What Golf Clubs Do You Actually Need? A No-Fluff Breakdown

Many sports, not all, but many, won’t have you doing tons of research on the amount of equipment needed to start in said sport. You’ll normally have a few “universally known” set pieces and that’s enough to get started. But with golf you have a whole bag of equipment that each comes with its own rules and needs. For some clubs are used to really garner distance, and others are used to get your ball out of tricky situations. 

But what golf clubs do you actually need? 

Starting out in golf can be overwhelming, with how much there is to know, what rules to follow, and knowing what clubs are best to make up your first official bag. So many golfers, from amateurs to seasoned pros, will have differing opinions on what golf clubs should be in your bag. You are officially allowed to carry up to 14 clubs in your bag when you’re playing, but do you need all of those immediately when you’re just beginning? 

The short answer is no you don’t. But you will want to stick around for the longer answer as we have our certified breakdown of what each club does so you can understand what golf clubs you actually need when you’re on the greens.

• What’s in my Golf Bag and What Does Each Do?
• What Golf Clubs Do You Actually Need?
• Where to get Reliable Golf Clubs

Giving you the no-fluff breakdown of what golf clubs you actually need so you can play your best.

What’s in my Golf Bag and What Does Each Do?

We know we said in the intro that you can carry up to 14 clubs in a bag when you’re playing a round of golf, but in actuality there’s only five types of clubs: woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters. There just happens to be a lot of variations of those five types. Many clubs will have different lofts (the angle of the clubface), shaft length, and shaft material which will play into how far and wide you want your shot to be.

While others come in sets for that specific purpose: hence “iron sets,” which normally have 7 clubs in and are all just a bit different from the other. That’s why there’s so many choices out there. When a sport requires this much precision and thought, it makes sense that there’s hundreds of clubs out there that each have their own special spark. 

Now that we have a little bit more understanding, we’re going to look at this by club-type and describe what’s in your golf bag and what each club is used for.

Woods: The Clubs That Go The Distance ?️

When you’re setting your ball on your tee down, you’ll want to bring out all of the clubs that fit nicely under the “woods” category. The two main clubs you’ll find here are known as drivers and fairway woods. 

The driver is our main…driving force. If you need to hit far and gain some ground, the driver is gonna be your first club to pull out of your bag. It's the club with the biggest head because we’re looking to really pack a punch here.

Fairway woods or just “woods” are like a sister to the driver, they both are under the mission of getting the ball far, but aren’t built the same way- like siblings! Back in the day, woods were just that: wood, but now with how our golf technology has advanced we have incorporated some new into the old with our dear woods. They have a bit more curvature and offer a bit more control, great for a second or third hit.

Irons: Our Powerful Clubs That Love Versatility ?️

Unlike how woods have changed from being made of wood to metal over time, irons have been iron (or stainless steel in this modern era) since the game started. Irons come in multiple different sets, going from a 2-iron all the way to a 9-iron with an additional one called the pitching wedge. Each of these clubs have slightly different loft angles which in turn makes each one designated for specific shots. 

For example, a 2 and 3-iron will have a smaller degree of loft angle which will make it better for long distance shots, while a 8 and 9-iron will have a bigger loft angle, better for shorter distances. 

• Long Irons will be classified as 2-4
• Mid Irons will be classified as 5-7
• Short Irons will be classified as 8-9 with PW (Pitching Wedge) included here as well 

Choosing what irons to use on the course is typically all down to the player and their skill level. Talking with other golfers and simply getting out and testing clubs is the best way to know what you will favor in the long run.

Hybrids: You Get The Best Of Both Worlds?️

Hybrid, which means “a thing made by combining two different elements” and in this case it is taking irons and woods and combining the two. Hybrids are usually used to replace long irons, you’ll find that they have more control and offer more forgiveness. A great middle-ground pick and a lot easier to hit with as a beginner than a woods.

Wedges: A Surpise Tool That Will Help Us Later ?️

A wedge isn’t something we ever want to have to use, but we will all use it. Image courtesy of: imgflip.

Wedges, like irons, also come in a set, but instead of ten different clubs, this time we’re only dealing with three. Wedges are the clubs you use when your ball is in trouble, when we need to get the wedge out, it’s because it's stuck in the rough or sand or something similar. There's the pitching wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge, pitching is normally your first pick, the sand wedge is kinda self explanatory, and lob’s are for needed high shots.

Putters: The Club That Tastes The Finish Line (or Hole)?️

Putters are the first types of clubs a golfer will pick up, you’ll find that most people will pick up a putter by the time they’re two years old. 

How, you ask?

Mini-golf of course! 

When you play mini-golf, you’re using putters and that’s because a putter is the club golfers will use when they need to gently (but with commitment) put their ball into the hole. You’ll use a putter when the hole is in sight and you’re ready to make that final couple shots.

No matter where you start, having the right clubs and not extras weighing you down is key.

What Golf Clubs Do You Actually Need?

We’ve got an understanding now of the types of golf clubs and what they do on the course, so now we can go into what golf clubs you actually need with a bit more knowledge under your belt.

Instead of an intimidating 14 club set-up right off the bat, we’re going to narrow down your bag to around 6 to 8 clubs:

• A driver

• A 7-iron

• A 5 or 7 wood

• A 5H hybrid

• A pitching wedge
• A putter

One of the biggest debates for new golfers is whether you should have a driver or stick with a long iron, 3 wood, or hybrid because drivers aren’t the easiest in the world to hit with. We think, as with most things in the sport, it’s going to be up to user preference but at the end of the day we will recommend adding a driver to your golf bag. Hitting with a driver is the end goal and the best way to get to that end goal? Start out early. 

?Our pick for a best beginner driver goes to: Ping G430 MAX

There are many irons out there and each comes with their own set of advantages and disadvantages, so we wanted to recommend one that’s going to be right down the middle. A 7-iron is a great all-around versatile iron that’s going to get you the best results without having to buy a whole set.

?Our pick for a best beginner 7-iron goes to: the JPX Hot Metal line

If you’re not quite ready for the crack of a driver and need something that’s a bit more flexible with your swing style, then a 5 or 7 wood and 5H hybrid is gonna be your best friend(s). When it comes down to picking between the two for woods, we’re going to say the best way to know is to test them both out. Each swing will feel great as you’re finding your groove and the 5H hybrid is truly one that’s going to feel like your new favorite club.

?Our pick for a best beginner 5H hybrid goes to: PING G430

A PW (pitching wedge) will be the first wedge we recommend players get, it’s the wedge you get out of your bag first when you need it and is the most adaptable out on the greens. But if you’re looking to get a whole set and want the most “bang for your buck” set then we will point you to the Kirkland Signature 3-Piece Golf Wedge Set.

?Our pick for a best beginner pitching wedge goes to: Wilson Harmonized

And finally we have the putter, this is the club we’re most excited to use because that means we’re about to potentially beat our personal best (or exceed it…don’t worry we won’t tell anyone). There are lots of great putters out there, and deciding between a “blade” or “mallet” face is again, say it with us, up to personal preference, but one we will always continue to come back to is:

?The best beginner putter goes to: Cleveland Huntington Beach (Soft Mallet)

Where to get Reliable Golf Clubs

Now that you know what clubs you’ll need, your next step is to go and get them. We’ve teased you with links throughout the article, but let’s get into why StickHawk is the place to go:

Our story is a simple one, what started out as a side-venture in the highs and lows of selling shoes on eBay, has now turned around to be a business with 20 full-time employees, a 15,000 square foot warehouse, and relationships with private golf courses all over the U.S. At StickHawk you can make your putting dreams come true as we sell quality drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, iron sets, single irons, wedges, putters, complete club sets for those who need the basics to play today, and accessories.

If you need even more help deciding on what clubs should go in your bag: you can take our “Club Decider Quiz,” which is clickable on the bottom right hand side of our website, and it will help you decide the exact right make and models you need to feel good while you’re on the course. 

One aspect, amongst many, that makes us stand out from the crowd is our fast and reliable shipping. There’s no need to worry about finding the right club and then not getting it in time to go on the greens. We want you to get out and play just as much as you do, that’s why we offer free shipping on all domestic orders, (unless you choose expedited shipping at checkout).

Find your used golf clubs here at Stick Hawk!

And there you have it! This is our breakdown of the golf clubs you actually need in your bag, no extra up-sells or hassling from the side. We got you covered so you can enjoy your time out on the fairway.