Equipment
What GolfWRXers are saying about the best clubs to buy for a total beginner
In our forums, new WRXer ‘XaN91’ (welcome to the WRX family!) created a thread dedicated to clubs suitable for someone just taking up the sport. ‘XaN91’ says:
“I am very interested in starting up golf and was wondering if you guys had any recommendations for clubs. My only experience with golf has been Top Golf and a par 3 course at McMenamins Edgefield while inebriated.
I have been looking at a lot of different brands, and it is quite overwhelming. Which clubs do I actually need when starting out?
My budget is $1000, the less I have to spend the better.”
And our members have been sharing their thoughts on the best ways to go for a total beginner.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- scooterhd2: “I’d be looking at a used set of irons online. You can get some decent irons for under 250 bucks. Driver, 5 wood, 5-gw iron set, and then a 56* SW and you are set.”
- James the Hogan Fan: “If I were you, I would go down to the thrift shop and look for clubs there. Irons generally come in two kinds: Cavity back and Muscle back/blade. The cavity back is meant to be more forgiving and easier to hit, and as there were many models of them released in the 1990s, thrift shops are usually populated with them. Look at clubs like Callaway X14, or Ping Eye/Zing. Clubs that look like this are going to be more reasonable for a beginner compared to something like ‘Hogan Apex ’88’ (A blade type). This is simply mentioned as an alternative to the box sets above. It depends on what you’re looking for and price. Top of the line 25 years ago vs discount rack today. Just remember at this point in our golfing, you probably will be very frustrated with bad contact no matter what clubs you have and use. Wristy Swing has really summed up the goals and expectations well.”
- Mr Smooth: “Tour Edge makes decent intro-level clubs. For example, Tour Edge Bazooka 470 Black complete set, which includes a bag, can be had for under $500 new.”
- Stinger83: “Start as cheap as possible. My advice is buy old equipment on eBay and local small golf shops. Old equipment is 90% as good as brand new stuff, and it’s 10% of the price. The reason I recommend this is because once you improve – and decide you enjoy the game – you’re going to want new stuff. Your swing will change, and you’ll be spending another $1,000 on new irons within a year. I’d say buy an old set of irons, a driver, a hybrid, a putter, and a sand wedge and you’re good to go.”
- jomatty: “I’d get an older set of Titleist AP1’s, Mizuno jpx or ez, Callaway steelheads. Get 5-s if you can. You can get some of those irons for $250ish. Get a 23 degree Adams hybrid for 30 bucks or so (plenty of good options but tough to beat price on some of the Adams hybrids). An odyssey putter $40. A Callaway ft-9 driver or ping g2 driver something like that will cost you maybe another $40. Maybe a 3 or 5 wood, something like a g2 for 30 bucks or so. You’re done for less than $500. As I add that up, I guess the Callaway edge complete set at the same price looks really good.”
Cameron Young’s WITB from his win at the 2025 Wyndham Championship. Cameron is a Titleist staff player but his bag is definitely filled with some unique clubs. Here are the clubs he used to secure his first PGA Tour win!
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K White 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus HB Black VeloCore+ 10 X
Irons: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), Titleist 631.CY Prototype (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 (4-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F, 52-12F, 56-14F @57), WedgeWorks (60-K* @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold X7
Putter: Scotty Cameron Phantom 9.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Prototype
- Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here.
Driver: Titleist GT3 (10 degrees, C2 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Project X Denali Blue 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist GT3 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 7 X
7-wood: Titleist GT2 (21 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T150 (4, 5), Titleist T100 (6-9)
Shafts: True Temper AMT Tour White X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (48-10F @47, 52-12F, 56-08M @57, 60-04T @62)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400
Putter: Scotty Cameron Studio Style Fastback 1.5 Tour Prototype
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Yellow
We’re proud to once again partner with 2nd Swing Golf to bring you GolfWRX Members Choice 2025! 2nd Swing has more than 150,000 new and pre-swung golf clubs available in six store locations and online. Check them out here.
What is the best driver in 2025? At GolfWRX, we take great pride in our online community and the cumulative knowledge and experience of our members. When it comes to the best driver of 2025, we want to know what our forum faithful think.
Since our founding in 2005, the bedrock of GolfWRX.com has been the community of passionate and knowledgeable golfers in our forums, and we put endless trust in the opinions of our GolfWRX members — the most knowledgeable community of golfers on the internet. No other group of golfers in the world tests golf clubs as frequently or as extensively, nor is armed with such in-depth information about the latest technology.
Below are the results of GolfWRX member voting for the 2025 best driver, along with the vote percentage for each club.
Best driver of 2025: The top 5
5. Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond: 6.02%
Callaway’s pitch: “For golfers looking for a fast, forgiving, yet workable driver, the Elyte Triple Diamond features a tour-inspired shape and is the preferred model by most Callaway tour players.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond here.
4. Ping G440 Max: 6.86%
Ping’s pitch: “The most forgiving G440 model, MAX has a hotter face to generate speed and distance, and a lighter overall system weight with a longer shaft (46″) for faster clubhead speed, higher launch and longer carries. The Free Hosel and Carbonfly Wrap crown save weight to create our lowest CG ever and increase forgiveness while contributing to a more muted, pleasing sound.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 Max here.
3. Ping G440 LST: 9.53%
Ping’s pitch: “LST is an especially good fit for faster swings, offering less spin and more control with a penetrating trajectory. A hotter face, lighter overall system weight and longer shaft (46″) deliver more speed and distance while maintaining tight dispersion.”
@phizzy30: “Not a fan of Ping drivers in general, but 440 LST takes the cake. It’s super forgiving across the face for a low spin head, looks and sounds good and the ability to make it play neutral or slightly fade biased through the hosel settings is very appealing.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Ping G440 LST here.
2. Titleist GT3: 16.55%
Titleist’s pitch: “The GT3 Driver offers Titleist’s boldest combination of power and personalization through adjustable performance. Dial in the CG Track to your frequent contact location to make your biggest drives even bigger while taking total control over flight and shaping.”
@mrmikeac: “I’ve been Anti-Titleist for years and years and years (outside of Vokey, of course). With that being said, HOLY BEGEEZUS the GT3 driver is an absolute NUCLEAR MONSTER! This thing blew my G430 10K Max out of the water in every single category. Forgiveness is the biggest thing that stands out of me, the 3 model has always been one of the less forgiving models in the past but this GT3 can take bad shot after bad shot and still end up in the fairway, I think a ton of that has to do with the adjustability, it’s actually effective. Feel and sound is perfect, that solid crack is so addicting to hear and when you hit it out the screws this thing can absolutely bomb it. Titleist, I’m sorry for doubting you. You have converted me.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT3 here.
1. Titleist GT2: 22.91%
Titleist’s pitch: “Delivering impressive distance from any impact point, the Titleist GT2 Driver extracts maximum performance through a forgiving design. Get the stability and added confidence of a high-MOI driver without sacrificing speed.”
@DTorres: “The Titleist GT2 has proven to be the best driver of the year. Packaged in a classic profile, GT2 perfectly balances performance and forgiveness while consistently being a high performer across all categories.”
You can read what other golfers are saying about the driver in the GolfWRX forums, and see our launch piece here. Shop the Titleist GT2 here.
Other drivers receiving >2% of the vote
| Driver | Vote percentage (%) |
|---|---|
| Cobra DS Adapt Max K | 4.85% |
| Ping G430 Max 10K | 3.85% |
| Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond | 3.68% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 | 3.51% |
| Callaway Elyte | 3.18% |
| Cobra DS Adapt X | 2.34% |
| Cobra DS Adapt LS | 2.17% |
| TaylorMade Qi35 LS | 2.17% |
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Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
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Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Imafitter
May 11, 2020 at 9:28 am
First thing I’d do is go to a golf shop where they have a PGA Pro and take a few basic lessons. Then ask the Pro to help you find a set of used irons, 6-AW, SW, Driver, 5W, 5H, Putter. Keep taking lessons until you’re comfortable on the course.
Alex
May 8, 2020 at 9:06 am
Driver
3/4 wood
hybrid
hybrid
GI 4/GW
58 with a lot of bounce
Putter