How much are golf clubs? The price of golf clubs varies widely. A thrift shop can sell you a set of clubs for less than $50, while a professional set can cost well above $500. There is no set formula to buying irons, but the best you can do is buy what your game needs.
As a beginner, you might find yourself overspending on golf equipment. Beginners tend to buy what they do not need. This article will go through the various costs of golf clubs and which irons suit which types of golfers.
The Cost of Golf Club Sets for Beginners
A standard golf set has 14 clubs in the bag. Here is what you will find in a normal set;
- A driver.
- A putter.
- Two wedges.
- A hybrid.
- Two fairway woods.
- Seven irons.
Beginners do not need to buy the whole set at once; you can build an affordable set of clubs. A driver will set you back $60, a putter around $60 as well. You can get a set of irons for under $200, golf balls for about $12 a dozen, and a golf bag for $100 or less. If you get these essentials at a sale, you will spend between $200 to $400.
No Need To Spend a Lot as a Beginner
There is no need to spend a lot of money on golf equipment as a beginner. The excitement of starting a new sport tends to drive beginners into overspending. It is important to what you want to achieve with your golf game before over-investing in the sport.
If you’re a casual golfer who plays a couple of rounds a week with friends, family or colleagues, then a club set of around $200 to $300 is best for you. Even if you intend to become a professional, there is still no need to splurge at the beginning of your career.
Bargain golf club sets cost around $200. As a beginner, you can buy discontinued models of branded sets. Brands that use less expensive materials sell golf sets at cheaper prices. Shops that sell top brands knock-offs golf clubs have cheap equipment as well. The more you want to play golf, the more you will invest in it over time.
The Cost of Golf Clubs for Intermediate/Advanced Golfers
As you get better and spend more time on golf courses, the equipment becomes more expensive with better quality. Your set of clubs directly impacts your performance on the golf course. The $200 bargain set can and will lead to under-performance in your game.
Good quality golf club sets cost anywhere from $500 to over $1,000. Quality branded golf sets give more options with a wider range of clubs. They are pricey but are worth every cent. Intermediate and advanced golfers need clubs that have longevity.
Costs of Drivers and Fairway Woods
If performance is more important than cost, building your set of clubs is the best option for your game. Buying a different brand of irons from your woods is a good option as you grow more accustomed to more brands.
A driver can cost as low as $20, with high-quality brands having price tags of over $1,000. Nowadays, it is normal to find a driver that costs as much as a full set of clubs, if not more. Golf club manufacturers have increased the amount of technology going into drivers, giving more distance and accuracy, which costs more.
Fairway woods also vary in price, depending on quality and brand name. Woods from the big brand names cost in the region of $500, but it is possible to find bargains for under $50. Finding fairway woods that fit your swing will mean spending more. Generally, good quality woods range from about $300 to $500.
Cost of Hybrid and Utility Clubs
A hybrid is the combination of irons and fairway woods. You will find a good hybrid club at just under $199 at online stores like Amazon. Golf club manufacturers have put a lot of technology into getting more forgiveness to help beginners and high handicappers. All this research and improvement comes at a cost to golfers who want to step up their game.
On average, hybrids cost less than fairway woods which have an average price of above $200.
What Affects the Cost of Golf Clubs?
Material
Clubs made from traditional stainless steel are more likely to cost less on the market. The use of different materials pushes the costs of clubs higher. Titanium and tungsten are being used a lot more in the manufacturing of clubs these days, pushing prices higher.
Research has shown that about 33.3% of the cost of a golf club is down to the materials used. The most expensive golf clubs are made of strong, thin steel mixed with titanium or tungsten. Prices are also affected by the process of mixing these materials in manufacturing.
Brand
Bigger brands tend to be more expensive when it comes to golf clubs. Certain brands are more famous for getting more ball speed and distance, and others are known for accuracy, while some trend toward better forgiveness.
The really popular brands have managed to help golfers hit further, straighter, and more accurately. More and more brands are entering the golf equipment manufacturing industry, but this has not necessarily translated into a reduction in price. Golf remains an expensive sport.
Manufacturing Methods
Technology has made a big impact on the golfing scene. Manufacturing companies constantly research and develop features to make golf clubs more appealing to golfers.
Forged clubs, made by beating soft steel into shape, are more expensive to make than cast iron clubs. Casting involves pouring molten iron into a mold to shape a golf club.
Adding tungsten or titanium to steel is another process that has become the norm in golf club manufacturing. Companies’ high inputs into manufacturing methods are inevitably pushed down to you, the consumer.
New Innovations
Manufacturing companies are falling over each other bringing in new features to make golf clubs even better and more useful to golfers. Game-improvement clubs are more forgiving, with the center of gravity being pushed lower and further to the rear.
Professional golfers have started using longer irons. The larger clubface now allows players to swing harder. US Open winner Bryson Dechambeau used a 45.75-inch iron successfully. 48-inch clubs are now being used and tested by golfers, bringing a new dimension to the game.
Custom fitting is an innovation that golfers of all abilities have welcomed. It is now possible to tailor irons to your exact specifications per your physical attributes. Color cards are available with most brands to get the best club for your body and capabilities.
How Much Should Golfers Spend on Clubs?
Golf equipment manufacturers have stores that sell all their branded golf clubs. In OEM stores, you will get, on average, a driver for $440, a hybrid at $200, a fairway wood for $200, wedges for $150, and a putter for $150. The iron set will cost you around $800. If you’re just starting out, it’s probably wiser to look at other options first.
E-commerce stores and online auctions offer slightly cheaper clubs and have flexible rates. Beginners should look into buying online to get better prices. Local golf club fitters also sell clubs, but the added labor expense is involved. Cheaper golf club fitters charge around $25 for labor, while others can even triple the price of clubs with labor charges.
So, how much should you spend on clubs? There is no definite answer to this question, but it largely depends on where you are with your game. There is a definite need to spend more to improve performance as you progress.
What Should You Consider; Used or New Golf Clubs?
Whether you buy a used or new set of golf clubs depends on your budget and how much time you want to be active in the sport of golf.
If you’re a beginner with a low budget, a used set will work for you. However, if you can afford it and want to invest in your golf game, a new set is the best option. A new set of clubs will last longer and give better performance as you move from beginner to intermediate and into professional levels.
There are a few checks to conduct before taking out money when buying used golf clubs. Check If the clubhead is loose. Check that the grooves are not worn out, and avoid clubs with rust or dents.
The golf clubs you buy should match your physical stature, so measure yourself and get the best match.
A Few Examples of Golf Club Sets
A typical golf club set consists of a driver, fairway woods, irons, wedges, and a putter. If you’re a beginner or intermediate golfer, it is better to use game-improvement club sets to help with your performance. It is important to buy golf club sets that best match your game. Let’s look at a few examples of golf club sets.
1. Callaway Golf Men’s Strata Complete Set
The Callaway Men’s Strata Set is a bestseller 16-piece with alloy steel shafts. Designed for ultimate distance and performance, the set includes a 6-9 iron, pitching wedge, driver, sand wedge, putter, stand bag, 3 wood, 4 & 5 hybrid, and four head covers.
Callaway gives enough options to cover you from tee to green with this complete set that gives plenty of forgiveness in each club. You get more control and confidence for good value with the Callaway Strata for right-handers.
2. Cobra Women’s Fly-XL Complete Set
Specially designed with lighter shafts, the Cobra Women’s Fly-XL set costs just under $900. The titanium driver has a large shape and heel-based weighting for longer, straighter drives. The three woods (3,5,7) in the set are built for more accuracy and distance.
Cobra included a 5 hybrid for gapping between the irons. You will also get a pitching wedge and sand wedge with the six through nine irons. A putter rounds up the clubs in the Fly-XL right-hand set, which comes with a premium cart bag.
A Fly-XL set is a great option for ladies who want to improve their performance on the golf course.
3. Tour Edge Teen Bazooka 370 Starter Set
The Tour Edge Teen Bazooka 370 Starter set is a smaller package that is great for beginners and high handicappers. You will spend less than $330 for this right-hand set of clubs with plenty of forgiveness and game-improvement technology.
The Teen Bazooka Starter set includes; a graphite shaft driver, a 3-wood, a 4-hybrid, 6-iron, 8-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and a putter in a lightweight stand bag. Tour Edge also threw in a rain hood for your convenience.
FAQs
There are many things to take into consideration before and during your golfing journey as the game becomes more challenging and demanding.
Wrapping Up
There is little you can do to run away from the expenses involved in playing golf. The most important step is deciding what you want to do with your game. If you intend to be a casual golfer, then a budget of $500 will get you an adequate set of clubs.
If you decide to dig in and take your game to higher levels, then you have to buy quality golf clubs that cost more but give better performances. Manufacturing companies quickly release new versions of clubs, so you may use older and cheaper versions, but only up to a certain level. Golf clubs work best when they are matched to your game and abilities.
The good thing about recent evolutions in golf is that there are plenty of options available, so you can look far and wide to get the best value for money and game.
