How to Choose Your Golf Club

It’s not easy to choose a golf club. Not only is there a seemingly endless variety of clubs available, but choosing the right ones is a matter of finding the best fit for your body and your game. The golf club that makes one person play like a superstar could leave you hunting through the rough. So before you shop, take stock of your game. Know what you need to improve, then choose golf clubs that will help you reach your goal.

How many clubs should you get?

In tournament play, you’re limited to 14 golf clubs in your bag. For casual games, you can carry as many clubs as your bag will hold. There’s no right or wrong way to buy clubs; some pros recommend a full set, while others suggest getting a few clubs at a time.

If you’re just starting out, consider buying a full set from a single manufacturer may be the best choice, since it will give you a feel for your game with uniform club heads and shafts that all offer the same amount of flex. This will also help you develop a consistent swing tempo.

If you decide to get separate clubs, you’ll need a putter, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and some drivers and irons at a minimum. The putter is the most-used golf club in any golf bag. Putters have low loft and short shafts and are designed to push or roll the ball instead of hitting it into the air. Wedges are specialized short irons that put extra loft on the ball. Varieties include pitching wedges, sand wedges, lob wedges and gap wedges, each of which has its own loft characteristics. For beginners, a pitching wedge and a sand wedge are a must.