The best golf club sets for beginners will have a mix of forgiveness, distance, and value. Beginners don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on a set of golf clubs.
In fact, some of the best options for beginners are less than $500. We have tested, analyzed, and compared some of the most well-known sets for beginner golfers. There is some impressive technology out there and plenty of great options for new players to choose from.
Let’s take a look.
Best Golf Sets For Beginners: Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Callaway Golf Men’s Strata
Best for Slower Swing Speeds: Cobra Golf Fly XL
Best Premium: TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite
Best for Faster Swing Speeds: Wilson Profile Platinum
Best for Teen Beginner: Wilson Teen Profile SGI
Best Club Set Makeup For The Money: Tour Edge Bazooka
Best For Forgiveness: Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 To Go
Best Without A Golf Bag: Callaway Edge
Best Overall: Callaway Golf Men’s Strata
The Callaway Strata is one of the top-selling sets for beginners because of its impressive forgiveness, strong distance capabilities, and fair pricing.
- Good set makeup for a new player
- Easy to hit, forgiving clubs
- Affordable golf club set
- It helps slower swing speed players get more distance
- Lightweight, easy to carry stand bag
- Available in 12, 14 and 16 Piece Sets
- Not for the fastest-swinging player
- Putter quality isn’t the best
The Callaway Strata has several different options for golfers, including a 12, 14, and 16-piece set. The 14-piece set is an excellent option for a new golfer for both functionality and value. If you want to learn the game’s basics, the Strata set has you covered.
Although you will not get the top-of-the-line A.I. technology you see with the Callaway Mavrik, Rogue, or Epic brands, these clubs are designed to be aerodynamic. In addition, they have plenty of launch and distance.
Getting the ball up in the air, controlling the direction, and producing decent distance are all possible with the Strata set from Callaway.
For the price, you will have a hard time finding a better beginner set than the Callaway Strata.
Best for Slower Swing Speeds: Cobra Golf Fly XL
The Cobra Golf Fly XL incorporates some of the best feel and forgiveness in the beginner golf club set category; with high launch and lots of distance, this one is worth the money.
- Has all the technology that a senior golfer needs
- It comes with two woods, two hybrids, and two wedges
- Graphite shafts in the senior set
- Low center of gravity for higher launch conditions
- Priced a bit higher than others
The Cobra Golf Fly XL set is a bit more expensive than other options on the market, but the technology is impressive and stands out as different from others.
This premium beginner set comes with a Driver, three wood, five wood, four hybrid, five hybrid 6-PW, SW, Putter, and an excellent golf bag. As you can see, this is also a complete set of clubs.
One of the most important things for a slower swinging or senior golfer is an oversized head, slightly offset irons, and technology that will help with launch and distance. This Fly XL Complete Set is a perfect option to consider.
Best Premium: TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite
The TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite is a premium beginner golf set with all the clubs a new golfer should ever need; with high MOI and plenty of distance, this set is also built to last.
- Forgiving clubs
- Easy to launch
- Promote faster swing speeds
- Wedges offer good control
- The putter is stable and easy to align
- The cart bag could be more durable
The TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite is a beginner set. However, it also will work for you for many years as your game improves. There is a 460cc titanium driver with a very high MOI and some impressive TaylorMade Speed Pocket technology in all distance clubs.
In addition to the driver, this set comes with a three-wood, five-wood, five hybrids, four hybrid 6-PW, S.W., and a putter.
This is an exact set makeup built for the beginner player. The wedges are some of the best in the beginner set game. The high-volume grooves offer a lot of spin and teach new players the importance of controlling the ball around the green.
Best for Faster Swing Speeds: Wilson Profile Platinum
The Wilson Profile Platinum has a strong set makeup, great value, and good technology for a faster-swinging player.
- Large sweet spot
- Very well-built clubs designed for slightly faster swing speeds
- It comes with S.W. and Putter built for a new player
- The driver comes with a PVD finish for the reduction of glare
- The feel is not great, even when shots are struck solidly
The Wilson Profile Platinum set comes with a driver, five wood, five hybrid, 6-S.W., and a putter. Although the clubs are lightweight and helpful for players that need distance, they are also a bit heavier and stiffer than other beginner sets.
This is a welcome change for golfers who have struggled with breaking equipment in beginner sets.
In this set, the hybrids help golfers get tremendous distance and control of those longer shots into the greens. The great thing about the Wilson Profile Platinum is that it will last even when you become a mid-handicapper.
Best for Teen Beginner: Wilson Teen Profile SGI
The Wilson Teen Profile SGI is the perfect option for the young golfer that is not quite ready for a complete adult set.
- Great set makeup for a teen golfer
- Clubs are about one inch shorter than a men's standard length club
- High launching irons
- Large sweet spot on the driver for extra distance
- Similar to other Wilson sets, the feel is not as good as premium options
The Wilson Profile Teen SGI Complete is the perfect option for the player that is 60 to 66 inches in height. The set has a driver, five wood, five hybrid 6-PW, S.W., and a putter. In addition, each club is built with technology that will help increase launch and forgiveness.
The irons are cavity-back-style irons, allowing for better playability even when hitting out of the rough. For teen golfers trying to decide if golf is a game for them, the Wilson Profile SGI Complete is a great choice.
Related: 7 Best Golf Clubs for Teenagers
Best Club Set Makeup For The Money: Tour Edge Bazooka 17 Piece Set
The Tour Edge Bazooka 17 Piece Set offers you some of the best golf technology on the market for the price; if you want a complete set, this is a great step towards it.
- Excellent value
- Good distance
- Forgiving throughout the bag
- Easy to hit
- Quality bag
- The golf bag is not as durable as other complete set options
Tour Edge is known for its exceptional value. With the Tour Edge Bazooka, 17-piece set, golfers will benefit from a low center of gravity, high launch, and overall lightweight feel. The set has a driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 4 hybrid, 5-SW, a putter, and a golf bag.
The fact that both the 15-degree and 19-degree fairway woods are included can certainly help improve overall performance. It’s smart for beginner players to have a better club selection.
With the Tour Edge, Bazooka set, you also get a 370 anser style putter to simplify putting and make it easier to keep your putts online.
Related: The Best Golf Club Sets for the Money: A Budget Buyer’s Guide
Best For Forgiveness: Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 To Go
This set gives you phenomenal forgiveness throughout the bag. The irons are especially forgiving and work well for players who struggle to hit irons.
- Super forgiving, especially the irons
- Powerful driver
- Lightweight fairway woods and hybrids
- Decent putter
- The cart bag looks great
- Price on the higher side
- Club heads are a bit bulky on some of the hybrids, and longer irons
The Hot Launch 4 To Go Complete Set has forgiveness at the forefront of its design. With this set, you get a 10.5-degree driver, 3 and 5 woods, 4 and 5 hybrids, 6-SW, and a putter. The inclusion of two hybrids and two fairway woods helps this set stand out.
You will be impressed with the high MOI the Tour Edge Hot Launch 4 To Go provides. In addition, there is also a low center of gravity. The feel of this set also seems a bit better than other Tour Edge options.
Tour Edge incorporated two very forgiving wedges into this design. The grooves on the sand wedge can even help develop a little bit of spin.
Best Without A Golf Bag: Callaway Edge Complete Set
The Callaway Edge Complete Set is designed for distance and easy contact with the golf ball; this set does not come with a golf bag, but it is very fairly priced.
- Impressive distance technology built-in
- Good club set makeup for the price
- Impressive putter technology
- Not quite as forgiving as other beginner golf club sets
The Callaway Edge Complete Set is one of the best golf club set options without a bag. In fact, almost all beginner golf club sets have a bag included with them, and for some golfers, that is not necessary.
This ten-club set has the driver, 3 wood, hybrid, 6-9 iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and putter. The putter is one of our favorite parts of this golf club set. It is a White Hot Pro putter with Super Stroke Grip. The White Hot Pro putters are tour proven and have impressive consistency.
Don’t overlook the Callaway Edge set because it is unique. The Edge does not come with a golf bag. This is a discouraging factor for some, but it should not be. It is one of the best options for a set that can continue to work as your game improves and you move to the mid-handicap range.
What Things to Consider When Buying a Golf Club Set For Beginners?
With all the golf club choices on the market, it can be tough to narrow down the right one. However, there are a few things that you must consider to ensure that you pick the right golf club set.
If you are uncertain about where to begin, check out our guide on How to Buy Golf Clubs: A Beginner’s Guide.
Set Makeup
If you noticed, each set on our list of the best golf club sets for beginners has a unique set makeup. The set makeup will vary depending on the price and the brand of the clubs. Of course, you can always add clubs to a set, but a few must-haves are in a bag.
Obviously, the driver is a necessary club, but it also makes sense to have a fairway wood and a hybrid. Diversity will help ensure you can hit shots out of any lie.
In addition, a mix of irons and wedges is also crucial. Many beginner sets come with just a pitching wedge, but it’s also wise to add a sand wedge.
Related: 8 Best Drivers For Beginners & High Handicappers
Shaft
To help keep costs down in beginner golf sets, most will have graphite shafts in the driver, woods and hybrids, and steel shafts in the irons. However, senior players often play better when all the clubs are all graphite.
Related: 6 Best Putters for High Handicappers & Beginners
Short Game
It’s essential to pay close attention to the putter and wedges that come with a beginner set. As a new player, you will have to spend a great deal of time focusing on the short game and how to lower your scoring.
Ensuring you have a good variety of wedges and a putter that you can rely on is essential. Add one in if a set does not come with a sand wedge.
Related: 5 Best Golf Wedges For High Handicappers & Beginners
Pricing
Most beginner sets start around $300 and go up over $1000.
Only invest money in a better set if you think you will stick with the game long-term. Many people will save money and buy a decent beginner set; in a few years, if they still love the game, they sell it and put the money towards a complete custom set.
Forgiving Technology
Beginner golf sets should have forgiving technology. Some keywords to look for include a low center of gravity, large sweet spot, offset clubhead, and even a draw-bias design. The more forgiveness you have in the beginner, the more fun the game will be.
Frequently Asked Questions
Beginners tend to have lots of questions about golf. This is entirely understandable, considering how overwhelming the game is initially.
A decent set of golf clubs will cost $500 or more. Some golfers with slower clubhead speeds can purchase cheaper sets made with lower-quality materials.
Golfers should prepare to spend around $700 for their first set of golf clubs. However, if you are very serious about the game and plan on spending quite a bit of time dedicated to the sport, it may make sense to pay $1,000 or so.
A full golf club set will come with a mix of clubs, a golf bag, and typically a few headcovers. Most of the time, a set will have a driver, a fairway wood, a hybrid, a few irons, a wedge, and a putter.
The USGA rules of golf state that golfers can only carry 14 clubs in their bag. Beginner golfers should not worry about this rule because they will not need this many clubs. Beginners are more than fine to use about 10 or 12 clubs.
A beginner golfer that falls outside the standard height range may want to get fitted for golf clubs. If you are very tall or short, the standard-length beginner sets will not be the best choice for you.
Beginners often find hybrid golf clubs the easiest golf bag to hit. Hybrids have a great performance from both the rough and the fairway, making them a favorite for most new players.
The perfect set makeup for a beginner player is:
Driver
5 Wood
5 Hybrid
6-9 Irons
PW
SW
Putter
Beginners can find great golf club set options from Wilson, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Cobra. Tour Edge is another brand that keeps pricing in check. While searching for a new golf club set, chances are you have a budget in mind. Tour Edge makes it easy to afford quality equipment.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of which sets will be the best for beginners. The Callaway Strata stands out as our top choice. The Strata is high performing, well priced, and can give any beginner the start in the game that they deserve.
It’s hard to make that initial investment into golf equipment. The pricing is high, and it can feel like a giant leap. However, millions of players will tell you it’s a step you will be happy you took.
