Best Golf Clubs Under $500 2025

If you have been on any golf retailer sites, it should be reasonably clear that golf clubs can be very expensive. However, believe it or not, this doesn't have to be the case because there are high-quality clubs out there which won't break the bank.

This is where this guide comes in! Firstly, we have done a lot of thorough testing to see which are the best golf clubs money can buy for less than $500. Why this number you may ask? Well, it's primarily down to the fact that it is more realistic for most golfers to have that kind of money to spend on golf clubs compared to $1000 and above.

We also chose this number because, across all sections of clubs, from package sets, to drivers, to irons, $500 is a price for which you can still get very, very good models. If we went any lower in price, we would find it harder to recommend a good set of irons for example, because the cheaper you go in that section, the more likely the performance will diminish.

Below, we have taken a look through the best models for under $500 but, if you are looking for a specific aspect, why not also check out our best budget drivers, best budget irons, or even the best cheap putters.

Quick List

Best Golf Clubs Under $500

Package Sets

We start with the CG4000 from MacGregor which replaced the CG3000, another package set that could've easily made this list. The CG4000 comes with everything you need to start your golfing journey, with a stylish green and black bag making way for 10 golf clubs and decent quality headcovers.

When it came to testing the hitting of the clubs, the feel throughout the set was reasonable and, from driver to wedges, the ease of use was great and we found them incredibly easy to get airborne. The putter was also a real highlight, with excellent forgiveness on offer, the only slight gripe was that, with no headcover and not the most robust build quality, it chips rather easily.

In the set you get a 460cc, 13-degree driver, an 18-degree fairway wood, and a 24-degree hybrid. Furthermore, there is a 6-iron through to sand wedge and a putter, with there also being a choice of a stand or cart bag. Overall, though, all the clubs have been designed with forgiveness in mind, as thick top lines and large heads provide ample confidence.

• Read our full MacGregor CG4000 Package Set Review

Strata Men's Golf Package Set

One of the best golf club sets on the market, you get a lot for your money with the Strata Men's Golf Package Set. Firstly, there are 11 clubs to choose from, as well as a nine piece set, and both feature a range of irons and hybrids.

The number of clubs means you can add more to the set, such as a lob wedge or sand wedge, with the overall performance very impressive. The particular stand-out came in the driver and iron department, with both aspects providing plenty of forgiveness and confidence-inspiring looks when you take the address position.

Although the putter is perhaps the only downside, you do also get a lightweight stand bag to hold all of your clubs. Along with the accessibility, there are a lot of pockets available which means you can store your necessities.

• Read our full Strata Men's Golf Package Set Review

Wilson Prostaff SGI Package Set

Our final set in this guide is from Wilson, the Prostaff SGI, which is a set you should consider if you are new to the game. The clubs in the set are large and forgiving, whilst the heads inspire confidence via thick top lines.

We begin with the lower portion of the bag, with the putter feeling very solid off the face. There is also a handy alignment aid on top to help with accuracy and, moving up to the wedges, both have a wide sole to help get out of a range of different lies.

Featuring a 10.5° driver, three wood, hybrid, 6-iron to sand wedge and an excellent putter to match, the cost is another plus as it comes in at an attractive price point, something which will appeal to those who are new to the game of golf.

• Read our full Wilson Prostaff SGI Package Set Review

Drivers

First up in the driver section we have the C725 driver from Tour Edge. A low-spinning, lower launching model, it has a premium aesthetic to it, despite its more budget-friendly price. This is thanks to the carbon fiber crown and a banner strip of matte black along the leading edge which looks excellent and frames the ball beautifully. The rounded profile looks good as does the head at address too.

Moving to performance, it really did compete well with the best drivers on the market. Ball speed and distance numbers didn't quite reach the top models, but it was pretty close. On top of the impressive numbers, I enjoyed the feel as well. It offered a lively combination of power and feedback, and the consistency of ball flight was notable as well.

Overall this is a very impressive driver. When you consider the speed, adjustability, premium visuals and the solid, powerful feel on offer here for $400, the value for money is genuinely exceptional.

• Read our full Tour Edge Exotics C725 Driver review

Kirkland Signature Driver

Kirkland's 'Signature' line of golf equipment has become synonymous with value for money. It's golf ball offering has already caused disruption on the lower end of the price scale as brands battle to deliver the best value golf balls for golfers who don't want to break the bank on the best premium golf balls. Harnessing that momentum, Kirkland have delivered a driver that costs just north of $200 and offers genuine performance.

The first impressions are good ones - the aesthetic is clean and crisp as Kirkland choose to go down the route of simplicity rather than a flashy, aggressive visual package. The matte black finish with subtle branding doesn't scream "budget club" in any way.

Once we started hitting balls we found the acoustics to be a little less appealing than most of the best golf drivers, but despite this we were impressed with the ball speed numbers during our indoor testing. We even decided to put it directly head to head against the Titleist GT2 and the results could well surprise you. It took us by surprise, and for golfers looking for raw speed without breaking the bank, this driver certainly delivers.

• Read our full Kirkland Signature Adjustable Driver Review

Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver

Mizuno has introduced an array of new features to maximize the potential of the ST-Z 230, with the development coming in the shape of a new CORTECH Chamber that encases a stainless-steel weight with elastomeric TPU. In testing, and through impact, it delivered a very powerful, lively sensation.

Distance-wise, it was extremely solid, with a high launch and ample spin putting it in a comfortable window during testing. What really stood out though, to us, was the playability, even on off-centre strikes it still had that high launch and a good amount of distance. Certainly, this puts it in the most forgiving driver category.

Aesthetically, we also loved the way the ST-Z 230 looks, with the Mizuno-blue finish on the sole (which highlights the CORTECH Chamber), making it look high-tech and premium. This only adds to the shelf appeal and the performance on offer.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver Review

Irons

Cleveland are known for producing some of the best golf wedges on the market, but they also know a thing or two about forgiving irons, with the Launcher XL arguably one of the most forgiving irons that money can buy.

To begin with, at address, the iron is extremely long from heel to toe and, although that may not suit all, it will certainly inspire confidence as there is plenty of club available for the strike. Also, thanks to a V-Shaped sole, it interacts with the turf well and, in our testing, it encouraged us to attack the ball by hitting downward.

The feel at the point of strike is also notably satisfying - the ball fizzes off on a strong trajectory with notable stability. We really saw the forgiveness on off-centre strikes, as the flight kept its line well.

• Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Review

Cobra Air-X Irons

Lightweight and forgiving, these irons should help average golfers swing the club faster for longer carries, assisted by increased perimeter weighting of the heads themselves. In testing, this claim was certainly backed up, with the Air-X an absolute pleasure to hit.

Despite not being aimed at ‘stronger’ players, we were still able to strike long and accurate approach shots, with the flight of the ball extremely consistent. What's more, the stable feel off the face and the resulting ball flight will appeal to a wide range of golfers, especially those who struggle to get the ball airborne.

The last point is the aesthetics, which we were really impressed with. Featuring flashes of red which will pop off the shelf, there is a thick topline and wide sole, with the generous amount of offset helping those who slice the golf ball. What we really liked was how the amount of offset is progressive, so the short irons have less of it and therefore look better in the playing position.

• Read our full Cobra Air-X Irons Review

Wedges

Now, in it's 4th iteration, the Hi-Toe 4 Wedge offers maximum versatility, performance and some significant improvements over it's predecessor—the Hi-Toe 3 wedge.

Right out of the box, we noticed the face and groove pattern is the same as those found on the TaylorMade MG4 wedges, which we consider one of the top models for spin control. We were big fans of the new aesthetics here, with the copper finish combining nicely with the raw face.

Thanks to the new Spin Tread technology on the face, we achieved remarkably high levels of spin and control from both the fairway and the rough. We tested the ATC grind option with 8° of bounce which made enabled us to slide our club under the ball easily and land the ball softly with spin. It allowed us to be creative around the green and we think this grind could easily be considered one of the most forgiving wedges on the market.

• Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review

Mizuno Pro T-3 Wedge

If you enjoy the look of Mizuno irons, you'll almost certainly love the visual package on offer from the Pro T-3 wedge. It has a shallow cavity design which offers more forgiveness, whilst the longer blade length is designed to help with turf interaction.

It’s by no means intrusive or as large as some of the most forgiving wedges but more so offers greater leeway on strike that not all of the best wedges for low handicappers do.

Unsurprisingly, this is a fantastic looking golf club and looks identical to the beautiful Pro S3 irons released earlier this year. As far as wedges go, the Mizuno Pro T-3 is like a Swiss Army Knife. It was excellent out of the rough and uneven lies and is available in three different grinds o no matter what turf type you regularly play on, there will be a model to accommodate it.

• Read our full Mizuno Pro T-3 Wedge Review

Putters

Wilson’s hardware doesn't get the attention it deserves. This is especially true for its Infinite range which we have tested several clubs, and one of our absolute favorites is the Bucktown.

The mallet putter's stock Pistol Karakal flat-sided grip felt comfortable in our hands and overall the putter had a solid, stable feel to it. This firm sensation would pair nicely with a soft, low compression golf ball. The strike pattern is very helpful and is perfect for mid-to-high handicappers.

We liked the alignment on offer here as well. The white lines on the head contrast with the black finish beautifully, and the middle of the three is slightly thicker to help center the ball at address.

On the whole, we think this is an incredibly well-balanced model that will definitely help golfers set the face square and see their stroke path more clearly. And obviously with its inclusion in this guide, the price point is attractive too.

• Read our full Wilson Infinite Bucktown Putter review

TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter

Despite looking like a premium model, the Bandon 3 putter from TaylorMade comes with a comparatively small price tag, making it a worthy addition to this list. When hitting putts it feels solid and offers up a surprisingly firm and loud sound at impact given the deep grooves on the face insert. This remained consistent across its length and the speed was enough to impart a short, controlled stroke and still get the ball to the hole.

In terms of aesthetics, we loved the sandstone finish of the head because it really looks premium. Indeed the putter sits flush to the ground and the winged shape helps players square the club to the golf ball at impact too.

Overall, we felt it had a similar feel to a blade putter but in a mallet form which means it may suit a wide range of players.

• Read our full TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 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. The main thing to know our testing procedure is that it has be fine-tuned over well over a decade of golf equipment reviews. In that time we have built a strong trust with our readers for providing impartial, information-based reviews that are free from any bias. This trust is something we value immensely and it will always be our number one priority when reviewing any piece of golf equipment or apparel. No brand can ever 'buy' a good review, nor do any brands receive preferential treatment over another. Instead, we simply call it how we see it based upon our deep knowledge of both the game and the equipment that serves it.

We don't just take a golf club out for nine holes and give our verdict - instead, testing takes places over multiple rounds of golf across different courses and weather conditions so we can really put each club through their paces. We also recognize different clubs have different selling points - for example, there are different categories of drivers for which we have separate buying guides like the most forgiving drivers guide, the best golf drivers for seniors guide and the best drivers for distance guide which features more low spin clubs that are typically less forgiving for the more accomplished players. Using each club consistently for a period can tell us about general performance in facets like - versatility, usability, how the club performs in different conditions and so on.

When we test golf clubs, we divide our testing into two main sections. Firstly, we begin with indoor testing in which we can control the environment and crunch the numbers by using one of the best golf launch monitors. It’s here we can see how the numbers translate into on-course performance across a range of conditions.

Golf, however, is an outside sport. Therefore, after the sterile, controlled environments of indoor testing the next step of the process is to take things outside 'into the wild' and out onto the golf course. Once out on the course we look to see how they fare across a range of playing conditions in terms of general performance in facets like - versatility, usability, how the club performs in different conditions.

How to choose new golf clubs

This section could be a few thousand words words considering this guide focuses on the entire golf bag rather than subsections! If you know specifically what you are looking for in terms of golf clubs eg. a new driver, new irons or new wedges, we have buying guides documenting the most wallet-friendly options on the market - the best value drivers, best budget irons and best cheap putters are worth a read depending on what your needs are. However, speaking in general terms, these are things to be considered when you are choosing new golf clubs to equip yourself with.

Where do you need the most help?

What part of your game needs the most help? Do you miss a lot of fairways and find yourself playing from the rough too often? You might want to equip yourself with one of the most forgiving drivers for help off the tee. Do you tend to miss right often? Do you struggle to get the ball airborne? Diagnose your weaknesses and go from there - the best way to do this is to speak with your local PGA Professional and get a custom fitting - you'll be amazed with how much you'll learn about your own game.

What about shaft Flex?

Getting the right flex shaft is very important if you want your clubs to perform to the best of their abilities. The faster your swing speed, the stiffer the flex needed. Again, we'd recommend getting a custom fitting to find out which is the best shaft to suit your game. Most casual players will be a regular or a stiff, but very slow swingers (less than 75mph) may be better served by a senior flex shaft. Alternatively, those who swing out of their shoes (105mph+) might need a extra stiff shaft.

Price

Golf clubs are becoming more and more expensive, particularly the premium offerings from the likes of TaylorMade, Titleist and other notable brands. If you are on a budget or you're a new golfer who doesn't want to spend too much at this stage of your golfing journey, check out our guide to the best used golf drivers and best used golf irons to see if you can pick up a bargain.

Your experience level

Every golf club on the market right now is designed to cater to the needs of a particular player. From the best drivers for high-handicap golfers to the best game-improvement irons, each will cater to the needs of that player in their size, shape and technology on offer. There is little point choosing one of the best sets of irons for low handicappers if you've only been playing the game for a year. The less experience you have in the game, the more forgiving your clubs.

Do you like the look of the club?

This may sound a little silly, but looks matter when it comes to golf clubs. They affect your relationship with the club, meaning if you don't like the look of it, chances are you won't perform as well with it as you should. Playing with a good-looking gear always helps to boost the mental side of your game and that in turn can help you score better.

Adjustability settings

Being able to fine tweak your golf clubs is a very useful ability to have. The majority of modern golf clubs, particularly drivers and woods, come with adjustable hosels or weights in the sole of the head that can be changed and manipulated to suit your game. They allow you to alter the angle of attack and delivery the club head strikes the ball at, helping you to put different shapes and lofts on the golf ball. That can often be a great way to help alleviate a bad hook or slice too that plague the games of a lot of golfers.

FAQs