The Best Golf Clubs for Beginner Golfers

The club head on an offset club is slightly behind the shaft so that a player has a little more time to square up the club face before impact, a problem that most beginners face. In addition, if you have the tendency to hit the golf ball "fat," meaning that you hit more of the ground than the ball, offset clubs will also help you correct the problem.

Graphite shafts are somewhat more expensive than those made of steel, but they are much lighter. Most beginners swing the golf club slowly; graphite shafts will help speed up your swing, resulting in increased distance. In addition, to compensate for a slower swing, consider getting clubs that bend more when they are hit. That is called "flex," and there are five different grades from which to choose.

Club heads are made of steel, titanium or a combination of both. While club heads made of titanium are much more expensive, they are lighter and typically larger, with an increased so-called "sweet spot." Beginners often mishit shots, and that results mostly from not hitting the sweet spot. With the larger hitting area, or sweet spot, of a titanium club head, you will hit more shots correctly. Finally, if you have a problem getting your drives off the ground, you can buy a driver with additional loft. Many beginners turn to drivers with about 13 to 15 degrees of loft to correct this problem.

When you are just starting to play the game, you will not need all 14 clubs. For example, most beginners don't carry long irons, which are difficult for them to use. Instead, they will purchase hybrid clubs, a cross between a wood and iron--and much easier to hit. The ideal mix of clubs for a beginning player is 5 through 9 irons, a pitching wedge and a putter. For longer shots, many beginners carry a combination of 5 or 6 metal woods and hybrids.