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How We Rate

A thorough and in-depth evaluation was made of each beginner’s set in this review.

  • The review was executed by a former D1 collegiate golfer with an in-depth knowledge of golf clubs and golf club manufacturing.
  • Each set was hit blind, which means that the branding was hidden from our reviewer to ensure as much objectivity as possible.
  • Branding was considered after the fact when submitting reviews for 'Aesthetics,’ specifically.

It is important to note that each golfer is different and thus some sets may work better for some than others, and vice versa. That’s why it is important to read the details of each review, as not all of the sets have the same number of clubs, club selection, or even putter shape.

How we rate

We base our ratings on six basic attributes:

1. Overall Performance (30%)

A comprehensive score for the performance of the set as a whole. It accounts for questions like:

  • Do the gaps in iron lofts make sense?
  • How versatile is the set when it comes to the short game?
  • How forgiving are the clubs in general?

2. Feel & Sound (15%)

Measures how the clubs feel and sound when they come off of the clubface.

3. Aesthetics (10%)

Measures the general aesthetics of not only the bag and accessories, but of the clubs themselves. How a club looks and sets up to the ground can instill confidence in a player, but it can also do the opposite. There’s some truth to the phrase: “look good, play good,” after all!

4. Durability (10%)

Measures how well the set will stand the test of time. Some manufacturers cut corners with their beginner’s sets and use inferior materials, while others spend the money to do it right.

5. Innovation (15%)

Measures how a set’s technology advances the category… or doesn’t.

6. Value (20%)

An assessment of the price of the set and how that correlates with what is included in it.

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Robin Golf - Essentials Set

$699.00

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Robin Golf - Essentials Set

$699.00

  • General
    • The design and aesthetics of this set are unparalleled
    • Comes with premium leather headcovers for the putter, hybrid, 3 wood, and driver
      • None of the other sets in this review offer this level of quality
    • Driver adjustability
      • The only driver in this review that offers this level of functionality
    • The irons feel the best of any of the sets reviewed
  • Putter
    • Standard Newport-style blade putter
      • 34 inches in length
    • All-black aesthetic makes this club look stealthy
    • Premium leather headcover with plush interior
      • Will prevent putter from being scuffed or damaged
  • Irons
    • Slightly cavity-backed with rubber insert behind sweet spot
      • No other sets reviewed came with a rubber insert like this
    • Irons set up beautifully to the ground
      • A beginner can feel confident with these clubs in their hands
    • The feel of the Robin irons was unmatched by any competitor
      • Likely due to the rubber insert, which dampens vibrations & reduces the impact shock on your joints & hands when hitting the ball
  • Wedges
    • Pitching wedge: 45°
    • Sand wedge: 56°
      • Differs in design from the pitching wedge, offering a bit more playability than the rest of the irons
        • Allows beginners to hit different types of shots around the greens
  • Hybrid
    • One of the best clubs in this review
      • Sleek design allows players to get the ball up and out of tough situations
        • Weight behind the club helps hoist the ball into the air
  • Fairway Wood
    • Another one of the best clubs in this review
    • Sleek design and easy-to-hit
      • Weight behind club helps hoist the ball into the air
      • The sound and feel of this club is unmatched by its competitors
  • Driver
    • 455cc titanium driver
      • Large sweet spot
        • Offers extra forgiveness
      • Thin face
        • Help’s trampoline the ball off the clubface
    • Adjustable
      • Hosel adjustments can be made to help with lie and face angle adjustments
      • Weights at the bottom of the club can be moved to help promote a draw or fade ball flight
        • No other driver reviewed has this level of adjustability
  • Golf Bag
    • Best bag reviewed from an aesthetic and usability standpoint
    • All black with a thin, sleek design
      • The most minimalistic and visually pleasing of the sets reviewed
      • Very similar to the bags made by the brand Stitch
    • Leather pockets are a nice premium touch
      • Two big leather pockets with smaller valuables pockets within
    • Bag is very light
      • The whole set together isn’t too taxing to carry for 18 or even 36 holes
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Tour Edge - Bazooka 370 Complete Set

$439.99

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Tour Edge - Bazooka 370 Complete Set

$439.99

  • General
    • All-in-all, this was the second best set of those reviewed
      • Also the second most expensive
  • Putter
    • Best putterhead design of the sets reviewed
    • 35 inches in length
    • Head has weight to it and sets up at address really well
      • A heavier head helps keep the putterhead stable and low to the ground throughout the stroke
    • No putter cover!
      • Makes it difficult to keep the putter from being scratched and dented
  • Irons
    • Standard cavity-backed irons
      • Very similar to the Callaway Strata irons
      • Mis-hits still got airborne
  • Wedges
    • Pitching wedge: 46°
    • Sand wedge: 55°
      • A solid club that allows the beginner to open the face slightly for higher shots
  • Hybrid
    • Graphite-shafted
      • Graphite shafts are ideal for hybrid clubs
      • Other than Robin Golf, none of the other sets in this review have graphite-shafted hybrids
  • Fairway Wood
    • 3-wood & 5-wood
      • Allows the beginner to be more accurate with longer-yardage shots
  • Driver
    • Large driver head that’s easy to hit
      • Feels good off the face and is mis-hits still go pretty far
  • Golf Bag
    • Seven club dividers
      • Allows for easy club organizing
    • Five zippered pockets + a beverage sleeve
      • Valuables pocket, clothes & accessories pockets (2), tee pocket, and ball pocket
    • Velcro spot for leaving golf glove is pretty handy addition (pun intended)
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Callaway - Strata Complete Set

$379.99

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Callaway - Strata Complete Set

$379.99

  • General
    • Overall the third best beginners set of those reviewed
    • The sand wedge and pitching wedge lofts are not high enough, especially for a beginner trying to get the ball airborne
      • A lob wedge would have been a good alternative to the 5-hybrid in this set
  • Putter
    • Standard Newport-style blade putter
      • 35 inches in length
    • No milling on the face
    • No putter cover included
      • Makes it difficult to keep the putter from being scratched and dented
  • Irons
    • Standard cavity-backed irons
      • Extra steel can be found on the outer rim of the clubhead for better balance and more forgiveness
      • Very similar to the Tour Edge Bazooka irons
    • Definitely considered “game improvement” clubs
      • Helps the high handicapper get the ball in the air quicker and easier
  • Wedges
    • Sand wedge: 54°
      • Large cavity back for forgiveness
    • Pitching wedge: 44°
      • Very forgiving
        • Mis-hits went nearly as far as the good ones
  • Hybrid
    • 5-iron replacement
      • Launches the ball straight up into the air
      • Not the ideal club for this set, as its loft is only 2 degrees stronger than the 6-iron
        • Would recommend a 3- or 4-hybrid instead to bridge the gap between the 3-wood and 6-iron
    • More difficult to hit than it looks
    • Worst club in the bag, mainly due to the clunky steel shaft
  • Fairway Wood
    • 3-wood
      • Graphite-shafted
      • Low profile with center of gravity towards the back of the club
        • Helps hoist the ball into the air
  • Driver
    • 460cc titanium driver
      • Large sweet spot
    • When you lay the driver head flat on the ground, it sets up so the face is closed
      • This is not ideal for a beginner golfer who needs help squaring the clubface up
  • Golf Bag
    • Standard golf bag
      • Five zippered pockets in total
        • Valuables pocket, ball pocket, tee pocket and two apparel & accessory pockets
    • Sturdy and lightweight, but a bit clunky to carry around
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Wilson - Profile Sgi Complete Set

$349.99

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Wilson - Profile Sgi Complete Set

$349.99

  • General
    • The “SGI” in the product name stands for “Super Game Improvement”
      • Refers to low rear weighting that makes it easier to develop your swing speed, increase distance, and increase accuracy
    • The fourth ranked set of the five sets reviewed
  • Putter
    • Slight “fang” style putter
      • 35 inches in length
      • Different shape from the rest of the putters reviewed
      • Could make alignment easier for some beginners
    • No putter cover!
      • Makes it difficult to keep the putter from being scratched and dented
  • Irons
    • Standard game improvement irons
    • Slightly offset, which means that the leading edge of the iron sits back from the shaft
      • This helps the beginner do two things:
        • Gives them more time to square the clubface up in the downswing, which helps them hit straighter shots
        • Promotes a higher ball flight, which always helps a beginner -- or any player, for that matter
  • Wedges
    • Pitching wedge: 46°
    • Sand wedge: 54°
      • The sand wedge is built differently than the other irons (as it should be)
        • Still a game improvement club, but the bounce at the bottom of the club allows beginners to open the face up and hit higher shots around the green if they want
  • Hybrid
    • 5-iron replacement with a steel shaft
      • A steel shaft isn’t ideal for these types of clubs
    • The clubhead feels “clunky” off the face when you hit it
  • Fairway Wood
    • 5-wood
      • Decent club, but it still feels “clunky” off the face -- almost hollow-sounding
    • Loft is also particularly high considering there is an ~10.5° gap between the driver and the fairway wood
      • A 3-wood would have been the better option
  • Driver
    • Pretty standard driver with no bells or whistles
    • Feel isn’t great off of the clubface
  • Golf Bag
    • Standard golf bag
      • Four zippered pockets
        • Valuables pocket, clothes & accessories pockets (2), and a pocket for balls & tees
      • One mesh beverage pocket
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Top Flite - XL 13-Piece Set

$299.99

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Top Flite - XL 13-Piece Set

$299.99

  • General
    • The lowest-rated set in this review
      • Also the cheapest
    • Material used for hybrids and woods is low-quality
      • They feel very “clunky” at impact
    • The grips on the clubs could be stickier / tackier
      • A solid grip is important for beginners who need to hold onto the club while swinging!
  • Putter
    • Mallet-style putter with alignment marks to help aim
      • 35 inches in length
    • The shaft is exceptionally heavy and putterhead is very light
      • Not conducive to hitting straight putts
    • No putter cover included
      • Makes it difficult to keep the putter from being scratched and dented
  • Irons
    • Standard game-improvement irons
    • Slightly offset, which means that the leading edge of the iron sits back from the shaft
      • This helps the beginner do two things:
        • Gives them more time to square the clubface up in the downswing, which helps them hit straighter shots
        • Promotes a higher ball flight, which always helps a beginner -- or any player, for that matter
  • Wedges
    • Wedge: 45°
      • Highest lofted club in the bag
      • The most disappointing aspect of the set:
        • Beginners need more lofted clubs to get themselves out of trouble around the green
        • A sand wedge would have been a great addition to this set
  • Hybrids
    • 4- and 5-iron replacements
      • Incredibly difficult to hit and very heavy
        • Hard to find the center of the clubface
    • Shallow face and generous loft degrees
    • Steel-shafted
      • These don’t work well with hybrid clubs, especially for beginners
      • Most hybrids on the market come with graphite shafts
    • The feel of the hybrids is terrible
      • When you hit a bad one it hurts your hands!
  • Fairway Wood
    • 3 wood
      • Graphite shaft makes it easier to hit than the hybrids
    • After testing, it’s clear that Wilson “cut corners” with their set by making cheap woods
      • Feel is sub-par
        • When you hit a bad one it hurts!
  • Driver
    • The feel of this driver is one of the worst of all sets reviewed
      • It’s clear that Top-Flite cut corners with this club by making it with cheap materials
  • Golf Bag
    • Standard golf bag
    • Four pockets total
      • Valuables pocket, apparel pockets (2), and a pocket for balls & tees
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