Golf clubs explained: what each one is for, and how many you may carry.

The five families

Clubs fall into five broad families. The governing bodies regulate their dimensions, but they do not define standard lofts, and there is no Equipment Rules limit on loft. The loft figures below are what manufacturers and trade press publish.

Each family has its own page: drivers, fairway woods and hybrids, irons, wedges and putters.

Why a number does not tell you the loft

Because no body sets standard lofts, a "7-iron" from one maker may not match a 7-iron from another. PING shows this even within one model: its G440 7-iron is listed at 29 degrees, but the same iron is also offered in a stronger "Power Spec" at 27.5 degrees and a weaker "Retro Spec" at 31 degrees. GolfMagic reports wedge designer Bob Vokey's view that pitching wedges, once about 51 degrees, are now about 45 to 47, while the sand wedge has stayed near 56, which GolfMagic gives as the reason the gap wedge exists. When you compare clubs, compare the published lofts, not the numbers on the sole.

Length limits

The Equipment Rules set a minimum club length of 18 inches (0.457 m) and, for every club except the putter, a maximum of 48 inches (1.219 m). Putters have a minimum but no maximum. Woods and irons are measured with the sole set against a 60-degree plane, from where the two planes meet to the top of the grip. A Committee may adopt Model Local Rule G-10, which lowers the maximum to 46 inches for clubs other than putters, but only when it adopts that rule, and it is recommended only for professional and elite amateur competitions. See shafts and grips for the detail.

The 14-club limit (Rule 4.1b)

Rule 4.1b of the 2023 Rules of Golf says a player must not start a round with more than 14 clubs, or have more than 14 during the round. The count covers every club carried by or for the player. Parts of a club that broke before the round do not count.

• Adding clubs. A player who starts with fewer than 14 may add clubs up to 14. A club counts as added once the player makes their next stroke with it in their possession.
• Replacing clubs. A player who already has 14 may not replace a lost club. When adding or replacing a club, the player must not unreasonably delay play, borrow a club from anyone playing on the course, or build one from parts carried by anyone playing on the course.
• Someone else's club. A club left by another player, or put in your bag without your knowledge, does not count towards your 14, but you must not use it.
• Sharing. You must not make a stroke with a club being used by anyone else playing on the course. Partners may share clubs in the partner forms of play covered by Rules 22.5 and 23.7.
• Carrying a non-conforming club. There is no penalty for merely carrying a club that does not conform, but it still counts towards the 14.

The R&A's player guide says the penalty is applied at the end of the hole you are playing when you find out, or at the end of the hole just completed if you find out between holes. On becoming aware, you must take the extra club or clubs out of play straight away.

Changing a club during a round

Under Rule 4.1a(3) you must not make a stroke with a club whose performance you deliberately changed during the round, whether by moving an adjustable setting, physically altering the club, or putting a substance on the head. There is no penalty if an adjusted feature is put back to its original position before the stroke. Damaged clubs are handled separately under Rule 4.1a(2); see conforming equipment, which also explains a difference between two R&A pages on this point.

These rules come from the 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023. The R&A says the next edition is due on 1 January 2028. A Committee can add Local Rules, so check the Terms of the Competition before you play in an event.