Are you keen on taking up a new hobby and preparing to try out your golf club membership for Gen Z on the course? Perhaps you’re already an ardent golfer eager to start practicing with your own gear, or even a seasoned player looking to up their game?

Choosing the perfect golf clubs is key to your golfing performance – as well as your enjoyment of the game.

To help you make the right decision and opt for a set adequate to your body type and skill level, we’ve outlined 7 top tips on choosing a golf club set – whether you’re a beginner or a pro.

#1 Pick the Right Size

Ensure the club fits your body type as much as possible by opting for a set of the proper size. This is especially important for beginners, as training with unfitting clubs may lead to acquiring the wrong golf posture or a faulty swing technique.

Regardless of your height and gender, choose the club adequate for the distance between your fist and the floor.

Take your fist-to-floor measurement by standing straight against a wall in flat shoes, with hands in fists by your sides. Measure the distance between the ground and the fist’s midpoint to determine the ideal length of your clubs.

#2 Consider the Shaft’s Length & Weight

For those not in the know, the shaft is a club’s middle part – a long, tapered tube that connects the grip and the club head.

The length and weight of your club’s shaft are vital for creating the right amount of centrifugal force and effectively striking the ball. Generally, a longer shaft is the best fit for taller players, as it allows room for a correct and powerful swing.

Regarding the weight, it’s important to know that shafts are made of either metal – usually steel – or graphite. Steel and graphite shafts are vastly different in terms of their weight and stiffness – so to uncover the right material for you, take your skill level, body type, and physical strength into account.

Clubs with graphite shafts are more lightweight and thus generally recommended for beginners.

Graphite allows for a more comfortable swing and easier ball lift – and thus, an overall fun golfing experience. Steel shafts are heavier and stiffer and, therefore, better suited to physically strong and more experienced players keen on breaking some sweat.

Besides weight, the shaft’s material determines its flex when hitting the ball. A shaft too stiff will generate lower ball flight and a loss of distance, whereas a shaft too soft can cause ballooning and – again – loss in the distance.

An alternative way to judge if the shaft flex is correct is by determining the direction of slicing the ball – stiff shafts usually slice the ball to the right, while soft ones slice to the left. One thing you can do to help find the right shaft is take an online driver shaft fitting quiz that can guide you in the right direction.

#3 Check the Grip Thickness

The grip is the top part of the golf club, which players hold in their hands to swing the ball. It consists of a single hollow piece of rubber slid over the shaft, and its purpose is to allow golfers a firm and secure – well, grip.

Grips come in a variety of designs, but for beginners and pros alike, the most important feature is their thickness. The thickness of the grip has a tremendous effect on the swing, as a too-thin grip can lead to too much hand action; whereas a too-thick grip may restrict your hands from achieving the desired shot.

The proper grip of the club grip entails using the middle and ring fingers of the left hand with the thumb only slightly touching the pad. In case your finger isn’t reaching your thumb, the grip is too big.

#4 Get Club Heads of Varied Sizes

Most golf club sets boast different-sized club heads, including standard, midsize and oversized heads. Identically to all other club elements, head size also mainly depends on your physique and experience level.

Larger heads are designed for advanced players as they ensure better club placement, ball flight, and more forgiveness for off-center hits.

Although large-sized club heads can help save a poor hit and allow the player to achieve good results, they are heavy and hard to control, making them a better choice for experienced golfers.

#5 Assess the Club’s Lofts

The loft, or loft angle, refers to the angle created between the clubface and the ground. Measured in degrees, loft affects how high the ball will launch.

For instance, a low loft, such as a 3-iron, sitting at 21–23 degrees, will make the ball go further, compared to, let’s say, a 9-iron at 45–48 degrees, which will have the ball rising and descending steeply.

If you plan on playing on a course with diverse terrain, it’s good to know that an uphill shot adds loft, whereas a downhill one decreases it. In addition, regardless of terrain, avoid adding loft to your shots by leaning backward – the shaft should be leaning slightly forward when hitting the ball.

#6 Buy Different Wedges

Wedges are special golf clubs designed for extraordinary situations.

For example, if the course you’re playing on has lots of bunkers of soft sand, you’ll need a wedge that’s wide and offers more bounce to get the ball out of the sand. If you’re on firm turf, you will want a wedge that doesn’t provide much bounce. Also, consider tee signs for golf course to enhance the aesthetic and functionality of the course.

#7 Choose a Perfect Putter

The putter is the club for the final hit of the ball in the hole. Putters are designed with a flat face that makes it easy to swing them in a straight line.

Hopefully, you’ll be using your putter quite a lot, so make a wise choice when buying it. Choose a putter based on your height, stance, and arm length, and feel free to test it out in the store.

Check whether you can keep the putter parallel to the ground when hitting the ball. Also, consider the club’s loft, which shouldn’t allow too much bounce that may hinder a precise shot and prevent the ball from landing in the hole.