We talk a lot about golf equipment on this website, and with the recent golf boom, there are more new players looking to purchase their first set of clubs than ever before. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to buying golf clubs, here are some tips to consider when purchasing a set for beginners (or beyond).

If you’d like to learn more about where to purchase golf clubs, read our guide to the best online golf stores here.

What Golf Clubs Do I Need?

Starting off with the appropriate number of golf clubs is an important first step. Golf’s governing bodies allow for a maximum of 14 golf clubs in your bag, so choosing the right combination of clubs might seem daunting at first.

Most golf bags including the following:

• A driver

• A fairway wood (or two)

• A set of golf irons (usually a 3-iron through 9-iron)

• A set of wedges (usually a pitching wedge, sand wedge, gap wedge, and/or lob wedge)

• A putter

It is true that there are multiple different club combinations to comprise the above list for your golf bag. Some players prefer to use less than the maximum 14 clubs, while other non-competitive, recreational golfers may carry more than the maximum allowed.

Knowing which clubs to include in your golf bag depends on a number of factors, most importantly how far you hit each club.

Understand Your Golf Club Distances

Golf is a game played on a course that spans large distances. Depending on their respective abilities, one golfer will likely hit their golf clubs farther than another player. Different golf equipment brands will offer products with different technologies, which can also determine how far a club will hit a golf ball.

New golfers will need to set realistic expectations on how far their shots will travel with any set of golf clubs, let alone the latest and greatest. For example, some beginners can expect to hit their driver 150 yards or more depending on their initial ability. As the golf clubs increase in loft throughout your set, you can expect distances to lower. For instance, a 9-iron, which has a high-lofted club face, will travel a shorter distance than a driver.

Once you purchase your first set of clubs, you’ll want to go to a driving range to see how far you hit each club.

How to Purchase Your First Set of Clubs

Once you are ready to purchase your first set of golf clubs, you’ll need to decide if you want to purchase a pre-assembled set or mix-and-match clubs. There is no “right way” to decide, as this is entirely a matter of preference and budget.

For example, many golf equipment brands offer a “box set” of beginner clubs that include 14 clubs and a golf bag. This is a fine way to start playing the game. Brands like Callaway Golf, TaylorMade, PING Golf, and many others offer these package sets at any golf retailer, sporting goods store, or online store.

You may instead wish to purchase golf clubs separate from one another. This can also include purchasing clubs from different brands, or even buying a used set from a resale shop or garage sale. While this approach may be more expensive than purchasing a pre-packaged set, it does allow for more customization based on your equipment needs.

Eventually it will be a good idea to get professionally fit for a set of custom golf clubs. These professionals will diagnose your golf swing tendencies and recommend golf clubs to purchase. Beginners can benefit greatly from this process — despite it being rather costly — once they are ready to take the plunge.

While there is no “right way” to purchase golf clubs for the first time, it’s always a good idea to hit the clubs before purchasing them, if possible. Many driving ranges offer demo clubs to try and some golf retailers offer demo programs to “try before you buy.” Take advantage of these promotions whenever possible, and you are sure to find the right set of clubs for your game.