For a beginner golfer, it can be very intimidating to figure out what is a full set of golf clubs. Unlike in football, where you only use your feet to hit the ball, in golf, you need to research which clubs to use to hit the ball.
Of course, it can take a while to grasp the technicalities fully.
To help you start out, here are some tips and guides for you to determine what’s a good set of golf clubs.
How many golf clubs are in a standard set, and how many golf clubs in a full set?
The simple answer is 14.
Basically, the rules of golf allow you to have a maximum of 14 golf clubs with you.
However, you can go below this number if what does a full set of golf clubs consist of for you is lower than 14.
For example, pre-made sets in the market may consist of 11 – 12 golf clubs only. But it is advisable to bring 14 golf clubs if it is physically possible for you.
So asking how many golf clubs are in a standard set would be the same as asking how many golf clubs in a full set.
This is because different types of golf clubs serve different purposes, and you have the freedom to choose which types to include in your 14-piece golf club set.
What does a full set of golf clubs consist of?
There are several types of golf clubs you can include in your set, and one of the ways they differ is through the loft angle.
The loft angle measures the angle between the shaft and the clubface, so the higher the loft, the more perpendicular the clubface is to the shaft.
As a result, a smaller loft will make the ball go farther and make it rise and fall on a less steep angle.
In addition to the loft angle, the shaft length also affects the golf club. So, you might notice that some golf clubs have numbers (e.g., 1 wood).
These numbers signify the loft angle and shaft length of the golf club – the higher the number, the higher the loft and the shorter the shaft length.
To better demonstrate what is a full set of golf clubs to you, below is a list of the different families of golf clubs.
The first family is the woods, which are now made of but used to be made entirely of wood.
They are the largest, longest clubs, and can hit the ball the farthest due to their low loft angles. The largest of the woods, and the one that can make the farthest hit, is the driver (1-wood).
Although most golfers have this in their golf club sets, beginners may choose to skip this as this club is the hardest to control.
On the other hand, the fairway woods (3-wood and 5-wood) are more forgiving. As a result, most beginners prefer to use them off the tee.
However, while the fairway woods are generally recommended over drivers for beginners, your choice would still largely depend on where you are more comfortable.
The second family is the irons, which have smaller clubheads than the woods and are usually used for shorter hits.
While they formally range from 1 to 9, most sets include only the 3-iron to 9-iron as the 1- and 2-irons are long and hard to hit.
Although for beginners, it is recommended to skip the 3 to 5-iron as well.
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Wedges
The third family, and the ones next to the irons in angle and length, is the wedges.
So, after the 9-iron, we have the pitching wedge (PW) and sand wedge (SW). To put it simply and for you to better visualize it, you can picture the PW as the 10-iron and the SW as the 11-iron.
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Hybrid
The fourth family, with characteristics of both the irons and the woods, are the hybrids. Typically, these are used as replacements for the 3- and 4-irons.
While the hybrids have only been introduced a little over ten years ago, they have gained traction as they are much easier to use and can give a more accurate distance than the longer irons.
The last family is the putter, the most specialized of all the golf clubs.
As the name suggests, the putter is used for putting greens, for knocking the ball into the hole. To achieve this, a putter will have very little to no loft so the ball can simply roll in the grass.
Because they are highly specialized, your choice of the putter will likely differ from another player’s.
You will have to test out several types until you are confident on which putter to bring with you to the golf course.
With these types of golf clubs in mind, it can be challenging to grasp which specific golf clubs to include in your set.
Ultimately though, the answer to what does a full set of golf clubs consist of will depend on your level of comfort for each golf club we laid out.
Other factors to consider in buying your own set
Apart from the types and quantity of golf clubs to include in your set, there are other considerations in deciding what is a full set of golf clubs for you.
First is the cost of the golf club set, then the weight of the set, and finally, your skill level.
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Cost
It’s no secret that golf is an expensive sport.
However, how costly it can become would largely depend on your willingness to spend. For example, the cost of a golf club can range from $2 to $600.
Of course, with the difference in price, you will also see a difference in quality. You can score top-quality clubs for cheap if you buy them used.
But, if you’re looking for brand new, top-of-the-line golf clubs, expect to shell out at least $200.
With this price per club, your set can get expensive fast, considering how many golf clubs are in a standard set. Another great option is to buy a pre-determined set of golf clubs.
While you won’t have the freedom to choose how many clubs come in a golf set, this option frees you from the stress of having to research and pick every single club.
Another advantage of buying a set is that they can be very cheap. They can go for as low as $180 for a beginner’s set to around $1000 for higher-quality sets.
With how many clubs in a full set, a $1000-set can be a huge bargain.
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Weight
How heavy is a set of golf clubs? The average weight of a full set of golf clubs is 30 lbs.
However, this figure can get bigger depending on the items that you put inside your bag, or even the kind of bag that you choose to use.
An occasional player would likely use a carry bag, which is the lighter option at about 3 lbs. when empty.
This is perfect for players who prefer to carry their clubs when walking around the golf course. A professional golfer, on the other hand, would likely use a staff bag.
Staff bags are heavy-duty bags large enough to carry everything needed in a tournament.
These, when empty, can weigh up to about 12 lbs. and are only advisable when you can use the services of a caddie.
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Skill
The answer to what’s a good set of golf clubs for you will ultimately depend on your ability. Certain golf clubs, such as the driver, can be tough to control but very beneficial once mastered,
For this reason, a beginner might choose to forego the driver and opt for a different wood when hitting off the tee.
To test your skill, you can measure your yardages for each type of club you have available. In general, beginners are recommended to use clubs that are easier to hit, such as the hybrids.
While advanced golfers can experiment more with the longer irons.
What Now?
To conclude, there are many considerations to what is a full set of golf clubs.
As a result, each golfer will have their own unique set of golf clubs.
But whether you choose to bring all woods, all irons, or a mix of all five families in your 14-set of golf clubs is entirely up to you, your comfort, and your skill level.
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Last Updated on December 4, 2023 by Paul Roger Steinberg