What Golf Clubs to Use When – Making the Right Choice

There are 14 clubs in a golf bag and it is really confusing for a beginner to pick out what golf clubs to use when. So, if you are having the same dilemma, then this article may just help you out!

Key Takeaways TL;DR
Summary: Approach shots in golf require precision and accuracy, with different types of clubs available, including wedges, irons, hybrids, and fairway woods. Factors such as distance, terrain, and personal skill level should be considered when selecting the appropriate club.
📌 Approach shots are crucial in golf, requiring precision and accuracy.
📌 Golfers must choose the right club for each approach shot to maximize success.
📌 Different types of golf clubs are used for approach shots, including wedges, irons, hybrids, and fairway woods.
📌 Wedges have high loft angles and are designed for short distances, while irons are versatile and suitable for various shots.
📌 Understanding the design features of irons, such as shaft length and flexibility, can improve approach shot accuracy.
📌 Wedges have different types, including gap wedges and lob wedges, with varying bounce, loft, and lie angles.
📌 The pitching wedge is versatile and suitable for various short game shots.
📌 The sand wedge is designed for getting out of bunkers, while the lob wedge provides high-angle precision shots.
📌 Hybrids combine the features of irons and woods, offering versatility and adaptability on the course.
📌 Factors to consider when choosing a golf club for approach shots include distance, terrain, wind conditions, and personal skill level.
#golf #approachshots #clubs #wedges #irons
What Golf Clubs to Use When - Making the Right Choice
Amazon Disclosure – Proper Version (Redirect from Custom HTML #4)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Here, we will discuss what golf clubs to use when making the three basic shots.

What certain type of golf club to choose in different circumstances, and the golf clubs that help your game if you are a man or a woman.

What Golf Clubs To Use When Making The Basic Shots

If you are still new in the game of golf, then let me tell you that golf can be very complicated. It is not for discouragement, though.

You need to know that there are thousands of shot variations that you can try.

However, an important question also needs to be answered and that is “What golf clubs should I use to make those shots?”.

Well, you came to the right place, as we will be discussing the three basic golf shots and what golf club to use when making them.

  • Teeing Off

Now if you are wondering what golf clubs to use when teeing off, the answer would be drivers. Once you have secured your tee, drivers would help you get the high distance that you want.

It is also important to tee up properly. While it is true that drivers are one of the golf clubs that help your game, you also need to make sure that you are hitting the ball off-the-tee properly.

If you would find yourself asking what golf clubs to use when you do not have drivers, then do not worry! You can also use hybrids and other large clubs.

Just make sure that your tee is strong enough to handle bigger clubs.

  • Approach Shot

Approach shots are one of the most basic and one of the most important shots among professional golf games. Even on other tournaments like the PGA Tour.

They take up about 40% of the scores of most professional golf players.

The approach shots are the term used for all the shots that are made within 100 yards from the hole. Tee shots are not included when you are on Par-4 and -5s.

If you are wondering “what type of golf clubs should I use?” for approach shots, then use irons.

These are the golf clubs that help your game to improve quickly. 8 or 9 irons can get you the approach shots that you want.

  • Trouble Shot

Trouble shots are the shots made from some difficult situations. Such situations can be:

  • If the golf ball lands on slopes, whether steep or shallow slopes.
  • Making a shot out of thick roughs or heavy lies
  • A ball that landed on a bare lie or a very dry piece of land, which can damage some golf clubs
  • Taking shots under heavy rains or other difficult weather conditions.
  • Hitting shots from a plugged lie

Most of the time your ball would land on different areas making it difficult for you to hit your shots.

If you are wondering what golf clubs to use when you want to make a trouble shot, you should use hybrids.

These 14 clubs in a golf bag are very versatile and can help you in tight spots.

When to Use a Specific Golf Club

Deciding what golf clubs to use when you are playing the early rounds of a golf game, then you should use Drivers.

These are one of the golf clubs that help your game especially if you are just starting off with golf.

Drivers are generally longer than most of your clubs and they have the lowest loft angle. These clubs also help to improve the distance and trajectory of your shots.

If you are asking yourself what golf clubs to use when you want to hit off a good lie in the rough, then you should use Fairway Woods.

These clubs are also good when you want to take a good shot off the tee but do not have a driver.

It is important to know the range of average distances that you can reach out of a fairway wood. By knowing the range, you can plan the shots that you want to take out of these clubs.

Here are some of the average distances you can get with fairway woods:

  • 3-wood = 125 to 240 yards.
  • 4-wood = 110 to 220 yards.
  • 5-wood = 105 to 215 yards.
  • 7-wood = 90 to 170 yards.

Keep in mind that these are just estimates and there will be some golf players who can still get longer distances even when using shorter fairway woods.

When you want to get more control over the trajectory of your shots, then you should use irons.

Here are some of the average distances you can get on your shots from using irons:

  • 2-iron = 105 to 210 yards.
  • 3-iron = 100 to 205 yards.
  • 4-iron = 90 to 190 yards.
  • 5-iron = 80 to 175 yards.
  • 6-iron = 70 to 165 yards.
  • 7-iron = 65 to 155 yards.
  • 8-iron = 60 to 145 yards.
  • 9-iron = 55 to 135 yards.

Remember that skill, swinging power, and golf experience are still some of the most important factors that can affect the distances that a golfer can make off a shot.



Do not get fixated on asking yourself “What type of golf clubs should I use”. Try to practice more too.

  • Wedges

When you want to take a shot off some difficult situations. Wedges have helped many golf players to get good shots out of many different areas off the golf course.

There are three types of wedges and are part of the golf clubs that help your game whenever and wherever:

    1. Pitching wedge: The wedge with the lowest loft angle or the angle of your clubface in proportion to the club shaft. The pitching wedge is best for shots from 50 to 120 yards.
    2. Gap wedge: It has a slightly higher loft angle than the pitching wedge but can still be used for shots with the same distance as with the pitching wedge. The gap wedge is best used for shorter shots from 50 to 80 yards but can still be used up to 120 yards.
    3. Sand wedge: This is the best wedge for golf balls that have landed on bunkers or shallow pits filled with sand, which makes it more difficult to get a shot off compared to when you are hitting from the grass.
    4. Lob wedge: This is the wedge with the highest loft angle which allows for a very steep ascent and descent of your shots. This wedge is very helpful in getting the maximum height off your shots and is best to use for shots from 35 to 90 yards.
  • Hybrids

If you ask yourself “What golf clubs should I use?” or “what type of golf clubs should I use?” when you do not have fairway woods or irons, then you should use hybrids!

These are also helpful if you are one of the golf players with high handicap ratings.

These clubs bring the best of both worlds: they can get you to longer distances that an iron normally would and it can help you control better the trajectory of your shots, that a fairway wood normally would.

Hybrids can also get you out of a sand trap that a wedge normally would.

When you are playing on the green fields, then it is best to use the putter.

The putter would easily send your ball into the holes. However, it is important to use the right putter based on club head and length to ensure that you would get the best score off your shots.

Also, this club will give you amazing results if combined with excellent skill and swinging power.

You still need to practice on your shots because the putter and other golf clubs that help your game, can only do so much while the rest is up to you.

Golf Clubs That Help Your Game Based On Gender

Being a man or a woman is also an important factor that needs to be considered in choosing golf clubs. Based on several studies, male golfers have a higher swing speed compared with females.

So, what golf clubs to use when you are a man or a woman? Let’s find out!

  • For A Woman

If you have been playing golf for a while and you cannot hit the shots that you want, then you should check these recommended golf clubs for women.

Drivers are best used for teeing off, specifically, the 14-degree loft drivers. When you are on the fairways, 5 through 9 fairway woods would be highly recommended for you.

Lastly, for your all-around game, the 9 iron would be your go-to club.

So, the next time you find yourself asking “What golf clubs should I use” if you are a woman or have a weaker swing power than most golf players, use these clubs for your game.

  • For A Man

You might have experienced that you are not getting the control that you want on your shots.

Even though you have practiced so much on your shots, it might be because you are using the wrong clubs.

If you are male or if you have a greater swinging power, then you should try using these clubs.

Hybrids would be your go-to clubs for every round of the golf game. Because of these club’s versatility, you can use it for teeing off or even shots off the fairway.

If you want more spin on your shots, it is best that you use a hybrid club with a stronger loft, and if you want straighter shots then use a weaker loft.

Which Golf Clubs Should You Always Have In Your Bag

You can only carry a total of fourteen clubs in your golf bag. Any extra will earn you a penalty of two strokes per hole and I am sure that you don’t want that.

However, fourteen clubs is still a big decision to make. You have a lot of choices for the combinations- you can either carry fourteen hybrids or fourteen woods and no one will stop you from doing so!

But, if you are really serious in golf, then you need to have an optimal combination of golf clubs. As mentioned before, each type has its own purpose and can be used in different circumstances.

We have already discussed what golf clubs to use when those circumstances arise. So now you should make sure that you have those golf clubs on hand.

Having the right combination of hybrids, fairway woods and irons in your golf bag would help you if you get stuck asking yourself “What golf clubs should I use” after a golf game.

If you are not getting the shots that you want be sure to keep these recommended golf clubs the next time you play.

More Than The Golf Clubs

Golf clubs are one of the essentials to be successful in golf.

Whether you are just starting out with golf or you are already a veteran player, you should always plan and ask yourself “What golf clubs to use when?”

However, do not just focus on asking yourself this.

Rather, you should also ask yourself if you have had enough practice, knowledge, and skill to hit your shots right.

After all golf clubs can only help your game up to a certain point, but the rest is up to you.

Club INFO Articles with Category CTA

More Information

Last Updated on May 23, 2023 by Paul Roger Steinberg