Being a new golfer is a lot of work. You’re figuring out where to stand, what to say, how to hold the club, and which ones to bring to the course. It’s a lot to take in. So when it comes to equipment, we understand why you might grab a $299 boxed set and hope for the best. “Just get the cheap one and see if I like it,” right? But sometimes those early equipment choices can make the game harder than it needs to be. Here are some signs you ended up with the wrong beginner golf set.
You’re constantly adjusting just to make them work
Golf clubs are supposed to work for you, not the other way around. If you find yourself choking down, standing awkwardly or having to slow down to make contact with the center of the face, the clubs are a problem. Perhaps the most important aspect of choosing a beginner set is the fit, rather than the brand or technology in the club head or shaft.
Your irons look like they’ve been through a war
I play a lot of golf and my clubs show it over time. However, they aren’t dented, losing finish or color. If you purchased a bargain set, you’ll find that durability is one of the things you sacrifice.
Golf clubs should last you several years of play without falling apart or showing damage beyond repair. Cosmetic issues may not matter but there are times when these clubs also have performance issues because of their quality.
Weird gaps between clubs and no good short-game options
Most beginner sets don’t come with all 14 clubs and that’s totally fine. The issue is how those sets are structured. You’ll often find big distance gaps, especially between your pitching wedge and sand wedge, because gap and lob wedges are rarely included.
For many players, this leaves a frustrating hole in the 80–100 yard range, which is one of the most important distances in golf. If you’re constantly having to take something off a full swing or guess your way through these shots, it’s time to fill that gap. Consider adding a gap wedge (typically 50–52 degrees) to create more control and consistency inside 100 yards.
Too lightweight—and too easy to overswing
Most starter sets come with lightweight graphite shafts and oversized heads, designed to help those with slower swing speeds. That sounds helpful until you realize not every beginner has a slow swing.
For faster learners or naturally athletic players, these clubs can feel flimsy and unstable.
In some cases, reshafting may be beneficial if the clubheads are worth keeping. But more often, the smarter move is to replace the clubs entirely with something better suited to your swing speed.
The clubs don’t go very far
Beginner sets often come with high-lofted, high-spin clubs designed to help players get the ball in the air easily. The problem? Those same features can cause your shots to launch high but fall short. It’s one reason you might feel like you’re swinging well but still coming up 15–20 yards shorter than expected.
While it’s true that premium golf clubs offer better distance tech, that’s usually not the main issue here. The real problem is the combination of excessive loft, spin and lightweight shafts that aren’t matched to your swing.
If your ball flight looks like a balloon and your 7-iron carries more like a 9, it may be time to upgrade to irons with stronger lofts, more optimized weighting and a shaft that suits your tempo.
You have no confidence over the ball
As a new golfer, it’s normal to feel unsure. Building confidence takes time, reps and a lot of trial and error. If your clubs are making that process harder, it’s time to take a closer look.
Maybe the clubface always looks wide open at address. Maybe there’s so much offset it feels like the club is aiming somewhere you’re not. Or maybe the grip feels wrong, the length is off or nothing sets up cleanly behind the ball. When your equipment creates doubt instead of clarity, it’s holding you back.
Your putter has no feel, no feedback, no future
Most beginner sets throw in a putter as an afterthought, something basic, with poor feel, minimal alignment help and therefore no consistency from one strike to the next. That’s a problem, especially when putting makes up nearly half your strokes.
You don’t need to spend $400 to fix it. In our 2025 putter testing, some of the top performers were some of the most affordable. A quality putter with better face balance, alignment and feedback can make a big difference.
Final thoughts
If you’re looking for some of what we consider to be the best beginner package sets, here are a few choices:
Fake
3 weeks ago
Even if someone is not comfortable with a fitting, it’s worth it to at least try some clubs. Plenty of nice options out there that won’t break the bank.