The Best Golf Sets for the Money

Finding the right golf set can make the difference between progressing your skills quickly and having a very uncomfortable time.

Golf is a sport, and while some see it as a rather relaxing hobby, having equipment that is reliable, effective, and comfortable will improve your experience whether you’re trying to knock strokes off your handicap or are just playing for the fun of it.

A poor set of clubs can cause you to be inaccurate, lose distance and can even break or cause injury. Golf is rewarding and fun, but when your equipment lets you down it can be incredibly frustrating, particularly if you’re already 9 holes deep into the round.

To avoid the embarrassment and frustration of a poor set of clubs, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best golf club sets available, to help you find the perfect set whether you’re a starter or a long-term enthusiast.

If you have questions about the different features of these clubs or other aspects of golf club design, feel free to check out our buyer’s guide and FAQ at the bottom of this article.

Best Golf Sets for the Money Buying Guide

Finding the right set of golf clubs can be a difficult task, especially for beginners.

There are a lot of well-regarded brands, many of which are endorsed by professional golfers, which can make it difficult to decide on a particular manufacturer.

Trying to keep track of the tweaks to materials, angles, grip types, and all the other details that make modern golf clubs so precise and efficient can be hard enough for experienced golfers.

To help you find the right golf set for you, we’ve explained some of the common features and things to look for when purchasing a set of golf clubs, to ensure that you get a set that’s right for your style, comfortable to use, sturdy, reliable and that also looks good.

If you have a question about a topic we haven’t covered in our buyer’s guide, please check out our frequently asked questions section below.

Size

The first thing to keep in mind when looking for a set of golf clubs is what size they are. While some brands have a single standard size, good brands will have a few options available for both juniors, women, seniors, and taller players, allowing you to find a set that will be well suited to you.

These different sized clubs will provide you with a more comfortable stance, a more manageable swing and help you to start building good habits, especially once you’re used to their characteristics.

There are some rare choices, such as the infamous belly putters which caused a lot of controversy in recent years and led to a rule change to prevent golfers from anchoring their clubs against their body.

Belly putters are still legal, but their effectiveness has been diminished due to this rule change.

Brands

There are a lot of great golfing brands out there, meaning that there’s a great selection of sets to meet almost any taste and preference. This also means it can be difficult to pick one, or to set them apart.

Some of the most popular brands are TaylorMade, who are now actually owned by Adidas. Despite this takeover, they have been in the game for many decades now and make some of the best golf clubs on the market.

Other great brands are Wilson, Callaway, Macgregor, PING, Titelist, and Mizuno, all of which make an amazing selection of quality clubs and other accessories in various styles.

Grip Types

There’s a surprising amount to know about grips and a few different types to choose from.

Rubber grips offer excellent traction and control and tend to be on the firmer side.

Corded grips are very grippy and work extremely well in wet weather or hotter, sweaty weather, due to their inclusion of cord into the grip.

Wrap grips are more traditional and old school and would have once been made of leather, however, more modern compounds are used today to increase grip.

A firmer compound grip is generally favored by professionals due to the added control they offer, while softer compounds may help newer players get used to the feel of handling and exerting pressure on their clubs.

There are also different grip sizes that can be used by players with larger or smaller hands, to help increase grip, control, and comfort however these grip sizes usually need to be acquired and fitted separately.

Head Materials

There are several different materials used to make golf clubs. Obviously, the grips can be made of varying compounds and rubbers as we discussed above.

However, the material of the shaft and the head of the club can also have a huge impact on the performance they provide, and different types of clubs in the same set may also be made of different materials.

This wide range of differences is definitely worth checking to make sure you find clubs that suit your needs best.

The heads for drivers and woods can be made from stainless steel, titanium or other strong and lightweight materials.

These are used because drivers have to withstand the fastest and most demanding swings a player can unleash, while also needing to be lightweight enough to travel quickly and strong enough to make excellent contact with the ball and propel the energy to it as efficiently as possible.

Old fashioned golf woods were, as the name suggests, made of actual wood but this is no longer the case, although you may be able to find a vintage club if you have a fascination with traditional techniques and aesthetics.

Irons and wedges have heads made from stainless steel, titanium, beryllium nickel, or copper, as well as chrome-plated steel.

The different materials here may be available at different prices and offer slightly different performance, however, all of them are made to allow irons to cope with the considerable forces golfers exert on them.

The slightly different array of options is just due to the different shapes and slightly lower stresses these clubs have to ensure when compared to drivers and woods.

Finally, putters may be made of any of the above materials as well as simpler materials such as aluminum or even iron due to the relatively low force they are expected to withstand.

Shaft Materials

Club shafts can be constructed from a lot of the familiar metals as the club heads such as stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium, however, in recent years carbon and graphite fiber-reinforced clubs have also come into use.

Professionals and robust amateurs tend to use metallic club shafts as they transfer power more efficiently and are far more robust.

The drawback is that they are often heavier and can deliver quite punishing feedback to the golfer and may even cause injuries in senior golfers or others who are not able to withstand the vibrations that steel can transfer after a big stroke.

Graphite clubs on the other hand are a little softer and lighter and are a good option for golfers who want a smoother feel to their play. The drawback is they aren’t as robust as metal golf shafts.

It really depends on you as a golfer, but either option has pros and cons to consider, so make sure you consider this one carefully as it could definitely affect your comfort, power, and accuracy.

Flex

The shaft type and length will affect the amount of flex you get out of your club, which can, in turn, affect your power, control and give a drastically different feeling to how a club handles and have a knock-on effect on your stroke, no pun intended.

Not all brands indicate how much flex their clubs come with, however, if you’re an average player, the standard amount of flex will probably suit you until you’re much more experienced and have learned more about your style as a golfer.

Uniflex is a middle-of-the-range flex rating you might see some clubs rated as, which provide a little more stiffness and rigidity for golfers who want a bit more bite to their swing.

There are also stiff flex ratings that are much more unforgiving than regular or uniflex shafts and add a lot of feedback to the player.

Technically there are more ratings than this, however, these are the three you’ll most probably see.

Some of the other ratings are; Extra stiff, Firm, Senior, Amateur, and Ladies, all of which are a little more forgiving or stiffer depending on who they’re designed for.

Bags

Most good golf brands selling a complete set of clubs will either include a golf bad as standard or as an option.

Golf bags are a great way for these brands to advertise their logos and style while also giving players a very convenient place to carry all of their equipment.

Old golf bags were fairly simple leather tubes without many of the modern accessories and features that have developed over the years.

A good golf bag will typically have legs that can be popped in and out to steady the bag when it’s not in use, as well as a host of pockets to store everything from golf balls and tees to cloths, tools, pencils, and your mobile phone.

They also come with straps that can be removed to allow for easy carrying and handles for moving the bag a short distance conveniently.

Not all golf bags are created equal, but a great golf bag will take a lot of the stress and strain out of carrying your clubs around and also allow you to keep your essentials ready to go and in one place, so you won’t forget something important.

Some brands do sell club sets without including a bag, to allow players who have already got a bag at home to avoid being forced to have a new one, saving costs as well as allowing you to choose a separate one if you have a particular one in mind.

In terms of value though, getting a complete set of clubs and a bag is a great way for beginners to get everything they need in one simple purchase.

Best Golf Sets for the Money - FAQ's

Do I need a golf bag?

It really depends on the type of golfing you plan to do and how many clubs you own or need to use.

If you’re brand new to the sport and have maybe only got a handful of clubs, a bag may not be essential right away.

If you only head to the local driving range or short course to practice your skills a bag may simply be overkill and you’d be better off saving to purchase some more clubs.

That being said, a quality bag will make things far more comfortable and convenient for you, if you have several clubs and plan to play on 9 or 18 hole courses.

Even without having a lot of clubs, having a bag can help you keep your equipment organized and ready to go for the next session.

Do I need a full set of golf clubs?

Typically pro golfers are permitted to have 14 clubs in their set. These include the driver, 2 woods, 8 irons, and a putter. Some golfers may swap out a wood for a hybrid, but this is the standard setup most golf sets come in.

A full set of golf clubs is really the best thing to start out with as a beginner for a few reasons.

First of all, you will be able to practice with all of the clubs available to you right from the start, building your confidence with different clubs and your understanding of what club is appropriate for different scenarios.

Learning how far you can hit with each club and getting a good consistent feel for this will help you progress rapidly as a golfer and will allow you to adapt to various situations on the course.

However, if you’re only playing on the local short course, a half set or even just a few individual clubs may suffice for people who aren’t sure if they will enjoy themself.

Do I need a club fitting?

This depends on how experienced you are, your proportions, and if you feel uncomfortable using the typical club sizes.

If you’re a serious enthusiast this can be a great way to make your clubs extra comfortable and can improve your way massively. It could improve your stance and your swing as well as your distance and accuracy.

It’s definitely worth asking for recommendations on sizes if you’re totally new to the sport, and people like a club pro or experienced golfers at your club will be able to provide you with good advice, however, getting a club fitting may be unnecessary unless you’re really struggling with the feel of your clubs or are unsure which size to purchase.

What type of putter should I get?

There are several types of putters including blade heads, mallet heads, and High MOI putters, as well as short shafts and long shafts, center-mounted shafts, and heel-mounted shafts.

The most common type of putter is the blade head putter with a heel-mounted shaft. These are classic designs, easy to use and provide great control.

More experienced players may prefer center-mounted shafts or mallet putters, particularly players who like to really look down on the ball as they putt.