Ultimate guide: How many Clubs in a Golf Bag that You can Carry

How many clubs are allowed in bag? is the question that most golf newbies wonder. To start with golf, there are a ton of things that need to learn about the game. Besides learning about golf rules, finding a golf course,... preparing golf equipment is also an essential step. The golf clubs bag should be prepared thoughtfully to have the best efficiency while playing golf. Let’s check out how many clubs in a golf bag that you can carry!

How many clubs can you carry in a golf bag?

Maximum clubs in golf bag and the standard set of clubs

According to the USGA club limit, the USGA notes that 14 golf clubs are permitted to be in the bag for a golfer, also the maximum clubs in golf bag allowed to use during a round. The woods typically consists of 3-wood, 5-wood and a driver. Irons include 8 irons from 3 to 9 iron. Pitching wedge and putter are also indispensable clubs in your golf bag. These 12 standard clubs are often carried in many golf bags. If the golfer begins with less than 14 golf clubs in bag, then the number of clubs can be added until it reaches 14.

As mentioned above, the standard sets of clubs for a golf bag generally include 12 clubs. Instead of 3-iron and/or 4-iron, golfers can use hybrids. However, some golfers will want to carry fewer clubs, maybe just 9 or 10 clubs. 

The short answer to the question of how many clubs in a golf bag is typically the following 12 clubs (14 for max clubs in golf bag):

• 3 woods  including 3-wood club, 5-wood club and a driver
• 8 irons including 3-9 iron and pitching wedge
• One putter

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Borrowing clubs

The USGA changed a rule in 1988 on borrowing clubs, which legalized a player to borrow a club from the others. Golfers can use the borrowed club during the remainder of the round.  In 1992, however, the USGA modified the rule from its pre-1988 meaning which enables you to borrow a club only from a team-up partner you are in the tournament with. 

Extra clubs

Usually, a player is permitted to carry golf clubs and can add 2 clubs to the standard set of 12 clubs in the bag while selecting your 14 clubs. The last 2 clubs may be a hybrid driver and a wedge. Or two wedges, either a lob or a sand wedge, may be preferred. Furthermore, the lob wedge raises the bunker higher, while the sand wedge the bunker shot will support in case of the bunker shots.

Based on the new rule about extra clubs, you can add clubs in your bag during the round as long as 14 or fewer clubs are kept. In particular, at any point, you will be able to add clubs without penalty if you have carried less than 14 clubs, as long as you don't break any playing rules or affect other players. Importantly, the clubs that you want to add during the match can not be the borrowing clubs. 

Although you can legally add extra clubs during the match, the best advice is to check out all the clubs before starting to avoid any discontinuity to your match. 

Hybrid

Hybrid clubs became a favorite club with many newbies and advanced golfers because they are designed to combine distance, accuracy ability with the easy replacement of long irons. A hybrid configuration provides a broader club surface like wood and a shorter shaft like iron. The center of gravity is shifted into the club's back and sides, making it possible for the ball to be shot higher into the air. Usually, hybrids come in 16 to 26-degree lofts. 

The hybrid is regarded as one of the maximum clubs in golf bag but on the course, it can meet a variety of purposes. A hybrid can be used to shot on any tees as a substitute for long irons and also for green chip shots. Therefore, you can replace the fairway wood and 3-iron, 4-iron by using a hybrid to put another wedge in your golf bag.

The hybrid is used in many cases. A striking shot with a hybrid normally goes around 5-8 yards farther than its substitute iron and has a higher trajectory. Hence, you can absolutely use a hybrid from the fairway, or out of rough, or even out of fairway bunker. The ball won't roll as far if it's hybridized because of the higher shot height, but you can gain better precision and coherence by using a hybrid club. By putting a 3 inches ball ahead of the middle with a wide stance to achieve a high start and a smooth landing, you can strike a regular hybrid effectively. 

Penalties for carrying over the maximum of 14 clubs 

What happens when you carry more than 14 clubs in a bag? 

The current structure of penalties is based on the rules released in 1968. In different golf formats, including common stroke and match game formats, the penalty for excess clubs is levied. The USGA requirement is that golfers violating the rules of max clubs in golf bag have to have the excess club declared out of play. 

The penalty will depend on the game format. When playing a match, for each hole you play exceeding the maximum clubs, you will lose a hole in your score (Up to two-hole deduction). In stroke play, for each hole with the violated club, you will be deducted two strokes (Up to four strokes). 

The official penalties are 2 strokes each hole that you break the rule of the number of permitted clubs in your golf bag. That means that you will get a four-stroke penalty if you unintentionally carry 15 clubs in your golf bag, you don't know that until you play the second hole. Actually, for breaching these rules, the maximum penalty is four strokes, so it is not worse.

How to remove the extra clubs?

The process of removing the extra clubs from a match is straightforward. When you recognize the breach, you must act immediately to clearly indicate that every club you're out of the golf match or turn the offending club upside down in your golf bag. 

The worst penalty for exceeding golf clubs limit in history

As mentioned above, for breaching these rules, the maximum penalty is four strokes, and it will not get worse. Despite the strict 14 club rule, it still was violated in even the big tournaments. The PGA club limit is also violated in the PGA Championship. A particular case at the 2001 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes happened. The largest infringement of the sanction released. In particular, Ian Woosnam got a birdie score at the opening tee but the incident happened as going to the second hole, which leads to a hole deduction.

When Woosnam got to the 2nd tee, he suddenly realized that he was carrying a spare wood in his golf bag, taking his total to 15. After the offending club was notoriously tossed across the tee, the equivalent two-stroke sentence was assessed and Woosnam dropped into a 6th tie. He finally finished T3. 

How to choose golf clubs wisely?

There are some notable rules about the clubs in golf that you should note to choose the most suitable golf clubs allowed in bag:

• You’re permitted to change your putter if you want after the first 18 holes in a match of 36 holes.
• Before a stroke-play playoff, you can replace the broken club.
• Until hitting a shot, you could spit on your club to purify the face.
• In the middle of the round, in case of your grips are wet, you will be able to replace your clubs. 
• You’re allowed to replace the golf clubs during the round if you have inadvertently gone over a golf club and have broken it with your cart.
• For extra distance, you can try to use a 48-inch driver instead of the 45-inches standard length.
• More than 14 clubs may be carried in your bag if the extra clubs are not used during the entire round. Remember to avoid using it during the match.
• You should tap over the top of your wedge and then use the ball if your wedge produces too much glow.
• You can use a tee that is 4 inches long to reach a drive through some trees.
• You often just bring 13 golf clubs in your bag. Thus, you can borrow the distance wedge of your partners.

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Suggested sets of clubs based on skill level

The set of golf clubs can be flexibly changed in types and number of clubs in golf bag based on the age and skill level of golfers. 

For beginners

A new golfer might want to experience first to check whether they are suitable with which type of clubs. Then, they can decide to buy a full set of golf clubs or not. Thus, how many clubs in a golf bag should they carry? Typically, they will need at least a wood (a driver or 3-wood) for long-distance shots, 6-iron or 3-iron for long and accurate shots, a pitching wedge for short shots, and a putter putting on green.

Read more: Beginner Guide: What are the different types of golf clubs used for?

For junior golfers

Junior golfers are below 9 years old. They may not need a full set of clubs because they need a lighter bag of golf clubs for easy movement. 6 clubs including 2 woods, 2 irons, a sand wedge, and a putter may be the best set for juniors.

For amateurs

Amateurs should choose the set of clubs that help them score well with the least difficulties. It's usually better for amateurs to hit long shots with 4- or 5-wood than a 2- or 3-wood, so that amateurs may opt to take a set of a driver, 3-woods, 5-wood, and 7- wood instead of long irons. 

For skilled golfers

The skilled golfers have the ability to take full advantage of the different types of golf clubs. Skilled golfers and even professional golfers started to add hybrid clubs to their golf bags to replace long irons. Hybrids incorporate the features of iron and wood, rendering the club simpler to strike than a long iron and better control than wood for golfers, without losing substantial distance.

The bottom line

Above are the answers to the question of how many clubs in a golf bag. To have the most thoughtful golf clubs bag preparation for your golf tour, save this post. For further information about golf tips, golf tournaments, and golf course information, etc. please follow https://72.golf/blogs.