Edited by: Jordan Fuller
Reviewed by: John MarshallLast Update:
Like most intermediate golfers, chances are you are ready to take that next step in your game and drop your handicap to all-time personal best levels.
But where to start? The best place to evaluate is taking a deep look at the equipment that rests in your bag.
We thoroughly searched and tested tens of club sets and found ten that offer the intermediate golfer one of several important criteria.
Whether they provide bang for your buck or are just a great set of clubs, they made our list and we’re thrilled to tell you more about how they can change your game.
Featured Recommendations
Last updated on 2020-02-16. The links are affiliate links. Product images are served from Amazon Product Advertising API.
Table of Contents
- Featured Recommendations
- 10 Best Intermediate Golf Clubs of 2020
- Best For Budget Intermediates: Callaway Strata Complete Set (12-Piece)
- Best Full Set For Most Intermediates: Callaway Strata Complete Set (16-Piece)
- Most Affordable: Wilson Ultra Complete Golf Set
- Wilson Profile SGI Complete Golf Set
- Nitro Golf Blaster 15-piece Complete Golf Set
- Precise 18-piece Complete Golf Set
- Wilson Staff Deep Red Complete Golf Set
- Aspire X1 Complete Golf Set
- Pinemeadow PGX Golf Set
- Precise M5 Complete Golf Club Set
- Best For Budget Intermediates: Callaway Strata Complete Set (12-Piece)
- Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
- Questions & Answers
- What is considered to be an intermediate golfer?
- What should you look for when considering a golf club set?
- How long will a complete set of golf clubs last before I need to upgrade?
- What is the expected cost of a set of intermediate clubs?
- How important is getting a complete set with wedges?
- Will I need to buy more clubs after purchasing an intermediate set?
- What is considered to be an intermediate golfer?
- Conclusion
10 Best Intermediate Golf Clubs of 2020
Best For Budget Intermediates: Callaway Strata Complete Set (12-Piece)
Well-Constructed Set for Budget Seeking Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Perimeter-weighted irons provide dependable forgiveness for more accuracy
- Driver is long off the tee with nice carry while reducing sidespin for better control
- Blade-style putter is consistent and promotes smooth forward roll
- Bag is comfortable to carry with single padded strap for easy on-easy off shoulder action
CONS
- Pitching wedge is 44 degrees and only wedge in collection
Featuring three woods, five irons, a blade-style putter and a lightweight stand bag, the Callaway Strata Complete Set (12-Piece) delivers the quality that you’d expect from the company in an abbreviated package.
The driver in the Strata set is a graphite-shafted 460cc club that provides nice distance with considerable carry off the tee. The 3-wood and 5-hybrid in the set have a low profile which certainly helps keep the face on the lower two-thirds of the golf ball for more height and consistency.
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The irons are perimeter-weighted with a larger sole to keep the club close to the ground through impact. The Strata irons in this set come with stainless steel shafts and have a solid feel and response throughout the swing.
There’s only one wedge in this collection and it is a 44 degree pitching wedge, which leaves a lot of room for higher lofted wedges, a must around the greens. So, if you are considering this set, make note that you’ll need more clubs to complete your short game.
A capable blade-style putter and lightweight, durable stand bag round out the Strata collection. Very affordable and well-constructed, the 12-piece set does leave some important clubs out of the group but with the savings you make from this set, those additions should not be costly.
Best Full Set For Most Intermediates: Callaway Strata Complete Set (16-Piece)
Best Complete Set for Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Additional sand wedge and 4-hybrid cap off the extension of this popular set
- Putter is blade-style, offset to provide clear and direct view of the golf ball
- The stand bag is upgraded to a more durable option that is still lightweight
- The irons are more streamlined with wider sweet spot
CONS
- Driver loft is at 12 degrees, would be better with lower option for intermediate golfers
Callaway Strata Complete Set (16-Piece) is a more comprehensive set for the intermediate golfer who is searching for a complete set straight from the box. Featuring an additional 4-hybrid and sand wedge, the 16-piece Strata set is a complete upgrade from the 12-piece collection. Not only are is the bag higher quality that its little brother, the irons are redesigned for better flow and forgiveness.
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The Strata set comes with five woods, including two hybrids, four irons, two wedges, a blade-style putter and an easy to carry lightweight stand bag.
The highlight of the 16-piece set is once again the new look irons. Smartly, Callaway is leaving the 4-and 5-iron to the included hybrids, but the irons have a wider, less boxy shape for a broader sweet spot that provides exceptional forgiveness on each shot.
If there is a small complaint, it is focused on the driver and its 12 degrees of loft. Intermediate players might be better suited using a 10.5 degree driver, so there will be a slight loss of distance with the higher lofted option.
Most Affordable: Wilson Ultra Complete Golf Set
Most Affordable Starter Set for Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Incredibly affordable set that gives the intermediate golfer the most essential clubs
- Heavy irons promote solid contact at impact
- Blade-style putter is well balanced and promotes a strong forward roll
- The stand bag has several pockets for convenient carrying
CONS
- Strictly a starter set that will need additional clubs as your game grows
Made for the golfer who is making a recent trip into intermediate skill level territory, the Wilson’s Ultra Complete Golf Set is a super game improvement set that is boiled down to the essential, giving the golfer a nice base to build a more tailored and complete collection down the road.
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Included in the set are three woods, five irons, a blade-style putter and a stand bag. Each component features a wide sweet spot that works to get the ball into the air and down the target line with little fuss or sophistication.
The best part of the set is the irons, which tend to be a bit heavy, but that characteristic isn’t necessarily a bad one to improve consistency as the club stays low and easily cuts through the turf for clean divots.
If there is a gripe, it is the obvious one in that there are not enough clubs here to complement the intermediate golfer as they grow more comfortable into their game. Golfers can expect to add a wedge or two plus another hybrid along the way to this starter set.
As a package, the Ultra set does check a lot of boxes for the intermediate golfer who wants to start small and spend little to get their collection off on the right foot.
Wilson Profile SGI Complete Golf Set
Well-Made Club Set for the Intermediate Golfer
PROS
- Sleek, low profile set that really helps the golfer get beneath ball for extended height
- Lightweight bag is ergonomic and simple to carry for less burden on back when playing
- Irons are well-crafted with balance and strong feel at impact
- 5-hybrid has wide sweet spot for better forgiveness and more distance
CONS
- No mid wood in this set, would benefit from inclusion of 3-wood
The Wilson SGI Profile Complete Golf Set is another strong entry into the complete set game by the company. A bit more advanced than their Ultra set, the SGI Profile collection makes a few clever substitutions to make the club group better straight off the shelf.
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The set has three woods, a driver, 5-wood and 5-hybrid, to top the set, while also adding four irons, two uniquely designed wedges and a blade-style putter. The Wilson collection also includes a lightweight carry bag and headcovers for the three woods to prevent scrapes and dings.
One of the things we really loved about this set is in a stroke of genius, Wilson subbed out the mid-range fairway wood and included a sand wedge. Now, while that certainly helps the intermediate golfer in the short term, and makes the collection more enticing immediately from the box, you will want a 3-wood at some point.
A nice set that covers some bases that others don’t, the Wilson SGI Profile set is certainly built to get the best out of the intermediate golfer.
Nitro Golf Blaster 15-piece Complete Golf Set
Best Irons in a Club Set for Intermediate Golfer
PROS
- The driver sits at 10.5 degrees and packs a punch with nice distance off the tee
- The irons are some of the best we’ve seen from a complete set, with solid balance and length
- Large sweet spot on the irons promotes solid contact even when ball drifts toward the toe
- The lightweight bag has an umbrella holder and multiple pockets for storage
CONS
- The wide mallet putter is bulky and might need to be replaced for golfers that prefer blade-style putters
The Nitro Blaster 15-piece Complete Set is a solid package of clubs with some deceptively good irons for a well-balanced collection that will get any intermediate golfer off to a nice start.
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Highlighted by the five irons and one wedge, the Blaster irons are cavity-backed with a wide sole that ramps up the playability from the light rough or fairway. The irons have a broad sweet spot that undoubtedly helps keep shots straighter and with more carry than your average iron you’d find in a set like this one.
The putter is a large one, although in its defense, the company did outfit the mallet with perimeter weighting for more balance and a scoring line to improve alignment at address. That said, the putter won’t be for everyone as the size and shape will certainly turn some golfers away and looking for a replacement.
Featuring three woods that can definitely help with your distance, there’s not much to disparage with the Nitro Blaster set. The set performs well on the course and the irons are some of the best we’ve seen from a complete set collection.
Precise 18-piece Complete Golf Set
Best Value Set for Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Largest collection of clubs on this list, all well-crafted with exciting distance
- Four woods included in this set provide strong swing speed and yardage
- Perimeter-weighted irons have a large sole for smooth contact at impact
- Solidly constructed carry bag isn’t overwhelmed by the additional clubs
CONS
- May want to add another hybrid down the line, but little to dismiss with this set
The Precise 18-piece Complete Golf Set is jam packed with all the clubs you could need to start your journey as an intermediate golfer. Very affordable, the set features four woods, five irons, two wedges and a nice blade-style putter.
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The 18-piece set does come in two different versions; a regular sized edition for golfers six feet in height and under and one for taller golfers over that threshold. Each version of the Precise set provides a quality experience through the high performing clubs with lengthy distance and noticeable forgiveness.
Hard to complain about much with this set as it covers a lot of areas that other complete sets wouldn’t dream of touching. Yes, there’s an additional expense with this set over others, but you will have to pay for the additional clubs that complete this Precise collection, so you are certainly getting value for your money with this set.
Wonderfully comprehensive, the Precise 18-piece set is the best value set on this list and one that is definitely worthy of your attention if you want a one-stop set with everything you need to tackle the course tomorrow.
Wilson Staff Deep Red Complete Golf Set
Best Luxury Set for Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Driver is one of the best we’ve tested from a complete set
- The irons have some of the best feel and response we’ve seen from a complete set
- The hybrid and fairway wood both have a low profile that provides exceptional lift
- The bag has five enclosed pockets plus seven openings for individual club slots for extra
CONS
- The set could use a higher iron or hybrid plus a better putter
The Deep Red set from Wilson is one of their best and most luxurious complete set that the company has ever released. Well-built, the Deep Red set features three aerodynamic woods, four irons, two wedges and one putter that leaves a bit to be desired. That minor complaint aside, this set is a blast to play with extraordinary length and forgiveness.
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If you are looking for a highlight from this set, we’ll have to steer you in the direction of the cavity-backed irons that are well-balanced and very accurate. During our testing we were astounded at times by how good these irons played from mid-range, especially from the fairway where the maximum spin could be imparted on the golf ball.
The driver is a sleek 460cc club that has a gigantic sweet spot that promotes stable and consistent contact with staggering distance at times. An all-around gorgeous set that is tailored for the intermediate golfers that doesn’t mind spending a bit more on their complete collection, the Deep Red club set from Wilson is a winner
Aspire X1 Complete Golf Set
Best Complete Set for Senior Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- The three woods in the set generate high swing speed for exceptional distance
- Wing-flared putter is heavy for smooth stroke and generous forward roll
- Perimeter-weighted irons have broad sole for consistent contact
- Hybrid has low profile that gets under the golf ball for high launch
CONS
- Doesn’t have as many clubs as we’d like including a sand wedge or lower iron/hybrid
The Aspire X1 Complete Golf Set features three woods, four irons, one pitching wedge and a wing-flared putter that actually works very well as a heavy putter for more consistency and better roll.
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The woods in the set are undoubtedly the highlight of the entire collection as the driver, 3-wood, and 5-hybrid all bring a sophistication to the collection as they perform admirably when shaping shots. The fairway and hybrid have a wide and low profile for better lift and more forgiveness.
With a wide sole and balanced perimeter-weighting, the irons in the Aspire X1 set work best for slower swingers such as junior and senior golfers. They are listed as a regular flex but a few of our testers felt they were softer than even that rating.
The accessories in the set include a matching carry bag with headcovers to protect the woods. A great set for the intermediate junior or senior golfer, the Aspire X1 Complete Golf Set is a creative group of clubs that promises to deliver a positive experience.
Pinemeadow PGX Golf Set
Great Starter Set for Intermediate Golfer
PROS
- Six irons in the set are well-constructed with loads of forgiveness for straighter shots
- Sleek white finish on the woods make the PGX set one of the most attractively designed clubs you’ll find
- Sweet spot on woods and irons is wide and generous for more distance
- Graphite shaft on the three woods are lightweight for quick and effortless swing speed
CONS
- Doesn’t come with putter or carry bag
A complete club set that doesn’t exactly cover all the areas you’d expect from a collection of clubs is the Pinemeadow PGX Golf Set. Featuring just woods and irons, while leaving the putter and bag home, the PGX set is primarily for intermediate golfers that want more control from their complete set.
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There are three woods in the set, a driver, a 3-wood and 4-hybrid, that all have a graphite shaft. The woods perform admirably as the driver is listed at 10.5 degrees giving it more carry than your typical complete set #1 wood.
The six irons in the set run from a 5-iron through pitching wedge. All are built similarly with cavity-backed perimeter weighting that keeps the PGX irons balanced throughout the swing and grounded through the impact zone for more solid contact.
You may find yourself missing the putter and bag if you are unaware that they aren’t included, but if you plan ahead the woods and irons-only PGX set is a dependable group of clubs that will treat an intermediate golfer well on the links.
Precise M5 Complete Golf Club Set
Best Distance in a Club Set for Intermediate Golfers
PROS
- Stainless steel irons in this set are built like a tank for explosive distance
- Putter has great alignment market on the top of the club for more precision
- Three headcovers and protective carry bag keep your clubs scratch and ding free
- The driver in the Precise set is a monster with wide sweet spot
CONS
- Doesn’t come with a sand wedge, forcing you add a club or two as you grow into set
A more traditional collection, that is missing a few elements, but certainly makes up for it in the performance of the entire group, the Precise M5 Complete Golf Club Set is a strong contender for the intermediate golfer.
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Featuring three woods, five irons, a pitching wedge, a putter and a stand bag, the Precise M5 set screams quality straight from the box. The woods are outstanding and you’ll love the feel and distance with each swing.
Once you handle the irons, you’ll first notice the weight and balance, but then you’ll be impressed by how forgiving they are on your off-center strikes. The irons in this set possess more than enough brawn with solid yardage.
The winged putter has a tall profile coupled with a heavy feel and definitely provides solid contact at impact. Each roll off the face holds true to your line for a consistent performance.
Rounding out the set is a deluxe stand bag with several pockets and three matching head covers that will keep your woods safe and scratch-free.
One of the longest collections on the list, the Precise M5 is very affordable and well worth a look if you need more length from your club set.
Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation
Woods
One of the first place that all golfers evaluate when looking over a complete set of clubs is the woods and it is easy to see why when you consider the power of the driver. Every golfer dreams of unleashing 300-yard drives on hole after hole, just like they see the big boys do every weekend on the PGA Tour.
When considering a complete set of clubs, the driver is the showcase club. We all want big and flashy drivers, and while that may speak to our base instincts as to why we love golf, it is more important to lift the hood on these #1 woods and take a look at the engine.
But the driver is usually not the only wood included in a complete set. Most have some combination of hybrids and fairway woods to also evaluate.
When examining the quality of the woods in a complete set, it is important to account for the loft of the club, the height of the club head to determine its profile and how it will line up to the golf ball, and finally, how the club is put together in assembly.
The final one may be the hardest, especially if you don’t have an understanding of club construction, but most golfers are able to spot a cheaply made, underperforming club at first glance.
Irons
Here’s something you need to know right off the top: the group of irons in a complete set typically won’t be complete. I know that may be a strange thing to wrap your mind around, but most complete sets combine the hybrid into an intermediate iron set to give the golfer an easier array of clubs to hit.
Yes, down the road you may need to add longer clubs to your complete set to give you more distance in your bag, but for now, the complement of clubs that come in an intermediate set will usually take care of your game just fine.
Typically, you’ll find cavity-backed irons in a complete set. The reason that these clubs are common in a set like these you’ll find on this list is because cavity-backed irons are widely known as game improvement irons. These irons are made to help you get the ball into the air easily and without the penalty of too much sidespin for greater accuracy.
When you are evaluating the irons in a complete set, it is wise to take a look at the sole of the clubs. This means the bottom of the club head that touches the turf first. If this section of the club is wide, that means the irons are easier to hit. Much like how wider soled wedges are made for beginning and intermediate golfers, irons can also deliver that reliability on each strike if they are constructed with the high handicapper in mind.
Wedges & Putter
The short game is another area of great importance in an intermediate set of golf clubs. Finding a set that offers an assortment of wedges and a solidly built putter certainly puts you ahead of the game by giving you the right tools for shaving strokes from around the green.
Wedges can be a tricky category to evaluate because most golfers like to carry three to four wedges in their bag, but you usually won’t find more than two (a pitching and sand) in a complete set. And honestly, in some cases, you’ll find just a pitching wedge, leaving you an additional expense to consider while you track down individual wedges to purchase.
Evaluating putters in complete sets is vastly different than wedges because all complete sets come with a putter. That said, not all putters that come from complete sets are well-constructed and some leave much to be desired in the way of performance.
When appraising the quality of the wedges in a complete set, you’d be smart to take a look at the lofts of the wedge or wedges to get a greater idea of what higher lofted wedges you’ll need to add later on as your game grows.
The same goes for a putter as you’ll need to determine if the style of the putter, whether it be a blade or mallet, suits your game before making judgements about the quality of the flatstick.
Accessories
A complete golf club set is not fulfilled without a host of dependable and necessary accessories. Such obvious items include a stand bag that has multiple pockets for plenty of storage, but did you also know that other complete sets will offer a host of cool things to make your day easier at the course?
Rain hoods to keep your clubs dry, cooler pockets to keep your drinks cold and umbrella sleeves to stow away your umbrella are all unique features that you might possibly discover with your complete sets.
Now, are these amenities the most important thing on a complete set? Not really, but they do make life easier on the course and certainly don’t hurt the overall value of the set.
So, when looking at the accessories on an intermediate golf club set, first check out the quality of the bag as that takes priority over everything else, but make sure to note additional features as well to get a sense of how rounded the package is that you’ll be buying.
Construction
The final criteria on our grading list for the best intermediate golf club sets is how well the set is constructed. We all want value and durability with anything we purchase, whether it be a set of golf clubs or a bag of apples at the grocery store. But we can’t purchase something simply because it is inexpensive without taking into account the quality of item we are buying.
A well-made complete set presents tremendous value because it offers a full array of clubs in a one-stop offering. Seeing the value it gives golfers, several name-brand companies have jumped on the train and are creating full sets out of some of their most popular product lines.
Callaway and Wilson have several high performing and well-crafted complete golf sets that offer golfers the opportunity to own a collection that is streamlined and all made within the same company.
When evaluating a set of clubs for the quality of its construction, take a look of several areas on the club starting with at the connection point of the hosel and the club head. Next, move to the head itself and how the weighting has been distributed along the clubhead. Finally, look at the face of the club and examine the grooves and if they are uniform for more spin at impact.
Taking into account these three essential areas will give you an advantage to deciding if the clubs are worth your money and should stay reliable over the course of several years.
Questions & Answers
What is considered to be an intermediate golfer?
An intermediate golfer is a player who regularly breaks 100, dipping their scores into the 90s on average, with the occasional round finding the 80s. But that isn’t the only credential that characterizes an intermediate golfer. They could also be an individual who has not played golf for very long but has a broader understanding of the game and would not be considered an inexperienced or beginning golfer.
To make the leap to single-digit handicapper, the intermediate golfer must find a consistent all-around game. Perhaps their short game is a bit ragged or their driving lacks accuracy. In whatever way the intermediate golfer routinely fails to conquer the course, their inconsistent play keeps them from being an advanced golfer or low handicapper.
An intermediate golfer also struggles to find consistency in their distance and the quality of their shots. Advanced golfers can dial in precise distances with a wide variety of clubs as well as offer repeatability to all aspects of their game.
What should you look for when considering a golf club set?
The biggest areas to consider when looking to purchase a complete golf set is the construction of the set, how many clubs are offered and an understanding of how the club set might need to be augmented through additional purchases.
Nothing is more important than the construction of the clubs in a complete golf set. Poorly made clubs can cost the golfer, not only yardage on all shots, but accuracy as well because the clubs are far less forgiving.
Another aspect of a club set that is incredibly essential to covering the entire course is understanding how many actual clubs are in the set and then knowing where you may need to augment or how this collection will affect your overall game.
For example, perhaps the set does not come with a sand wedge, but as the club is one of the most important tools in the short game, you make arrangements to either keep your old sand wedge or purchase a new one.
It may seem simple, but it is vital to know how to spot quality clubs and determine quickly how the clubs offered in the complete set will affect your ability to shoot lower scores.
How long will a complete set of golf clubs last before I need to upgrade?
An intermediate club set should last for several years if used sparingly over that duration of time. Keeping your clubs maintained, out of humidity conditions and other weather-related elements are also factors that allow your clubs to stay relatively healthy.
One of the biggest determining factors of how long a set will last is dependent upon how well you continue to play the game. As you advance and your skills grow as a golfer, there are club options that will allow to take further advantage of your mastery of the great game.
It could come in the way of an adjustable driver that allows you to shape your shots with greater precision or a set of irons that are more tailored to advanced players and their expected consistency. As your game grows, so do the options of playing with clubs that offer far more control.
That said, if you are playing the game just for fun and have no real ambitions in getting better, than a durable intermediate set should last you for a very long time.
What is the expected cost of a set of intermediate clubs?
An intermediate set of clubs can run between $200-$400 (U.S. Dollars) in price. For this amount of money, you can expect to find a set that has three woods, including a hybrid, four to six irons, one to two wedges and a putter. The set also should contain a bag and additional features that make the game more comfortable for you on the course.
If the club set is on the lower end of that price range, you should expect less clubs, less quality and less performance. I say all of that while fully admitting that there are club sets around that price point that are worth your consideration and money.
Primarily because they offer an extremely good value but perhaps don’t match in performance with club sets from name brand companies that are priced a bit higher. In whatever way you choose to evaluate the best club set for your game, please take into consideration how performance contrasts with value.
Because if you are looking for a casual set of clubs that will last for several years, while allowing you to continue to play well, it would be wise to spend the extra money to get the fuller, more comprehensive set.
How important is getting a complete set with wedges?
For intermediate golfers, the selection of wedges for their bag is a very important process. That’s one of the slight downfalls or conveniences (depends on how you look at it) of getting a complete club set as you’ll likely want to add more wedges to gain a full complement for your short game.
Most complete sets only come with one wedge, although some do come with a pitching and sand wedge. But routinely, you’ll find that the sets only offer one wedge.
So, it is important to grab a couple of the higher lofted wedges starting with a 52 degree sand wedge and a 56 or 60 degree lob wedge to give you more options to use around the green.
If you like more control of the equipment that you use around the green, then a complete set does leave that option open to you. For other golfers, who just want comprehensive set straight from the box, the lack of wedges could be seen as a hassle.
Will I need to buy more clubs after purchasing an intermediate set?
There is a strong possibility that you may have to add additional clubs over time to fully round out your club collection, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have to do it right away. The biggest area where the complete set may need to be augmented is with the included wedges in the bag. Most golfers who like to buy complete sets, want to grab a sand or lob wedge at the beginning, to provide more options if they find themselves in sand or deep rough.
Another area that golfers like to add to their complete set involves the inclusion of extra hybrids. Most complete sets may include a mid-range hybrid, something that emulates a 4 or 5-iron, but if you are looking for a longer hybrid that adds an additional club for more yardage from the fairway, you may have to track down a 3-hybrid for your bag.
It is wise to wait on buying additional clubs immediately, with the exception of a higher lofted wedge, until you play the clubs regularly and get a true sense of your yardage with each club and how well the woods work with your game.
Conclusion
A well-made complete golf club set can certainly benefit an intermediate golfer and allow them to take the next step in their game. With a full complement of woods, irons, wedges, a putter and terrific accessories, a complete set of clubs can come ready to play straight from the box.
All ten of these sets offer something unique to the intermediate golfer, whether it be high quality construction or wonderful value for the money. And if finding a name-brand set is important for your search, then there are several sets on the list that will check that box and provide you with a high performing collection of clubs.
No matter what set you choose from the list, finding a complete set rather grabbing one club at a time, provides a convenience that will help you get off the computer and onto the course to begin the journey of posting your lowest scores ever!