Anybody looking at getting into golf needs to make sure that they have enough money to buy a full set of golf clubs.
However, these individuals are going to end up spending more money than they may realize if they want to get a full set.
That’s because golf clubs can vary quite heavily in price based on a multitude of factors, not all of which are always within the golfer’s specific range of control.
All of these factors can make it confusing to shop for golf clubs, which is why we created this simple but informative guide for the price of golf clubs and the factors that affect them.
How Much Do Golf Clubs Cost?
Golf clubs themselves have a surprisingly high-variant level of price values.
A used putter may cost no more than $2-5 at a pawn shop and can provide years of high-quality golfing.
Putters don’t necessarily need to be upgraded all that often but should be kept in good shape to avoid any issue.
However, other types of golf clubs will cost you much more money down the road.
For example, you can anticipate an average cost of $200-400 or so, depending on the golf club.
Some drivers may cost as much as $600, though you may be able to find a cheaper set of clubs made of lower-quality materials.
Golf clubs are in no way made equal – a typical bag of clubs will have many different types, including a variety of materials, that will help to make a golfer successful.
Therefore, it is important to break down a few expectations of what you might expect in each club category.
Typically, you’ll need a handful in each to get the best results when you’re out on the course and enjoying some golf.
For example, golf drivers are often the most important type of glove in your bag because they provide you with the huge power and accuracy you need on your first few shots.
As a result, you can often expect these clubs to cost anywhere between $250-600 per club, though some people may spend as little as $120 on a new driver or as much as $800-1,000 on a much higher-end model.
That said, while your drivers and woods are probably the most important clubs in your bag in some ways, the irons are probably more critical to invest in properly.
That’s because you’ll be using them more often than your driver and in much rougher conditions.
Don’t be too surprised to spend at least $115 per iron, though you may pay as much as $1,400 for pro clubs – most amateurs can probably max out at $400 or so for the highest-end clubs that they will need.
And don’t forget that your wedges must be kept in great shape because they are often put under the most strain in sand traps, high grass areas, and for chipping onto the green.
Most wedges are usually pretty inexpensive, thankfully, as most cost around $140 per club.
Some may even be able to find inexpensive wedges far below this price but we don’t suggest investing in them because their cheap cost is matched by their cheap construction.
How Much Do Golf Hybrids Cost?
A growing number of golfers are using the hybrid golf clubs – which are a combination of woods and irons – to make their bag smaller or to get ranges and shot placements that they cannot get with other clubs.
You can expect to spend about $200 per club with these hybrids, though there are some that top $500 for very specialized and professional golfing situations.
Alternatively, you may be able to spend as little as $2-5 on a used putter, as mentioned previously, but should spend at least $35, minimum, on a new putter.
This putter will be as basic as it gets and won’t have a lot of bells and whistles for your consideration.
Typically, an average weekend golfer should spend anywhere from $110-135 on a putter, though pros may spend more than $400 on these clubs.
All said, some golfers may spend over $2,000 on a full bag of clubs.
Thankfully, a good set of golf clubs that is properly maintained can last a lifetime, which is a great investment for a regular golfer.
Before going to the shop, though, it is important for you to understand how many clubs you can have in a bag and what kind you’re going to want to purchase to get the best golf game possible for your skill level.
How Many Golf Clubs are In a Set?
In an amateur setting, there is no limitation on how many golf clubs you can have in a bag is what you are willing to carry.
Though it may be heavy and annoying to carry 20, you can do that if you like.
However, competitive golfing tournaments restrict a golfer to just 14 clubs per round.
And these clubs cannot be swapped at any time, so a player must be very careful with what clubs that they pick.
Typically, you’re going to want at least one wood as a driver, though you may want two or more depending on your skill.
For example, those with a high handicap may struggle with a true driver – a one wood – and may want to carry just a three or five wood.
However, more expert golfers may find that three woods (one, three, and five) are good, depending on the driving situation.
However, carrying that many woods does ultimately limit a golfer on the number of irons, hybrids, and wedges that they can take.
A skilled golfer probably needs no more than two wedges – pitching and sand wedge – though many may make due with just a pitching wedge, even in sandy situations.
As a result, they want to spread the number of clubs evenly between their hybrids and irons.
For example, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids provide a good level of distance and control for an amateur.
However, a 1, 2, or 3 iron can provide more distance at the cost of requiring more precision with each hit.
Remember – the lower the number on a golf club, the most distance it gets at a sacrifice of precision.
So a typical golfer also needs 7, 8, and 9 irons for shorter, but more precise, shots in an around difficult areas and the green.
And don’t forget – you should have at least one putter in your bag for a golf tournament.
While you could try to put with another type of golf club, you’re going to find that this choice is very frustrating and not worth the attempt.
Do you need more than one putter?
The amateur probably doesn’t but some professionals may have more than one type of putter during a tournament.
In what situation would a golfer ever need more than one putter?
Well, a golfer may have a standard putter that is good or average for most shots.
However, they may also have a specialized putter that allows for more English and control by hitting different areas on the putter.
This type of club may help on hills and valleys and keep a golfer competitive for longer.
So if we average out golf club costs to about $150 per club and you purchase a whole set of 14 clubs, you’re going to be paying $2,100 for a bag of clubs.
And that cost does not take into account the cost of the bag itself or the balls, the tees, or anything else in your bag.
How Much Do Used Golf Clubs Cost?
When you walk into a pawn shop, you’re going to find golf clubs that may cost as little as $5 or lower.
Some amateurs raid these shops and buy a whole set of 14 clubs for as little as $65-80.
That’s a whole set of clubs for less than the cost of one new club.
So, should you go raiding your local Goodwill and find some clubs in this way?
Feel free to try but good luck!
You’re probably not going to get very well balanced or strong clubs in this way and will have to make do with what you find.
How Much Do Driver Shafts Cost?
A good driver shaft is a critical part of your golf game because it helps to keep your driver head not only stable but as strong and accurate as possible.
But how much should you spend on these items?
That all depends on a myriad of different factors.
Some people will prefer inexpensive shafts – anywhere around $50-70 – because they are worried more about the head of their club.
That said, you can’t just buy any old shaft and expect it to do well.
You need to take into account your swing, including your swing speed and your tempo of play.
A stiff shaft is usually good for players with a fast and accurate swing but more flexible ones are better for those with weaker drives.
And as for tempo, you need to increase the shaft torque if you play at a higher speed and decrease for a slower tempo.
All of these factors taken into account mean that you could be spending around $80-100 for a truly great driver shaft.
We don’t suggest going cheap here because you want to get the best shaft for your needs.
Remember how we said in an earlier section that balance was hard to achieve with used clubs?
That’s because those clubs were made for an chosen by somebody else, not you.
Other factors that you need to take into account include your release point, the direction you tend to shoot, and much more.
As a result, you may want to visit a golf club that can gauge your swing quality and give you an insight into how it impacts your driver shaft selection.
Though this will cost you a little more than just buying a club without help, getting this assistance ensures that you get the best results and the best club possible for your driving needs.
Is there any point in buying driver shafts that cost $200 or more?
If you want to be a professional golfer, you should because you’ll be getting clubs designed specifically for you.
That’s the unique thing about golfing – if you took someone else’s clubs out and tried a swing that normally got you 200 yards per shot, you’ll be less likely to get the same results because they are not balanced for you.
How Much Do Custom Golf Clubs Cost?
A customized set of golf clubs includes options that have been carefully selected and balanced to suit your specific game and skills.
Professional clubs often have a similar level of customization but are usually built with higher-quality materials and more careful balancing.
People who want to start investing in custom golf clubs go through a fairly involved process.
First of all, the club manufacturer measures their swing speed, their release point, the spots where the ball hits the club, and much more.
This process requires taking many measurement swings at an appropriate golfing center.
Often, these clubs use electronic elements to gauge where the ball is hit and to give the golfer a better understanding of their swing and its accuracy.
Then, the club manufacturer must create golf clubs that suit a person’s specific swings – and this is not cheap.
We found in our research that you can take the cost of what a club would normally set you back and double it to get an idea of the cost.
So if you took our average of $150 per club or so from earlier and doubled it on 14 clubs, you’d end up with a total cost of $4,100 for your entire club bag.
Is that extra cost worth it for an amateur golfer?
That all depends on many factors.
For example, some golfers may just want one or two custom clubs for their bag.
Often, these custom clubs are a good choice if you struggle with a certain option and need tweaks to it that suit your specific swing faults or quirks.
Imagine getting a customized golf club that corrected your tendency to slice – you could be hitting straighter and more accurate shots.
Add up all of these benefits across your weaker clubs and you can see some real gains in your game.
Some estimate that a person may improve by nearly two strokes per game and add 20 yards to their drive and about 15 to their irons.
So, you’re not going to be jumping up that much in your game if you get custom clubs.
However, you can likely improve many aspects and become a more accurate shooter.
How Much Do Professional Golf Clubs Cost?
Unless you’re a truly professional golfer, there’s really no reason for you to spend money on a professional set of clubs.
Though they provide you with a better game because they are balanced to your needs, they are so much more expensive than standard clubs.
Those who just enjoy a few holes on the weekend typically don’t need to pay that much for these clubs.
Those who do, however, should know that they’re going to spend a minimum of at least $800-1,000 per club – sometimes even more.
Irons, in particular, can be upwards of $1,500 at the professional level.
That may seem hard to believe – two clubs at this price would be worth a full set of standard new golf clubs – but there are reasons why golf clubs of this type cost so much.
First of all, professional golf clubs are always selected and balanced for an individual player and their swing.
Remember when we discussed the different elements of swing?
They don’t matter as much for amateur golf clubs because they have balancing factors that make them useful but not as powerful or precise as professional clubs.
But professionals need individual clubs to succeed.
Just as importantly, these clubs cannot be cheaply made or created with poor material.
Only the lightest and strongest materials are used for these professional golf clubs.
These clubs can add dozens of yards to a professional player’s stroke.
As a result, they spend more to make sure that they get the high-quality shots that they need to compete professionally.
That said, high-end professional women golf clubs are often a little less expensive than male clubs.
You can often find them for $600-800, though prices again vary based on brand and the types of materials used.
No professional worth their skill is going to use clubs that don’t have titanium.
And this rare element comes at a price, one that many amateurs cannot afford without a lot of investment and saving.
You also need to remember this important fact – a professional set of golf clubs won’t improve your skills.
Though they are built of higher-quality materials, they only translate to better results if your golfing abilities are very refined.
If you have a typical amateur level of skill, you may even play worse on professional clubs because they require more precision and accuracy.
Why Do Golf Clubs Cost So Much?
The prices listed above may boggle the mind of many readers.
Why on Earth do golf clubs cost so much to produce and sell?
Well, there are many factors that influence this situation, each of which is important to understand before you start golfing.
Doing so can ensure that you don’t overspend on clubs you don’t use and, conversely, make sure that you don’t spend too little on junk clubs – they do exist.
Material Cost
Depending on the club you buy, there’s a good chance the material used will make up most of the cost.
Just think of the names of your clubs to get an idea of what materials are used.
Woods use a combination wood alloy to produce a strong club.
As a result, they are often a bit more to buy because the club is typically more specialized.
And iron clubs are cheaper because iron is easier to produce and recycle, though that doesn’t mean that you won’t spend a good amount of money on these clubs.
Brand
In the golf club world, brand is probably the most common influence on a club’s cost.
That’s because some brands are known for high quality or for being endorsed by certain players or groups.
As a result, you may spend much more (hundreds of dollars in some case) for a club from one brand.
Is this extra cost worth it?
That all depends on whether you want to stick with a brand – such as if you have a sponsorship – or if you think that company really produces the best-quality clubs for your needs.
Manufacturing Methods
Golf clubs are typically manufactured in a handful of different ways.
For example, some clubs may be multi-piece units that are much less expensive.
However, higher-quality clubs typically use one mold to produce a seam-free construction.
We strongly suggest paying a little more for seam-free clubs because those with seams are not as strong.
These cheaper clubs are mostly being phased out and are almost never used, which helps to make this decision an easier one to make.
New Innovations
Remember when anchor putting was invented and the ways that it changed the amateur and professional game?
Before restrictive rules started making them harder to use in competitive tournaments, these clubs were extremely expensive.
Typically, new innovations in clubs – such as new alloys and other types of elements – that help to transform the game and make it more competitive also increase the prices of clubs and make them exist outside the range of some buyers.
A Few Examples of Golf Club Sets
Now that you understand a little more about golf club costs, it is a good idea to examine a few common golf club sets.
Before we get into that, though, we’re going to suggest that most golfers always have the following nine clubs in their bag: a driver, the three wood, a five wood, a three hybrid, all irons between five and nine, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, a lob wedge, and a putter.
These clubs should provide you with the golf control that you need.
However, there are three types of golfers and three types of bags that may be useful for each – the high-, mid- and low-handicapper.
We hinted a little at the high-handicapper earlier and suggest a three wood, 4-6 hybrids, 7-9 irons, a pitching wedge, and a putter.
That’s nine clubs, you can mix in up to five of the clubs mentioned above if you want.
We suggest this combination of clubs because they are the easiest to use and give an inexperienced golfer a better chance of fun.
No, you’re not going to get the incredible drives off a three wood that you’d get with a driver.
But you still may get more distance because you’ll be more capable with the three wood.
And your hybrid selection is good because it gives you some distance and some precision – a fine balance.
How about the more experienced mid-handicapper?
Feel free to upgrade to a driver because you’ll probably have enough skill to hit one properly.
You should also have a three wood – though you may also want a five wood, as well – for shorter driving situations.
Next, you should get 4-5 hybrids, 6-9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge, and putter.
That’s 11 clubs if you don’t include the five wood.
Typically, these clubs are better for a mid-handicapper because they increase their short-game capability as well as their long.
The higher occurrence of irons – rather than hybrids – allows for more precision at a shorter range.
And you can make up for that loss by using your woods or driver, when possible, to get the extra distance in your long game necessary.
Lastly, let’s take a look at the low-handicapper or those who don’t have a handicap at all.
These golfers can take out a full-set of 14 clubs whenever they go – a driver, a three wood or two hybrid, 3-9 irons, pitching wedge, sand wedge, gap wedge, lob wedge, and putter.
There are many reasons why a more skilled golfer should try out this collection of clubs.
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