Do Golf Clubs Need to Match? (Save Your Money)
When I was first getting started with golfing, I didn’t want to drop too much money on a really nice set of clubs. So I had some that were given to me by a golf buddy. But it was a “collection” of old clubs that he didn’t use anymore.
Aside from looks, I wondered do golf clubs need to match at all in the first place?
As a general rule, golf clubs do not need to match. Mixing clubs is a good way to suit your clubs to your game. Using clubs from different brands lets you find a model with the perfect combinations for a suitable swing.
How To Mix and Match Golf Clubs?
You can get golf clubs from different brands and imitate multiple pro golfers who do the same.
I like to mix and match my clubs because it facilitates skill and performance improvements. It helps me detach from placing my love for a brand over my love for the game. Using different brand clubs enables you to get products to help you work on your skills. You can also stop focusing on yourself and blindly following certain myths when selecting your clubs.
For instance, a myth I like to burst among friends involves getting golf clubs that match my body size. You probably went through the phrase of buying longer clubs because you are tall. Maybe you targeted shorter ones because you are short.
Nonetheless, height does not directly correlate with golf club length.
When looking at human anatomy, the overall build is more important than vertical height. Even though body proportions are among the factors weighed when customizing golf clubs, other elements are essential. These include overall skill, swing style, impact location, swing speed, and general player preferences.
The right golf clubs should feel right in handling and swing, facilitating your best performances. Mixing and matching the golf clubs is necessary when you find your older ones uncomfortable. This change is especially suitable if you purchased them based on the height myth.
The clubs that feel right are the right clubs for you.
Chris M
Don’t make my mistake
I perfectly understand why you might hesitate to switch to different brands if you have a history of loyalty. In fact, at the start of my golfing journey, you could find me using the same brand clubs. I took the matching to the extremes, getting my towels, outfits, and shoes from the same brand. Now, I am not putting down anyone who still favors wholesome loyalty. All I am saying is that you can mix and match golf clubs.
Regardless, be sure to take care of your clubs as well.
It is essential to remember that style and loyalty are not the factors that help you improve your skills. Hence, you want to weigh vital aspects like shaft length, product weight, material, and grip. It is best to get golf clubs that feel best rather than one that looks best. The clubs that feel right are the right ones for you.
of Callaway ERC Triple
Track Golf Balls for
yourself or your buddy!
Should your driver match your irons?
You can match the clubhead, weight, shaft, and brand when getting golf clubs. However, there is also no rule that your driver must match your irons, although it is best to match your grip. Nevertheless, I recommend getting a combination that individually produces the best outcomes for each club.
As I mentioned before, the perfect feel is more important than the stylish look when choosing golf clubs. Thus, you want to look at the clubs individually rather than taking them as a group. It is advisable to try them out one by one and find the option that delivers the most consistent results.
With that said, you may want to imitate some pro golfers that match their drivers to their irons. The important thing to note, in this case, is that you require a lot of money. Golf can be an expensive venture, needing you to invest in the same brand clubs.
However, matching the driver and irons is a costly strategy if you are an amateur like me. Speaking from experience, I cannot afford the same brand use in the long term. So, I am glad I embraced mixing and matching, letting me enjoy the game without budgeting stress.
Should all my wedges be the same brand?
There is nothing wrong with using wedges from the same brand, as long as you have the necessary budget. Even so, I favor being open to using wedges from different brands, depending on performance. It is necessary to note three primary considerations when looking for the perfect wedge.
- Where you play
- The Gaps in your game
- How you play
First, you want to determine the golf course’s condition since it influences bounce angles. You also need to weigh your ability and, lastly, inspect the loft gaps in the wedges. The best gaps let you cover a considerable distance range. These three aspects can guide your final decision when finding suitable wedges.
I generally advise beginning with wedges from your favorite brand to test performance and skill. Afterward, extend your testing to different brands to determine the ones that work best for your needs. This process can eventually lead to you finding the best wedges from a different brand. For this reason, I like to keep an open mind rather than strictly sticking to the same brand wedges.
and apparel.
gear, accessories and apparel. (affiliate link)
Do pro golfers use different brand clubs?
Before I better understood golfing, I always assumed pro golfers always used golf clubs from the same brand. I learned that although this thought may be true for most professionals, some use different brand clubs. Various companies pay good money for the pros to use their clubs, doubling as advertisements. Consequently, using the same brands typically results from sponsorships and no one sponsors my play, haha.
Additionally, these setups incorporate customized designs to suit the player’s preferences. For instance, the pros get extensive fittings and tweaks to suit their swing. Hence, their irons can have a different loft or be slightly open or closed. They may also fly lower or higher than yours.
Some pro golfers incorporate various clauses in their contracts to use different brands. This scenario typically occurs when the players do not like how a certain item works. For example, two established pros have a deal to use Callaway clubs but do not like the putter. They can add a clause in the deal that they may use whichever putter suits their game.
This contract situation leads to several pro golfers playing with different brand clubs. It also shows that brand is not the deciding factor for golf clubs.
Final Verdict For Mixing Clubs
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter.
Make sure that you choose clubs that fit your game and your swing. Trying to be perfect with matching sets and buying clubs you do not need will just leave you in a hole financially with a golf game that isn’t improving.
In fact, to learn how to best improve your game, be sure to check out this training that I used to really help add about 30 yards to each one of my clubs.
