What golf equipment does a beginner actually need?

A starter set of clubs, a value ball you won't mind losing, a glove, tees, a pitchmark repairer and a towel cover etiquette and play from day one. Add a simple GPS watch for distances and a couple of fundamentals aids, and skip the expensive gear until your swing settles.

Should beginners buy expensive golf gear?

No — while you're still losing balls and refining your swing, premium clubs and tour balls are wasted money. Spend on fundamentals (alignment and putting aids), comfort (shoes, glove) and distance info, then upgrade clubs once your game and preferences are clearer.

What's the best training aid for a new golfer?

Alignment sticks and a putting trainer like the PuttOut give the most improvement per pound — they build aim, setup and a reliable stroke, the basics that cost beginners the most shots. They're cheap, simple and hard to misuse.

Should a beginner buy new or used clubs to start?

A good used or hand-me-down set is a smart way to start — your swing will change a lot in the first year, so there's little point spending big before you know what suits you. Put the saving into lessons and fundamentals aids, then get fitted for new clubs once your game settles.

What golf ball should a beginner play?

A soft, low-cost two-piece ball like the Srixon Soft Feel — it's forgiving, flies well and won't sting when you lose a few. Tour balls are built for spin and control most beginners can't yet use, so save them for when you're keeping the ball in play more consistently.

Curated guide

The New Golfer's Starter Kit

What I'd buy a mate new to golf.

The kit I'd point any new golfer towards first. A simple GPS watch to take the guesswork out of distances, a value ball that won't sting when you lose three, the alignment and putting aids that build real fundamentals, plus the gloves, tees and accessories that cover etiquette from day one.

The guiding principle here is to spend on the things that help while you learn and skip the things that don't. Premium clubs and tour balls are wasted money when you're still losing three a round and your swing is changing weekly — so this shelf puts your budget into fundamentals (alignment sticks, a putting trainer), comfort (a glove and shoes you'll actually wear) and the distance info that takes guesswork off your plate. Those are the buys that build a repeatable setup and stop bad habits forming, which is where new golfers lose the most shots.

It's a confidence-building setup that grows with your game, with not a single overpriced gimmick in sight. Once your swing settles and you know your preferences, that's the moment to upgrade clubs and the ball — not before.

Nº 01
Garmin Approach S12 GPS Watch
Garmin
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Garmin's entry-level golf GPS watch, built for the bloke who just wants accurate yardages on his wrist without dropping a small fortune or fiddling with a rangefinder.
What's great
For the money, the core job is nailed. Front, middle and back yardages are accurate and quick, and it loads your course automatically from 43,000 preloaded maps with free lifetime updates. Battery is the standout: I've seen it knock out four or five rounds on a charge, so it never dies mid-back-nine. The monochrome screen sounds naff but it's dead easy to read in bright sun, and there's a Big Numbers mode if your eyes aren't what they were. Light enough that it won't put you off your swing.
Worth knowing
It's a one-trick pony, and that's the point, so don't expect steps, sleep or any smartwatch nonsense. The four-button setup takes a few rounds to learn (no touchscreen here) and feels fiddly at first. Greens are a basic half-circle and you're estimating the pin, not lasering it, so it'll never match a rangefinder for pinpoint shots. The charger is Garmin's own oddball cable, so losing it is a faff. A few owners also report Bluetooth app sync going walkabout.
The verdict
If you want simple, reliable distances and bombproof battery without paying silly money, I rate it. Just go in knowing it's a pure golf tool, not a do-everything watch.
Nº 02
Srixon Soft Feel Golf Balls (Dozen)
Srixon
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The Srixon Soft Feel is a low-compression, two-piece ionomer ball aimed at moderate swing speeds (think under 95mph), and it's pitched squarely at the weekend golfer who wants soft feel without paying premium-ball money.
What's great
For the cash, I rate this as one of the best value balls going. It genuinely feels soft off the putter and short irons, and the low driver spin keeps it flying dead straight, which is gold if you fight a slice. Reviewers who put 17 rounds through it found greenside spin better than they expected for a two-piece (one of the higher-spinning ones in that class), and the ionomer cover holds up well, so you're not binning balls after a few holes. Solid, predictable, easy to play.
Worth knowing
Be honest with yourself though, it is not a premium ball and it doesn't pretend to be. Low compression costs you ball speed, so faster swingers (95mph plus) will leave yards out there versus a firmer ball. Greenside spin is fine but nowhere near a Z-Star or even a Q-Star, so if you like to nip wedges and stop it on a sixpence, this won't do it. A couple of testers also found it a touch mushy off the tee and on full iron shots, so if you prefer a firm, clicky strike, look elsewhere.
The verdict
If you swing under 95mph and want a soft, straight ball that won't empty your wallet, I'd happily put this in the bag. Quick swingers and spin chasers should spend up to a urethane ball instead.
Nº 03
FootJoy WeatherSof Golf Glove
FootJoy
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The FootJoy WeatherSof is the default all-rounder glove, a mostly synthetic (FiberSof) build with leather patches on the thumb and palm, aimed at anyone who wants a grippy, sweat-proof glove that lasts without paying leather money.
What's great
This is the one I reach for on hot, sweaty rounds and it just works. The synthetic shell shrugs off moisture and stays grippy when a full-leather glove would go slick and crispy, and it genuinely outlasts cabretta, often by a fair margin. The leather patches on the thumb and palm give you proper hold where it counts, the all-weather versatility is the real selling point, and as a multi-pack it is daft value. Reviewers and owners back this up, it is the world's biggest-selling glove for good reason.
Worth knowing
It is not for purists, the feel through the fingertips isn't as pure as a full-leather glove like the StaSof and you will notice if that's your thing. Two real gripes from owners, not nitpicks: sizing runs small, so size up if you're between, and there's a genuine batch-quality wobble where the top layer can start peeling around the fingers after only a few rounds, with some saying recent gloves feel thinner and stretch out of fit faster than the ones from a few years back. Quality control feels like a lottery.
The verdict
I rate it as the smart everyday and wet-weather pick, buy the multi-pack, size up, and rotate them. Just don't expect buttery leather feel, and accept the odd dud.
Nº 04
PuttOut Premium Pressure Putt Trainer
PuttOut
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A pocket-sized putting aid: a parabolic ramp with a micro-target that catches dead-perfect putts and rolls everything else back to you. Aimed at anyone who wants to practise short putts at home or on the range without chasing balls all over the carpet.
What's great
The genius is the maths. The ramp returns a "made" putt the same distance it would have rolled past the hole, so it quietly drills pace control on those knee-knocker 6-footers. It's daft simple, sets up in seconds, packs into a bag pocket, and the no-faff ball return means you actually keep practising instead of bending down every five seconds. Reviewers and owners alike (Plugged In Golf, Golf Monthly) rate it as the training aid they keep coming back to, and it's genuinely addictive chasing that "perfect putt" that sticks in the micro-target.
Worth knowing
It only trains line and pace, nothing about your actual stroke mechanics, so it won't fix a wonky path or face. It's short-putt only, no use for lags. The micro-target is brutally hard and some folk find that more demoralising than motivating. Biggest real-world gripe: it needs a true, flat surface. On lumpy carpet or a cheap mat the returns wander and the feedback turns to mush, so a decent putting mat is almost mandatory.
The verdict
For the money it's a cracking, honest little tool that makes short-putt practice fun and builds real pace control. Just know it's a supplement, not a swing doctor, and pair it with a flat mat to get the most out of it. I rate it.
Nº 05
Longridge Tour Rodz Alignment Sticks
Longridge
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A no-frills pair of fibreglass alignment sticks, the cheapest way to start doing proper alignment, ball position and swing path drills at the range or in the garden. Aimed at anyone who wants the gains without paying tour-branded money.
What's great
Here's the honest truth: for laying on the ground to check aim, feet and ball position, a budget fibreglass pair does exactly the same job as the posh ones. They're light, flex a bit so they won't ping your shins, and they'll genuinely tidy up your alignment, the single most common reason club golfers aim miles off and never know it. At this money they're an easy yes, and most owners report theirs holding up fine session after session and surviving being chucked in the bag.
Worth knowing
The corners they cut are real. The rubber end caps love to fall off (a dab of superglue sorts it), the points are blunt so they're a pain to push into hard or dry ground, and fibreglass goes brittle over time, especially if you leave them baking in the car or in the sun, so they can splinter or snap if you catch one with a clubhead. Thinner budget rods can also take a slight bend. Stated lengths are a bit optimistic too. Not for someone wanting a posh tour aid.
The verdict
For the price I rate them, do the job 95 percent as well as anything triple the cost. Just store them out of the sun, expect to glue a cap back on, and don't cry if you eventually snap one.
Nº 06
Pride Professional Tee System (ProLength Plus)
Pride
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The Pride PTS (Professional Tee System) is the world's best-selling tee range, sold in colour-coded wood and tougher ABS plastic versions across five heights. It's aimed at anyone who wants to stop guessing their tee height every drive.
What's great
The colour-coded height bands are the real selling point, and they genuinely work. You jam the tee in to the same colour every time and your strike height stops wandering, which tightened up my dispersion off the tee more than I expected from a few pence of wood. The wood ones are properly straight and consistent batch to batch, and the plastic version is borderline indestructible (testers got 70-odd full driver swings out of one tee). The low-resistance four-prong head does feel like it gets out of the way at impact too.
Worth knowing
The colour-coding is half a gimmick once you push the tee into the ground, because the band disappears and you're back to eyeballing it, so it only helps on firm turf. The plastic ones fly miles and never snap, which sounds great until you're hunting for them in the rough, and a fair few owners report they go brittle and crack in cold weather or leave a faint scuff on a matte driver sole. Wood ones still snap on rock-hard tee boxes. Not for occasional players who'll never recoup the plastic premium.
The verdict
A genuinely good tee that earns its reputation. I rate the wood PTS for most blokes for the consistency alone, and the plastic if you hate buying tees, just don't expect the colour trick to do much once it's in soft ground.
Nº 07
Callaway 4-in-1 Divot Repair Tool
Callaway
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It's the Callaway 4-in-1 divot tool, a zinc-alloy fork with a magnetic ball marker and a built-in groove brush, aimed at golfers who want one tidy, brand-stamped bit of kit instead of a drawer of freebies.
What's great
For a few quid this thing is properly built. The zinc alloy feels solid, shrugs off a damp bag, and the prongs are tapered enough to actually coax turf back rather than just stabbing at it. The magnet on the ball marker is judged well: strong enough that the marker doesn't ping off in your pocket, but not so clingy you're wrestling it free on the green. The groove brush is a genuinely handy bonus for clearing muck out of your wedges, and it all looks the part with the chevron on it. As an everyday divot fixer that won't bend or rust on you, I rate it.
Worth knowing
It's a chunky lump. Several owners moan it sits in the pocket like a boat anchor, and there's no clip for your hat or belt, so you're always digging for it. The prongs are on the wide side, and if you don't know the proper pinch-and-twist technique you can end up leaving holes rather than healing them, which defeats the point. The brush bristles also wear down and flatten with heavy use, so treat that as a consumable, not forever.
The verdict
A solid, honest bit of kit that does the core job well and feels far from cheap. Just know it's a pocket-carry tool, not a clip-on, and learn the proper repair technique so those fat prongs help the green instead of wrecking it.
Nº 08
Frogger BrushPro Club Cleaning Brush
Frogger
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A retractable clip-on golf brush from Frogger with a dual-bristle head (nylon plus a bronze/nylon combo) and a flip-out metal groove pick, aimed at anyone who wants caked mud and grass out of their face and grooves without faffing about.
What's great
The actual cleaning is the bit I rate. The bristles shift thick mud, sand and wet grass off the face with a couple of quick scrubs, and the pop-out bronze tine genuinely digs grime out of the grooves rather than just smearing it. The chunky rubberised handle is comfy and easy to grab one-handed, and the 2 and a half foot retractable cord reaches the club and snaps back without snagging your trousers. Reviewers at The Sand Trap both treat it as a cut above the bargain-bin brushes, and plenty of owners report years of service.
Worth knowing
The weak link is the hardware, not the bristles. The retractable cord reel and the plastic clip that fastens to your bag are the most common gripes, with owners reporting the cord coming apart or the mount snapping, especially if you keep unclipping it. A few have had the body split from a knock in the bag. The brush heads also wear and roughly once a year you may be buying a replacement, which adds up on something this small. Not for you if you want a buy-it-once-forever tool.
The verdict
A genuinely good cleaner let down by so-so plastics. Clip it on, leave it on, treat the cord gently and it earns its keep. I rate it, just go in knowing the reel and clip are the bits most likely to give up first.
Nº 09
Titleist Players Microfibre Golf Towel
Titleist
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It's Titleist's premium tour-style bag towel, sold in two flavours: a plush terry version for max absorption and a hub-pattern microfiber version for club cleaning. Aimed at players who want proper kit, not a freebie towel off a charity day.
What's great
The terry one is a genuinely thirsty towel, soaks up morning dew and rain, dries clubs in one wipe and shrugs off a winter loop. The microfiber version is the better club-scrubber, the textured hub pattern actually shifts mud and grass without smearing it about. Both run a big 16x32 (terry goes up to 20x40), so you get real coverage, and there's a centre slit that drops neatly over a clubhead to sit on the bag cuff. Build is tidy and the logo is understated rather than shouty. Owners on Golf Galaxy rate it highly and most say they wouldn't go back to a cheap towel.
Worth knowing
Here's the honest bit: there's NO clip or carabiner. It's a centre slit and a self-fabric loop, so it sits over a club on the cuff rather than clipping to a ring, and that confuses a lot of buyers (it's a recurring "what do I attach it to?" thread on GolfWRX). On a windy day or a rough cart path it can flap loose. You're also paying a Titleist premium for what is, fundamentally, a towel. The microfiber can shed a bit of lint when new, and the plush terry takes a while to dry out if you stuff it in the bag wet.
The verdict
A proper, well-made towel that does the job and feels the part, just know you're paying for the brand and there's no clip to attach it. I'd grab the terry for soaking up dew and the microfiber for scrubbing clubs. Buy a separate carabiner and you're sorted.
Nº 10
Skechers GO GOLF Elite 6 Golf Shoe
Skechers
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The Skechers GO GOLF Elite 6 is a spikeless slip-in golf shoe built around all-day comfort, aimed at the golfer who wants a cushioned, easy-on shoe at a sensible price rather than a stiff, athletic performance shoe.
What's great
Comfort is the headline and it's the real deal. The Arch Fit insole and heel pillow mean I can walk 36 holes with zero break-in and no hot spots, and the lightweight padding genuinely rivals shoes costing a lot more (independent testers literally rated it the most comfortable golf shoe of 2025). The GRIPFLEX sole grips well on uneven lies and out of bunkers, the slip-in entry actually works, and there's a 12 month waterproof guarantee. Easy to wear, easy to clean, fine for any season.
Worth knowing
It's soft, so torsional rigidity is the weak point. If you're a quick, aggressive swinger who wants a planted, locked-down feel, you'll notice the lack of structure. The looks lean hard into chunky trainer territory and the big "S" and text branding aren't subtle (the white versions look classier than the charcoal). The "slip-in" is a bit of a con too, since you still bend down to tie the laces. Fit runs slightly narrow, colour choice is thin, and they're not the most breathable.
The verdict
If you walk a lot and want comfort over a firm, sporty platform, I rate these as cracking value. Fast, aggressive swingers who want a stable base, or anyone after a sleek classic look, should look elsewhere.
Nº 11
SKLZ Gold Flex Golf Swing Trainer
SKLZ
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The SKLZ Gold Flex is a weighted, whippy fibreglass warm-up and tempo trainer (comes in 48 inch and a shorter 40 inch), aimed at golfers who want smoother rhythm and a bit of swing-muscle conditioning without hitting balls.
What's great
For tempo and warming up, this thing genuinely works. The over-flexy shaft forces you to wait at the top and feel the lag, so if you're a casting, over-the-top lash-merchant it'll expose that quick. Ten or twenty smooth swings before a round and your sequencing settles right down. It's cheap, near indestructible (the soft weighted head shrugs off knocks), and small enough to chuck in the car or swing in the garden. Loads of owners use it for months as a pre-round loosener and a gentle strength builder, and on that job it earns its keep.
Worth knowing
Be honest about what it isn't. It builds rhythm, not real distance, so don't expect overspeed gains. The weight feels heavy and awkward at first, and arthritic or smaller hands find the 48 inch a handful (the 40 inch suits ladies and shorter players, though some reckon it's actually too stiff to flex properly). Big one: do NOT try to regrip it. Owners on GolfWRX warn the shaft tip and grip are bonded oddly, and pulling the grip can wreck it. There's no feedback beyond feel, so if your tempo's already solid it adds little.
The verdict
A cracking little tempo and warm-up tool for the money, and one I'd happily rate for anyone fighting bad rhythm or wanting a no-balls loosener. Just buy the right length, leave the grip alone, and don't expect it to add yards.

Frequently asked

What golf equipment does a beginner actually need?: A starter set of clubs, a value ball you won't mind losing, a glove, tees, a pitchmark repairer and a towel cover etiquette and play from day one. Add a simple GPS watch for distances and a couple of fundamentals aids, and skip the expensive gear until your swing settles.
Should beginners buy expensive golf gear?: No — while you're still losing balls and refining your swing, premium clubs and tour balls are wasted money. Spend on fundamentals (alignment and putting aids), comfort (shoes, glove) and distance info, then upgrade clubs once your game and preferences are clearer.
What's the best training aid for a new golfer?: Alignment sticks and a putting trainer like the PuttOut give the most improvement per pound — they build aim, setup and a reliable stroke, the basics that cost beginners the most shots. They're cheap, simple and hard to misuse.
Should a beginner buy new or used clubs to start?: A good used or hand-me-down set is a smart way to start — your swing will change a lot in the first year, so there's little point spending big before you know what suits you. Put the saving into lessons and fundamentals aids, then get fitted for new clubs once your game settles.
What golf ball should a beginner play?: A soft, low-cost two-piece ball like the Srixon Soft Feel — it's forgiving, flies well and won't sting when you lose a few. Tour balls are built for spin and control most beginners can't yet use, so save them for when you're keeping the ball in play more consistently.

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