Not everyone wants to spend big on premium golf equipment. Perhaps you're a beginner, just wanting to give the game a go for the first time? Or maybe even you're a single figure player, just looking for an extra cheap club you can whack in the bag from time-to-time? Whatever your reason for looking into the best budget golf clubs, there are plenty of golfers out there searching for equipment that's more wallet friendly. Yes, the best players in the world play the best golf drivers, best putters and best golf irons, but that premium price is, well... premium.
Of course, if you go down the budget route, you are going to lose some performance benefits - premium products are premium for a reason. However, the best budget golf clubs can still give a large percentage of the golfing population what they need.
Could Tiger Woods win a PGA Tour event with the best budget irons? Probably not, but that's not to say that playing with budget clubs will prevent you from beating your friends at the weekend. And, if you're a beginner, these clubs may just kickstart your love for the game. Here, we review the best budget golf clubs and to research further, be sure to check out the best women's golf sets, as well as the best golf club sets for beginners.
The Quick List
This is a great value and expansive offering for beginners, with the driver, hybrids and irons all forgiving and offering plenty of distance.
A fantastic set that offers up surprisingly good performance for what is a small price tag. You won't find much better around this price, especially with a good bag included.
One of the easiest-to-launch drivers we’ve hit this year, this delivers impressively on its promise of making the game easier for people off the tee.
The MacGregor V Foil Speed looks good at address and offers overall performance somewhat beyond its price tag, especially out of the middle.
We found the Wilson Dynapowers to be one of the longest irons we've tested in 2023. Incredibly fast and forgiving, easy to draw, and excellent value for money.
If you're looking to swing fast, and appreciate an inviting look at the address, check out the Cobra Air-X irons. These clubs have a forgiving off-centre, and are perhaps one of the best game-improvement irons on this list.
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With the FX77 irons, you get a lot of performance for the price. This appears to be a well-made, user-friendly iron built for the average golfer seeking more consistent approach shots.
An impressive offering given the price point. It's a putter that is easy to align and improves the quality of results regardless of how consistent your stroke is.
This offers a high level of stability from a face balanced head. The alignment system works well and the feel was very good for a putter at this price.
Best Budget Golf Clubs
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Package Sets
Best budget set
We were very impressed with the Strata Men's Package Set when we got a chance to test it out on the course. In the set you get 11 clubs, two of which are hybrids, which we didn't feel were quite so easy to launch, compared to some of the best golf hybrid clubs on the market. But that was about our only criticism going. You'll get an impressive amount of equipment here for your money though and we were very impressed by the irons on offer in this set. They come with a thick topline that inspires confidence behind the ball, while their generous offset should suit those who slice their irons often.
Equally, the 460cc driver was also a winner on testing. You can see a lot of the face on address and the large head makes it an appealing club to look down on. Beeginner players will definitely enjoy whipping the ball into the air with this club. The stand bag that included in the set is lightweight and has plenty of pockets that make it great for storage. It isn't quite waterproof but it is a great option for any beginner player.
- Read our full Strata Men's Golf Package Set Review
Best bag
MacGregor may not be regarded as a premium brand in the modern market, but it does have a long and distinguished history in the game. Whilst its package sets aren't going to set you back an arm and a leg, compared to some of the best golf club sets, it doesn't mean they lack innovation. The CG3000 is an entry level set, with the 13° driver, low profile fairway and hybrid designed in such a way that they're easy to hit. Meanwhile, the irons (steel and graphite options are available) feature an undercut cavity to keep the centre of gravity low and deep, so golfers should find them easier to launch.
The irons do have a fairly thick top line, but having played a few rounds with them, we didn't think they're too intrusive. They are forgiving, thouh, and they go the distance. Given you're also getting a mallet style putter and the choice of either a premium stand or cart bag, there's no question that this set offers terrific value for money. What's more, MacGregor offers 1" longer or shorter steel stand options with clubs, therefore making them suitable for taller and shorter golfers.
- Read our full MacGregor CG3000 Package Set Review
Drivers
Best driver
Coming in at a price point significantly lower than the ultra-premium models is the Wilson Launch Pad, a driver that is built to help golfers who struggle with a slice square the clubface more easily at impact. And as it relates to that goal, we think Wilson has succeeded in a big way. The Launch Pad 2022 utilizes heel weighting, an offset hosel design, and an upright lie angle to create a draw bias, which as mentioned is effective, but an increase in bulge radius keeps the face from looking overly shut at address.
It's also worth noting the face design Wilson have implemented here. The brand says the average handicap player hits 68 percent of their shots out of the toe half of the face, so in the new Launch Pad, they've added a new PKR face geometry that makes the striking area 5 percent bigger than the previous Launch Pad. Akin to some of the most forgiving drivers on the market, during our testing sessions we certainly felt there was a lot going for this offering. The flights were high and the draw bias was clear to see, on average our shots finished around 10 to 15 yards left of center. Plus we haven't yet mentioned how light it was, in each of its components (grip, shaft, and head), which combined, makes this one of the best drivers for slow swing speeds on the market.
- Read our full Wilson Launch Pad 2022 Driver Review
Best beginner driver
Sporting a stylish matte black 460cc full titanium head with elegant lines, the V Foil Speed sits perfectly behind the ball, inspiring confidence at address. Testing this club out. on the course we found the ultra-thin face delivers significant ball speeds and distance gains. The expanded sweet spot, bespoke premium lightweight graphite shaft and high MOI design add in the perfect combination of distance, control and forgiveness off the tee. It is proof that limited budgets can get you a good-looking driver and an excellent level of performance.
It is one of the best drivers for beginners and is finished off with a soft compound MacGregor grip that has been designed to provide the perfect combination of comfort and secure connection to the club, the V Foil Speed driver is packed with performance features perfectly suited to the high handicap golfer.
- Read our full MacGregor V Foil Speed Driver Review
Irons
Best distance iron
The Wilson Dynapower irons are an excellent club if you're looking for a bit more distance and power in your irons. Akin to many of the best distance irons this offering feels faster than most other premium models on the market and comes in at a fantastic price point. Perhaps while it was not as versatile as some of its competitors, our testing sessions certainly showed it delivered in terms of feel and performance.
The Dynapower irons are also crammed with technology, as thanks to the use of Artificial Intelligence, Wilson's engineers have been able to optimise the face architecture and reconfigure the Power Holes 3.0 on the sole to make this club faster and more forgiving. On the course, we found the ball flight is penetrating but fairly flat, meaning it might not be the best for slower swingers. Plus it comes with a pretty handy draw bias which we really enjoyed too.
- Read our full Wilson Dynapower Iron Review
Best for seniors
Featured on our guide to the best Cobra golf irons, the lightweight Cobra Air-X clubs are an ideal option for golfers with dwindling strength and cash levels. A lighter clubhead design yields 2 grams in weight-savings, while a 6-gram lighter 41g standard size grip with a lighter and softer rubber compound improves feel, making these irons seem easy to hit, adding to the enjoyment factor on offer. Having tested these on the course, we think the Air-X is one of the best golf irons for senior players looking to get a little more distance on their approach into the green.
A deep undercut cavity, low profile shape and greater lofts throughout the set help with launch angles and ball flights, while the weight of the head is positioned low and wide to increase stability and forgiveness on off-center hits. That combined made for a very enjoyable testing session, with the club offering a very stable feel off the face. A slight draw was also very welcomed and shots struck low had ample launch, thanks to the irons' deep undercut design. Not only are they easy to hit, but they come in at an excellent price point too, of around $700 for a seven-piece set (5-SW).
- Read our full Cobra Air-X Irons Review
Best looking irons
Having scoured the market for a cheaper set of irons, we've found one of the best value for money club sets around, the Ram FX77 irons. These excellent irons retail for under $400, and for that price, you'l get a very nice looking set of clubs that boast a similar profile to some of the best blade irons. The FX77 comes with a stunning steel finish that boasts the classic Ram logo on the back of the club, something we really loved about these irons.
On testing, we found there was a smidge of offset at address which will appeal to many less-experienced players. Those players will also enjoy the thick topline that comes with a very generous, inspiring look that doesn't come across as being too clunky. We felt this was also a good club for anyone lacking a bit of power in their swing. The heat treated stainless steel faces on this FX77 make it lively and that helps to deliver a lot of stability on off-center strikes too. Ultimately, it is a very forgiving and playable club, despite its compact profile, and in our opinion, will suit slower swingers and any golfer only just getting into the game.
- Read our full Ram FX77 Iron Review
Putters
Best putter
This putter is an addition to the excellent Wilson Staff range of clubs and a very recognizable head shape that has become increasingly popular in mallet putters across the market and one of the most forgiving putters too. As with all the Infinite range, the Buckingham features counterbalance technology which combines a heavier head and grip weights, moving the balance point closer to the hands for a smoother and more controlled putting stroke, which we really enjoyed during our testing sessions
The Buckingham comes with an oversize grip as standard which is great for golfers who use a claw grip, or golfers who find themselves gripping too hard on a thin grip and want a softer feel. It also comes with a double-milled face which we found delivered a very pleasant soft thud at impact. But don't be discouraged if you dislike a soft feel as there's plenty of power here too! At a very competitive retail price with a premium look and feel, the Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham is a great option at an excellent price.
- Read our full Wilson Staff Infinite Buckingham Putter Review
Most forgiving putter
The Inesis High MOI Putter delivers excellent consistency and forgiveness around the greens. It is one of the best putters for beginners looking to improve their confidence on longer putts. It boasts a very cool sci-fi look with the steel body being contrasted against the darker nickel chrome head. That helps to create a good alignment aid, which is enhanced by a long sight line that helped us frame the ball on the green.
The highlight of this club was how stable it was. It comes with a high MOI thanks to a deep weighting system that pushes the mass of the club back to its corners, helping you to hit upwards and put a decent roll on the golf ball. Testing showed us the feel on the face was a little firm, thanks to the semi-rigid TPU pad face insert, but that helped to ensure we got a smooth and consistent roll on each putt. Ultimately it is one of the more forgiving options on this list that also comes in at a great value price.
- Read our full Inesis High MOI Putter Review
How we test golf clubs
Our testing for golf clubs is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. Our team usually attend product launches and then when it comes to our actual testing, we first try clubs in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, with premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor.
Next up is outdoor testing, which takes place at several different golf clubs. We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the clubs so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the clubs themselves.
How to choose golf clubs
Buying any new golf club can be a very difficult purchase. Particularly if you're looking for a value for money set, there are a ton of things to keep in mind, which can make shopping for new golf sticks an overwhelming process. Thankfully, we're here to give you a few tips we've learned over the years that will help you make the most informed buying decision. Check out our top tips below!
1. Fitting sessions
Something that we like to mention quite often is the importance of going for a club fitting session before you purchase your next set of clubs. Golf clubs don't come cheap so it's wise to ensure that the clubs you're buying are purposefully tailored to your height, swing speed and aspirations as a player. The benefits of getting a custom fitting are laid out in our guide can a custom fitting save my single figure handicap?
2. Price
The cost of living crisis is taking a big hit on everyone's wallets, and golfers are starting to have to think a little more savvy about the type of clubs they're buying. It's good to always have an idea of your budget and experience level before you head down to your local shop to pick up a new set of clubs. And when shopping, make sure to look out for the clubs that can offer you the best durability, value and enjoyment. Check out our guides to the best budget golf drivers and best budget irons for more examples.
3. Experience level and golfing aspirations
Manufacturers produce golf clubs for players of a variety of different experience levels and golfers can sometimes get caught into the trap of buying the most expensive gear that actually won't necessarily help them play better. Ultimately, you want to get the club that either matches your experience level, or will help you improve. That's why, no matter what club you're buying, it is worth establishing which club is best for you as for example the best blade irons will not be suitable for beginner golfers and likewise the best golf irons for beginners won't help a single figure handicapper lower their scores.
4. Gapping
You'll also need to think carefully about what clubs you already have in your bag while taking into account your stock yardages. Most experienced golfers keep a broad range of clubs in their bag that allow them to cover all distances out on the course. To save money and weight in your bag, it's therefore good to take into consideration the range of clubs you're planning on purchasing so you don't end up doubling up by accident.
For more advice on getting some excellent value golf gear, why not check out our guides to the best value golf balls, best value golf watches and our guide on the best value golf push carts.
FAQs
How much should I spend on golf clubs?
That is a question that depends solely on what you want to spend depending on your experience level and how much you play the game. Golf clubs get more expensive depending on their performance attributes. That means more experienced players will want to spend more on them to get more out of their clubs. If you're a beginner or someone who doesn't play as regularly then there might not be much logic in shelling out on a state of the art set of golf clubs and a more value for money set might be more suitable.
Do cheap golf clubs make a big difference?
Depending on your experience level and aspirations in the game, cheap golf clubs can make a difference. If you're a singled figure handicapper looking for better performance and distance from your irons then perhaps a cheap set may not be the best way to go. But if you're a higher handicap, social golfer looking to have fun on the course, then a cheaper set of clubs may be perfect for you!
Should I buy second hand golf clubs?
Absolutely, provided you are happy with the condition they are in and the price you're paying for them. It's always good to ensure you're buying second hand golf gear from trusted retailers who have refurbished those clubs.
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