How Many Golf Clubs Are in a Full Set? Understanding the Makeup of a Complete Bag

If you’re new to golf, one of the first questions you’ll come across is deceptively simple: how many clubs should go in a full golf set? On paper, the rules are clear but the real answer is far more nuanced. Every golfer’s bag looks different, and what counts as “full” often depends on your skill level, distance gaps, shot preferences and even the course conditions you typically play in New Zealand.

Understanding what makes up a full set isn’t just about meeting the rules of golf; it’s about building a bag that actually helps you play better and score lower. As a result, getting this set-up right is one of the most important equipment decisions you can make. Whether you’re assembling your first bag or upgrading to higher-quality second-hand clubs from trusted sources, knowing why each club matters gives you a huge advantage.

The Official Rule: The 14-Club Limit

According to the Rules of Golf, a player can carry up to 14 clubs during a round. You can have fewer than 14, but you can’t exceed it. While simple, this rule shapes everything about how players construct their bag.

A “full set” in the traditional sense refers to a bag that contains all the clubs a golfer needs to manage every type of shot, from tee box distance to precision control inside 100 metres. Yet the 14-club limit means every club must serve a purpose. Good golfers don’t fill their bag for the sake of it; they fill the gaps in their game.

This is where many beginners go wrong. They acquire clubs randomly, end up with overlapping distances, or lack tools for key short-game scenarios. A well-built full set eliminates these gaps so you can approach every hole confidently.

What Typically Goes Into a Full Golf Set?

A complete set usually includes a combination of drivers, woods, irons, wedges and a putter, but the exact mix can vary dramatically based on your goals.

For example, some players choose a high-launching 3-wood for tee shots they can control more easily than a driver, while others prefer to replace long irons with more forgiving hybrids. Many golfers customise their wedge set to prioritise the shots they face most often, such as higher-lofted options for softer greens or lower-bounce choices for firmer New Zealand conditions.

This is why working through your set strategically is far more important than whether or not you own every traditional club. If you need help selecting the right tee-box clubs, you can explore options in the Drivers and Fairway Woods categories. If you’re refining the middle of your bag, our range of Irons and Hybrids gives you plenty of versatility.

Drivers, Woods and the Top of the Bag

Nearly all golfers start with a driver, which is typically the longest and most powerful club in the bag. It sets the tone for how far you can hit the ball off the tee. Alongside the driver, many players carry a fairway wood – usually a 3-wood or 5-wood, to give them an alternative option when they need both distance and control.

However, the long-game part of a full set has evolved. Many modern golfers now fill gaps with hybrids. These clubs blend the distance and forgiveness of woods with the accuracy and consistency of irons. If you struggle with long irons (and most players do), hybrids can transform your confidence and expand your shot options. You can browse our Hybrid Clubs selection to compare lofts and designs that might suit your game.

Irons: The Engine Room of the Set

The middle portion of a full set is anchored by irons, typically ranging from 4-iron down to a pitching wedge. But the exact mix is increasingly flexible. Golfers today often replace harder-to-hit 4- or 5-irons with hybrids or high-launching utilities. That’s because the goal isn’t to own a textbook set of irons; the goal is to create consistent distance gaps from one club to the next.

When you’re building out the iron portion of your set, consider both loft progression and forgiveness. Game-improvement irons suit newer players thanks to their larger faces and higher launch, while more experienced golfers may prefer compact shapes for precision. Our range of Used Irons makes it possible to upgrade at a much more accessible price, especially if you’re refining your set over time.

Wedges: The Most Customisable Part of a Full Set

While most retail “full sets” include only one or two wedges, real golfers usually carry three or four depending on their short-game needs. These are the scoring clubs, the ones that get you up-and-down, save pars, and ultimately lower your handicap.

A typical wedge setup involves a pitching wedge, gap wedge, sand wedge, and sometimes a lob wedge. The loft gaps here are crucial. They determine how many distances and shot types you can reliably control inside 100 metres.

Sand wedges provide versatility for bunkers and soft lies, while gap wedges fill the crucial space between a pitching wedge and higher lofts. If you’re exploring different bounce and loft combinations, our Wedges category offers options that suit all types of swings and turf conditions.

The Putter: The One Club Every Golfer Must Have

While everything else can be customised, every full set must include a putter. It’s the club you use more than any other during a round and arguably the most personal piece of equipment in your bag.

Whether you prefer a classic blade or a high-MOI mallet, a good putter gives you confidence inside the penalty-free scoring zone – the green. If you're still searching for the right match, you can explore our range of Putters to find models that balance feel, alignment and forgiveness.

Building the Right Full Set for Your Game

A “full set” should never be defined by simply hitting the 14-club limit. Instead, it should be a carefully considered collection that supports your weaknesses, enhances your strengths, and suits the courses you play most often.

For beginners, this may mean a simple driver-fairway-hybrid setup with forgiving irons and a basic wedge trio. More experienced players may fine-tune their wedge lofts, dial in hybrids to specific distances, or adjust fairway wood lofts for optimal gapping.

One of the biggest advantages today is the availability of high-quality second-hand golf clubs. This allows players to build a proper, well-fitted full set without the cost barrier of buying everything new. Our used golf clubs collection provides golfers with trusted, tested options across every category, ideal for rounding out your bag strategically and not expensively.

Bringing Your Full Set Together

A full golf set includes up to 14 clubs, but what matters isn’t the number, it’s the purpose behind each one. The right mix should help you confidently handle every part of the game, from long tee shots to delicate greenside touch. If you’re adjusting or rebuilding your set, explore options across our Drivers, Fairway Woods, Hybrids, Irons, Wedges, and Putters categories to find the clubs that truly fit your game.