What are the 5 most important golf clubs?

July 28, 2025 Charles C. Elliott

So if you are an absolute golf beginner one of the very first questions you will ask yourself is “What are the 5 most important golf clubs?”. A Golf Bag’s Worth of Clubs With so many clubs in a golf bag, it’s baffling to know which are the really important ones. This will be complicated for some of you, but trust me when I say I will break it down into layman’s terms and explain which clubs you need and why. The right gear can make a difference, whether you’re a novice or just looking to enhance your game.

What We Cover In this Post

Why Only 5 Golf Clubs?

Sets can come with as many as 14 clubs, but you don’t always need that many, especially if you’re just starting out. Concentrating on the 5 Essential Golf Clubs will enable you to grasp the fundamentals and play smarter. These clubs provide the correct tools regarding driving and approach pictures as well as putting.

Let’s take a closer look.

1. Driver – For Longest Shots

The driver, designed to hit the ball the farthest distance, is the longest club in the bag. It’s what you’ll typically use on the tee box to begin a hole.

Why it’s important:

It lets you drive the ball way down the fairway.
Empowers you with every shot.
Great for learning swing basics.

Tip: Begin with a driver that features a larger clubhead and offers more forgiveness. It enables a player to hit the ball better.

Also Read: Is it worth joining a golf club?

2. 7-Iron – Your Most Flexible Iron

Well, to hear any good company or coach tell it, he has the fewest bad habits of any in the game, and the 7-iron is a good beginner’s club. It’s fantastic for all sorts of shots, from approach shots to short drives.

Why it’s important:

Easy to control and forgiving.
Great as practice and an introduction to swing.
Can be played from the fairway, rough or as a tee shot on a par 3 hole.

Tip: Keep spending some extra time practicing with that 7-iron. It will help you shoot more accurately and confidently.

3. Pitching Wedge – Good for Short Approach Shots

Use a PW for those little shots around the green! This gives the ball a higher trajectory and allows it to land softly.

Why it’s important:

Great for shots at 50-100 yards.
It’s good for chips and pitch shots around the green.
Aids in quickly enhancing the short game.

Tip: Being fearless with your pitching wedge can save you many strokes, particularly around the green.

4. Sand Wedge – Your Bunker Pals

Ever hit a ball into the sand? Which is where the sand wedge (SW) comes into play. They are specifically constructed to get you out of bunkers and deep rough.

Why it’s important:

Engineered to literally float over sand and thick grass.
Useful for high, soft touch down shots.
For saving par from all kinds of tough spots.

Pro shop Try practicing these shots on the range or short-game area. It will make you feel like a boss when you have to play some tough lies.

5. Putter: You use this one the most.

The putter is a club used on the green to roll the ball into the hole. It may not look exciting, but it’s the most hit club in a round of golf.

Why it’s important:

Used on almost every hole.
Aids in filling every hole by setting the ball.
Crucial for lowering your score.

Tip: Do a dozen or so practice putts regularly, even at home. It’s one of the simplest ways to upgrade your overall game.

Bonus Tip: Learn Club Distances

Each club hits the ball a different number of yards. To play a round, it helps to know how far you can hit with all your clubs. For starters, monitor them during practice and make notes about what they do.

So then, what are the 5 essential golf clubs? The response is: driver, 7-iron, pitching wedge, sand wedge, putter. These clubs encompass all the important components of a golf game — long shots, mid range, short game, and putting.

If you’re a beginner, try these five. Be sure to concentrate on practicing with them and gain confidence. You can then gradually add more clubs to your bag as you feel ready.

Just keep in mind that while golf is not all about having the best gear, it’s about learning, practicing and enjoying the game.