Getting into the world of golf is an exciting adventure, but the price point of a new set of clubs can be a barrier to entry for many. If you’re a beginner looking to buy your first set or you’re ready to upgrade from hand-me-down clubs, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll dive into how much golf clubs cost on average, what influences the price, how much you should expect a beginner golf club set to cost, and more.
How Much Do Golf Clubs Cost?
Golf clubs can be a hefty financial investment if you let them. Whether meant for beginners or advanced players, golf club sets can cost $2000 and more for high-end sets or $250 for cheap sets. Many factors influence the price of golf clubs, which we’ll get into in a moment.
The price of a single club varies just as widely. A premium driver from a big golf brand might run you $600-800, whereas generic box stores like Amazon or Wal-Mart might carry drivers for $50. If you add that up, it might cost you twice as much to build a full set of clubs yourself instead of picking up a full set.
What Influences the Price of Golf Clubs?
There are several factors at play in golf club pricing. Though the old adage says that you get what you pay for, that’s not always the case. Let’s look at some of the factors that influence golf club prices.
Golf Club Technology
Cutting-edge golf technology tends to drive up the price of golf club sets. Brands that spend time and effort to innovate their golf club designs have to build that cost into the value of their clubs. At Stix we sell direct to the consumer, this allows us to offer cutting-edge technology at an affordable price.
Golf Club Materials
Steel and graphite are the most popular golf club shaft materials, but their price points vary. As a rule, steel shaft clubs tend to be less expensive than graphite shaft clubs. However, steel shaft irons are favored by low-handicappers, professionals, and golfers with fast swing speeds. Graphite shafts tend to benefit beginner and intermediate players.
Brand Names
Brand names are almost always going to be the most expensive option for golf clubs. The bigger the brand, the higher the price. You could buy a golf club set from Titleist and pay twice or three times as much as you would for a lesser known brand set–even if they’re comparable in quality. Though many of the big-name golf brands do make top-quality golf equipment, you can find excellent beginner golf clubs from smaller brands if you know where to look.
How Much are Beginner Golf Club Sets?
Beginners can expect to spend anywhere from $200 for a cheap set of clubs to $1000 or more for a brand-name set. Many factors contribute to the price of clubs, as we mentioned. Now, we’ll look at the price differences between golf club set sizes.
9-Piece Set
A 9-piece set of clubs is great for beginner players who want to jump right into the game without spending too much or getting overwhelmed. A 9-piece golf club set includes only the necessities: a driver, a 5-wood, a hybrid, a 5-iron, 7-iron, 9-iron, a pitching wedge, a sand wedge, and a putter.
Beginners can pick up an inexpensive 9-piece set from a box store for as little as $200, though how long the clubs will last is up for debate as they often feature dated technology, or use lower-quality materials. Higher-quality 9-piece sets can be anywhere from $700-$1000 and beyond.
11-Piece Set
An 11-piece golf club set gets a bit more technical with the addition of two more irons: the 6-iron and the 8-iron. These additional irons help fill in the gap in distances on mid-range shots when you’re less than 200 yards away from the green. An 11-piece set is a good middle-ground between the 9- and 14-piece sets.
Beginners can pick up a basic, inexpensive 11-piece set for around $300. Higher-quality 11-piece sets can be anywhere from $800-$1300 and beyond.
Learn more: What is the Average Distance for Each Golf Club?
14-Piece Set
Golfers can carry up to fourteen clubs in their golf bags. For a beginner, a 14-piece golf club set might be overkill and slightly overwhelming as you are still learning the function of each club. But investing in a 14-piece golf club set early on provides you with all the clubs you’ll need to play with and allows you the opportunity to get really familiar with each club.
A 14-piece golf club set includes everything from an 11-piece set, with the addition of a 3-wood, a gap wedge, and a lob wedge. The additional wedges allow players to dial in their short game and can be the difference between over and under par in many instances. A 14-piece set is more expensive than smaller sets, running between $450 on the low end and $1000-$1700 or more on the higher end.
Learn more: Ultimate Guide to Golf Wedge Degrees
Should You Buy a Golf Club Set or Individual Clubs?
Deciding to buy individual clubs versus a full golf club set depends on budget, preferences, and needs. If you have a set that works great for your needs except for your driver or putter, then by all means pick up a single club instead of a brand-new set. If you don’t have any clubs, or you just have one or two clubs, you might be ready for a set.
Learn more: Ultimate Golf Iron Buying Guide
Decent beginner golf clubs will cost $100-$300 per club, so piecing together a full 14-piece set can get pricey very quickly. Unless you’ve got money to burn, it’s much more cost-effective in the long run to buy golf club sets.
Should You Buy New or Used Golf Clubs?
When buying your very first set of golf clubs, it might be tempting to purchase a used set instead of a new one. Used golf clubs will, of course, be less expensive than a brand-new set, so if budget is your main concern, go for it. They’re also great to learn with if you’re on the fence about picking up the golf hobby more regularly–no big financial investment is necessary. Again, it comes down to your budget and how frequently you play, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying used clubs.
We recommend that you try to find a set of gently used clubs because clubs that have been heavily used can actually be detrimental to your game. Additionally, you run the risk of buying outdated golf technology when purchasing used clubs. This means you won’t be playing as well as your contemporaries, and you might look a little goofy–reducing your confidence on the course. So, if you’re learning golf on an old set of clubs and not really enjoying yourself, a new set might be what helps you truly fall in love with the game.
Learn more: How Long Do Golf Clubs Last?
What to Look for in a Beginner Golf Club
Beginners should look for golf clubs with a decent amount of forgiveness while they’re learning the game. Forgiving golf clubs are typically designed with a lightweight shaft usually made of graphite and larger club heads with a higher degree of loft than usual. These elements help create a golf club that’s easier to swing and helps the ball travel farther, higher, and straighter.
Lightweight Shaft
Beginner golf club sets will typically include lightweight graphite shafts that are easier to swing and are more flexible than clubs with steel shafts. Beginners tend to benefit from clubs made with graphite shafts because they help compensate for slower swing speeds. Lightweight shafts also help correct ball trajectory on less-than-ideal shots.
Lofted Clubface
Though all golf clubs have a certain degree of loft, many beginner golf clubs have clubfaces with a higher degree of loft than standard clubs. The greater loft in the clubface allows the golf ball to fly higher and further, compensating for the inexperience of beginner golfers.
Modern Clubs for Modern Players
At Stix, our golf clubs are designed for the everyday player, from beginners to intermediates alike. We use premium materials that last and support your game at the same time. Best of all, they look sleek and sophisticated, giving you a confidence boost as you walk out on the fairway. If you’ve been on the hunt for your first set of golf clubs, look no further.
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