Updated on June 22nd, 2023 at 12:55 pm
You do not always know the ins and outs of the rules of the game. There are so many to learn; then, you need to understand how those rules are applied to make sure you are always in compliance.
How Many Golf Clubs Can You Carry?
While the PGA rule is very specific, you can have up to and no more than 14 golf clubs in your golf bag at any one time. The rule is not specific as to which clubs you can have in your bag.
That means you have a lot of leeway as to which clubs you can carry out onto the golf course. With many golf clubs to choose from, you can be fairly creative in the clubs you carry. The most important factor in selecting those 14 clubs will be your style of play.
To learn more about the 14 clubs you can carry in your golf bag, just continue to read our article. It provides that information and more so you can relax while you play your style of golf.
Choosing the Right Clubs to Carry
This is going to be a bit difficult to do as golf club technology has invented several uniquely styled clubs that you will see pros like Phil Mickelson use. That is the greatest influence on the type of clubs you carry in your golf bag. You may not need those newly designed clubs in your game.
The style of your play will help you select those clubs that do not fit the traditional set of a driver, 3 wood, 4-9 iron, and the Putter.
The traditional set is made up of 9 golf clubs, leaving you with 5 more to choose from. If you are not that great and play in the rough or the sand traps a lot, then you may want more irons than woods in your set.
Then if you are a better, more experienced player and hit the fairways the majority of times, then you may want more 3 and 5 woods or other fairway specialty clubs like a hybrid in the bag. We have broken down the hybrids and recommend the best for women, beginners and high-handicap golfers, along with the best for senior golfers. Your style of play and experience will help you select those 5 extra clubs.
Use Your Experience as a Guide
Believe it or not, there are a lot of experienced golfers who are not very good at golf. One reason is that they do not let their experience help them find the right club to use while on the golf course. Or they let their personal preference or attitude about their game help them select the wrong club.
You have to be honest with yourself about your game if you are going to improve and select the right clubs. There are players who hit irons better than woods and vice versa, so your experience should tell you to have more of one style of club over another in your golf bag.
You can practice with those clubs you are not so good at using at the driving range.
You need to look at the different sections of the game of golf. If you are a wild golfer off the tee and hit a big slice or hook, you may want to downgrade to a 3 wood till you get your driving ability under control.
Or, if your short game is excellent, then you will want a good selection of irons to take advantage of that strength. Here are a few lists of golf clubs, by order of experience, that you should consider placing in your lightweight golf bag:
Professional level
- The 4, 5 & 6 of the hybrid clubs
- A 3 wood
- A pitching wedge
- The 7, 8, and 9 irons
- A putter
Intermediate level
- A driver
- A 3 wood
- A pitching wedge
- A sand wedge
- A 4 & 5 hybrid
- Irons 6-9
- A putter
Beginner level
- 2-hybrid or a 3 wood
- Your 3 & 9 irons
- A putter
- A wedge
- A gap wedge
- A driver
- A lob wedge
Keep in mind that these lists are not absolute, and some beginners will do better with a traditional set than one of these sets. Also, you can change your clubs to tackle any weaknesses or change the nature of your game.
As long as you have only 14 clubs in your bag, you have a lot of freedom as to which clubs you can carry. You can even change clubs between rounds if you need to.
Why you need a Hybrid Club or a Fairway Wood
The game of golf is one of strategy and precision. The better your shots, the better your game. To help you be more precise with your fairway strokes, you need the right club in your bag.
Both the hybrid and the traditional fairway wood have strengths that help you get the shot you want. They each have different purposes, with the wood having a lower trajectory than the hybrid.
One reason you need a hybrid club or two in your bag is that they work better in the rough than a fairway wood will. You get a larger sweet spot to hit the ball as well as a better angle to get underneath your golf ball. Neither club is going to land on the green and spin back as they are designed to travel longer distances.
In contrast, the fairway club is designed to help you get longer shots and closer to the green when you still have some distance to go. The hybrids help your shorter game while the fairway clubs help your long game.
Fairway Woods vs. Hybrids
This is actually comparing apples and oranges as both sets of clubs have different purposes and different designs. The hybrid actually gives you the best of what the irons and fairway woods give you and combine them into one club. There are specific situations where you will use your fairway wood and specific situations where you will use your hybrid.
Which club you will use will depend on the lie of your golf ball. Also, the fairway woods are designed to give you better accuracy than a hybrid or iron will. The hybrid will help you more in the rough and get you back to the middle of the fairway easier.
While many people prefer to stick to their fairway woods, adding a hybrid or two to your golf bag only enhances your game and helps you get out of tight spots that are too much for fairway woods.
Finding the Perfect Clubs to Use
One of the first things you will notice when you watch professional golfers play in a tournament is that they get very frustrated with their clubs just like a novice will. The reason for that is there is no perfect club in golf.
There is no one size fits all golf club nor one club that can be used in every situation. These weaknesses mean that you will find some clubs better than others for certain golf lies.
Your experience, your golfing skill, and how you swing the club will also play a role in how well those golf clubs perform for you. There are many clubs that will challenge your skill and help you become a better golfer.
Customizing Your Golf Clubs
This is not so much a concern for the novice or part-time golfers who just want a round of exercise. Customizing your clubs is more for the serious golfer who wants to improve their game and excel at golf.
The first step in customization is knowing if you are a left-handed or a right-handed player. Golf clubs come designed for both types of players, and when you know the side you play, customizing is easier.
Then you need to know your skill level as hybrid golf clubs are more for experienced golfers than beginners. Professional golfers usually tell beginners to avoid using the hybrids until they get better at the game.
A part of customizing your clubs will come in the form of the grip and other golf club essentials. If you are comfortable when holding the club, your swing should be better. While there are a lot of specialty clubs that are available to use, do your research like you are here on AEC Info, or talk to an experienced golfer before buying them.
Getting the right advice from the local pro or experienced golfer should help make your golf club selection better for your level of play. When you find those clubs that fit your style of play, you can buy more than 14 to make sure you can practice on your weaknesses.
Just remember to carry only 14 clubs at one time.
Some Final Words
Golf is both a relaxing and frustrating game to play. While you can get plenty of exercise, using the right club will spare you a lot of frustration. Take your time as finding the right club to put in your golf bag is not a rush decision.
You have to make sure it is the right club for you and your style of play. It takes some trial and error to find those perfect clubs for you.
