Every golfer needs a golf bag to store and carry their clubs during a round. Arranging your golf clubs in your bag might be a matter of personal preference, but there are benefits to keeping things organized and in sequence. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, of course, so it’s best to choose the method that works best for you.

Golf companies may also design their golf bags in a specific way to encourage organizing your clubs how they feel is appropriate. Here is one suggestion to follow when arranging your golf clubs in your bag this golf season.

How is your Golf Bag Separated?

The majority of golf bags on the market will come with compartments separated in some manner to keep your golf clubs organized. A small minority of bags — usually meant to be carried and not loaded on the back of a golf cart — look more like an archer’s quiver with no separations. It’s important to know what type of golf bag you prefer and go from there.

If you want or have a golf bag like the latter example, I wish you luck. While this is not my preference, many golfers who like the traditional, old-school feel of throwing your clubs into a minimalistic carrying bag don’t mind the disorganized look and function. I believe there is a better way.

For the rest of us, a golf bag that has dividers or separation that run the length of its design is optimal. An example of one such bag is shown below.

As the illustration shows, every golf club has its own location within the bag. This minimizes the risk of golf clubs getting “stuck” in the bag or hitting against one another, otherwise known as club chatter. Club chatter, if excessive, can damage your golf clubs over time.

Golf bag brands and builds can offer different variants of separation. Some many have fewer dividers than what is pictured, while others may have more. It’s best to choose a bag that fits your needs and preferences. Another example is shown below.

Where should my Golf Clubs Go?

For the most part, golf bags are designed to allow your longer woods and irons to reside in one half of the bag while irons, wedges and putter are store in the opposite half. In some instances, players may prefer to keep their putter closer to their longer clubs for easy access. Consider the example shown below.

In the above example, the golfer has stored their driver, fairway wood, and hybrids on the top half of the bag along with their putter. This is an optimal arrangement for a couple reasons.

If the player decides to walk their round, the weight of the heavier irons and wedges toward the bottom of the bag will make it easier to carry in terms of weight distribution. If the player chooses to ride on a golf cart, the longer clubs will be facing away from the cart when strapped in. This allows for easy access without fear of hitting the cart when the driver is pulled out of the bag.

No matter which club configuration you prefer for your golf bag, it’s best to consider your personal preference compared to how the golf bag is designed. If you want more flexibility in how you’ll arrange your clubs, go with a bag that has fewer dividers.