Having the best golf clubs for a beginner is essential to confidently swing the club in the best possible way.
Sports are more tricky in their beginnings. Therefore, it is said that you only get one chance to get off to a good start in golf. One of the secrets to successful first steps, besides starting at a young age, is owning the right equipment from the moment you start practicing it.
Golf can be very frustrating if you do not have the right clubs to play. I know many golfers who left the legendary Scottish sport for this reason.
At first, many hesitate and need to decide whether to continue borrowing clubs from a friend or finally buy a set of golf clubs, even if they are used.
There are better options than filling ourselves with doubts. Robert “Bobby” Jones once said, “Golf is a game played on a five-inch field: the distance between your ears.” Being such a challenging sport, it is critical to equip yourself with the best golf clubs for a beginner.
Your nearest golf shop will make things easier at this early game stage.
First steps for a beginner
To begin with, those who decide to start playing golf must take lessons to receive the first knowledge of this sport. A good golf instructor will teach you the basics: holding the club, standing in front of the ball, and making the swing’s first movements. That will boost your confidence a great deal.
Over time you will be able to gain some skill and experience using borrowed golf clubs before you buy them. It is recommended to start playing with the irons, especially using the 7, 8, and 9 irons, and trying to improve your shots.
This is advisable since the rest of the irons (3, 4, 5, and 6) require a fluid swing and a lot of practice to produce decent shots. And this applies to all new golfers.
For this reason, first-timers must know how to choose well with which clubs to start playing.
The same happens with those players of an intermediate level, who had already selected the best golf clubs for high handicappers, improving their equipment and, therefore, the result of their game.
Different types of golf clubs
Golf clubs are classified into six categories.
Driver
In the first place, you find the famous driver. Their longer shaft and larger head make drivers recognizable.
It is the right club to start with the initial shot from the tee box on most par 5s.
Woods
Then you have the woods with a shorter shaft than the driver and a smaller head.
It is an ideal club to cover long distances from the fairway and even from the tee.
Hybrids
A third category is made up of those called “hybrids“. The hybrid allows you to hit long and safe shots more precisely than long irons.
It is one of the best golf clubs for a beginner that should be included in your golf bag.
Irons
The fourth category comprises irons that cover distances ranging from 130 to 240 yards.
When using an iron, the line of the golf ball receives special attention as we approach the green.
Wedges
Wedges make up the fifth clubs category. These are clubs indicated for those shots that demand a lot of precision.
When you hit the ball with a wedge, thanks to its loft, you get it to rise high and spin more.
Wedges Angels
Within the wedges, there are several classes, but the basic categories are the pitching wedge (from 45 to 48 degrees), the gap wedge (up to 52 degrees), and the sand wedge (ranging from 56 to 62 degrees).
Putters
Finally, putters close the category of club types. It is typically used on the putting green to hole the ball. Although in recent years, we have seen many players (even the most experienced) use the putter off the green and at distances of up to 60 yards to get closer to the pin.
As we explained, in some categories, the clubs have a numbering system that lets you know how useful it is, how far it can be traveled, and its opening angle.
Best golf clubs for a beginner
From all these descriptions, we can choose the best golf clubs for a beginner. It is essential to know that having a complete set of clubs is unnecessary to start playing. Up to seven clubs are enough without reaching the maximum of 14 clubs allowed in a golf bag.
What golf clubs do I need as a beginner?
When assembling your golf clubs as a beginner, an initial bag configuration is to have four irons (5, 7, 8, and 9), a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a putter will be plenty to get you started in your golf journey.
Should I use woods and drivers as a beginner?
The woods and driver are challenging clubs for a newbie and are best used after gaining experience. The advice is to try a hybrid first, then move on to the more difficult clubs.
Should I use steel or graphite shafts for my first iron set?
Graphite flexible shafts tend to have a more forgiving cavity and are better for a beginner than Steel shafts.
What types of putters are good for beginners?
Putters with guidelines (or discs) are extremely useful for beginners. The putter should provide confidence and a good feel on every shot.
Summary
Is golf a difficult sport? Without a doubt, yes. It is even considered “very” difficult for ordinary athletes. But certainly, there are ways to a good and promising start if you make the right choices and follow our advice.
For this reason, it is essential to know that taking the first steps in golf requires a lot of patience and (of course) the best golf club for a beginner that you can access to start playing.