Golf Clubs and Beginners. What Should You Choose When Buying?

If you are just starting out in the game of golf, you are probably going to think, golf clubs and beginners, where do I start?

Choosing the right golf clubs can be a daunting task. It may be a good idea first off to speak to a Club Professional who will be able to give some invaluable information as to what to be considering. 

With so many options available, it can be challenging to know where to start. However, selecting the right set of golf clubs is crucial for improving your game and enjoying your time on the course. 

In this blog post, we will provide you with tips and advice on how to choose the right golf clubs as a beginner.

Things to consider before anything else

• Your budget – Golf clubs can be expensive, so it’s essential to set a budget before making a purchase. Don’t forget, you are just starting out in the game of golf and you may not know whether you are in for the long haul. Top Tip: Determine how much you’re willing to spend and look for clubs that fit within your budget.  You can always upgrade once you have decided to continue and also, as your ability increases.
• Clubhead size and shape – As a beginner, it’s recommended to look for golf clubs with larger clubhead sizes and more forgiving shapes. Don’t forget, as a beginner, you will be mishitting a lot of shots. Clubs offering a larger sweet spot, make it easier to hit the ball more consistently.
• Shaft flexibility – The flexibility of the shaft is a critical factor to consider when selecting golf clubs. Beginners tend to have slower swing speeds, so a more flexible shaft can help generate more clubhead speed and distance. We all want a bit of distance, don’t we?  Even if at this stage it disappears in the wrong direction!
• Club set makeup – Golf club sets can vary in the number and type of clubs included. As a beginner, it’s recommended to look for a set that includes a driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid, irons, wedges, and a putter. Top Tip: Maybe leave out the driver at this stage. Most beginners find them hard to hit with any consistency and of course, it can be added at a later date. They tend to be sold separately anyway.
• Try before you buy – I think this is a very important point. Before making a purchase, it’s essential to try out the clubs to ensure they feel comfortable and suit your swing. Consider renting or borrowing clubs or visiting a golf store with a simulator or a driving range to test out different options.

The Driver

I have already made a top tip of considering leaving this out of your purchase when you buy your first set of clubs.

However, if you are determined to arm yourself, maybe consider the following:

• Loft – This is the angle of the club face from the vertical. Lofts on drivers tend to range between 8 deg to 16 deg, 16 giving the higher launch angle. Please, please, please, as a beginner, look for a driver with a higher loft angle. This will help you get the ball airborne and achieve more distance. DO NOT think you are Tiger Woods at this stage and be all macho about this and choose a 7.5 or 8 deg driver because you will spend most of your time looking for your ball and becoming more and more despondent.
• Clubhead size and shape – Look for a driver with a larger clubhead size and a more forgiving shape. These clubs have a larger sweet spot, making it easier to hit the ball consistently resulting in more good shots, down the fairway and definitely fewer mis-hits resulting in long searches in the bushes.
• Shaft flexibility – The flexibility of the shaft can affect your swing speed and distance. Most driver shafts are made of carbon fibre, and that is ok. However, as a beginner, look for a shaft that is more flexible, which can help generate more clubhead speed and distance.
• Advice – Talk to a Club Professional and try before you buy. 

Fairway Woods

• Not too much to say here apart from the fact, fairway woods are like a driver except they have a greater loft for a higher launch angle. It would be our advice to start out using a fairway wood from the Tee rather than buying a driver, just until you are hitting the ball with a little consistency.
• As suggested by their name. Fairway woods are also used for long distance shots from the fairway or even the light rough.
• Fairway woods are often numbered, 2, 3, 4, and 5, etc.  The higher the number, the greater the loft, simple!
• Advice – Talk to a Club Professional and try before you buy. 

Irons

• Forgiveness – Look for irons that are forgiving and have a larger sweet spot. This tends to mean the design will include larger heads with perimeter weighting.  This will help you hit the ball more consistently and achieve better results on mis-hits.
• Clubhead size and shape – Following on from the previous point, look for irons with larger clubhead sizes and a more forgiving shape, also perimeter weighting.  Perimeter weighting lends itself to something called “cavity back” irons. If you look at the back of the iron, you will actually see the cavity, hence the name. These clubs offer a larger sweet spot, making it easier to hit the ball consistently and get better results on miss-timed shots.
• Shaft flexibility – The flexibility of the shaft can affect your swing speed and distance. As a beginner, look for a shaft that is more flexible, which can help generate more clubhead speed and distance. This is a general point that is applicable to all the clubs you will be buying as a beginner.
• Advice – Talk to a Club Professional and try before you buy. 

The Putter

• This is simple.  A putter is the club you are going to use to get the ball into the hole taking as few putts as possible.
• They come in all shapes and sizes and there is no right or wrong answer.
• Our advice here is to try several before buying. All clubs have putting greens and most driving ranges have an area within the shop.
• You know what they say, “drive for show and putt for dough.”

Conclusion

As mentioned above, choosing a set of clubs as a beginner is very daunting. Not only are there so many shapes, sizes, designs, and manufacturers but the marketing jargon used can be quite overwhelming.

If we were to have one overriding Top Tip it would be this: Do your research, talk to a Professional, and try the clubs out on a range and even for a round, if they will let you. 

DO NOT be tempted at this stage to spend thousands of £££s or $$$s when the likelihood is you will want to upgrade, once you get better anyway.

Apart from all that, have fun…

Very last thought, if you feel you are ready to get underway and can’t wait to take the plunge, click here to have a look at a complete set, priced very reasonably from a respected manufacturer.  It would definitely get you started and be ideal until you know if the game of golf is for you.

FORE!!!