The first club you should buy as a beginner golfer
08/12/2023 20:56
There are many different schools of thought on which club is the absolute must-have in a bag, and we don’t think we will ever settle that question, but if you want to know which club makes the best first investment, we can help you.
We must preface this whole thing by saying that golf is better when you play with enough clubs in your bag, and we feel that a starter player should aim to have at least ten clubs in their bag.
If you are a brand-new golfer, you should investigate club rental options before diving into buying clubs.
While it is tempting to shop for bargains online, a fitting at your local pro shop or accredited centre is usually beneficial for players of all levels.
The club choice most beginners get consistently wrong also feeds into the question of what club is best to tee off with for the beginner or the high-handicapper.
We are going to follow the data here, and studies suggest the club that will get new players the best second-shot positions is the 5-wood.
Golf Galaxy’s Chris Marchini believes that players need to graduate through the fairway drivers to get the best use out of the clubs.
“I make players prove to me they can hit a 15-degree 3-wood before I fit them into one,” Marchini told Golf Digest.
“I routinely see the 5-wood carrying longer with almost all types of players.
“It’s just easier to get in the air, plus it’s more forgiving.
“The more loft, the less curve to the shot.
“The slightly shorter shaft is easier to control as well.
“For many players, there is just zero purpose to having a 15-degree wood in the bag.”
Marchini’s advice is focused on reasonably seasoned players, but his guidance rings true for beginners.
If you had to play an entire round with a single club, you likely wouldn’t do that with a 5-wood, but we aren’t suggesting a single club to play a round of golf; instead, we are suggesting that you target improving your game by focusing on your first club.
The proliferation of driving ranges also mean you don’t have to feel self-conscious about showing up with a single club to a practice as it really won’t be out of the ordinary to see players with one club at the range.
A 5-wood is not only more forgiving than a 3-wood, it is also easier to hit than a 5-iron or a 5 hybrid, and getting your hands on your own club will be the shortest path to slashing strokes off your score.
If everything goes well on a lot of par 4s and most par 5s, you’ll be able to play your first two shots with a 5-wood, whether you’ve hit the fairway or not. Your typical 5-wood will have sufficient loft to get you out of the rough in most cases.
Consistent work with a 5-wood can help beginners find the fun in starting to play what can be a very challenging sport.
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