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Confused about what golf clubs beginners need? In this video, I share the perfect minimalist golf bag setup. Most new players buy too many clubs—I’ll show you why an 8-club starter set is actually better for your game and your wallet.
Are you a new golfer wondering what golf clubs beginners need? Most new players (myself included!) make the same mistake: buying too many expensive clubs they don’t need. As a finance consultant and avid golfer, I’ve learned that saving money on golf doesn’t mean sacrificing your game—it means playing smarter!
In this video, I reveal how I would build the ultimate starter golf bag if I could go back in time. This isn’t just about budget golf clubs; it’s about a mindset shift to simplify your golf game and learn faster. You’ll discover:
00:00 – My Starter Golf Set Mistake
00:52 – Why Complex Bags Hurt Beginners
01:22 – Best Driver Specs for New Golfers
01:56 – Fairway Woods vs Hybrids
02:14 – Why You Don’t Need Long Irons
02:46 – Best Beginner Golf Irons Setup
03:24 – The One Wedge Strategy
03:46 – Picking the Right Putter
04:06 – Full Minimalist Golf Bag Recap
04:40 – Final Tips to Save Money
If you’re looking for practical golf advice, simple golf tips, or want to know how to play golf more effectively without breaking the bank, this video is for you! Learn to build a forgiving golf bag that boosts your confidence and lowers your scores.
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Want more tips on saving money on golf? Check out my video: https://youtu.be/FNaNhl21HOM
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Wha is the 1st club you would drop out of your bag??? Me it’s 4 iron
Well done. After 55 years of playing golf and still a duffer by the way, lol, I would not have carried long irons. 2, 3, 4, maybe even 5. But decades ago hybrids not an option. I would have utilized my 4 wood so much more. And that is the advice I give to family and friends learning the game. Forget the long irons. Also now go with the mini driver which in my day was a 2 wood and ditch the driver.
I don't recommend this but my first set I bought in 1970 didn't have a wedge. I was so green I didn't know the difference and used my 9 iron for all chip and pitch shots including flop shots. Not being a long hitter I developed a very good short game.
Thanks for helping me make up my mind as far as clubs to put in my bag.👍
I carry around 9-11 clubs and it’s perfect. Many clubs I just don’t hit so why carry them?
Thanks for the your advice. I think that forgiveness is the key to enjoy golf (and living a good live).
I would definitely leave out my 16.5 degree 4 wood
I already don't bring or don't use my 4 iron most rounds. I don't have a hybrid right now but do just have a driver (10.5 degrees that I have played with at 11.5 and can go to 12.5) and a 5 wood. I think if I were to buy a hybrid it would be a 4 but if I went with the set you are suggesting I probably would have 5 iron in my bag and go 5, 7, 9, PW, 56 to go with my driver and 5 wood and of course putter.
The major learning all beginners have to make is that whatever they choose, the may outgrow their first clubs, depending on talent, sports history, practice time etc. And nobody knows from the beginning how at the lower end of the bag the right mix of woods, hybrids, irons would look like.
I wouldn’t buy a driver. Now, at 73, my 5 wood off the tee goes the same distance as my contemporaries. No hybrid just a lightweight 7 wood. Then senior shaft irons.
I leave out driver, 3 wood, 4,5 & 6 Irons. Replaced longer irons with 7 & 9 woods
3,4, irons and all woods.
I like to play 2W (mini driver)-4h-6i-8i-PW-SW-P. I also like my GW which is a reliable 100 y for me
If I were to start over, I’d avoid the major brands, and make your own clubs. This alone will save you $1000’s.
If just starting out, I’d buy a set of single length clubs on eBay.
Here's what I've built recently. No driver – I want consistency hitting fairways. So, 4 hybrid off the tee, and a fairway club. 200 yards. 6 hybrid, 175 yards. 8 iron, 150 yards. PW 125 yards. SW 100 yards. Short game, putter first when no obstacles. 8 iron Bump & run second, when not much to get over and room to run. PW – pitching over bigger obstacles, less room to run. Sand – Sand Wedge. So, a 6 club bag, 4h 200, 6h 175, 8i 150, PW 125, SW 100, and the putter.
Great advice for any golfer at any skill level. I was locked in at a high handicap until I removed any club I didn't have complete confidence in. Drop my handicap in half in 6 months. Now I build my own clubs and have a bag with a 12 degree driver, 3 wood, 19 degree hybrid, 7, 9, 48, 56 and putter. All confidence, all the way, as I feel a single digit handicap is now totally attainable. Less is really more!
Completely agree except I went 5, 7, and 9 with my irons to give me just a bit more distance if needed. Otherwise, same.
Would you do a video on an ideal low handicap set up? (One that quietens the noise like your suggesting with less irons) I've been toying with 5 irons and 9 woods, different wedge set ups and certainly confused myself 😅 pitching wedge is at 44 degrees, I've tried to convince myself to use a 54 but mentally want a 56 in my bag instead.
Golf does not reward overthinking
Funny that this is your advice. I played in my youth and am starting again.
I bought a cheap semi mallet putter and a forged Mizuno S24 Wedge in 54° with a solid bounce and standard sole.
From my new iron set I planned to use the P, 8i and 6i.
I am working on finding a low hybrid in the 2-4 range I trust and which I can make work.
That will be my main work horse set up. I put these clubs in these small cheap speed golf things which fit 6 clubs lol
Simple life and get good at chasing flags again.
I bought a 20 year old driver for 30 bucks when I feel like grabbing a beer with someone and being stupid lol. The driver will only be added to my bag once I am really solid with my iron play. One thing at a time :p
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Subscribed. Great bag, I came to a very similar conclusion. It all comes down to your carry distances and front/back dispersion. New golfers are not precise or consistent, we don't need 14 clubs because the carries overlap too much. Best thing to do is get launch monitor data (go to a local hitting bay or buy one), and get your actuall carry averages. My bag is identical to yours, but I also add a five iron at the top…. I play Adams V3 super game improvement clubs from 2011. So my bag is Driver, 5W, Adams Mini Hybrid, 5i, 6i, 8i, PW, 54º, putter. Everyone's bag is unique, some might be fine with seven plus putter, others may need eight or nine. Then as you get better you can earn clubs to fill the gaps that appear in your averages. I talk about this a lot on my channel… feel free to check it out!
Good stuff fella. Thoughtful. I carry in the spring but I need 10.
Good advice
Thank you for simplifying golf the way you did. I did have a new set of clubs, but after research I gave those to my daughter who plays much better than me and I bought used clubs with the emphasis on Forgiveness. I also narrowed my clubs in the bag down to just 8. I am somewhat of a beginner and I like this move. As I get much better and my handicap begins to lower; then, I can add those other clubs that I removed. I now feel much better at approaching this game of golf!!! Thank you!
Mostly, I agree with you, but you don't need 8 clubs. You only need 6 clubs. No driver. Drivers are too difficult and inaccurate. Start with a mini-driver, or just a 5-wood, or 7-wood to get distance off of the tee. That's club one, for hitting around 180 yards; you don't need to go further than that. 2nd club, a hybrid – a 3 or 4 or 5 – because long irons are too difficult – and that's your main fairway club. 3rd club a 7-iron (or 8-iron) for mid-fairway to green shots, and that's the only iron you need there. 4th club, a pitching wedge, for when you are near the green. 5th club, a 54° or 56° sand wedge. 6th club, a putter. And that's all you need, and you can fit them all into a small Sunday bag that's easy to carry around.
My step dad has gave me his old titleist golf bag and managed to get some cobra F9 irons, a sand and pitch wedge and a Taylor made max driver for a couple hundred £ 🎉 do you recommend anywhere to get gloves? I never realised how often I should be replacing them
I am starting out and with my slower speed I am considering hybrid irons a couple woods a driver a putter and a wedge.9-10 clubs max.
Current bag: Putter, SW, GW, PW, 8i, 6i, 7w, 4w, Mini Driver.