The official ruling from the powers to be is that you can have a maximum of 14 clubs in your bag.
But how many come in a set?
You can get anywhere from 9-12 clubs in a standard set of clubs. For the most part, every set will include a driver and putter.
However, the rest of the clubs in your set will depend on what you asked for, how they are sold, or how much you’re spending.a
The more you spend, the more clubs you will get.
Below, you will find how many irons, wedges, and woods you can have in a set.
You will also learn when and how to use them in the course.
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How Many Irons In A Golf Set?
Traditional Set: 7
Modern Set: 6
Maximum Irons: 9
The short answer is it depends… the majority of golf sets today contain six irons, excluding the wedges.Â
These irons are typically 4-iron, 5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, and 9-iron.
More traditional sets usually start from a 3-iron, which makes 7.
Ultimately, it depends on the golfer and their preferences. Irons can start from a 1-iron, so having nine irons in a set is possible, although this is not common.
Over recent years, the use of hybrids has become more widespread with golfers, and some prefer to have them in their golf bag instead of the usual 4-iron or 5-iron.Â
This is due to their improved forgiveness; some golfers find long irons harder to hit.
So, the most common would be 6-irons. Although traditional sets will have 7-irons, it will always come down to the golfer and what they need.
Average Distance For Each Iron:
How Many Woods In A Golf Set?
Traditional Set: 2
Modern Set: 3
Maximum Woods: 10
Every set of clubs is different, but traditionally, you would get a 3-wood and 5-wood when buying a complete set.
Over the years, this has changed with the introduction of hybrids. You could get 3-4 woods in a modern set.
The set may include a combination of a 3-wood, 5-wood, 7-wood, 3h hybrid, or 4h hybrid.
Most golfers find hybrids easier to hit than longer irons and standard woods.
For this reason, in a beginner’s or high handicapper’s set, you will find more hybrid heads than usual.
You could have 10 woods in your golf bag, from a 2-wood to a 9-wood.
I guess you could play golf on one leg blindfolded, but it wouldn’t be great for your score.
How Many Wedges In A Golf Set?
Traditional Set: 2
Modern Set: 1
Maximum Wedges: 4+
You probably remember you got two wedges in your first set of clubs, usually pitching and sand wedges.
However, most new sets only include one wedge in recent years unless you pay extra for another.
Again, you usually have a choice between a pitching or sand wedge.
But you can have as many wedges as you want in your bag. There are 4 wedges categories.
Pitching Wedge: 45 – 48 degrees of loft
Gap Wedge: 50 – 52 degrees of loft
Sand Wedge: 54 – 56 degrees of loft
Lob Wedge: 58 – 60 degrees of loft
So, you could have more than 4 wedges since every wedge category has multiple degrees of loft.
What Different Irons Are For:
Driving Iron
Driving irons are used by many golfers who struggle with hitting the driver of the tee box and keeping it in the fairway.
Or by golfers who need a golf club to keep them in play on tighter holes.
They are considered specialty irons.
This iron is not suited for the average golfer and is better equipped for an experienced player.
These golf clubs have a low loft but less than an actual driver would.
Long Irons
Longer irons are numbered from 2-5 and get their name due to their longer shaft.
Long irons are more challenging for beginner golfers to hit and have become less popular, with more golfers opting for hybrid clubs.
These golf clubs are used in a few situations on the golf course.Â
One of the most common places it will be used is on an approach shot far from the green.
They can also be used on a tee box on a short par four or to keep a ball low to avoid trees.
Mid Irons
These irons are the 6 and 7-iron. They are commonly used for mid-range approach shots or off a tee box on a par 3.
They are easier to hit than the longer irons.
Also, when you have a long way to the green but find yourself in some deep rough, a mid-iron will be much easier for you to hit out of.Â
Longer irons can get caught up in deeper roughs, especially if you don’t have the power to cut through and make good contact with the ball.
If you’re getting a golf lesson, they will generally ask you to warm up with your 7-iron since they are between the long and short irons.
Funnily enough, if you ask golfers what their favorite iron is, the majority would say a 7-iron.
Shorter Irons
Short irons get their name because they have the shortest shaft of all the golf irons and hit the ball the shortest total distance.
These irons are the 8 and 9-iron and will most likely be used on short par 3s, close approach shots, and even around the green.
Most golfers will find that the shorter the iron gets, the more control and accuracy they will have.
They are great at getting the ball out of the rough and even fairway bunkers.
When is the best time and situation to use each iron class?
When To Use Each Iron:
Obstacles In Your Way
You won’t always be playing from the middle of the fairway, meaning you will, at some stage, have an obstacle in your way.Â
Nine times out of ten, it will be a tree, and you have to decide if you’re going around, over, or under the tree/branches.Â
Longer irons with less loft will be ideal for keeping the ball low and avoiding overhanging branches.Â
However, your shorter irons with more loft will be helpful if you need to get over the obstacle.
Tight Fairway Off The Tee
There will be holes on golf courses where you should hit an iron of the tee box, and I’m not talking about par 3s.
Some par 4s or even par 5s can be too risky to hit your driver or fairway woods.Â
There may be water hazards, sharp dog legs, or a thick bush that is all within reach of your driver but not an iron.
Hitting long irons of the tee box may not seem fun, but marking down a par for the hole and not a double bogey will compensate for it.
Trying To Flight It Down
When playing into a strong wind, you will want your golf ball to stay low and avoid being caught up by the wind.Â
Making your shot fall short of the target or be dragged miles right or left of the green.
This kind of miss into the wind happens more commonly with shorter irons due to their higher lofts.Â
Longer irons have less loft, meaning you could hit it lower into the wind and not be affected as much.
So instead of hitting a full 8-iron into the wind, try hitting a 6-iron softly to avoid this miss happening to you.
Around The Green
Wedges will be the most common clubs used around the greens, but a top tip for most amateurs would be to use a 7 or 8-iron around the green.
This is easier for less skilled golfers to do than trying to land a golf ball at the hole with a lob wedge.
The Different Types Of Irons:
Cavity Back Irons
Most golfers primarily use cavity back irons, best suited for mid to high handicappers.Â
However, their superior forgiveness means that elite golfers will use them, too.
These irons get their forgiveness as the club head tends to be larger, the sole is thicker, and the weight is distributed to the areas that count.
Shaping shots with these clubs becomes harder, although not impossible, as they are designed to straighten out shots.
Blade Irons
These irons are used by elite golfers, from single-digit handicappers to professionals.Â
They are generally more challenging to hit because they have a smaller-than-usual sweet spot.
The heads of blade irons are smaller and thinner than other irons and are forged from one solid piece of metal.
Forged Irons
Forged irons are the bridge between cavity backs and blades.Â
They have a smaller sweet spot than cavity backs but not as small as blade irons.
It is made from one solid piece of metal heated to extreme temperatures and then hammered, amongst other things, to form a solid club head.
These irons are tailored towards better players but can be used by average golfers looking for an iron with a superior feel.
When Are Woods Used On The Course?
Woods can be used everywhere on the golf course.
That said, they are most commonly used off the tee box or on long shots into the green.
They can come in handy when your driver isn’t finding the fairway, or you’re having issues with a dreaded slice or hook.
These clubs are easier to hit because they have more loft and spin, making them easier to control.
When looking at a tight fairway or dogleg hole, many golfers feel more confident with a wood in their hand on a tee box.
Shorter, higher-lofted woods can also be used on par 3s for those golfers not blessed with being long hitters.
When Are Wedges Used On The Course?
The majority of the time, wedges are used around the green.
Golfers will likely use all of the wedges when chipping around the green, opting for a pitching wedge to roll it to the hole or a lob wedge when trying to carry it to the hole.
When you’re unlucky enough to be in the bunker again, you can use any but will find more success using the sand or lob wedges.
Pitching from the fairway will depend on the distance you are out but I have a hunch you will find more success with the pitching wedge…
They also come helpful if you have a tree or a bunker between you and the hole.Â
Higher lofted wedges like the sand or lob wedge can remove obstacles and hazards from play.
Lastly, on a par 3 depending on how short it is or how long you can hit them, they can be used on the tee.
Enjoyed this post? Check out the below posts:
The Best Most Forgiving Iron Sets For Beginners
Best Golf Drivers For The Average Golfer
Types Of Golf Irons: Which Should You Use?