One of the questions we get asked quite a lot at Golf 360 is why one complete golf package set might cost around $700, while another can be somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000.
What are you actually getting for the extra money, and do you really need to spend it?
The first thing I would say is that we don't sell package sets we don't believe are good enough. A less expensive set doesn't automatically mean it's poor quality. For the right golfer, a package set around the $700 mark can be exactly what they need.
The real question is whether spending more makes sense for the type of golfer you are.
Who should buy a golf package set around $700?
If you're just getting into golf and aren't yet sure how interested you're going to be, I don't think you necessarily need to spend thousands of dollars on your first set of clubs.
The same applies if you're a student or simply working within a budget.
And if you're only expecting to play three or four times a year and mainly want your own set rather than borrowing clubs, a good entry-level package set can make a lot of sense.
At Golf 360 we have options such as the men's golf package sets and women's golf package sets that cover a pretty wide range of budgets.
There's nothing wrong with starting at the lower end of that range. You get a coordinated set of clubs and a bag, and you can get out on the course without having to work out which driver, irons, hybrids, wedges and putter to buy individually.
So what do you get when you spend more?
As you move into the more premium package sets, you generally start seeing better components and more refinement throughout the whole set.
It's not just the driver or irons.
The bag is often better. The putter is often better. The headcovers and other finishing details tend to improve as well.
You may also get more clubs. Some more expensive sets include an additional hybrid, fairway wood or scoring club that a simpler package might leave out. That's not true of every set, but it's something worth checking when you're comparing prices.
You're also more likely to be buying from one of the major equipment manufacturers, with technology and design ideas that have come from their established club ranges.
Callaway XR is a good example
The Callaway XR 13-Piece Men's Package Set is a good example of what I mean.
XR is a name Callaway has used in its golf club ranges for a long time. The package set isn't the same thing as buying Callaway's latest individually fitted driver, irons and wedges, but you're still getting equipment that draws on the company's experience building golf clubs.
The current XR package also gives you a really useful set makeup, including driver, fairway wood, hybrid, irons, wedges and an Odyssey putter.
Another advantage is that although a package set isn't custom fitted in the same way as individually ordered clubs, the XR is available in different configurations. For example, we have options including regular flex, stiff flex and stiff flex at plus one inch.
That means we can still choose the version that makes the most sense for the golfer rather than treating every golfer as exactly the same.
What about premium women's package sets?
The same principle applies to women's sets.
The Callaway Reva Women's Package Set sits at the premium end of the category and is the sort of set I would be comfortable recommending to someone who is committed to playing and wants really good equipment without having to build an entire bag club by club.
For someone playing regularly, or simply someone who likes having good equipment, spending more on a package like XR or Reva can make plenty of sense.
Will a $700 set wear out faster?
Not necessarily.
I wouldn't suggest that a good $700 package set is somehow going to physically wear out much faster than a more expensive one. Golf clubs can last a long time.
The difference is more about the level of equipment you're buying, the components throughout the set, the set makeup and how particular you want to be about what goes into your bag.
If you're starting out and playing occasionally, the extra performance available from more expensive equipment may not be particularly important to you.
If you're playing every week and becoming more serious about your golf, you may appreciate those differences considerably more.
Better golf clubs still don't swing themselves
This is an important point whenever we're talking about equipment.
Better equipment can definitely help. Forgiveness, launch, club selection and having equipment that's reasonably well suited to you all matter.
But technique is still the biggest variable.
We still have to swing the golf club.
I wouldn't want someone new to golf thinking they need to spend $3,000 before they can enjoy the game or improve. Equally, if someone is committed to playing regularly and can afford better equipment, there's nothing wrong with buying a higher-quality package from the start.
When does a package set stop making sense?
There comes a point where I think you need to ask whether you actually want a package set at all.
A package set is designed to give you a sensible combination of clubs in one purchase. The makeup is generally aimed at beginner to moderate golfers, which is why you'll often see hybrids replacing difficult-to-hit long irons.
But you don't get to completely redesign the set.
If you're saying, "I want to be fitted for the best driver for me, I want this particular style of putter, I want specific wedges and I want my irons built to my specifications," then you're probably no longer describing a package-set customer.
That's when a proper golf club fitting and building the bag individually starts making more sense.
It will generally cost more, but you gain much more control over exactly what goes into the bag.
How much should I spend on my first golf clubs?
I wouldn't set one dollar figure for everybody.
If you're testing the waters, you're on a budget or you're only going to play occasionally, something around the $700 mark can be a very sensible purchase.
If you're reasonably committed, expect to play regularly and like having good equipment, then moving into the $2,000 to $3,000 range can give you a considerably more refined package that you should be very happy to keep playing.
And if you already know exactly what you want from every part of the bag, that's probably the point where we should stop talking about package sets and start talking about individual clubs.
You can browse our full golf package set range online, or come into Golf 360 in Mount Maunganui and talk to us about what makes sense for you.
The goal isn't to sell everyone the most expensive set. It's to make sure you're spending the right amount for how much golf you're actually going to play and what you want from your equipment.
Happy golfing,
Scott
