Best Golf Club Sets for Beginners in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Sets from Callaway, Stix, and more offer solid, affordable clubs.

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THERE COMES A time in every man's life when he discovers the glory of golf and chooses to dedicate his time and energy to getting better at the game. Some find the joy of hitting that little white ball early on, while others find it a bit further down the line. But for most of us, it's not so much a matter of "Will I ever find an interest in golf?" but rather when. And whether you got into golf because of your friends, your family, or by yourself (golfers born from the Pandemic raise a hand), your growing fondness for the links means you need a proper set of clubs.

It's true you could go buy pre-owned clubs as your first beginner set, but these days golf brands are churning out shiny, high quality sets at affordable entry points. Customization is also better than ever, as several outfitters offer club length adjustments, different club combinations, and a selection of stylish golf bags to accompany them. You can always ask for a set as a great golf gift, too. We also spoke with our friend Paul Silva, head pro at NYC’s Van Cortlandt Golf Club to answer some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to buying a beginner golf set. After you get a legit set, don't forget about some golf shoes.

Most beginner sets will include between nine and 11 clubs. 10 is a good sweet spot; it is enough to have a driver, a fairway wood and/or a hybrid, a 5i-9i, a wedge, and a putter. Generally a full set is 14 clubs, that includes the putter.

Two recommendations we would make would be to forego a 3-wood in favor of a 5-wood or 4-hybrid—most players don’t actually need a 3-wood and would be better served with a more forgiving hybrid (or two). If you can, consider adding a lob wedge or sand wedge to sit alongside your pitching wedge, as many pitching wedges aren’t lofted enough for tricky shots in the sand or around the greens.

As Silva told us, "I tell everyone the same thing in the beginning, find a few clubs that you can hit—a hybrid, a 5 iron, a 7 iron, a pitching wedge, a putter. You can learn to do a lot with those things, especially in the beginning. You don’t need to worry so much about distance."

Most beginners will want a shaft made of graphite. These will create greater swing speeds, allowing you to hit the ball further, even as you start to tune your swing. If you’re not a full-on beginner or aren’t looking for any extra distance, a set with steel shafts are a great choice. These will be easier to grow into skill-wise, making it easier to adapt as your game improves. As your swing speed improves, the flex of graphite shafts will be too much, and you’ll need to graduate to iron shafts then.

The main factors in forgiveness are club head and shaft. There’s a lot to dig into with this (we could write an entire essay on these two things), but in general, most beginner sets are outfitted with the absolute easiest club head to hit and a graphite shaft that allows for greater swing speed and fewer mistakes. We’d say not to get caught up in the nitty gritty and focus on finding a set that is made for new players—something that almost every brand will outline in their product descriptions. Make sure you take a look to see what handicap each club set is designed for and pick the one made for high handicappers (that’s you), as these are coined as player improvement clubs.

Golf club prices run the gamut, but a good set of beginner clubs will usually run you anywhere from $250-$1,000. This is a huge discrepancy, but there is a big range in quality from bottom to top. If you’re a brand new golfer, spending $1,000 isn’t necessary, but if you think you’re in it for the long haul and want a set of sticks that are going to allow you to progress without having to upgrade, spending a little more cash is a great idea—the technology really does make a difference

Our team at Men’s Health are lifelong golfers, so we’ve been testing out clubs for decades, giving us a solid foundation to judge today’s modern golf sets on a multitude of criteria. When we were testing out the aforementioned club sets, we were looking at club head size, materials, shaft construction, and forgiveness. Some sets, like the Stix full setup, gave us the chance to see what a quality set of clubs can do for a high handicapper, while the more affordable sets gave us a good idea of what is possible at a low price point. Ultimately, we picked sets that we liked the most, but there are so many options today, you really can’t go wrong when you’re trying to make a decision, because, hey, you can always upgrade.

When it comes to the game of golf, not many brands can boast expertise in every single category. One that can though is Callaway. The brand behind elite golf balls, top-tier putters, pro-worthy irons, and drivers, Callaway is no slouch when it comes to making high-quality gear for beginners.

While one of the most expensive of the bunch, this TaylorMade set is certifiably legit. We're talking about a beast of a driver with a 460cc titanium head, a beautiful set of high-performance irons, and a stylish golf bag that will protect your investment with aplomb.

Read more: Best Golf Gifts

For someone just getting into the game or hitting the range for the very first time, this set is great to start with. With every club you’ll need to get from the tee box to the green (and probably everywhere in between), this set won’t leave you without an option, no matter how wayward your shots get.

Picking up on the game quicker than you thought? You can skip the early stages and go for a complete set that allows you to learn how to optimize your shot-making skills. The Stix Perform Set is a complete 12-club set that will provide you with all the tools you need, all for under $1,000.

Another set from one of the most prestigious equipment brands in golf, the Cobra Fly XL set is the ideal set for someone who knows they’re going to be consistently hitting the golf course in a golf cart. The cart bag is big, sturdy, and spacious, while the wide range of clubs gives you options in every part of the course.

The Cobra brand is well-recognized, and these striking clubs will fit in with any other sets on the course, ensuring that your skills do the talking, not your equipment. If your skills are lacking, that’s okay, too, because each club in this set is super forgiving thanks to excellent weight distribution and optimized shape, from the driver right down through the putter.

This Wilson set features two premium features we love. The first are the irons. They're well-built and just what you want out of a beginner iron, making them a solid set to build the base of your arsenal for years to come. The second is the golf bag: it's highly comfortable thanks to the dual carrying strap and comes with ample pocket space.

PXG clubs are a pretty penny even for experienced golfers, but when it comes to performance the brand makes some of the best irons in the game. The Tactical 10 set comes with six irons, all made to provide high loft and give you smooth shots on each attempt. They're also forgiving, which is great for those practicing consistency through playing a full 18.

With the Tactical 10 you also get a driver, a putter, and two woods. While you can price down to just the clubs for $1,249, we recommend selecting the set to come with a PXG bag for $1,699.

Beginners to golf do not need get a custom fitting for clubs, but if you have the money and want to go all in on your new hobby then we won't stop you. Really the main measurement you want to get right when buying is proper club sizing (not too tall or too short)— and the good news is most of these clubs will have a solid fit for just starting out.

The only initial adjustments you need to make as a beginner is if you are exceptionally tall or short. If you are over 6'2" consider sizing a half-inch or more length adjustment on your clubs. You can also just opt for a set that has a "Tall" option available. If you are under 5'5", you'll likely want a half-inch decrease in length adjustment.

If you like to go by feel, swinging your friends clubs or talking to a pro at your local course will help confirm the sizing you need. As you progress in your game, sizing can be pinpointed down further to personalized club sizing, if you choose.

There's nothing wrong with buying pre-owned clubs to serve as your first beginner set. There is a whole market online for really nice pre-owned clubs for a solid price on sites like Ebay and the golf brands' websites. Yet the downside is, you guessed it, they were somebody else's. There's wear and tear on them.

Instead of buying pre-owned, opt for new. A new set will give you the proper tools to get acclimated on the course and really give you the opportunity to learn the game. Golf is a lot about feel. Your clubs should be your best friend out on the course, not some raggedy set who's best days are long gone.

Buying a new set also gives you something to build off of. As you get better you'll want to make upgrades. Maybe you want a more precise sand wedge or a driver with more power? What you'll do next is swap out single clubs one at a time until you find a set that fits your game to a T.

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Ryan Brower is the Senior Gear and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health, where he tests the best products in outdoor gear and tech. Baseball, surfing, and camping occupied most of his time growing up. He also trained in martial arts for 12 years and holds a third degree black belt.

He has written about the outdoors for nearly two decades and was previously the Managing Editor, Content Performance at Gear Patrol. You can find him still surfing anytime there’s a wave, going on paddles even when there isn’t, and sneaking in a round of golf. Ryan currently lives on the water in New Jersey with his wife.

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