If you’re just starting out in golf, one of the first questions that comes to mind when you look at your bag is: What is each club used for? From the driver to the putter, each one serves a different purpose.
In this article, we’ll explain how many types of golf clubs there are, what distances each one can achieve, and how the Awolf app can help you track your actual game metrics so you can choose the most suitable clubs.
According to the rules of the USGA (United States Golf Association), a player may carry a maximum of 14 clubs in their bag. However, these clubs are grouped into 4 main categories:
In addition to this classification, there are hybrids, which combine the best features of woods and irons, offering a balance between power and control.
In short, we could say that there are five types of clubs if we take all the variations into account, although in everyday conversation, golfers usually refer to four main categories.
Each group covers a different distance and height of impact, forming a complete range starting from the tee to the green.
The driver (1-wood) is mainly used for teeing off from the tee on long holes, such as par 4 or par 5s. It has the largest head in the set and a low , which allows you to hit the ball at high speed.
On average, a male amateur golfer hits about 210 meters with a driver, while PGA Tour professionals hit over 280 meters.
Woods 3 and 5 are used from the fairway or for more controlled shots, offering a good combination of distance and accuracy.
Irons are the heart of the mid-game. They are numbered 3 through 9 based on their loft:
An amateur golfer typically hits a 7-iron about 130 meters, while professionals can hit it 150 meters or more.
They allow for better control of the ball’s trajectory and spin, making them the ideal choice for shots toward the green or from the rough.
When the flag is close, the wedges—clubs with a high loft and excellent stopping power.
There are several types—pitching wedge (44°–48°), gap wedge (50°–52°), sand wedge (54°–56°), and lob wedge (58°–60°)—each designed for a different distance and type of shot.
For example:
Amateur golfers typically hit about 80 meters with a sand wedge, while professionals hit around 100 meters.
The putter is the most frequently used club during a round, although it is often underestimated. Its purpose is not distance, but accuracy.
It is used on the green (or its surroundings) to roll the ball toward the hole. There are different designs—blade, mallet, fang— and choosing the right one depends on your swing style and how it feels.
A good putt doesn’t depend so much on strength as on controlling the motion and reading the green.
Ideally, you should have a small, well-balanced set: a driver, a 3-wood, a few mid-iron clubs (6, 7, 9), a pitching wedge, and a putter.
You don’t need all 14 clubs right from the start; it’s better to master the essentials and add others as you improve.
As your skill level improves, it’s worth getting a custom fitting to tailor your clubs to your swing.
Adjust the length, the loft or shaft type can significantly improve your performance.
You can also add hybrids, extra wedges, or a 5-wood, depending on your playing style.
Knowing which club to use isn’t just about understanding the theory—it’s about knowing your own stats.
With the free app Awolf , you can track your shots, analyze your stats, and compare your performance with other golfers.
That way, you’ll know exactly which strategy works best for you in every situation, without relying on general estimates.
In addition, Awolf lets you:
Available for iOS and Android.
Download it for free and start getting to know your game like never before.
Learning about the different types of golf clubs is the first step toward improving your game.
Knowing how far you can hit the ball with each club and when to use them will give you more confidence and help you develop a better strategy.
But beyond the theory, the important thing is to understand your own numbers:
how far you hit the ball with your driver, your 7-iron, or your sand wedge.
The Awolf app helps you track all these metrics in real time—handicap, strokes, trends—automatically generated for every round.
Modern golf is no longer measured solely by feel, but by actual data. Download it for free and start experiencing #TheNewWayToExperienceGolf.
The driver is the club designed to achieve maximum distance. However, not all players have mastered it, so some prefer to tee off with a 3-wood or a hybrid.
Long irons (3 or 4) are usually the most difficult for beginners, as they require good swing speed and clean contact with the ball.
Mainly the loft and the club’s length. The 3-wood has a lower loft (it flies farther but is harder to control), while the 5-wood offers a higher trajectory and greater maneuverability.
