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There is nothing more integral to golf than a set of clubs. The rules of the game permit players to have a maximum of 14 clubs, so choosing exactly which ones those will be is perhaps the most important decision a golfer can make when it comes to their equipment. The best golf clubs are properly suited for a player's height, strength, experience, and dominant hand. While it's advised to get golf clubs custom fit to your personal specifications—especially if you are beyond the beginner stage and are committed to playing the game—there are plenty of factors that go into selecting which type of clubs those will be. Afterward, you can match those clubs with a great golf bag, the proper type of golf balls to match your game, and a comfortable pair of shoes.
The Best Golf Clubs - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Golf Clubs: RBZ Speedlite Set
- Best Golf Clubs for Beginners: Callaway Strata Complete Set
- Best Hybrid Golf Clubs: Callaway Mavrik
- Best Golf Clubs for Seniors: Tommy Armour Senior EVO
- Best Golf Clubs for Women: Kalea Premier Women's Golf Set
- Best Golf Clubs for High Handicappers: Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Set
- Best Budget Golf Clubs: Tour Edge Bazooka 370 Set
- Best Junior Golf Clubs: Rory 8+ Blue Kids Set
- Best Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players: Cobra Air-X Complete Set
In this article, the ACTIVE Reviews Team has put together a list of the best golf clubs for each type of player. This is a great starting point to understand why every golfer needs certain clubs that match their skillset.
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
Best Overall - RBZ Speedlite Set
SPECS
- Clubs: Full set or 11-piece (no 5-wood or 5-rescue)
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right or left
- Swing Weight: D0
- Flex: Senior, regular, or stiff
TaylorMade's RBZ Speedlites are a great option for intermediate players looking to graduate from beginner clubs. With a full 14 clubs as well as an 11-piece option, this men's standard set comes with a 460cc titanium driver, the RocketBallz fairway woods, versatile hybrids, and game-improvement irons that are incredibly forgiving. Our favorite part of the set is the modern mallet-designed putter, an excellent flatstick that offers a pure roll on the greens.
The set can also be bought with a TaylorMade bag with plenty of storage space for all of your equipment. This is a tremendous set that offers excellent technology without being too expensive.
What We Like
- Lightweight 460cc titanium driver head
- Versatile sole design on RBZ Rescue
- Irons provide high launch and added forgiveness
- Classically shaped wedge with high-volume grooves
- Modern mallet design putter
What We Don't Like
- Driver technology lacks well behind other TaylorMade models
- More for beginner and intermediate use only
Best Golf Clubs for Beginners - Strata Men's Complete Golf Club Set
SPECS
- Clubs: 11-piece set (no 5-wood, 3-iron, or gap wedge)
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right hand only
- Swing Weight: D1
- Flex: Regular
This 11-piece set from Strata is ideal for adult men who are just getting into golf. Although it's not a full set, this affordable package comes with all of the necessary clubs and includes a flexible stand bag. The best part of the set is that there are no long irons, which are difficult clubs to hit with any consistency. Instead, there are multiple hybrids to make it easier to get the ball up in the air. These hybrids can be especially effective out of the rough.
The technology is limited in these clubs, particularly with the driver. However, they are proper enough sticks to get you started in the game.
What We Like
- Full titanium driver with large sweet spot
- Very affordable
- Comes with a stand bag
- Multiple hybrids so you can avoid long irons
- Precise face milling on putter
What We Don't Like
- Driver is not durable
- Limited technology
BUY: Strata Men's Complete Golf Club Set
Best Hybrid Golf Clubs - Callaway Mavrik
SPECS
- Clubs: 3-hybrid, 4-hybrid, or 5-hybrid Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right or left
- Swing Weight: D2
- Flex: Senior, regular, or stiff
Hybrids are some of the most important clubs for recreational golfers. The main reason for that is that they provide more forgiveness and a higher launch than long irons, which are difficult for any player to hit with consistency. These Callaway Mavrik hybrids are top of the class for helping golfers escape from the rough or to approach the green with added height. Their Jailbreak technology in the clubface increases ball speed and consistency, while the aerodynamic clubhead decreases drag.
The Mavrik line of a 3, 4, and/or 5-hybrid can replace your lower-lofted irons and make the game a lot easier. They are excellent approach clubs and can also be helpful off the tee for trying to get the ball in play. It's only part of a set, but it's a valuable feature to have.
What We Like
- Exceptional ball speed and forgiveness
- Jailbreak technology in clubface for more stability
- Flash Face design gives enhanced consistency
- Aerodynamic clubhead decreases drag and increases swing speed
- Available in three lofts, can replace lower irons
What We Don't Like
- High price point for one club
- No 2-hybrid offered
Best Golf Clubs for Seniors - Tommy Armour Senior EVO
SPECS
- Clubs: Full set
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right hand only
- Swing Weight: C9
- Flex: Senior
As golfers get older, it becomes tougher to generate swing speed. Fortunately, there are senior clubs that take that into account to help older players enjoy the game. The Tommy Armour Senior EVO clubs are a complete set that features a titanium driver, a stainless steel 3-wood that is playable from most lies, two hybrids, and a full complement of irons and wedges. The iron and wedge shafts are graphite instead of steel, so that is helpful in producing speed.
This set comes at an affordable price and is beneficial to someone looking to get back into the game. There is no doubt that senior golfers can benefit from specialized equipment so they can get the most out of their game.
What We Like
- Titanium driver with high MOI to increase launch angle
- 4 and 5-hybrids designed with a low center of gravity
- Irons have perimeter weighting to optimize spin and control
- Graphite shafts in irons and wedges make for easier swing
- Comes with cart bag that has a 14-way top
What We Don't Like
- Driver face could be larger
- Bag is low quality
Best Golf Clubs for Women - Kalea Premier Women's Golf Set
SPECS
- Clubs: 11-piece set
- Length: Women's standard
- Hand: Right hand only
- Swing Weight: C1 (7-PW), C2 (5 and 6 rescue), C3 (3 and 5-wood), and C4 (driver and SW)
- Flex: Ladies
TaylorMade's Kalea Premier clubs feature the most impressive technology available for recreational women's clubs. Behind an ultra-lightweight construction that allows for faster swing speed, this 11-piece set has a larger face on its fairway woods, a versatile sole on its rescue clubs, and a Spider mallet putter that is incredibly stable throughout the stroke. Each club comes with a high-quality Lamkin Ladies Sonar grip.
While we would like to see more forgiveness in the irons, it will be tough to find a better set of clubs that suit both intermediate and experienced women golfers.
What We Like
- Ultra-lightweight construction for faster swing speed
- Larger face on fairway woods
- Versatile sole on rescue clubs
- Spider stability in mallet putter
- Lamkin Ladies Sonar grips on all clubs
What We Don't Like
- Irons lack performance technology and forgiveness
- Might be too lightweight for stronger women
BUY: Kalea Premier Women's Golf Set
Best Golf Clubs for High Handicappers - Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Set
SPECS
- Clubs: 4-PW or 5-AW
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right or left
- Swing Weight: D1 (steel) or C8 (graphite)
- Flex: Senior, regular, or stiff
Golf can be a difficult game for the high-handicappers among us, but certain elements of our equipment can really provide a boost. That is the concept behind the ultra-forgiving Cleveland Launcher XL iron set that features a remarkably large and hollow clubhead with strategically placed weight pads behind the clubface. That means that off-center shots still get up in the air, heading toward your target. There is also more grip weight and loft-specific groove structures, both of which make the irons even easier to hit.
The larger clubhead does mean a sacrifice in speed and is more awkward to chip with than sets with smaller clubheads, but the extra forgiveness is more than worth it for less-experienced players.
What We Like
- Graphite or steel shafts available
- Large, hollow clubhead creates high MOI
- Strategically placed weight pads behind clubface
- Added grip weight for more feel
- Loft-specific groove structures
What We Don't Like
- Will sacrifice higher ball speeds
- Can lack feel on chip shots
BUY: Cleveland Launcher XL 5-DW Irons Set
Best Budget Golf Clubs - Tour Edge Bazooka 370 Set
SPECS
- Clubs: 13-piece set
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right or left
- Swing Weight: D1
- Flex: Regular
If you are looking for a nearly full set of affordable clubs that prioritize forgiveness, then the Tour Edge Bazooka 370 set is one of the first places you should look. With a 460cc titanium driver, oversized stainless steel fairway woods, and larger irons with a low-profile design, these clubs help high-handicap golfers keep the ball in play. We particularly like the ultra-thin clubfaces that allow for additional ball speed. It makes for a nice combo with the bigger clubheads.
These aren't clubs where you are going to generate a lot of spin and control, but they will take bad shots and make them better. At such a reasonable price point, it's understandable to see how popular these sticks have become.
What We Like
- 460cc titanium driver with weight in heel and toe
- Oversized stainless steel fairway woods
- Hybrids have low-profile designs and deeper CG
- Larger irons for increased forgiveness
- Ultra-thin faces for additional speed
What We Don't Like
- Difficult to get spin with irons
- Limited shaft length customization for left-handed clubs
BUY: Tour Edge Bazooka 370 Set
Best Junior Golf Clubs - Rory 8+ Blue Kids Set
SPECS
TaylorMade and Rory McIlroy have made a splash in the junior golf world with their Rory 8+ Blue kids set. With seven essential clubs provided, the set features a 16-degree driver, a forgiving 3-wood, and an easy-to-hit 5-rescue. A 7-iron, 9-iron, sand wedge, and center-shafted mid-mallet putter round out the set. The two irons offer an extra-high launch, which is a benefit to juniors who have trouble getting the ball up in the air.
While it's not a complete set, this is a tremendous starting place for a junior who wants to get into the game.
What We Like
- 16-degree, 400cc driver head
- Forgiving fairway wood and rescue clubs
- Stainless steel irons provide extra-high launch
- Center-shafted mid-mallet putter
- Each set comes with Rory's signature headcover
What We Don't Like
- Not a complete set
- Club length may be tough to match to a kid's height
Best Golf Clubs for Intermediate Players - Cobra Air-X Complete Set
SPECS
- Clubs: 11-piece
- Length: Men's standard
- Hand: Right-hand only
- Swing Weight: D0
- Flex: Senior or regular
If you already have a beginner set and are looking for something more substantial, this Cobra Air-X set is an intriguing option. The hallmark of this 11-club set is how lightweight the clubs are overall, as each of the shafts are under 50g. That helps to create more clubhead speed. There is also an offset hosel design that promotes a draw while helping to eliminate a slice. A variable thickness design on the clubface produces greater speed on off-center hits.
This won't be for those who are swinging well over 100 mph with their driver, but slower swing speed players will get a lot of benefit out of how forgiving and lightweight these clubs are.
What We Like
- Lighter shaft (48g) and grip (37g) to make club easier to swing
- Offset hosel design on all clubs helps eliminate slice
- Variable thickness design on clubface produces greater speed on off-center hits
- Back and heel weights on driver create stability
- Premium cart bag included
What We Don't Like
- Faster swing speeds will struggle to generate spin
- Can be too lightweight for some
What to Look for in Golf Clubs
Hand
Every golfer is either left-handed or right-handed when it comes to swinging a golf club. The vast majority of golfers are right-handed, meaning that their right hand is dominant in the swing. This can be confusing because a right-handed golfer stands on the left side of the ball to hit. They also typically wear a glove on their left hand only. This is the opposite for left-handed golfers, as they stand on the right side of the ball to hit and usually just wear a glove on their right hand.
In terms of playing the game, there is no real advantage or disadvantage to being a right-handed or left-handed golfer. It all comes down to preference and comfort. However, it's important to note that left-handed clubs can sometimes be less available than right-handed clubs because of the difference in demand. That is less of a concern in modern times than it was a few decades ago, but there are still instances where certain left-handed clubs have a more limited selection.
Shaft
The shaft of a golf club is the long piece that connects the grip to the clubhead. This is one of the most important elements of a golf club because it determines how long the club is, what kind of weight the club has, and what type of speed will be required to swing it properly.
In general, taller players will need longer shafts while stronger players will usually need heavier shafts to get the most out of their swing speed. The opposite is true for shorter players or those who have slower swing speeds. In particular, junior golfers and women players often need lighter clubs so they can generate more speed. If the shaft was too heavy, it would be too difficult to swing. The weight proportions of a club, including its shaft, is measured by a metric called swing weight. This is not the overall weight but rather a representation of how the weight in the bottom two-thirds of the club compares to the upper one-third of the club.
Swing weight uses an A-F scale with A being the lightest and F being the heaviest. The numbers after the letters are specific 0-9 increments within certain weights. So for instance, D2 is heavier than C9.
A shaft is usually made out of graphite or steel with graphite being the lighter of the two. Almost all drivers have graphite shafts while most irons and wedges have steel shafts. The exception is for women or junior players who regularly use graphite shafts throughout all of their clubs.
Flex
The flex of a golf club refers to how much the shaft bends during the swing. In general, a stronger player who swings the club faster will need a stiffer shaft than someone who swings the club slower.
Different flexes included extra stiff, stiff, regular, senior, ladies, and junior. Most male golfers would be in the regular or stiff categories for flex. Most women golfers would be in a ladies' flex, although faster swing speed players could very well be in a different category. Getting the proper flex is an important step to playing the right clubs. If you are in the wrong flex, it can be very difficult to hit the ball properly and get it up in the air at the right trajectory.
FAQs About Golf Clubs
What are the best golf clubs made of?
The best golf clubs use several materials, including steel, titanium, carbon fiber, and graphite. The shaft of a club is usually made of graphite, which is lighter, or steel, which is heavier. For clubheads, a driver is typically made of titanium and/or carbon fiber. Iron clubheads are usually molded stainless steel. At the very end of the club, the grip is made of rubber.
What are the three most used golf clubs?
The driver, putter, and sand wedge are traditionally the three most commonly used golf clubs. A driver is used for maximum distance so a golfer can hit the ball down the fairway, setting up an approach to the green. A putter is used to roll the ball on the green. A sand wedge is often the club used around the green when a golfer needs to get the ball out of a bunker or the rough to reach the green.
Are irons better than hybrids?
Irons and hybrids serve different purposes, so one is not better than the other. Irons are better at hitting down on the ball and creating a lower, more penetrating ball flight. Hybrids are more forgiving and launch the ball higher into the air.
It's generally considered that most golfers should use hybrids instead of long irons such as 2, 3, or 4-irons because the forgiveness and launch of a hybrid make it far easier to hit. However, shorter irons and wedges are usually easier to control than hybrids.
What clubs does Tiger Woods use?
Tiger Woods uses all TaylorMade clubs with the exception of his putter. He has a Stealth Plus driver, SIM Titanium 3-wood, M3 5-wood, P-770 3-iron, P-7TWs for his 4-iron through pitching wedge, an MG2 sand wedge, and an MG3 Raw lob wedge. His putter is a Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS prototype.
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