Types of Golf Clubs: A Beginner’s Guide

Golf Driver

The driver is one of the most important clubs in your bag and is typically used from the tee box on longer holes, like par 4s and par 5s. With it’s lightweight design and long shaft, this club provides the greatest distance. Drivers usually have a loft range between 8 and 12.5 degrees, with your swing speed determining the ideal loft for you. Most beginner golf sets include a driver.

Fairway Woods

Fairway woods are versatile clubs that resemble the driver but feature a smaller clubhead. They’re commonly used for tee shots on shorter holes or for long-distance shots from the fairway on par 4s and 5s. The most popular options are the 3-wood and 5-wood, with the 3-wood offering slightly more distance. Many beginners prefer using a 3-wood off the tee instead of a driver, as it provides better control and a more consistent ball flight.

Hybrids

Hybrid golf clubs combine the distance of fairway woods with the loft of irons. A hybrid club tends to be easier for beginner golfers to hit than longer irons, especially out of the rough. Using a hybrid golf club over long irons comes down to personal preference and may take several outings on the course to determine your favorite. 

Golf Irons

Irons are some of the most versatile clubs in your bag, used for shots from the fairway, rough, or even the tee on par 3 holes. They come in three categories based on distance and loft:

• Long Irons (2, 3, 4): Designed for maximum distance with a lower ball flight, ideal for longer approach shots.

• Mid Irons (5, 6, 7): Provide a balance of distance and height, perfect for approach shots closer to the green.

• Short Irons (8, 9): Offer precision and control, with a high ball flight for shots closer to the hole.

Each iron has a different loft, which influences the ball's trajectory and distance. For beginners, cavity-back irons (featuring perimeter weighting) are popular because they are more forgiving, helping to improve performance on off-center hits.

Wedges

There are four different types of wedges to choose from when building your golf club set. Wedges are designed similar to irons but have a higher loft, meaning that the ball will go higher in the air and not travel as far, so they are used once you’re within about 125 yards from the hole. The two most common types of wedges included in a beginner set are the pitching wedge and sand wedge.

Putters

Your putter is the golf club you use once you’re on the green. There are different styles of putter club heads to choose from including blade, mid-mallet, and mallet. Whichever type of putter club head you use depends on your personal preference, but most golf club sets include a blade putter.

Golf Club Distance Chart

Many beginner golfers wonder on average how far each club will hit the ball. Below is a generic club distance chart that displays the average of women’s and men’s distances for the most popular golf clubs. 

What Clubs Should I Have in My Bag?

With this information about each type of golf club, most beginner players ask: what clubs should I have in my bag? This beginner set includes 10 different golf clubs, but players can carry up to 14 clubs in their bag. Ultimately, it depends on your golf game, but many new golfers invest in a golf club set that includes the following golf clubs:

• Driver

• Putter

• 1 fairway wood (either 3 or 5)

• 1 hybrid (typically a 5)

• 6-iron

• 7-iron

• 8-iron

• 9-iron

• Pitching wedge

• Sand wedge

If you need additional help finding the right golf clubs for you, stop into your local SCHEELS to speak with one of our Golf Experts or consider a custom golf fitting with one of our SCHEELS Master Fitters.