Golf Equipment 101
Everything you need to know about golf clubs before you buy — explained clearly, without the jargon.
Club Types Explained
A standard golf bag holds up to 14 clubs. Here's what each type does and when you'd use it.
Shaft Flex Guide
Shaft flex affects how the club bends during your swing — and it has a big impact on accuracy and distance.
Choosing the wrong shaft flex is one of the most common beginner mistakes. Too stiff and the ball goes right; too flexible and it goes left (for right-handed golfers). Match your flex to your swing speed.
7 Iron Speed
Under 45 mph
Driver Speed
Under 60 mph
Speed range
Slower swing speeds, often women or seniors new to the game.
7 Iron Speed
45–55 mph
Driver Speed
60–75 mph
Speed range
Seniors or players with slower, smoother swings who need extra help launching the ball.
7 Iron Speed
65–75 mph
Driver Speed
75–90 mph
Speed range
The most common flex. Most recreational golfers fall in this range.
7 Iron Speed
75–85 mph
Driver Speed
90–105 mph
Speed range
Better players with faster, more consistent swings. Low-to-mid handicappers.
7 Iron Speed
85+ mph
Driver Speed
105+ mph
Speed range
Tour-level players and long hitters with very fast, aggressive swings.
Loft & Lie Basics
Two numbers that quietly control where your ball goes.
Loft
Loft is the angle of the clubface relative to vertical. Higher loft = more height, less distance. Lower loft = more distance, lower trajectory. A driver has 9–12° of loft; a sand wedge has 54–56°. Beginners generally benefit from more loft — it's easier to get the ball airborne.
Lie Angle
Lie angle is the angle between the shaft and the ground when the club is at address. If the lie angle is too upright, the ball tends to go left; too flat, and it goes right. Most off-the-shelf clubs are built for average height and stance — if you're very tall or short, a club fitting can help.
Too Flat
Ball goes right
Correct
Straight flight
Too Upright
Ball goes left
Key takeaway: Don't overthink loft and lie as a beginner — but do visit a fitting professional before you buy. A good fitter will dial in the right club length and a comfortable weight for your build and swing, setting you up for success from day one.
Glossary
Golf has its own language. Here are the terms you'll hear most.
Club Conversion Chart
Not every golfer needs every iron. Use this chart to find the hybrid or fairway wood that replaces a long iron — and understand the loft overlap between club types.
Note: Lofts reflect modern OEM specs (2015–present). Game-improvement and distance irons run 2–4° stronger than blade or players irons of the same number. Always verify the actual loft of a specific club before buying used — specs vary significantly by manufacturer and model year.
Hybrids combine the forgiveness of a fairway wood with the control of an iron. Best for 3–6 irons for mid-to-high handicappers.
5-woods and 7-woods fill the gap between a 3-wood and long irons. Great for players who struggle with low-lofted clubs off the turf.
7-iron through PW are precision scoring clubs. Most golfers benefit from keeping these as irons for consistent distance control.
Toolbox Tip
When building a set, start with irons first — then move to the driver. This gives you a floor and a ceiling, making it much easier to fill in the gaps. As a rule, ball speeds should be a minimum of 5 mph apart between each club. If two clubs are closer than that, one of them shouldn't be in your bag.
Ready to put this knowledge to work?
Use our free tools to build your bag or find the right used clubs at the right price.