Golf clubs are those that are used to hit balls. According to golf rules, in a tournament or competition, 14 clubs are allowed to carry in a golf bag.

What will be the 14 clubs in your golf bag is totally your decision. It depends on what stage your game is at. Also which clubs do you feel most confident playing with. For Example, someone prefers hybrids over irons.

Let’s dive deep and see how many clubs a golfer carries in his elephantine bag pack.

If we look in the average golfer’s bag we would likely find the following basic set of clubs.

• Driver
• Pitching wedge
• Lob wedge
• Sand wedge
• Gap wedge
• 3 hybrid
• 4 hybrid
• 7 iron
• 8 iron
• 9 iron
• 3 wood
• 4 wood
• 5 wood
• Putter

Each of these clubs is designed to hit shots at a certain distance. Every experienced golfer knows how far the ball will go on a full shot. So firstly you need to acquire some knowledge about your clubs and have a clear concept of how long you can hit a shot in a full swing. Then you have to practice systematically to have full control over every shot you play.

Let’s have a look at the basic clubs and the faction of each of those clubs.

What Are The 14 Clubs In A Golf Bag?

Wedge is called scoring clubs. They are used to hit high shots within 120 yards. They make the ball fly high and land softly on the greens. There are 4 types of wedges.

1. Pitching Wedge

The pitching wedge is one of the versatile and mostly used golf clubs in the green. They are used to hit high shots over trees, bushes or obstacles. Whether you want to hit the ball on the sand (till the ball is on the surface) or play a full shot pitching wedge is always at service.

Also, they are considered one of the forgiving clubs in the golf bag. A pitching wedge allows you to play longer shots with more accuracy. The range of a pitching wedge range between 42 and 49 degrees.

2. Sand wedge

Sand wedges are designed to take the ball out of sand traps or bunkers. However, nowadays these clubs are used for any kind of shot on the greens. It is much easier to play high lofted shots with a sand wedge. Along with its wide sole, it comes with multiple bounces and grinds options. . The typical sand wedge range from 54-58 degree.

3. Gap/Approach wedge

Gap wedges are designed to fill the gap between the pitching wedge and sand wedge. With this wedge, you can play a higher and shorter shot than a pitching wedge and also a longer and lower shot than a sand wedge.

It is a good club to just work on your swing and distance control. The loft of the club will give you the right trajectory.

4. Lob wedge

A lob wedge can be used for any pitch shots under 60 yards. They are usually used for chipping where we need to hit the ball over obstacles or get rid of green side bunkers.

I usually play classic “flop shot” with this club and I can hit the ball 65 to 70 yards with my full swing.

Driver

Drivers have the longest shaft and biggest head of all clubs in the golf bag. They are used to hit long shots.

 Loft between 7-12 and shafts between 43-47 degrees is considered a standard driver.

You can hit the ball 250 to 300 yards with a driver. But it requires much practice to get easy with a driver because they are considered the most difficult club in a golf bag.

Iron

Irons are the most common clubs in a bag ranging from 1 to 11. Each of these irons is designed to cover a specific distance. The lower number irons are the most difficult clubs to play with.

That’s the reason why most beginner golfers choose 3 or 4 hybrids over low-numbered irons. Low-numbered irons from 1 to 5 have less loft and low ball flight but more distance.

On the contrary, higher numbered (7-9) irons have more loft and ball flight with less distance. These clubs are easier to play with than low-numbered irons.

However, irons have a wide range of usage. Whether you need a shot above the hazards, trees or get out of the tee irons or even water hazards irons are always in use.

Hybrids

Hybrids are the combination of the best features of irons and woods. Basically, they are a replacement of 1 to 4 irons as these are the most difficult clubs to play with.

 I was struggling with my 3 and 4 irons then I switched to hybrids. Now they are my favorite clubs. Its amazing forgiveness allows me to play consistent and accurate shots. 

If you are not getting the desired results you can also think of a replacement of your 1 to 4 iron to hybrids.

Putters

A putter is the most important club in every golf bag. Putters are used all most every time to put the ball into the hole unless you play a miracle shot that directly falls on the hole.

When the ball is close to the hole a putter is used to roll the ball into the hole. So at last your putting performance decides the final score of your game.

There are a variety of putters differing in materials, designs, heads and shafts. The best one is that you are comfortable and confident to play with.

Final Thoughts

I have highlighted the basic clubs a golfer usually carries. But these can defer according to the skill level and preference of a golfer. For example, beginners choose the most forgiving clubs to develop their skills.

But as they get mastered with those clubs they tend to change them cause this forgiveness doesn’t allow them to grow and explore skills. So how many clubs in a golf bag is totally depending on a golfer’s preference.