If you are new to golf, buying the right golf clubs can be a confusing and overwhelming process. Whether you’re looking for your first set of clubs or a complete upgrade, this golf club buying tips guide will help you make the best decision possible.

In an effort to ensure that any beginner has all the information they need when buying a new set of clubs, we’ve compiled this post with advice on how to determine what type of golfer you are as well as recommendations for some top brands in both irons and woods.

Before buying your new golf clubs

1. Do golf clubs make a difference?

First, you need to consider why you are buying golf clubs. If you are an elite golfer, then it’s likely that you already have your equipment dialed in.

For the beginner or average golfer, their set of golf clubs can make a huge difference. Buying the right set of clubs can typically lower your scores by at least 2-3 strokes (or more) from what you were shooting before and help increase your enjoyment of the game.

If you have a limited budget, you can start with the complete set of basic golf clubs and eventually upgrade to higher-quality clubs as your game improves. We have detailed reviews of the best golf clubs for beginners, and the best golf clubs for seniors.

2. Should I buy long golf clubs?

This is a common question for golfers who are relatively new to the game and have never really played with long clubs before.

Most beginners begin with a set of drivers that are between 60-70 inches long, but some advanced golfers opt to start off with longer clubs. The idea behind this is that you’ll get used to holding these longer clubs, which will help you make better contact on each shot, resulting in lower scores.

However, the downside of playing with longer golf clubs is that they are harder to control. If you don’t have a smooth swing (and most beginners don’t), it’s likely that you will hit the ball into the ground in front of your feet and/or slice the ball into the woods.

The reason this happens is that with longer clubs, there are more moving parts in the swing. This makes it harder to influence which direction the clubhead will go on each shot.

3. Should I buy petite golf clubs?

Golf clubs have traditionally been made for men, so many women find that the standard-sized golf club does not fit comfortably in their hands.

If you are a woman and have struggled with standard-sized golf clubs, then it might be worth looking into petite golf clubs. The great thing about these clubs is that they tend to be much lighter than standard clubs, which is an important factor for women.

For many women, carrying a heavier club can make it more difficult to swing smoothly.

Similarly, for senior golfers, petite clubs can make it easier to swing the club.

4. How much is a decent set of golf clubs?

To understand what a decent set of golf clubs costs, we need to establish a baseline of expectations.

To understand what a decent set of golf clubs costs, we need to establish a baseline of expectations. Most beginners should be able to find a suitable set of clubs under $400. However, there are some options in the $300 range that will work for beginners as well. If you are an advanced golfer (mid to high handicap) look for sets in the $500+ range.

We have discussed the best golf club sets for beginners, best golf club sets for seniors, and best irons for mid handicappers.

5. What are the different types of golf clubs?

The most common types of golf clubs are irons, woods, and hybrids. Let’s take a look at each of these and their differences.

Irons

Irons are the clubs that have a thin blade-like shaft made of steel with a metal head that has grooves cut out on the top so that they can be lined up when you hit the ball.

They are the most common type of club that you will find in a professional or a standard golfer’s bag. Irons are measured by the degree of loft they have. These loft degrees can range from 8 to 50 degrees.

As the number increases, it is easier to hit the ball and it goes higher into the air. On the other hand, as you get closer to 0, it is more difficult to hit and results in a lower trajectory.

Woods

Woods are clubs that have a very stiff shaft and a large head. They typically have smaller lofts than irons.

Woods are designed to be easier to hit because the lower loft means that you will just have to swing it with less effort in order to send the ball flying.

When you hit this type of club, the head makes direct contact with the ball and gives it a precise rotational spin.

Hybrids

These types of clubs are used for beginners to practice. They have a smaller head with a less-thick shaft and a low-to-medium amount of loft. They are wider than irons and thinner than woods.

The higher the loft number is on these types of clubs, the higher they will fly off the clubface, which is why it is so important that you choose the right clubs for your game based on what goal you have in mind.

6. Do I need a hybrid golf club?

Hybrids are best used for beginners who are just learning how to execute a variety of shots. They help you get the feel for how the ball feels when it is struck with different levels of loft, which in turn will help you develop a better sense of distance control and trajectory control.

If you hit the ball well with a hybrid, then you can get better results using it as your game progresses and learn to be more consistent with your drive shots and short-game shots.

Hybrids are still relatively affordable, but the best sets start at around $400. Below that you will find sets with a little less loft available for about $100 to $200. These are good starter options for beginners, as they will allow you to get comfortable with the technology of the clubs without paying a lot of money.

7. Do I need a full set of golf clubs?

In most cases, you don’t need to buy a full set of clubs. You can find decent golf club sets for $300 or less.

If you’re just starting out and want to get your feet wet, then one of the best options is to buy a starter set from an upper-middle-class golf range that has a good reputation for customer service.

We have discussed these in our article on the best golf clubs for beginners, or best golf clubs for seniors. They offer everything that you would need to start playing, and the cost of these sets is often below $400.

Once you feel more comfortable with your game, you can invest in buying a higher-end iron set or even a set of woods. This will help move your game to the next level. For example, we have discussed the best irons for mid handicappers.

8. When do golf manufacturers release new golf clubs?

There are a lot of clubs on the market, and as a result, any given manufacturer will only release new or refresh their top models one or two times per year.

If you see that a new club has just come out from a particular company, then it is important to check if it is a limited edition model. These types of golf clubs are typically more expensive than their normal counterparts with better performance specifications.

It is important to know that the best golf clubs available on the market today are not necessarily the best clubs on the market. In fact, some of them are now somewhat dated and may have become obsolete.

Therefore, it is important to review your current clubs whether they still work for you or if you need to start upgrading your clubs.

9. When is the best time to buy new golf clubs?

As I said before, it is important to know what your needs are when it comes to replacing your golf clubs.

You should buy new clubs only if your current ones are beginning to show signs of wear and tear. It’s also a good idea to replace them occasionally so that you keep the best performance without having to worry about playing with a lower-quality golf club set.

That said, the best time to shop for new golf clubs is around October to December. This is when most golf clubs go on sale starting with their older models. If you wait until the end of winter, then you can often find even greater deals on some of the best golf clubs that are going out of fashion.

Sometimes, the deals are so good, you might think they are a scam. Golf clubs manufacturers offer these sales to get rid of last year’s model and to get people to upgrade their golf clubs with the latest technology.

10. How many golf clubs come in a set?

In general, golf club sets are typically comprised of 14 different types of clubs. These include a driver, fairway wood, hybrid, irons, wedges, and a type of putter or wedge.

Some starter sets will only have the essentials such as woods, irons, wedges, and hybrids in the set. Buying a full set of clubs will save you from buying individual clubs that might be more expensive when starting off.

If you were to buy the clubs individually, then you might find yourself spending much more than you would if you just bought a full set that comes with all of the basic clubs.

Thinking of selling or replacing your old golf clubs

11. Do golf clubs hold their value?

While the price of golf clubs can vary a lot between manufacturers and models, there are some general factors that determine their value. A new set of clubs will depreciate in value over time, and if you are selling them as used golf clubs, then you should expect to get about half of what you paid for them. At best.

However, if you are selling them as very new or unused golf clubs, then you can expect to get about 90% of what you paid for them.

If you have an older set of clubs that don’t hold their value very well, they still might be worth something on the secondary market. In this case, it might make more sense to sell them and get some money for them than it would to try and keep them. Alternatively, you can exchange them in some other way at second-hand pro golf shops.

12. Do golf clubs lose distance over time?

Depending on the type, shape, and quality of the clubs you use, it is common for them to lose some distance over time. In most cases, this will not be a huge issue because as a golfer gets better and better, their game will naturally improve without requiring any special equipment.

However, if you really want to maintain your existing distance or club performance level and feel that these clubs are no longer cutting it for you because they have lost some distance over time, you should consider changing them.

In this case, your best bet is to try and replace them before you go out of your way to lose more distance. This does not mean get a new set, but it might suggest that it might be time to upgrade or refresh certain clubs in your arsenal.

If you are looking for alternative options, then you can check out our article on the best irons for mid handicappers.

13. Do dents affect golf clubs?

Unfortunately, dents do affect the performance of your golf clubs. If you notice medium to large dents in your clubs, it might be time to replace them immediately. This is because small dents can turn into large dents over time and affect your clubs’ performance.

There are two reasons why this happens:

1. First is that the metal in the club’s head becomes damaged or weakens during play, and
2. The clubhead can actually crack when an accident occurs during play like a bad bounce off of an artificial surface or hitting a tree trunk.

We have previously discussed what can cause your golf club or golf club head to break (and how to avoid this).

Choosing your golf club brand

How you choose your golf club brand really depends on your needs as a golfer, and the things that are most important to you.

There is no one brand that is better than another. In fact, choosing the right golf club for you will depend on a number of factors including:

1. The price of the brand

There are many popular and well-known golf brands in the market. While all of them are quality brands, some of them tend to be more expensive than others.

2. How you will use the clubs

It is important to think about how you will use the clubs before committing to a particular brand. For example, if you are just a beginner who wants to practice and play on your own time, then you might not see the need for investing in high-quality golf clubs that will last for years if you do not plan on keeping up with your golf game and improving your skills.

3. Older models or models on sale

Golf clubs are always selling out of their older models whereas some might be on sale. In this case, it might be a good idea to buy them as used golf clubs to save some money.

4. The type of golfer you are

There are different types of golfers out there, and some will not need or want the same types of clubs as other people who might be more serious about their golf game. If you are an avid golfer, you will likely want a high-end set that will last you longer and perform at a higher level. However, as a beginner or hobby golfer, you will want more forgiveness and a lower price.

5. How often you play

If you are a casual golfer who only plays occasionally, your clubs will likely not need much maintenance. However, if you are an avid golfer who plays often and tends to put your clubs through a lot of use, then you may want extra warranty and servicing plans for your clubs to ensure they last as long as possible.

Final thoughts on golf club buying tips.

So, at the end of the day, there are no rules when it comes to choosing the best golf club brand for you. All that matters is what suits your needs as a golfer.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to buying new golf clubs is to do extensive research and read reviews from people who have used them before. This will help you with your decision of which brands work best for you.