Best Golf Club Sets For Beginners 2024

Just started the game and want golf clubs? Well this guide on the best golf club sets for beginners is a great place to start.

Best Golf Club Sets For Beginners
(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

If you're new to the game finding the right set of golf clubs to start your journey can be a daunting task. To make the task of buying your first set as easy as possible, we've tested lots of models and put together this guide on the best golf club sets for beginners to guide you through the process and allow you to purchase your first set with confidence. Before you go through this, we've put together a great guide on how to choose golf clubs for beginners, which will walk you through what type of clubs to buy, whether you need them custom fitted and how much you should look to spend.

VIDEO: We run through the best golf clubs sets for beginners

The best golf club sets are designed for new players and all the clubs in the bag will provide plenty of forgiveness. They also tend to have thicker top lines, so when you look down on the ball they will give you more confidence. Most of these golf club sets will feature all the clubs you need to get going: a driver; a fairway wood; a hybrid club; a set or half set of irons and a putter.

Within this list we've included package sets from a range of prices but, regardless of price, all of the featured beginner sets will be a sound investment that will last you for as long as you need. If you'd rather buy your clubs separately, and spend a bit more money in the process, check out our guides on the best golf irons for beginners or the best game improvement irons to find clubs that can take you to the next level. 

The Quick List

Best Golf Club Sets For Beginners

Why you can trust Golf Monthly Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Top pick

Callaway XR Package Set Review

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 12
Colors: 1 (Navy/Grey)
Shafts: Graphite Woods/Steel Iron or All Graphite (Regular & Stiff)

Reasons to buy

+
Premium, user-friendly aesthetics
+
Easy to hit through the set
+
Excellent putter

Reasons to avoid

-
Some may prefer a more specialist-looking wedge

What makes this one of the best sets for beginners? Well, Callaway have made these clubs extremely confidence-inspiring at address, with all the models making it as easy as possible to launch into the air.

The driver is 10.5˚ which, although it slightly lower lofted than other drivers available in the best golf sets, it is more premium looking, with the matte black crown, which features in all of its fairway woods, shaped to look generous down behind the ball. All the clubs have a smart, aspirational aesthetic that isn’t too dissimilar to the Callaway Rogue ST woods and, in the driver, it sits slightly closed. This means that it should fight the annoying slice, whilst also being easier to launch.

In the irons, the shape is unmistakably Callaway - there is a fairly rounded toe area and the topline is thick enough to inspire confidence without being too bulky and uninviting. It's a similar story with the putter which, in a black and white combination really stands out at address. What we love most about the putter is, again, how generous the head size is and there is also plenty of alignment help to be had.

Best set choice

The Strata Men's Package set on a tee box

(Image credit: Dan Parker)

Specifications

Clubs: 11
Colors: 4 (Blue, Pink, Purple, Red)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Option for 9 or 11-piece set
+
Very easy to hit
+
Good build quality

Reasons to avoid

-
Putter feels harsh

The only gear missing with the Strata 11-piece set is a dozen balls and a bag of tees - you really are getting the full set. It's comprised of driver, fairway wood, two hybrids, irons 6-PW, putter and a stand bag

In testing we found the clubs to be forgiving and easy to hit, and whilst they might not have the same premium look as Callaway's top end products, there's no debating the performance on offer. The irons in particular impressed us. The topline is nice and thick to inspire confidence at address while the generous amount of offset should suit those who tend to slice their irons. They come as standard with a regular flex shaft (there isn't a stiff option available), but this is the perfect set up for beginners.

The driver is equally impressive, as it offered us a lot of forgiveness. You can see a lot of the face at address, and the large head makes it an appealing club to look down on, especially for beginners. We also enjoyed the sound of the driver too. There's room to add to the set, specifically in the wedges department, and the putter leaves a lot to be desired, so replacing that with one of the best cheap putters on the market would complete this excellent value set.

Best mass appeal

TaylorMade RBZ SpeedLite Package Set

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 14
Colors: 1 (Grey)
Shafts: Graphite and steel

Reasons to buy

+
Good set composition
+
Would suit all abilities
+
Impressive forgiveness throughout the set

Reasons to avoid

-
Cart bag leaves a lot to be desired

Whatever your skill level, every golfer wants something with a smart, aspirational look and this set delivers. The irons feature toplines that are thick enough to inspire confidence at address without being too clunky and uninviting. Throughout the iron set, the feel off the face is consistently solid. Whilst they might not feel as buttery smooth out of the middle as some of the best golf irons on the market, the feel doesn’t fall away too much when you don’t hit the very centre of the face. We also especially liked how generous the hybrids look at address - there is plenty of room between heel and toe - which can really help players in an area of the bag that is notoriously hard to master.

Speaking in more general terms, we were very impressed with the performance on offer throughout the set because we found the clubs to be easy to launch and very forgiving, two aspects which beginners will love. We also think these clubs look superb because the grey finish on the crown of the metalwoods combines with the small flash of green throughout. 

Overall for those not wanting to get fitted but still looking for a quality set that will perform and look good, the TaylorMade RBZ SpeedLite is well worth considering, although the bag is designed more for use on a cart that to be carried

Best forgiveness

Wilson Prostaff SGI Package Set

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 10
Colors: 1 (Red)
Shafts: Graphite and steel

Reasons to buy

+
10 clubs and a bag is plenty for those beginning the game
+
Drivers, woods and putter offer easy alignment
+
Irons perform superbly and provide forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-
No putter head cover

If you're new to golf, you want every bit of help getting the ball in the air, plus you need plenty of forgiveness when you don't find the centre of the clubface. Enter this Wilson set. The sweet spots on these clubs are large and forgiving, each club frames the ball in such a way it inspires confidence, and the irons feature a low centre of gravity for high launch.

Meanwhile, the wide sole of the sand wedge makes escaping bunkers far easier, which is an area of the game beginners can really struggle with. This set comes with a 10.5° driver, a three wood, a hybrid, a 6-iron to sand wedge and an excellent putter to match. Other sets may come with more clubs (this is a 10 piece set), but it does mean you can add extra clubs, perhaps as your game improves. The best golf club sets for beginners need not be really expensive either, as this set proves. As you can tell, we are big fans of this set. 

Best looking

Stix Complete SetEditors Choice 2022

(Image credit: Golf Monthly)

Specifications

Clubs: 14
Colors: 2 (Black, Silver)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Driver performs like a premium driver, but without the high price-tag
+
Irons provide strong flight and plenty of forgiveness
+
Black finish looks great

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited custom options and no headcovers

The Stix Golf Complete Set contains 14 clubs from driver through to putter. The set comprises a driver; 3- and 5-woods; 4 hybrid; 5-iron through to pitching wedge; three wedges – 52° 56° and 60° – and a putter. Pretty much all bases are covered for the beginner golfer!

In our testing we thought the star performer was the driver. Not only does it look great but we found it popped the ball in the air nicely with an aggressive ball flight. It also wasn't spinning up and losing distance either. 

The woods also performed well and we enjoyed the black irons as well. They continue the sleek look and hot feel, and they are quite firm through the ball with a strong ball flight. The wedges have more a specialist design to them which many will enjoy and the set also comes with a mallet putter. The only thing to be wary of here is the black finish can get easily scuffed over time and the set we got had no headcovers. 

Best cheap set

Inesis 100 Package Set resting on the golf course

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 10
Colors: 1 (Black)
Shafts : Graphite and steel

Reasons to buy

+
Value for money
+
Good quality components
+
Simple, smart looks
+
Impressive distance and forgiveness

Reasons to avoid

-
Bag a little flimsy in places

A fantastic set for beginner golfers that offers excellent value for money, the Inesis 100 Package Set is an excellent option for players getting started in the game. Firstly, the irons in this set are smart, simple and offer excellent forgiveness. We were very impressed with the quality of the components on offer here and how they've been constructed. They come with a very long club head which gives them a forgiving feel. Beginners should get away with hitting the odd heel and toe shot here as there is lots of surface area to look down on. 

The metalwoods in the set are very nice to hit and feel lively off the face. They also come with a higher pitch impact sound and for slightly slower swinging players this is not a bad thing. Throughout the package we were impressed with the amount of distance and height on offer but there's also a lot of forgiveness too. They hybrids were perhaps the highlight. They offer great ball flights and are very easy to strike from a variety of lies. While the bag did feel a little flimsy, this package set is certainly one of the best in the business if you're just starting out in the game and are looking to get your first set of clubs. 

Best bag

MacGregor CG3000 package set pictured outdoors

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 10
Colors: 1 (Red)
Shafts: Graphite and steel

Reasons to buy

+
Driver and irons in particular are fantastic
+
10 clubs is more than enough to play golf with
+
Superb value

Reasons to avoid

-
Grips included could be better

MacGregor may not be regarded as a premium brand in the modern market, but it does have a long and distinguished history in the game. Whilst its package sets aren't going to set you back an arm and a leg, it doesn't mean they lack innovation.

The CG3000 is an entry level set, with the 13° driver, low profile fairway and hybrid designed in such a way that they're easy to hit. Meanwhile, the irons (steel and graphite options are available) feature an undercut cavity to keep the centre of gravity low and deep, so golfers should find them easier to launch.

Given you're also getting a mallet style putter and the choice of either a premium stand or cart bag, there's no question that this set offers terrific value for money. What's more, MacGregor offers 1" longer or shorter steel stand options with clubs, therefore making them suitable for taller and shorter golfers.

Best for dispersion

PXG 0211 Z Golf Club Set ReviewEditors Choice 2022

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs: 10
Colors: 1 (Black)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Stunning looks
+
Very forgiving
+
Feel like premium products

Reasons to avoid

-
The sound won't be to everybody's taste

A package set to make our 2022 Editor's Choice list, the PXG 0211 Z set really means business. Very much in keeping with the PXG look, the black and white really popped. The driver in particular felt and looked amazing, we especially liked the matte top which has a simple X in white showing you the center of the face from the top.

There are three options when buying these as a set. The 10 piece full bag costs $1695 and includes six hybrid irons (6-9 plus a pitching wedge and sand wedge), three woods (a 16° driver, 4 and 5 wood) and a 0211 Hellcat Putter along with the PXG Bag and a hat. This is what we were lucky enough to be testing. You can also buy just the three woods or six hybrid irons on their own for $795 each.

All the claims and marketing literature says these clubs are designed for true beginners “because golf is tough enough” and we could absolutely see what they mean. No matter how badly we seemed to swing it, shots never went too far offline. All of the tech seemed to almost instantly correct the errors in their technique. As such this set is a worthy inclusion on this list. 

Easiest to flight

Cleveland Golf CG Package Set Review

(Image credit: Kevin Murray)

Specifications

Clubs Included: 10
Colors: 1 (Black)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Superb performance and aesthetics from the irons
+
Set composition makes sense
+
Good quality stand bag

Reasons to avoid

-
Driver isn’t the longest

This Cleveland Golf CG Package Set features 10 clubs and is comprised of a 10.5˚ driver, 3-wood, 4-hybrid, 6-SW irons and putter. The woods and putter all have headcovers and there is a smart stand bag as well. 

In testing, we found the irons to be the stand-out performers as, from an aesthetic standpoint, Cleveland have done a good job of offering something that looks generous and confidence-inspiring behind the ball without being too bulky. What's more, they are extremely easy to flight.

Along with the irons, the fairway woods and Cleveland Launcher XL Lite driver are extremely well performing for the price, with a smart and spacious golf bag providing enough storage for the vast majority of things you’ll want to take with you onto the course without being too big.

Top women's pick

Strata Ultimate Titanium Women’s Set

(Image credit: Future)

Specifications

Clubs included: 16
Colors: 2 (Purple, Pink)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Attractive purple, black and white color scheme
+
Easy to hit
+
Comes in a stylish, practical stand bag

Reasons to avoid

-
Not customizable and no left-hand option 

This 16-piece package set is an all-encompassing offering from a brand that have a rich history producing golf equipment. In this set, we got to try out a fantastic 12° driver, fairway wood, 4 and 5 hybrid, 6-9 iron, PW, SW and a putter, all held together in a tidy stand bag. 

We found the clubs deliver excellent distance and forgiveness off the ground, but also helps to make tee shots fly straight. Aesthetically, they look fantastic, with a glossy chrome finish across the irons that reminded us of the Callaway Big Bertha irons.

As for the putter, it does come in a blade orientation, and while some beginners may prefer to use a mallet putter, it boasts a very sleek aesthetic and handy alignment line on its top line, that will help with your accuracy. As this set costs a little more than some drivers do alone, there is excellent value to be had here, in what is easily one of the best women's golf sets out there.

Best premium women's

A brand new package set for ladies

(Image credit: Carly Frost)

Specifications

Clubs: 10
Colors: 4 (Red, Blue, Black, Rose Gold)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Premium quality clubs and bag
+
Impressive performance through the bag
+
Even distance gapping

Reasons to avoid

-
Wedges lack versatility and irons feel firm

Another top women's set worthy of inclusion in this list is the REVA set from Callaway. This set includes a driver, three wood, 5 and 6 hybrids, 7-9 irons, a pitching and sand wedge and a putter as well as a snazzy cart bag and five headcovers.

In testing we loved the driver performance, with it providing a high launch and ball flight, powerful feel, and the big circular target-style sweet spot on the face looks impossible to miss. The three-wood and hybrids continued this theme as well.

Moving to the irons, the large, oversized cavity back irons are designed to help on mishits and our testing seemed to prove this. They felt effortlessly light to swing and easy to use thanks to the stability and forgiveness on offer. We would've maybe preferred specialist wedges but the clubs included in this set do the job of a simple pitch or chip shot well enough.

What makes this one of the best women’s golf sets is that the included putter includes the Stroke Lab shaft. The fang design, coupled with the Stroke Lab technology, is aimed to help you with tempo and consistency and our tested loved it, especially in the blue finish.

Most stylish

The Wilson Magnolia package set for ladies

(Image credit: Carly Frost)

Specifications

Clubs: 11
Colors: 1 (Blue)
Shafts: Graphite

Reasons to buy

+
Clubs are very easy to hit
+
Noticeable forgiveness off centre
+
Stylish accompanying cart bag

Reasons to avoid

-
Not suited to stronger lady players

The Wilson Magnolia set is excellent value. Women have a choice of a cart or carry bag to hold a driver, 3-wood, 4, 5, 6 hybrids and a full iron set (7-SW), plus a putter. A high-lofted driver with an oversized head profile is designed to instill confidence, forgiveness and maximum distance off the tee, whilst the fairway wood and hybrids feature a large sweet spot and low weighting to make shots easier to play from a variety of lies. The irons are easy to launch due to the oversized head and clever weighting, and consistency is enhanced on the greens thanks to the putter’s alignment aid.

A couple more points to make are we loved the addition of a bespoke sand wedge, as this is something you rarely see in a package set and yet it's a great idea. An eye-catching mallet-shaped putter completes the set. The fang shape of the head really makes this feel balanced and assists with a smooth, pendulum stroke. The simple bold centre alignment line gives a very clear guide to help you aim

How We Test Sets

Golf club sets are no exception when it comes to our testing ethos and methodology because we want to find the best golf clubs in the game.

We put sets to the test out on the course and over a number of rounds to see how they perform on different courses and in varying conditions. It is only through using each club out on the course and at the range that you can get an idea of how well something is made and how it performs. 

Additionally we want to make very clear that no manufacturer can buy a good review because our testing team tells it how it is, and we often have to buy the sets ourselves to put them to the test. 

How To Choose A Beginners Set

If you are new to the game and need some insight into the factors you should be looking out for when buying clubs, we have given some advice below.

What comes in the set

The great thing about golf is if you want to buy single golf clubs for your bag you can, but you can also get entire sets with one purchase too. When doing the latter, it is worth checking which clubs come as part of the set to make sure you have all bases covered, and it is also worth getting a bag with the set too.

Quality

A common problem for beginner sets can be quality. Unlike the models we picked above, many can be poorly made and have issues with the head, shaft or grip, or even all three. Therefore it is definitely worth going for brands that are well-respected in the game of golf because the products will have been made properly and would've been designed to give as much help to beginners as possible. The prevalence of Wilson and Callaway in this area is a case in point.

Forgiveness

The main factor when specifically looking at the clubs themselves is forgiveness. The most common problem for beginner players is mishit shots which limits distance and hinders accuracy. Beginner golf clubs are designed to have larger heads and sweet spots, and therefore more forgiveness to help players still make solid contact with the golf ball.

Budget

Obviously there are different sets at different price points so it is worth thinking about whether you want to spend more or less here. This point also links with what comes in the set because the sets that come with bags, headcovers and so on, usually come with a higher price. 

FAQs

What is the exact price point for a good beginner set?

This is a difficult question to answer because some sets have been designed to come at a cheaper price point, whilst others are made by recognisable brands like TaylorMade or Callaway, and as a result come with a higher price. Realistically you can spend anywhere between $200 all the way to $1,000 so whilst this does not have an exact answer, we can say that you should be aware of how much you are willing to spend on a beginner set, and then choose accordingly. 

What clubs should be in a beginner set?

A beginner to the game of golf needs to keep things simple and the same can be said for the clubs. Most good beginner sets, as a result, come with a driver, some kind of fairway wood or hybrid (or both), a half set of irons with regular loft gaps, some kind of wedge and obviously a putter. We usually see good beginner sets come with 9 or 11 clubs and once a player becomes better at the game then they can find out how to fill the last few spots in the bag. 

What's the main difference between buying a set and buying clubs individually?

The main difference, or should we say advantage, of buying clubs individually is that you have a lot more freedom. There are lots of professionals out there who don't have equipment contracts because they want to be able to chop and change as they wish, and use different clubs they like the looks, performance and feel of. At the other end of the golfing spectrum, buying a set is ideal for beginners because it often saves a lot of time and money because all it requires is one purchase which can be very inexpensive as well.

Should a beginner get fitted?

At Golf Monthly we usually recommend most people get fitted for golf clubs these days but as far as beginner players go we think a better way to spend money is to invest in some lessons because this will allow them to get better faster. Once a beginner has started to improve and see some success with their shots, then would be a good time to think about getting fitted for a proper set of clubs. 

We hope you enjoyed this guide on the best golf club sets for beginners. Additionally, we also recommend checking out our guide on the best golf club sets for kids if you want to get your children into the game, or some of the best golf drivers on the market.

GOLF PROMO CODES AND COUPONS

GOLF PROMO CODES AND COUPONS

From clubs, balls and tees, to essential sportswear and fitness products, keep it affordable with a little help from our promo and coupon codes.

Rock Bottom Golf coupons

Rock Bottom Golf coupons

These Rock Bottom Golf coupons will help you save on golf clubs, bags, balls & apparel.


Sam Tremlett
E-commerce Editor

A golfer for most of his life, Sam is a Senior Staff Writer for Golf Monthly. 

Working with golf gear and equipment over the last six years, Sam has quickly built outstanding knowledge and expertise on golf products ranging from drivers, to balls, to shoes. 

He combines this knowledge with a passion for helping golfers get the best gear for them, and as such Sam manages a team of writers that look to deliver the most accurate and informative reviews and buying advice. This is so the reader can find exactly what they are looking for.


Sam now spends most of his time testing and looking after golf gear content for the website, whilst he is also responsible for all content related to golf apparel. 

He also oversees all Tour player content as well so if you need to know what clubs Tiger or Rory has in play, Sam is the person to ask. 

Unfortunately, Sam is not a member of any club at the moment but regularly gets out on the golf course to keep up the facade of having a handicap of five. 


Sam's What's In The Bag: 

Driver: Titleist TS3 (9 degrees) 

Fairway Wood: Callaway Paradym (15 degrees), Nike Covert Tour 2.0 (19 degrees) 

Irons (4-PW): Titleist AP2 

Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 54˚, 58˚ 

Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5.5 

Ball: Srixon Z-Star Diamond

Shoes: G/FORE Gallivanter/Nike Air Zoom Infinity NEXT%/Cuater The Ringer