A full bag is a driver, a few fairway woods or hybrids, irons, wedges and a putter, and the Rules of Golf let you carry no more than 14 clubs (Rule 4.1b). Loft is the angle of the clubface. It climbs as the club gets shorter: the driver has the lowest loft of the full-swing clubs, the wedges the highest, and the putter is listed at 3 degrees.
The ChartEvery club, what it is for and its loft
| Club | Used for | Typical loft (maker model) | Typical shot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Tee shots on longer holes | 9.0, 10.5 or 12.0 (PING G440 MAX) 9, 10.5 or 12 (Callaway Elyte) | Long and sweeping, off a tee |
| 3-wood | Long shots from the tee or the fairway | 15.0 (PING G440 MAX) 15 (Callaway Elyte) | Long, low-to-mid flight |
| 5-wood | Long shots that need more height than a 3-wood | 19.0 (PING G440 MAX) 18 (Callaway Elyte) | Long approach or second shot |
| 7-wood and 9-wood | Easier-to-launch long shots | 7-wood: 21.0 (G440 MAX), 21 (Elyte) 9-wood: 24.0 (G440 MAX), 24 (Elyte) | Long approach from fairway or light rough |
| Hybrid | Stands in for a long iron | 3H: 20.0 (PING G440), 19 (Callaway Elyte) 4H: 23.0 (G440), 22 (Elyte) 5H: 26.0 (G440), 24 or 26 (Elyte) | Long approach, tee shot on a short hole |
| 3-iron | Longest iron | 19.0 (PING i230) Not listed in the PING G440 or Callaway Elyte sets | Long and low |
| 4-iron | Long iron | 19.0 (PING G440), 19 (Callaway Elyte), 22.5 (PING i230) | Long approach |
| 5-iron | Long-to-mid iron | 22.0 (G440), 22 (Elyte), 26.0 (i230) | Approach into a long par 4 or par 3 |
| 6-iron | Mid iron | 25.5 (G440), 25 (Elyte), 29.5 (i230) | Approach shot |
| 7-iron | Mid iron | 29.0 (G440), 29 (Elyte), 33.0 (i230) | Approach shot |
| 8-iron | Short iron | 33.0 (G440), 33 (Elyte), 37.0 (i230) | Higher approach shot |
| 9-iron | Short iron | 37.0 (G440), 37 (Elyte), 41.0 (i230) | High approach that stops quickly |
| Pitching wedge | Full shots and longer chips | 42.0 (G440), 42 (Elyte), 45.0 (i230) | Short approach, chip-and-run |
| Gap wedge (labeled AW or UW in some sets) | The distance between the pitching wedge and sand wedge | UW 47.0 (G440), AW 47 and GW 51 (Elyte) 50 and 52 (Callaway Opus SP) | Short approach, pitch |
| Sand wedge | Bunkers, plus pitches and chips around the green | 55 (Elyte SW) 54 and 56 (Callaway Opus SP; PING S259) | Bunker shot, pitch, chip |
| Lob wedge | High, soft shots over a hazard or to a short pin | 58 and 60 (Callaway Opus SP) 58, 60 and 62 (PING S259) | High, short, soft landing |
| Putter | Rolling the ball on the green | 3 (PING PLD Milled Anser 2D) 3 (Odyssey Ai-ONE #1 CH) | Along the ground |
Source: PING, G440 MAX Driver, G440 MAX Fairway, G440 Hybrid, G440 Iron, i230 Iron, S259 Wedge, PLD Milled Anser 2D Putter; Callaway Golf, Elyte Driver, Elyte Fairway Woods, Elyte Hybrids, Elyte Irons, Opus SP Chrome Wedges; Odyssey, Ai-ONE #1 CH Putter. Lofts in degrees, as each maker lists them. The 3-iron row is the PING i230 only because the other two iron sets start at the 4-iron.
The lofts above belong to those specific models. They are examples of what the makers list, not a rule that every club of that name has the same loft.
The patternWhat changes as the number goes up
Loft goes up and length comes down. In the PING G440 iron set the 4-iron is listed at 19.0 degrees and 39 1/4 inches, and the pitching wedge at 42.0 degrees and 35 1/2 inches. More loft sends the ball higher and shorter. Less loft sends it lower and farther.
Wedge names are habit more than rule. Callaway's wedge page suggests most golfers play three or four wedges spaced 4 to 6 degrees apart, and gives 46 to 48 for a pitching or gap wedge, 52 to 54 for a sand wedge and 58 to 60 for a lob wedge as examples.
Watch the numberThe same club number is not the same loft
A 7-iron is 29.0 degrees in the PING G440 set, 29 in the Callaway Elyte set and 33.0 in the PING i230 set. The i230 pitching wedge is 45.0, where the G440 pitching wedge is 42.0. The number on the sole tells you the order of the clubs within a set, not an angle you can compare between sets.
PING also lists a Power Spec and a Retro Spec for the G440 irons. The G440 7-iron is 29.0 standard, 27.5 Power Spec and 31.0 Retro Spec. If you buy a set, look up the loft of your own model rather than assuming.
The ruleThe 14-club limit (Rule 4.1b)
You may not start a round with more than 14 clubs, or have more than 14 clubs during the round. The limit counts every club carried by or for you. It does not count the parts of a broken club that you were already carrying when the round began.
- Fewer is fine. Rule 4.1b sets a ceiling and no minimum. If you start with fewer than 14, you can add clubs during the round up to 14.
- No sharing. Rule 4.1b(2) says you must not make a stroke with a club being used by anyone else playing on the course, even in another group.
- No replacing a lost club. Under Rule 4.1b(3), if you started with 14 (or added up to 14) and then lose a club, you may not replace it with another.
- Adding a club. Under Rule 4.1b(4) you may not delay play to do it, borrow a club from another player on the course, or build a club from parts you are carrying.
- If you find you have 15. You must take the extra club out of play before your next stroke (Rule 4.1c(1)).
Penalty. In stroke play it is two penalty strokes for each hole where the breach happened, up to four penalty strokes in the round. In match play the match score is reduced by one hole for each hole where the breach happened, up to two holes in the round.
Source: The R&A and USGA, Rules of Golf, Rule 4.1b (randa.org).
Not sure how many you need? How many clubs does a beginner need covers building a bag of fewer than 14.
Using itHow to use this chart
Find the loft of each club you own, either on the maker's spec page or from a fitter, and lay the numbers in order. Look for big jumps. Callaway's wedge page suggests spacing wedges 4 to 6 degrees apart, so a much bigger step between two clubs is worth a second look.
Then match the lofts to how far you hit each club. The club distance chart shows typical distances by club, and the golf club loft chart lays out the lofts in more detail.
Watch forCommon mix-ups
Thinking a pitching wedge has one loft. It is 42.0 on the PING G440, 42 on the Callaway Elyte and 45.0 on the PING i230.
Thinking you have to carry 14. 14 is the most the rules allow. You can carry any smaller number.
Adding a club mid-round with 14 already in the bag. That puts you over the limit. A club counts as added when you make your next stroke with any club while the added one is in your possession (Rule 4.1b(1)).
Treating a hybrid as separate from the irons. PING's G440 hybrid page pairs each hybrid with an iron number, so the 3-hybrid lines up with a 3-iron and the 4-hybrid with a 4-iron. For the trade, see hybrid vs long iron.
FAQQuick answers
How many clubs can you carry in golf?
Up to 14. Rule 4.1b says you must not start a round with more than 14 clubs or have more than 14 during the round. There is no minimum.
What is the difference between a gap, sand and lob wedge?
Mostly loft. Callaway's wedge page gives examples of 46 to 48 degrees for a pitching or gap wedge, 52 to 54 for a sand wedge and 58 to 60 for a lob wedge. PING's G440 set calls its 47.0 wedge a UW, and Callaway's Elyte set calls its 47 an AW.
What happens if I carry 15 clubs?
In stroke play you get two penalty strokes for each hole where the breach happened, up to four penalty strokes in the round. In match play the match score is reduced by one hole for each hole where the breach happened, up to two holes. You also have to take the extra club out of play before your next stroke.
What is a hybrid used for?
It stands in for a long iron. PING's G440 hybrid page lists a 2-hybrid at 17.0 degrees up to a 7-hybrid at 34.0, and pairs the 3-hybrid with a 3-iron and the 4-hybrid with a 4-iron.
What is the loft of a putter?
The two putters in the chart are both listed at 3 degrees: the PING PLD Milled Anser 2D and the Odyssey Ai-ONE #1 CH.
Why does my 7-iron have a different loft from my friend's?
Because sets differ. The 7-iron is 29.0 degrees in the PING G440, 29 in the Callaway Elyte and 33.0 in the PING i230. Check the maker's spec page for your set.