If you’re just starting out playing golf, you may be wondering how many golf clubs should be part of your set. Let’s take a look at what the number is, why this number is considered the norm and what types of golf clubs usually make up a golfer’s set.
What do the Rules of Golf say?
According to Rule 4.1b of the United States Golf Association (USGA) Rules of Golf a standard set of golf clubs can include up to fourteen golf clubs in any combination. This same rule applies to a beginner golfer as it does to advanced players.
The good news, the United States Golf Association doesn’t limit the number of golf balls golfers carry. Most golfers opt for a more resonable amount of golf balls as to not weigh down their golf bags.
Can I start with less golf clubs?
Not surprisingly you are not allowed to start with more than fourteen golf clubs, but what if you start your round with less than fourteen?
Interestingly, if you start your round with less than fourteen golf clubs in your golf bag you can add golf clubs to your golf bag during the round as long as the amount of golf clubs does not exceed fourteen.
Many golfers will have less than complete golf club set when they are going out to play a quick few holes at dusk, but some some golfers personal taste is to have their complete set of golf clubs no matter how many holes they are playing.
What is the penalty for carrying more clubs?
Penalties if you carry more than fourteen clubs in your golf bag vary depending if you are playing match-play or stroke play.
Although it can be a true mistake that you are carrying more than fourteen clubs in your golf set, but if you are playing a competitive round there is always penalties for having too many clubs.
Stroke Play:
- Two Penalty Strokes, Maximum of Four Strokes: You get the general penalty (two penalty strokes) for each hole where a breach happened, with a maximum of four penalty strokes in the round (adding two penalty strokes at each of the first two holes where a breach happened)
Match Play:
- It is a match adjustment penalty – not the same as a loss of hole penalty.
- At the end of the hole you are playing or just completed, the match score is revised by deducting one hole for each hole where a breach happened, with a maximum deduction of two holes in the round.
- For example, if you started with 15 clubs and become aware of the breach while playing the 3rd hole and then win that hole to go three up in the match, the maximum adjustment of two holes applies and you would now be one up in the match.
Can you carry two of the same club?
Absolutely! Notably, in the mid-2000s Phil Mickelson implemented a more unique bag setup. In 2006, Phil famously used two drivers, one to hit promote a fade and one to promote a draw – leading him to his second of his three Masters victories in 2006. Theoretically you could have fourteen drivers or fourteen putters, but we definitely wouldn’t recommend that approach,
Is there a club minimum?
According to the USGA rules of golf there is no stated minimum number of clubs to carry. However, if you are playing a 7,200 yard course with just a putter you probably won’t be breaking the course record!
What happens if I break a golf club?
If you damage a club, you are not allowed to replace it. The only exception is if the club is damaged by an outside influence or natural forces or by any person other than the player or his or her caddie.
Woods, Irons, Wedges… What is What?
All golf clubs have their own purpose and have a particular reason behind their design.
Driver
The club you usually play off the tee on par-4s and par-5s. The driver is the longest club and often is the most difficult club to hit for golfers new to the game. It typically has the largest head of any golf club in your bag and can be as a large as 460cc. It also has the lowest loft of any club in your bag with the exception of maybe your putter. The low loft of the driver makes the golf ball travel a greater distance than other clubs.
However, with that big forgiving head also comes with the longest shaft in the bag making it more challenging to hit the ball. This can lead to more inaccurate drives, leading you discover parts of the golf course you didn’t know existed!
Fairway Woods
Fairway woods look a little like drivers, but the size of their heads are much smaller. A fairway wood can come in a variety of lofts ranging from a low lofted 3-wood to a higher loft 7-wood. The two most commonly used fairway woods are a 3-wood and 5-wood. With the 3-wood providing more distance of the two. Additionally, experienced golfers will use their 3-wood as opposed to their driver when distance and accuracy is at a premium and fairway bunkers must be avoided.
Hybrids
Hybrids are a hybrid of fairway woods and irons. Hybrid clubs typically replace long irons for beginner and experienced golfers. You can use hybrid clubs in a number of situations on the golf course including tee shots on long par-3s or when you golf ball has found thick rough and hitting the green is needed.
Irons
Golf irons are a staple of any golfers traditional set of golf clubs. The iron number indicates whether the club will have a high loft or a lower loft. The lower numbered irons are the long clubs and are easiest to hit for experienced players and will go the furthest. Beginner golfers will typically include hybrids in replacement of long irons in their golf sets. Most golfers carry six irons in a traditional complete set: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 irons.
Wedges
Wedges are very similar to irons but feature higher lofts (48-60 degrees) which allow players to hit shots with maximum spin, making them ideal for getting out of tough situations around the green such as sand traps or deep rough. Most golfers will include some combination of a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and lob wedge.
A pitching wedge will travel the greatest distance of all your wedges and typically will be used for full swing shots, but can also be used for chip shots around the green. A pitching wedge can also be helpful when a golfer needs to chip out of the trees and back into the fairway.
A gap wedge is what we like to call an “in-between” club, not a versatile as a sand wedge, but can be used for more shots around the green than a pitching wedge. We use our gap wedge for full swing shots and medium distance pitch shots into the green.
One of our favorite clubs is the sand wedge. It offers some of the best flexibility of any club in your bag. You can use your sand wedge out of sand bunkers, for delicate chip shots, or for full swing shots as well. It is the one wedge that our game would be lost without.
Last but not least is the lob wedge, no golf club set would be complete without it. A lob wedge can hit a lot of the same shots as a sand wedge, but it can really impart a lot of spin and height when you absolutely need to land the ball softly on the green.
Putters
Rounding out the complete set is the putter. Putters are designed specifically for use on putting greens where accuracy is key and distance is not as important as it is with other types of golf clubs. Putters feature flat faces and short shafts that enable players to make precise strokes that result in consistent ball speeds across all angles of attack on putts regardless of how far away they may be from the hole itself. Typically a golfer will have one putter in their golf club set.
Does fourteen clubs include putter?
Yes, the putter counts towards one of your fourteen clubs.
What is the best club breakdown for beginners?
For a beginner player, there are different combinations in club combinations compared to an average player. Players of different skills need different things. Less skilled players often prefer clubs which provide distance and forgiveness. Professional golfers prefers clubs which help them in a precise manner to play well on the course.
Our personal club setup
Our personal setup is as follows and will vary depending upon the course we are playing. Bear in mind we are experienced golfers.
- Driver
- 4-Wood
- 3-Iron with a graphite shaft
- 4-9 irons
- 46 degree wedge – Pitching wedge
- 50 degree wedge – Gap wedge
- 56 degree wedge – Sand wedge
- 60 degree wedge – Lob wedge
- Putter
Conclusion
No matter what type of golf game you are playing—beginner or professional golfer—it is important to understand what makes up a standard set of golf clubs so you can decide which ones are right for you. With these basics in mind you’ll be ready to take on any course!