Best Golf Clubs for Beginners

If you’re just starting out in golf and wondering how to choose a set of clubs, don’t fret. You’ve come to the right place! Our mission is to help you make the best decision possible. Today, we focus on the best golf clubs for beginners.

MyGolfSpy is the industry leader in independent golf club testing. We provide equipment insights to golfers of all abilities all around the world. Factual, objective, data-driven reviews you can trust … no marketing hype.

Budget and Time

“How much are you willing to spend?”

“How much time are you willing to commit to golf?”

These are two important questions to consider when purchasing a beginner set. If you’re only going to play a couple of times a year, perhaps renting clubs is the better option. Only playing a few times? Maybe a used set or a set from a big-box retailer will suit your needs.

But if you’re serious about taking up the game and getting better, the right club set can make all the difference. Consider the cost of getting fitted and purchasing the correct equipment an investment in a sport you can play for years.

Since you’ve read this far, we can assume you’re serious about the game and want to make sure that investment is the right one. So we’ve curated a list of the best golf clubs for beginners. As a bonus, we’ve included “best value” options within each category.

Golf Terms 101

As a new golfer, you may not be familiar with golf equipment lingo. Here is a quick overview of some key terms you’ll hear on TV,  at the golf course or in a golf shop. We use some of these in this article.

• Draw Bias – A weighting in the heel of a golf club to promote a “draw.” This means the shot will go from right to left for a right-handed golfer or left to right for a left-hander.
• MOI (Moment of Inertia) – Dictates how forgiving a golf club can be.
• Forgiveness – Kind of self-explanatory. The club is designed to make up for a less-than-perfect strike.
• Accuracy – The ability to provide consistent distance and dispersion shot after shot.
• Loft – The angle between the golf clubface and the ground at address. More loft produces higher shots. Lower loft produces lower shots.
• Lie Angle – The static measurement between the center of the golf shaft and the sole of the clubhead when the club is at address. Plays a vital role in initial shot direction and flight.
• Length – The overall length of a golf club. Sometimes, but not always, taller golfers may need to get longer clubs and vice versa for shorter golfers. A professional club fitter can advise you on this, among many other aspects.
• Adjustable – Adjustable adaptors allow golfers to change performance characteristics of the golf club such as loft, lie angle and face angle (neutral, closed, or open).
• Bounce – This is the angle created between the leading edge of a golf wedge and the lowest point of the sole of the wedge. Proper bounce allows for consistent turf and/or sand interaction.
• Perimeter Weighting – Distribution of weight around the clubhead versus centrally fixed weighting. This promotes higher launch angles and trajectories.

Best Golf Drivers for Beginners

The driver allows you to maximize distance off the tee. But don’t get hung up on how far you hit it. The woods are full of long drivers of the golf ball. That’s why at MyGolfSpy we stress accuracy and forgiveness over pure distance when determining our top pick. 

Here are our top three golf drivers for beginners.

PING G430 SFT

• The best driver for a slice (a shot that veers too much to the right for right-handed players and left for lefties)
• One of the most forgiving drivers of 2023
• Adjustable

CALLAWAY PARADYM X

• One of the best drivers overall of 2023
• Draw bias (to counteract a slice)
• Adjustable

TOUR EDGE EXOTICS E723

• The most forgiving driver of 2023
• One of the most accurate drivers of 2023
• Adjustable

VALUE OPTION – PXG 0211

• Less than $200
• Reliable accuracy and forgiveness
• Adjustable

Best Golf Fairway Woods for Beginners

If you are considering a fairway wood, you want one that is easy to hit. It is a golf club you can utilize off the tee or off the ground. Choosing one that can do both and be easy to use is critical.

Here are our top three fairway woods for beginners.

WILSON DYNAPOWER

• The best fairway wood of 2023
• Exceptional accuracy and distance
• High MOI construction for more forgiveness

TAYLORMADE STEALTH 2 HD

• Second-best fairway wood of 2023
• Excels at accuracy, forgiveness and distance
• Draw-bias design

TITLEIST TSR1

• Best fairway wood for accuracy
• Lightweight and easy to use
• Adjustable

VALUE OPTION – COBRA LTDx

• Less than $200
• Previous winner of MyGolfSpy’s Most Wanted testing
• Praiseworthy accuracy, forgiveness and distance
• Adjustable

Best Golf Hybrids for Beginners

Hybrids can take the place of long irons (like a 3-, 4- or 5-iron) and can be a great option for all golfers, including beginners. For some, they may be a better choice than a fairway wood as well.

Here are our top three hybrids for beginners.

PING G430

• Best hybrid of 2023
• One of the top-ranking hybrids for accuracy, forgiveness and distance
• Adjustable

PXG 0311 XF GEN6

• Best hybrid for forgiveness of 2023
• Tremendous consistency
• Adjustable hosel and perimeter weighting

COBRA KING TEC

• Third-best hybrid of 2023
• Exceptional accuracy, forgiveness and distance
• Larger profile to promote confidence
• Adjustable hosel and perimeter weighting

VALUE OPTION – SUB 70 949x

• Less than $200
• Second-best hybrid of 2023 and a previous Most Wanted winner
• Adjustable hosel and perimeter weighting

Best Golf Irons

We recommend beginners shop for “game-improvement” or “super game-improvement” irons. Game improvement irons are built for maximum forgiveness.  

Here are our top golf irons for beginners:

MIZUNO JPX 923 HOT METAL HL IRONS

• The best super game-improvement iron of 2023
• A top-tier golf iron for accuracy and forgiveness
• Competitive pricing

TAYLORMADE STEALTH IRONS

• The best game-improvement iron of 2023
• Back-to-back years as a Most Wanted winner
• Excellent forgiveness and consistency

COBRA AEROJET ONE LENGTH IRONS

• Second overall in the game-improvement iron category
• Every iron is the same length as the 7-iron, helping to simplify the swing from iron to iron
• Good accuracy, forgiveness and distance

VALUE OPTION – PXG 0211 XCOR2 IRONS

• Discounted price
• Exceptional distance
• Above-average accuracy

HONORABLE MENTION – TAYLORMADE STEALTH HD IRONS

• A top-five performer in the super game-improvement category
• A hybrid-like golf iron that’s easy to use
• One of the best super game-improvement irons for forgiveness

Best Golf Wedges for Beginners

Wedges are important within a golfer’s bag. For most golfers, a wedge is primarily used from 100 yards and in, especially around the green. It is the golf club that comes stock with the highest amount of loft. It is a golf club that can be used to hit full-swing, pitch, chip, and bunker shots. It is one of the most versatile clubs in the bag.

You can spin this topic a few different ways. But, beginner golfers need a golf wedge that produces consistent distances and accuracy in numerous playing conditions.

Here are our top four golf wedges for beginners.

TAYLORMADE MILLED GRIND 4

• The best golf wedge of 2023
• Exceptional accuracy, consistency and spin
• Several loft and bounce combinations

COBRA SNAKEBITE X

• Second-place best golf wedge of 2023
• Cavity-back and full-face design to enhance forgiveness
• Much-improved performance from wet conditions

CLEVELAND CBX FULL FACE 2

• Top-five golf wedge for 2023
• Cavity-back and full-face design to enhance forgiveness
• Strong performance in wet conditions

VALUE OPTION – SUB 70 TAIII

• Less than $140 for an individual wedge
• Best wedge for consistency
• Respectable performance in wet conditions

ADDITIONAL WEDGES FOR BEGINNERS

• Callaway CB Wedge
• Tour Edge Exotics WINGMAN Wedge
• Adams Idea Wedge

Best Putters for Beginners

Putters come in all different shapes and sizes but there are two basic types: blade putters and mallet putters. Many golfers prefer the traditional design of blade putters. Mallet putters offer more mass which can help with forgiveness. Whichever design you choose, go through a putter fitting. A putter fitting will indicate what lie angle, playing length and stroke type you’ll need for a putter. (“Stroke type” refers to how you move the putter back and forth.)

Here are our top three putters for beginners.

L.A.B. GOLF MEZZ.1 MAX

• Second-place finisher in our mallet putter category
• “Lie Angle Balance” technology allows the putter face to return to square more consistently
• Extremely ease to use, stable and can help even if your putting stroke is inconsistent
• One of the more expensive putters

CLEVELAND HB SOFT MILLED 1

• The best blade putter of 2023
• Solid performer from all distances

ODYSSEY TRI-HOT 5K ROSSIE S

• Best mallet putter of 2023
• Excellent performance from 10 and 20 feet

VALUE OPTION – COBRA KING 3D PRINTED GRANDSPORT 35

• A top-performing blade putter two years in a row; the best blade putter of 2022
• Innovative design and technology
• Less than $200

Complete Set Options

If you’re on a tight budget, here are complete golf set options that offer the best “bang for your buck.” Check these out if you are interested in starting out in golf with a complete golf set.

• STIX GOLF
• ROBIN GOLF

Time To Play Golf

Buying the right golf clubs, whether you’re an accomplished golfer or a beginner, represents a significant investment. Don’t waste your money. We can’t over-emphasize the importance of getting fitted for your equipment. It is a topic we stress in every single Buyer’s Guide (Most Wanted) article we publish. We urge you to read some of our other articles before you make your purchase.

Before you buy, consult your local professional, club fitter or avid golfing friends. Or fire us a question in the comments section below or on social media. We are here to help.

Remember, the object of golf is to have fun! There will be challenges along your journey but always keep that in mind. Set goals, celebrate your good shots, enjoy the surroundings and the company of your friends and you will be well on your way. And make sure to follow MyGolfSpy for the best reviews and information!