What Golf Clubs Should You Have In Your Bag?

Even if you’ve been playing golf for some time you might be wondering if you have the right type of clubs in your golf bag. How many wedges should you carry? Should I have a driver? Hybrids or long irons? I’ll try and answer all these questions and more in this post.

How Many Clubs Are You Allowed to Have?

When it comes to golf, many people wonder how many golf clubs they can have in their bags. If you want to stay within the rules of golf then the answer is 14. However, it’s up to you to decide the make-up of the 14 clubs in your bag.

You can have any combination of the following:

• driver
• fairway woods,
• hybrids
• irons
• wedges
• putter
• chipper

Each club has its own purpose and can help you in different ways depending on the type of shot you need to take. For instance, a driver will help you hit the ball farther off the tee while an iron will help you achieve more accuracy with your shot. A wedge is designed for short approach shots while a putter helps you get the ball into the hole with precision. So no matter what type of golf shot you have to take, having all 14 golf clubs in your bag will ensure that you have all of the tools necessary to make it happen.

That being said there is a case for many golfers to carry less than 14 clubs in their bags. Once you move beyond the beginner’s stage it can be helpful in developing your skills if you carry a smaller number of clubs. This will force you to think about club selection more carefully and develop the ability to hit different types of shots with different clubs.

Is It Worth Buying My Own Set of Clubs?

When it comes to golf, having your own set of clubs is a must for any serious golfer. Not only can you customize your clubs to fit your style of play, but you will also have the assurance that they are in the best condition possible. Investing in a good set of golf clubs can be expensive, but it’s worth the investment if you plan on playing regularly.

Not only will you be able to practice and improve your skills, but you will also save money in the long run by avoiding expensive rental fees whenever you visit the golf course. Furthermore, with your own set of clubs, you don’t have to worry about them being damaged or stolen when not in use. All in all, having your own clubs is an important investment for any golfer who wants to take their game to the next level and enjoy more time on the course.

What Are The Essential Golf Clubs?

Golfers must adhere to the rule that they can only carry a maximum of 14 clubs in their golf bag. Carrying more than the legal limit is considered a violation of the rules of golf, and can lead to penalty shots added to your score. Ian Woosnam famously fell foul of this rule in the final round of the Open Championship. It arguably cost him his best chance of the claret jug.

Arguably the only essential golf club is the putter. Most players would find it pretty difficult to putt well with any other club so it’s best to double-check to make sure you haven’t forgotten it when you head out on the links. The majority of players would also consider a driver to be a club you need in your bag. Assuming you can hit it reasonably well it’s going to provide you with the best option for distance from the tee. This will give you the best chance of hitting the green in as few shots as possible to help keep your scores low.

Many clubs will run a three or four-club challenge where competitors have to pick no more than three or four clubs. This will really focus your mind on what is actually essential. In this scenario, most players probably go for a wedge, mid-iron and a fairway wood plus the putter. This gives them the widest range of coverage for the different types of shots they are going to face during a round of golf.

What Clubs Do Pros Usually Carry?

I can’t recall seeing a professional golfer play with less than the maximum number of golf clubs. At the end of the day, they are trying to make a living and want to give themselves the best chance possible.

Traditionally they would have probably carried the following:

• driver
• 3-wood
• 5-wood
• 3-9 iron
• pitching wedge
• sand wedge
• putter

You’ll notice that this only comes to 13! The extra club would probably be a more lofted fairway wood or a long iron depending on their personal preference and the type of course that they were playing on that week.

A modern professional, especially at the top of the game as access to a much wider variety of clubs these days. Wedges with lofts of 60° or more, hybrids and a variety of adjustability on all sorts of clubs.

Many professionals will probably adjust the make-up of their set depending on the course and weather conditions that day/week. For example, Phil Mickelson carried two different drivers on more than one occasion at certain events. Players might swap a fairway wood or hybrid for a long iron when conditions are firm or windy.

Even professionals might be more willing to use cavity back irons instead of blades, particularly as the loft decreases. They will usually be looking to have specific yardage gaps between each club and will want to avoid massive jumps. Because iron lofts have been strengthened over the years many professionals will now be carrying at least three if not four wedges in their bag to cover distances inside around 150 yards. The most lofted wedges can also be used when they need plenty of height to stop the ball around the green.

A typical professional set might include the following:

• driver
• 3-wood
• 3-9 iron
• pitching wedge
• gap wedge
• sand wedge
• lob wedge
• putter

Do I Have To Carry 14 Clubs?

No, you do not have to have fourteen clubs in your bag. You are allowed to carry as few or as many clubs as you want, but to stay within the rules the maximum is 14. This can include any combination of woods, irons, hybrids, wedges and a putter. The number of clubs you choose to use depends on your individual preferences and playing style.

Some players may opt for fewer clubs so they have more room in their bag for additional items such as balls and tees and less weight to carry! Others may prefer to have more options available on the course by carrying extra woods or hybrids instead of a full set of irons. Ultimately, it’s up to the individual golfer to decide how many clubs they feel comfortable carrying in their bag each round.

Set Make-up Based On Skill Level

Golf is an enjoyable and challenging sport that usually requires a variety of clubs to succeed. From beginner golfers to experienced professionals, the type of clubs to choose from can vary depending on your skill level. Generally, golfers will carry a golf bag with several different types of clubs such as woods, long irons, short irons, wedges, and a putter. Here are some ideas on what sort of clubs to carry in your golf bag depending on your level of skill.

Set Make-up For Beginners?

The ideal club set-up for beginners is one that allows them to learn the basics of golf without feeling overwhelmed. A beginner might be better off starting with a half-set of clubs.

A great option might include a driver and/or 3-wood, hybrid, 5, 7 and 9-iron, sand wedge and a putter. This combination of clubs will provide the basics needed to hit off the tee, fairway or rough and approach the green with irons. They would have options for both low and high chip shots plus the sand wedge to escape from bunkers. A hybrid club is also recommended as it is easier to hit than a long iron. With this set of clubs, a beginner should have enough options to learn golf basics while still having fun on the course.

Set Make-up For Low Handicappers (10 Handicap And Below)

Low-handicap golfers say 10 handicappers and below, are experienced and skilled players of the sport. They generally have a consistent swing and the ability to hit shots with reasonable accuracy and consistency. A player at this level will probably have a wider range of distance that they need to cover as they are likely to hit the ball further than less accomplished players. They should however have the ability to adapt their swing to use a club for multiple distances.

A typical set might include the following:

• driver
• 3-wood
• 3 hybrid
• 4-9 iron
• pitching wedge
• gap wedge
• sand wedge
• lob wedge
• putter

It really comes down to finding a mix of clubs that give you a consistent set of distances without leaving large gaps, especially at the shorter end of your bag.

Set Make-up For Mid Handicap Golfers (10-20 Handicap)

Mid Handicap Golfers (10-20 handicap) have a great opportunity to improve their game, as they are still able to hit all of the clubs in the bag.

A typical mid-handicapper set might include the following:

• driver
• 3-wood
• 5-wood
• 3 hybrid
• 4 hybrid
• 5-9 iron
• pitching wedge
• gap wedge
• sand wedge
• putter

Once your game has improved to the point where you don’t need more than one shot per hole then it really comes down to working on the consistency of distance with your irons and wedges. Being able to control the distance you hit your clubs is likely to have a great effect on your scores.

Set Make-up For High Handicap Golfers (20+ Handicap)

For players in this category, it is often more about finding clubs that they are able to keep in play. They might be advised to investigate some of the hybrid irons that have been released recently as these can be extremely easy to hit for all types of players. There’s a good chance that high handicappers will struggle with the driver and may actually have more success using a 3 wood from the tee.

Don’t feel obligated to carry 14 clubs. At slower swing speeds you may find that your longer clubs all end up going a similar distance. There’s not much point carrying three or four clubs that all go 170 yards for example.

While a better player will want multiple short game options it might be better for higher handicappers to limit the number of wedges they carry so their shot selection options are simpler.

A typical mid-handicapper set might include the following:

• 3-wood
• 5-wood
• 3 hybrid
• 4 hybrid
• 5-9 iron or hybrids
• pitching wedge
• gap wedge
• sand wedge
• putter

What Golf Clubs Should You Have In Your Bag: Summary

The type and number of clubs you carry will vary based on your skills and personal preference. Some players have swings that work better with fairway woods and others can hit hybrids easier. Whatever clubs you decide to use make sure that you get the correct shaft flex to suit your swing. You should also get the lie angle checked to make sure they are the right clubs for you.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ]