Best Starter Golf Clubs: 11 Things You Should Know

Half the battle of learning any new skill is gaining some confidence. That's why new golfers need to start their golfing journey with equipment that helps them achieve some great shots from day one.

The secret to finding the best starter golf clubs lies in getting the perfect balance between practicality, performance, and affordability. To help you make that decision, read on as we explain 11 key factors you'll need to consider when buying your first set of golf clubs.

1. Choose a Versatile Set

If you're a beginner golfer, you don't want to invest too much money in clubs that are more advanced than what you need. For beginners, simplicity and versatility are the most essential features of your club set. You should look at buying a starter set of golf clubs.

A good starter set should include:

• A driver
• A 3-wood
• A 4 or 5 hybrid
• A sand wedge for bunkers
• A reliable putter
• Two or three irons, such as the 7-iron and 9-iron

This type of selection will help you develop a consistent performance and focus on mastering a few key clubs without it becoming an overwhelming learning experience. Make sure when choosing clubs that they feel easy and comfortable for you to handle.

2. Best Starter Clubs for Golf: Forgiveness Clubs

One term that's important for beginners to understand when choosing golf clubs is forgiveness. Forgiving clubs are designed to minimize the adverse effects of mishits and are crucial for beginners. They can be a great way of helping you develop your technique and confidence.

Forgiving clubs have larger, oversized club heads. These club heads help beginners get more consistent ball contact when first practicing their stroke technique.

Look for details on clubs called perimeter weighting. This indicates how the weight is distributed around the edges of the club head. This distribution helps make the club more stable and accurate for beginner golfers.

Another forgiving golf option is a cavity-backed iron. The design helps improve the launch and distance of your strike when you're just starting out in golfing.

3. Understanding Weighting and Balance in Golf Clubs

When buying a starter set of golf clubs, make sure you understand the concepts of weighting and balance. Here is what you need to know.

Weighting

Weighting refers to how the weight is distributed in the golf club, and some weight distribution is more manageable for beginners to handle and swing the club than others.

Manufacturers tend to weigh lower in the head for beginners as this helps improve the launch. It helps the golf club feel more stable for someone just starting out with golfing. Back weighting is also a popular design for beginners.

Balance

Balanced clubs are also ones that offer more control and a steady awing. So, if you're a beginner, you want to find options that are well-balanced.

4. Shaft Flex on a Golf Club

The term shaft flex refers to the amount of bend in a shaft when you swing the golf club. Professional golfers use this flexibility to help control the swing and maximize the distance of their shot, improving their performance and making golf more rewarding when learning how to play.

If you're a beginner, you want regular or flexible shafts. These designs are more forgiving, and you'll find them easier to handle because they have a softer flex. When you take the shot, you'll notice a "whipping" effect that beginners need to help practice their swing and improve their speed and distance.

The other advantage of using a shaft with more flex is that it will help you smooth out any inconsistencies in the swing, which gives you greater control when practicing your shot. Look for graphite shafts, as these are lighter, and you'll get the most flexibility.

5. Golf Tips: Choosing the Right Grip Size for Your Hands

When choosing the best starter golf club set, don't overlook the crucial factor of grip size. The grip on a golf club is the rubber or leather handle covering, and you can find a size that's a good fit for your hands.

Having a firm and comfortable grip on a golf club makes it easier to control your swing and prevent issues such as your hands over-rotating when taking a shot. Oversized grips can also be troublesome to any golfer, especially beginners, because they will limit your wrist movement and make it harder for you to get the distance and accuracy from your shot.

When shopping for golf clubs, check your grip and make sure your fingers lightly touch your palm.

6. Club Length

Club length will help you feel comfortable handling a golf club, and it's also a crucial factor in getting the right swing and accuracy with each shot. Plus, the perfect length will help you achieve the right stance and posture when first learning to play.

Three measurements are important when choosing the right club length:

• Your height
• Your arm length
• Your swing plane

What you will find with most beginner sets of golf clubs is that they come with standard lengths. So, if you are unusually tall or short, you might need an adjustment, even if it means paying a little extra for your set. Getting a well-fitted club length will help reduce any strain on your body.

7. Loft Options

Loft options mean the angle on the club's face, and this part of a golf club design helps determine the length and height of the ball after you take the shot.

As a beginner, you want to focus your purchase on getting higher lofted clubs. These designs will make it easier for you to hit the ball into the air. That means clubs such as:

• Wedges
• Hybrids
• High-numbered irons like 7-iron and 9-iron

This will give you time to practice your swing speed and accuracy, allow you to enjoy the game while you are learning the basic techniques, and develop some confidence in your game. Higher lofted clubs also offer more backspin and reduce the chance of making errors.

8. Choosing the Right Golf Club Material

To get the best golfing performance as a beginner, you need to buy golf clubs made of material that offers a slight advantage. It gives you a golf set that feels comfortable and manageable and helps you achieve a consistent performance.

Lightweight materials are often a good choice for new golfers. For example, a graphite shaft is more lightweight and easier for a beginner golfer to handle.

Stainless steel clubheads are a popular material choice for beginners because they're affordable and durable. It helps keep the costs down when you are investing in a starter set and will withstand constant use as you practice your technique.

It's also worth looking for golf clubs in composite materials that help you balance lightweight designs with durability.

9. You'll Need to Set a Budget

If you have already started looking for golf clubs, you'll know that costs can vary a lot, and deciding how much you should spend can quickly feel overwhelming.

When setting your budget, think about your commitment to learning golf. You may not want to spend too much if you are just exploring the game as a potential hobby.

However, most new golfers want to go further than this and develop an excellent golfing performance, and if that's the case for you, it may be worth increasing your budget to get a set that's more customized to your needs in terms of size, comfort, and quality. A higher-priced set might be a better long-term investment.

Your budget will also depend on your financial circumstances. Remember to factor in the cost of golf membership, and don't buy a set that's so expensive that you struggle to cover other golfing costs.

10. Customizable Starter Sets

You may have noticed that you can buy custom-fitted golf clubs. However, if you haven't had any prior experience of golfing, these pricier options aren't necessary from day one.

Starter sets that don't offer custom fittings tend to suit a wide range of players, and they will give you a good performance when you're still fine-tuning your golfing skills.

11. Buying From Reputable Brands

Don't be tempted by an impressive-looking online ad when buying starter golf clubs. It's crucial you stick to those brands that have an established reputation. Here are some trusted brands:

• Callaway offers forgiving clubs and the beginner-friendly Strata series
• Wilson has a reputation for high-quality starter golf sets
• Tour Edge has good value golf club sets
• TaylorMade is good for those beginners who want to improve their performance
• Cobra has an excellent range of lightweight clubs
• Precise Gold is affordable and offers a comprehensive beginners set

Remember that quality is crucial with golf clubs. So avoid special offers if you haven't heard of the brand and it doesn't come with lots of recommendations.

Buying the Best Starter Golf Clubs

It pays to do your research before buying golf clubs. Finding the best starter golf clubs for your needs means understanding a little bit about the design, how it can impact performance, and how to balance those features with your budget. 

The other thing you'll need is a reputable and supportive golf club to help you master your skills. The Bandit Golf Club has a superb beginners' golf program in San Antonio. Contact us and Book your first session with us today.