Golf has a lot of clubs to master and easy to get confused on when to use them on the course. Today, I’ll help simplify when to use each golf club for specific shots so you have more confidence while playing golf.
Don’t forget, your equipment is extremely important for distance and accuracy. The more you love your clubs, the easier it is to get the most out of your game.
Keep reading to understand course management skills so you hit the right club for all types of shots.
When to Use Each Golf Club
Key Takeaways
- The USGA allows you to carry up to 14 clubs in your bag (fewer are allowed).
- Each club has its own purpose and some have many uses to help your game.
- The first thing you need to do is dial in your distances with each club. This way, you have a full swing distance with every club in the bag.
- Then you’ll need to practice hitting different shots at the driving range and short game area so you can have confidence with them on the course.
Keep reading to get more clarity on how to use each club in your bag.
Dial in Your Distances
Before getting into when to use which clubs for certain shots, the first step is becoming aware of how far you hit each one. To create a distance chart, you will need a personal launch monitor and several range sessions.
Try to hit 15–20 shots with each club, discard mishits (thin shots, shanks, chunked shots, etc.) and average them out. Write them down as a note on your phone or a notecard that you can carry with you on the golf course. This way, you can refer to your distance chart as you’re on the course for tee shot and approach shot strategy.
You can learn more about creating a distance chart here.
Now, let’s get into when to use each club in your bag and tips to execute them properly.
Driver
The driver is used on a majority of holes, especially if there is no trouble in play (water, out of bounds, etc.). A driver is used 99.99% of the time off the tee and rarely from the fairway.
Make it a goal to use a driver as often as possible… why?
Because the longer you hit it off the tee, the shorter your distance into the green. Which leads to lower scoring averages on the hole.
Now that we have so much data from the PGA Tour and Arccos Golf, one thing is clear – distance is everything. Longer distances off the tee correlate to lower handicaps.
Use these resources below to improve your driving:
Fairway Woods and Hybrids
Next up in your set of clubs are your fairway woods and hybrids.
Both are used for a variety of shots and will be a good backup in case your driver isn’t working well. But as I mentioned above, favor driver off the tee unless there is a lot of trouble, to advance your tee shot as much as possible.
Fairway Woods
Fairway woods are typically a 3, 5, and 7-wood (some golfers might carry a 9-wood or heavenwood as well). Nearly every golfer has a 3-wood as it’s a good alternative to driver and used for shots off the tee, from the fairway, and light rough too.
A higher lofted wood (like a 5 or 7-wood) is also great to use on long par 3s, long par 4s as your approach shot, and even around the green. Learn more about how to putt with a fairway wood here.
In general, you want to avoid using 3/5 woods from the rough, as it’s hard to make good contact. Not to mention it can lead to some big misses too. Learn how to hit a 3-wood now.
Hybrids
Hybrids are a very versatile club that are part wood, part iron. They’re easier to hit than irons and typically more accurate than fairway woods.
So, when should you use them? A lot!
Hybrids should be a staple in most golf bags, as they are so forgiving and easy to launch (even with slower swing speeds). Plus, these clubs can be used off the tee, from the fairway, rough, and even around the greens.
If you have a 2/3 hybrid, they’re great for short and narrow par 4s. They’re also perfect for long par 3s and approaches into par 4s.
While 4,5, or 6-hybrids are a perfect choice when hitting into the green and long par 3s. Learn more about hybrids below:
Irons
Irons make up a big part of your set and are typically used for approach shots into the green. Unless a hole is very short with lots of trouble, it’s not the best idea to use them off the tee. Otherwise, you’ll have lengthy approaches into the green, which make scoring very difficult.
There are three types of irons; short, mid, and long irons.
Short irons (8/9/PW) are typically used from inside 150 yards as an approach shot to the green. You might use them on the tough 30-50 yard bunker shot too.
Mid-irons (5-6-7) are typically used for 140 -170 yards and why it’s so important to know your distances. While long irons (2, 3, 4) are used for shots over 170 yards.
It’s a good idea to develop a knockdown shot as part of your arsenal of shots, too. This is a lower flighted shot than a full swing and typically straighter too. It’s ideal to use this type of shot when hitting into the wind or when you need to make solid contact.
Wedges
The final component of your clubs are wedges, which are extremely versatile clubs. They’re used for full shots into greens, around the greens, in bunkers, and more.
Here is a breakdown of each wedge and what shots they’re used for.
Pitching Wedge
A pitching wedge (PW) is used mostly for full shots into a green. It has the least amount of loft of all the wedges (typically 43–46 degrees) and is included in your iron set. Some golfers – typically better players – might buy a PW that matches the rest of their set too.
Gap Wedge
A gap wedge (GW) is used mostly for full shots as well and has more loft than a pitching wedge. These clubs might come with your iron set, but you might need to buy one as well. They’re typically 49–52 degrees of loft.
A gap wedge is extremely versatile and used for full shots, partial wedge shots, knockdown shots, and around the greens. A GW is perfect for bump and run shots, not to mention longer bunker shots.
Every golfer should carry a gap-wedge, as it’s fairly easy to hit and use a ton during the round.
Sand Wedge
A sand wedge (SW) has more loft than a gap wedge (54–57 degrees) and is used for all types of shots – typically inside 100 yards. It’s great for 30-50 yard pitches, chip shots around the green, and of course, greenside bunker shots.
Most iron sets do not include a sand wedge, so you’ll need to buy it separately. My biggest tip is to make sure your GW and SW match the forgiveness of your irons (ex. If you play cavity back irons, you should consider cavity back wedges with similar shafts).
Lob Wedge
The final wedge is a lob wedge (LW) and has the most loft – between 58 and 64 degrees. Lob wedges are used for shorter shots inside 80 yards and ideal for flop shots. Not to mention, perfect for short sided bunker shots where loft is needed.
Higher handicappers should avoid these clubs for the time being, as they’re not always the easiest to hit.
Check out our article about whether or not you should carry a lob wedge.
Putter
The last club to consider in your set is the putter, which is one of the most important clubs in the bag. Unfortunately, most golfers spend all their time and money getting the right driver and irons but neglect their putter. This is a bad idea, as putting makes up a significant part of your overall score (typically 30-50% of all shots happen with a putter).
The putter is used primarily on the greens, but also a great idea to use from off the green. As the old saying goes, “A bad putt is better than a bad chip.”
Learn more about putting from the fringe here. Also, make sure to read the guides below to master your putting, as it’s such a crucial part of scoring your best.
Playing From Different Lies and Weather
Now that you know when to use different clubs for different shots, let’s get into a few other scenarios that can happen on the course.
As you know, golf is so challenging because you need to learn how to hit so many types of shots and deal with weather. Assessing lies and battling the elements is key to playing your best golf.
Deep Rough
When you find your golf ball in the thick stuff, it’s not the time to play aggressively. Instead, you want to get your ball back into position so you can avoid a blowup hole.
From the deep rough, avoid longer clubs like 3 or 5-wood and even some hybrids. Use a mid-iron and chop it out to get yourself back into position.
Learn more about hitting from the rough here.
Wind
Wind is another interesting dynamic that makes the game significantly harder. When playing in the wind, you always want to consider the direction of it and pick the right target.
In general, when it’s windy, a knockdown shot is a great option. It flights lower, which is perfect for hitting into the wind or with a crosswind.
Hot/Cold Days
Finally, don’t forget about the weather too.
If it’s warmer, the ball travels slightly further and it might mean clubbing down. Or, if it’s very cold weather, you might need to club up to account for the ball not going as far.
FAQs
Do you have more questions about when to use the right clubs? If so, keep reading through the most commonly asked questions and answers now.
What club is used for approach shots?
Figure out how far you hit each club as approach shots vary from fairway woods to irons to wedges.
How do I choose between golf clubs?
If you’re in between clubs, go with your gut, as your instincts are right more often than not.
Do you really need a lob wedge?
Most golfers do not need a lob wedge, but as you become more advanced, it’s a vital club to have in the bag.
My Experience
I can’t stress enough how important it is to have a distance chart for every club in your bag. Otherwise, you’re just guessing on the golf course and likely will lead to a lot of wasted shots.
Once you have full swing distances for each club, then you’ll want to hit other shots in practice. This might include knockdown shots, partial wedge shots, and recovery shots. Because don’t forget, no matter what your skill level, missing fairways and greens is part of golf.
You need to be prepared so when you do find yourself behind a tree or plugged in a bunker, you can recover quickly. While practicing at the range and short game area is key, don’t forget to practice on the golf course (if possible) too. This way you can practice shots you can’t hit at the range and hopefully have less stress on the course.
Final Thoughts
Make sure that each club in your bag is helping and not hurting your game.
This is why it’s a good idea to do a custom fitting so you can have more confidence with each club. Having a fitter get the lie angles, lofts, and grips set for your swing can make a big difference in accuracy and distance. You might even consider a putter fitting too.
Michael Leonard
Michael is an avid golfer of 25 years who played in high school, college, and now competes in Arizona amateur events. He is a full-time writer, podcast host of Wicked Smart Golf, and mental golf coach.
