufacturers manipulate the offset of a clubface to deliver a draw or neutral bias. Beginners will want a hosel that allows for easy launch. There’s nothing worse than skimming your ball along the ground when you drive.

Clubhead

The final part of a golf club is the clubhead. It is the part of the club that makes contact with the ball. The loft of your clubhead will promote varying levels of ball flight.

For example, a 9.5-degree driver will send your ball on a lower trajectory, while a 60-degree lob wedge sends the ball high.

You generally have three club head sizes at your disposal, ranging from slim to mid and oversized. As a beginner, I suggest sticking with oversized clubheads, as they possess optimal MOI to deliver maximum forgiveness.

Categories Of Golf Clubs

Driver

A driver is the longest club in your bag and goes the furthest. Novice golfers may find it challenging to consistently launch the ball and maintain accuracy, given the strengthened loft of the club.

Most standard drivers contain loft ranging from 9.5 degrees to 12 degrees. However, stronger and weaker lofted options exist for fast and slower swingers.

Golfweek’s Jackson Lewis mentions that if your swing speed is between 95 mph and 104 mph, you should test a ten or 11-degree driver. He also states that those of you with speeds over 105 mph may extract more value from 7 to 9-degree drivers.

I don’t suggest dabbling with these drivers as a beginner. The reason is that you probably won’t be able to generate sufficient ball speed to achieve your desired launch on every shot.

Lewis further suggests that if your driver’s swing speed is below 85 mph, you should consider 14 degrees of loft. The higher the loft, the easier it is to launch a ball high to achieve consistent carry and distance.

Besides the loft of a driver, you need to find the head size that works best for your game. As I mentioned before, an enhanced clubhead provides increased forgiveness. USGA rules dictate that a driver club head may not exceed 460cc in volume.

Smaller driver heads measuring 420cc and 440cc are available and preferred to larger heads by some lower handicappers. The petite construction gives players more freedom to generate the side spin required to work their shots off the tee.

Fairway Woods

Fairway woods offer the most distance after your driver. The most common fairway woods at your disposal are a 3, 5, and 7-wood. However, you can find woods with weaker loft, but they are not as readily available.

Elliot Heath of Golf Monthly writes that a 3-wood ranges from 13 degrees on the strong side. Up to 16.5 degrees on the weaker end. The standard loft of a 5-wood is between 17 to 19 degrees, while a 7-wood is positioned at 21 degrees.

Hybrids

Many golfers have found that they strike hybrids better than long irons, and as a result, they do not carry a four or 5-iron. So, hybrids are often considered the best clubs for beginners. Hybrids provide exceptional turf interaction prompting a clean strike from any lie. These clubs are easy to launch and give you a high ball flight and a soft landing. Hybrids are also great for beginners, providing extra launch and forgiveness on the fairway.

Irons

Three categories of irons exist: long, mid, and short. Long irons consist of a 3, 4, and 5-iron. However, it is uncommon to find a 3-iron in a golf club sets for beginners or mid-handicappers.

These irons have a smaller face and offer less forgiveness. This is why it is difficult for inconsistent ball strikers to launch these clubs consistently. That is why we now see hybrids used in place of long irons.

Your mid-irons comprise of your six and 7-iron. According to Heath, the standard loft of a 6-iron is 31 degrees, while a 7-iron is 35 degrees. You will use these irons to approach the green on shorter par 4’s and off the tee on par 3’s.

Finally, the eight and 9-iron are the short irons in the set. The standard loft of these irons fluctuates from 37 to 43 degrees. These are irons that longer hitters will use on approach on par 4’s.

Wedges

Wedges are the clubs that the average player uses for shots under 100 yards from the green. The strongest lofted wedge is a pitching wedge with an average loft of between 45 and 47 degrees.

The second strongest lofted club in this category is a gap wedge with an average loft of 52 degrees. It is followed by a sand wedge that averages 56 degrees. The highest lofted club on the market is a lob wedge which starts at 60 degrees and rises to 64 degrees.

While a gap wedge is excellent for pitch shots from 50 yards and less, a sand wedge and lob wedge offer the most value on chip and bunker shots.

Putter

The final and most important club in your bag is a putter. Before assessing the various options at your disposal, you need to know what type of putting stroke you have.

Players with a straight stroke are best suited to center-shafted putters, while those with an arc stroke tend to find heel-shafted putters better.

Once you know what shaft-style suits your game, the next step is to decide if you want a blade, mallet, or half-mallet putter.

The blade putter is a classic design, appreciated by traditionalists. And a half-mallet or mallet offers exceptional forgiveness across the face.

The final decision regarding a putter is whether to get a standard length putter, a broomstick, or belly length. The longer the putter, the more it restricts wrist movement to promote a pendulum stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Golf Clubs Should a Beginner Choose?

Beginners should opt for clubs that are forgiving without blowing the bank. Our favorite beginner set is the Callaway Strata golf set.

How Much Should I Spend on Golf Clubs as a Beginner?

You can get a very budget set of clubs for around $200. But, we’d recommend spending between $400 and $800 on your first clubs so they’re more forgiving and will last you longer.

Do Golf Clubs Make a Difference for Beginners?

Yes, beginners will have more off-center strikes than intermediate players. Therefore, a more forgiving set of clubs should help them launch the ball straight and long.

What Is the Easiest Golf Club to Hit for Beginners?

Many beginners focus on drivers first. They, therefore, find hybrids a lot easier to hit than irons. You may find many beginner-friendly irons that look a lot like hybrids.

Should a Beginner Get Fitted?

A few lessons to work on your swing first wouldn’t go astray before your first fitting, but asking a professional for advice never hurts.

Are Beginner Golf Sets Worth It?

Beginner sets are an affordable way to start enjoying the game. If you go out and spend a fortune on a premium set of golf clubs, you may spend thousands of dollars, whereas there are numerous beginner sets for under $1000.

You limit your risk by acquiring beginner’s sets, specifically made to be forgiving, which can improve your game. Another option is to purchase a set of used golf irons and woods with game improvement technology.

What Is The Best Month To Buy Golf Clubs?

The best month to buy golf clubs is January or February. The reason is that the manufacturers release their new clubs around this time, which drives the price down of previous models.

With the popularity of retail holidays such as Black Friday on the rise, November is also a good month to see what specials are on.

What Is A Good Inexpensive Set Of Golf Clubs?

The Wilson Profile SGI set is an excellent inexpensive set of clubs. It covers all bases of your game and offers superb forgiveness. If you are looking for an even less expensive set, then the MacGregor CG3000 is worth considering. The downside is that the GC3000 does not include a sand wedge.

Should I Buy A Golf Club Set Or Individual Clubs?

As a beginner, it is best to buy a set of golf clubs rather than individual clubs for two reasons. The first reason is that you likely have limited knowledge of the benefits of different equipment, and you will waste time trying to identify a suitable option.

The second and most important reason is to save cash. If you purchase clubs individually, it can drive up the price of your overall set well beyond the $1000. However, there is plenty of value for money in buying beginner golf club sets.

Do You Really Need A Full Set Of Golf Clubs?

You do need a complete set of clubs to get around. Without them, you will incur gaps in your distance leading to inaccuracy and the risk of leaking strokes.

I have played countless competitions where only one club was allowed, and although I still got through 18-holes, the scores were sky high, and the round took longer. It is not worth it.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, you have a lot to consider before purchasing your first set of clubs. But if you follow the guide above, you will have no problem quickly identifying the right set for you.

Remember, your shaft, grip, club head, and hosel impact the overall result of your shot, and if you play with the wrong setup, you will not have much fun on the course.

Based on the details we covered in our reviews on the best golf clubs for beginners, we determined that Callaway’s Strata Complete set is the way to go. The clubs are affordable, forgiving, and feature everything you need to get you from the tee box to the hole.

The Wilson Profile SGI set took top honors as the most forgiving set, while the MacGregor GC3000 is your best budget option. In addition, the Cobra F-Max Superlite set is your longest set for 2023, and the Robin Essentials, is the way to go if you intend on carrying your clubs.

If you are a beginner looking for your first set of clubs, you can take a closer look at the Callaway Strata set.

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