Golf clubs are, undoubtedly, the essential tool in a golfer’s bag.
However, there will probably come a time when you need to transfer your golf clubs to another location or even ship them.
Knowing the exact weight of your clubs will help in this situation.
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How Much Do Golf Clubs Weigh?
In general, the average set of golf clubs will weigh around 25-30 pounds. This includes a set of 14 clubs in a standard-sized golf bag. The average golf bag weighs from 3-5 pounds.
The average weight of a golf driver is around 0.73 pounds or 0.33 kilograms.
The average weight for a set of irons range from around 0.88 pounds (0.40 kilograms) at the three iron all the way up to 0.95 pounds (0.44 kilograms) at the nine iron.
The average sand wedge weighs 40 ounces (2.5 pounds) or 1.133 kilograms.
A good rule of thumb, if you are shipping your clubs, is to assume that each club weighs around 1 pound each.
Average Iron Weight
The irons are among the most important golf clubs in your bag.
For example, many golfers find that they typically use the seven iron the most, due to its unique combination of good angle and accurate lay.
This club weighs, on average, around 0.93 pounds or 0.41 kilograms.
This puts it somewhere in the middle for your irons.
Generally, these clubs have a weight range that includes:
Nine Iron – 0.95 pounds or 0.44 kilograms
Eight Iron – 0.94 pounds or 0.43 kilograms
Seven Iron – 0.93 pounds or 0.42 kilograms
Six Iron – 0.92 pounds or 0.41 kilograms
Five Iron – 0.90 pounds or 0.40 kilograms
Four Iron – 0.89 pounds or 0.40 kilograms
Three Iron – 0.88 pounds or 0.40 kilograms
The average of all of these clubs is around 0.91 pounds or 0.41 kilograms.
As a result, it is fair to say that the average falls somewhere between a five and six iron – a mythical club that we could call the 5.5 iron.
That would even make this average the median club, if it existed.
However, there is one more iron to discuss here, one that serves a specific purpose – the putter.
Though not technically an iron, the putter is often considered closer to this club than the woods.
And what is its average weight?
Typically, a standard putter is about 19 ounces or 1.1875 pounds (0.53 kilograms).
That makes it one of the heavier clubs in your bag, which makes sense – the head is very dense and provides a good level of movement when you use it on the green.
Average Wedge Weight
Here is an interesting fact about golf clubs that may surprise many people: the woods are lighter than the irons.
This fact may be surprising because these clubs are typically designed to provide a further distance for each swing.
However, it makes sense if you think about their names.
The wood clubs use a lighter wood material on their heads, while the irons use a metal that is quite dense and heavy.
As a result, the use of the drivers depends more on a golfer’s swing speed and the accuracy and precision that they show.
This factor can make using the woods more challenging for many golfers because the denser materials of the irons help to translate slower swings into more accurate shots.
That said, a golfer who uses a denser wood head is likely to achieve a great drive if they keep their shot tight and smooth.
The average weights of these clubs vary depending on many factors.
For example, some drivers can weigh as much as 375 grams (0.375 kilograms or 0.82 pounds).
Two woods usually weigh around 380 grams (0.38 kilograms or 0.83 pounds), three woods around 385 grams (0.385 kilograms or 0.85 pounds), five woods 395 grams (0.395 kilograms 0.87 pounds), and seven woods 405 grams (0.4 kilograms 0.89 pounds).
And if you average all of these weights together, you would get around 388 grams (0.388 kilograms or 0.855 pounds).
That level is just over a three-wood but below a five wood: a theoretical four wood, if you will.
And when you compare that to the iron averages we found earlier, you’ll find that the woods can often be much lighter.
Remember, though – these averages may reflect different brands and makes, so keep that in mind when deciding which clubs you want to purchase.
Average Sand Wedge Weight
The average sand wedge weighs 40 ounces (2.5 pounds) or 1.133 kilograms.
The sand wedge is this heavy for a reason – the club is thicker and more heavily angled and the shaft is denser and more prone to vibrations.
That’s because this club is often put under the most stress when golfing.
Just think about the typical distance you are swinging your sand wedge when you’re using it – probably no more than many inches to a few feet.
As a result, the head of the club must be higher and denser to translate your movement into more kinetic energy in the ball.
This heavier weight is one reason why the average weight of a golf club is much higher than you might anticipate – the sand wedge offsets the average a little bit.
Golf Club Weight Examples
Callaway Golf Men’s Strata Complete Set
Here is a weight example for this set of golf clubs:
0.87 lbs – 3-Wood
0.74 lbs – Driver
0.95 lbs – 5H
0.97 lbs – 6 Iron
0.98 lbs – 7 Iron
0.99 lbs – 8 Iron
1.01 lbs – 9 Iron
1.01 lbs – 9 Iron
1.17 lbs – Putter
1.02 lbs – PW
Total Weight of all clubs – 8.72 lbs
Factors That Affect Weight of Golf Clubs
Gauging the average weight of golf clubs can be rather tricky.
That’s because there are many different factors that affect this rate.
For example, some golf brands produce slightly heavier golf clubs.
And women’s golf clubs are often heavier than male clubs to provide them with more power with each swing – we’ll discuss how weight affects your golf shot distance later.
You may end up with a golf club that is much heavier than the weights mentioned here.
Or you could get one that is even lighter.
Weight of a Pro Golfers Bag
Professional golfers usually bring a full set of clubs and a myriad of different elements on each carting trip.
And since they have around 14 clubs in each bag – for an average of one pound or one-half kilogram – that’s about 14-18 pounds – or 7-9 kilograms – for the clubs alone.
The variation here is due to the fact that the sand wedge and putter weigh a little more than the average club weight.
The average golf bag will weigh around 3-5 pounds – or 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms – so, when added together, that’s around anywhere from 17-23 pounds – or 8.5 to 11.5 kilograms – for a typical pro golf club bag.
However, this weight is usually around 25-30 pounds or 13.5 kilograms.
Where does that extra weight come from in this average?
From other items that the golfer needs in their bag.
For example, a bag may have a stand attached to it that adds a little extra weight.
Golfers also need to bring items such as umbrellas, bottles, golf ball finders, and covers for their golf clubs.
Therefore, it is essential to take these items into account when deciding on a golfing trip and whether or not to rent a cart.
How Do Graphite and Steel Shafts Affect The Weight Of Your Club?
The debate between graphic and steel shafts is one that takes up way too much time for many golfers.
Serious players most often use steel because they claim that their heavier weight provides more power and control.
However, amateurs often prefer graphite because they aren’t as heavy and make it easier for them to play a full 9-18 holes of golf without getting worn out.
But how do these shafts affect the weight of your golf club?
Let’s take a look at each of these shaft options, in order, to give you an idea of what to expect.
We’ll fully discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each to give you a better idea of when to use them.
Just as importantly, we’ll provide you with a guide on their weight differences to ensure that you choose well.
Steel Shafts
Professional golfers love steel shafts because they send more vibrations up to the player’s hand when they swing.
As a result, they get a better idea of how they are swinging and what changes they need to make to improve their success.
The heavier head of these clubs also help to drive the ball farther while also controlling the player’s swing to ensure that they don’t go too fast with it.
Players with sensitive hands – particularly newer golfers – often find that these shafts vibrate too much and hurt their hands after each shot.
They may also dislike the fact that they cannot swing as quickly – many beginning golfers rely on swing speed over accuracy to get good shots.
However, anybody serious about the sport usually chooses steel shafts.
Graphite Shafts
Although heavier shafts can result in further shots for most players, graphite shafts help to speed up a person’s swing speed.
This benefit is critical because it can help them compensate for the lack of weight by increasing the speed at which the ball flies off of their head.
That lower weight also helps to make graphite shafts a better choice for beginners or those who struggle to swing their club.
That said, you may also find that graphite shafts have more flexibility in the shaft, which can exaggerate your swing problems and make you less accurate.
Strangely, these shafts are also usually more expensive than steel as well.
As a result, you’ll need to be careful when choosing a set of clubs or else you may end up struggling to golf as well as you would like to golf.
Weight Differences between Graphite and Steel
Now that you understand the differences between these two shafts, it is important to understand their weight differences.
Typically, graphite shafts weigh less than steel but can sometimes weigh more.
Generally speaking, though, steel shafts weigh anywhere from 80 to 130 grams (0.08 kilograms to 0.130 kilograms or 0.17 to 0.28 pounds), while graphite shafts may be as low as 32 grams (0.032 kilograms or 0.07 pounds).
Typically, this weight s due to the differences in material density.
Usually, the weight varies depending on the head, as well, with wood shafts ranging from 60-70 grams, while the iron shafts range from 70-80 grams.
As you can see, the weight differences aren’t necessarily significant in averages.
However, the slight changes can still produce many differences in shot quality and distance.
Therefore, it is important to read on to get a better idea of this situation.
How Weight Affects Shot Distance
Many professional golfers swear by steel shafts and heavier clubs for a reason: they can produce a higher level of distance when they are used properly.
That said, that isn’t always the case – club and shot distance are much more nuanced and deep than this simple idea.
For example, many new golfers or those with a lack of speed strength and speed turn to lighter clubs to get a betters shot.
And often this may be the case for those individuals – they’ll be able to move the club faster if it is lighter.
As a result, their shot may go farther for them.
However, you need a lot of shot precision to achieve this effect – a nearly perfect swing position helps to make this possible by allowing golfers to hit the ball more accurately and take it far past where their limited strength may have previously allowed.
That said, we still believe that heavier golf clubs are usually a better choice for those who are serious about golfing.
Heavier clubs – particularly the head – help to add extra power to the shot.
That’s because the heavier head has more kinetic energy when swung compared to a lighter head.
Just think of the difference between a whiffle ball and a baseball – if you hit both with the same swing, the baseball will go farther because it is heavier and has more energy.
The same idea is true of your golf head and golf ball – and because the ball is smaller than a baseball, it will go farther due to that energy.
Average Shipping Weight of Golf Clubs
Shipping golf clubs follow the same basic rules that you’d find with any type of shipping.
As a result, you need to make sure that you fully understand how to protect the club and keep it from getting damaged.
Usually, the manufacturer is going to ship the club in a box that is a little too large for the club.
In this way, they can add packing material around the club to keep it safe from getting damaged.
The material used for the box will also vary, depending on many factors.
Usually, though, they’ll use a type of cardboard that can weigh anywhere from 1-2 pounds per box, (or 0.45 to 0.90 kilograms) depending on its density.
You usually want to work with a manufacturer who produces the highest possible box quality.
And if you are shipping a golf club, you should drop a little extra money on the box to get one that weighs at least two pounds.
This step helps to ensure that the material is dense enough to keep it safe.
And then you need to find packing materials that prevent damage.
For a golf club, packing Styrofoam peanuts are usually a great idea.
In most cases, these peanuts will take up less than a half-pound (around 0.22 kilograms) in the box, which if you add the average golf club weight of just under one pound (0.45 kilograms) up with these weights, you’ll get around 3-4 pounds (1.31 to 1.86 kilograms).
Please note, though, that this factor changes significantly based on the club you ship.
Heavier clubs, like sand wedges or putters, will automatically cost more than lighter drivers or woods.
As a result, the average cost may range much farther than the numbers indicated here.
However, these can give you a pretty good feel for what to expect when shipping golf clubs around the world.
Flying Weight for Golf Clubs
If you plan on traveling with your golf clubs, you need to take some steps to ensure that you don’t run into any complications.
First of all, you should always have a strong and durable bag, preferably a hard-shelled bag.
These may add a little weight to your shipping and cost a bit more but will prevent the kind of damage that can occur when shipping golf clubs any type of distance.
Beyond that, it is important to understand how much you’ll likely be paying for a golf club when you’re flying.
Typically, you are going to be charged at least $39 each way for a cart that weighs up to 48 pounds (21.77 kilograms).
This rate is pretty standard but goes up significantly if you try to increase the weight of your bag even further.
That said, some airlines may charge as much as $89 to $99 (each way!) for carrying golf clubs.
And some of these airlines will even restrict how much weight a person can bring with their bags.
Although 48 to 50 pounds is a typical high point, some do allow for higher levels of weight.
That said, others have a much more restrictive level of control over their clubs and bags.
So make sure to talk to your shipping company, first, to get an idea of how much you are likely to pay here.
An Explanation of Golf Club Weight Terms
When talking about golf club weight, there are many terms that you’re going to run into that may seem confusing.
These concepts are relatively simple to understand once most people have had them explained, though.
And, thankfully, you can use these concepts throughout this article to get an idea of what to expect.
That’s because there are several types of weights that we’re going to discuss that you must fully understand.
Dry Weight
The most common term that you’re going to hear when discussing golf club weight is its dry weight.
When we talk about weight throughout most of this article, we are referring to the dry weight.
In simple terms, the dry weight is what the club weighs.
This weight includes the shaft of the golf club as well as its head.
Added together, you get your dry weight.
That said, the dry weight will affect the overall weight of your golf bag and its included accessories.
Shipping Weight
Another term that you’ll hear discussed is the shipping weight of the club.
This term refers to how much the club weighs when shipped to you from a manufacturer.
The weight takes on all elements of the product, including the weight of the club, any accessories that come with it, and the box that holds the club during the shipping process.
This weight is most important to keep in mind when you’re buying clubs directly from the manufacturer.
That’s because they will charge you shipping prices based on this factor and not the dry weight.
Therefore, you need to look at both the dry or “Product” and “Shipping” weights for golf clubs when shopping.
Doing so can help you plan your golfing experience.
Swing Weight
Lastly, it is important to remember the term “swing weight” when talking about golf clubs.
This term does not refer to any weight on the club itself, though you may often see it on most golf cart weight charts.
Instead, this concept relates to the distribution of weight from the bottom to the top of the club.
The bottom takes up about 66 percent of the club, with the top taking up the remaining 33 percent.
The swing weight is easy to understand if you think about the fact that the bottom of the club should have a heavier weight than the bottom.
Typically, this amount is measured in grams but can also be measured in ounces.
Have more questions about your golf cart or clubs?
Be sure to check out all our beginner guides and product reviews.
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