Best Golf Clubs Under $500 2024

If you have been on any golf retailer sites, it should be reasonably clear that golf clubs can be very expensive. However, believe it or not, this doesn't have to be the case because there are high-quality clubs out there which won't break the bank.

This is where this guide comes in! Firstly, we have done a lot of thorough testing to see which are the best golf clubs money can buy for less than $500. Why this number you may ask? Well, it's primarily down to the fact that it is more realistic for most golfers to have that kind of money to spend on golf clubs compared to $1000 and above.

We also chose this number because, across all sections of clubs, from package sets, to drivers, to irons, $500 is a price for which you can still get very, very good models. If we went any lower in price, we would find it harder to recommend a good set of irons for example, because the cheaper you go in that section, the more likely the performance will diminish.

Below, we have taken a look through the best models for under $500 but, if you are looking for a specific aspect, why not also check out our best budget drivers, best budget irons, or even the best cheap putters.

Quick List

Best Golf Clubs Under $500

Package Sets

We start with the CG4000 from MacGregor which replaced the CG3000, another package set that could've easily made this list. The CG4000 comes with everything you need to start your golfing journey, with a stylish green and black bag making way for 10 golf clubs and decent quality headcovers.

When it came to testing the hitting of the clubs, the feel throughout the set was reasonable and, from driver to wedges, the ease of use was great and we found them incredibly easy to get airborne. The putter was also a real highlight, with excellent forgiveness on offer, the only slight gripe was that, with no headcover and not the most robust build quality, it chips rather easily.

In the set you get a 460cc, 13-degree driver, an 18-degree fairway wood, and a 24-degree hybrid. Furthermore, there is a 6-iron through to sand wedge and a putter, with there also being a choice of a stand or cart bag. Overall, though, all the clubs have been designed with forgiveness in mind, as thick top lines and large heads provide ample confidence.

• Read our full MacGregor CG4000 Package Set Review

Strata Men's Golf Package Set

One of the best golf club sets on the market, you get a lot for your money with the Strata Men's Golf Package Set. Firstly, there are 11 clubs to choose from, as well as a nine piece set, and both feature a range of irons and hybrids.

The number of clubs means you can add more to the set, such as a lob wedge or sand wedge, with the overall performance very impressive. The particular stand-out came in the driver and iron department, with both aspects providing plenty of forgiveness and confidence-inspiring looks when you take the address position.

Although the putter is perhaps the only downside, you do also get a lightweight stand bag to hold all of your clubs. Along with the accessibility, there are a lot of pockets available which means you can store your necessities.

• Read our full Strata Men's Golf Package Set Review

Wilson Prostaff SGI Package Set

Our final set in this guide is from Wilson, the Prostaff SGI, which is a set you should consider if you are new to the game. The clubs in the set are large and forgiving, whilst the heads inspire confidence via thick top lines.

We begin with the lower portion of the bag, with the putter feeling very solid off the face. There is also a handy alignment aid on top to help with accuracy and, moving up to the wedges, both have a wide sole to help get out of a range of different lies.

Featuring a 10.5° driver, three wood, hybrid, 6-iron to sand wedge and an excellent putter to match, the cost is another plus as it comes in at an attractive price point, something which will appeal to those who are new to the game of golf.

• Read our full Wilson Prostaff SGI Package Set Review

Drivers

Mizuno has introduced an array of new features to maximise the potential of the ST-Z 230, with the development coming in the shape of a new CORTECH Chamber that encases a stainless-steel weight with elastomeric TPU. In testing, and through impact, it delivered a very powerful, lively sensation.

Distance-wise, it was extremely solid, with a high launch and ample spin putting it in a comfortable window during testing. What really stood out though, to us, was the playability, even on off-centre strikes it still had that high launch and a good amount of distance. Certainly, this puts it in the most forgiving driver category.

Aesthetically, we also loved the way the ST-Z 230 looks, with the Mizuno-blue finish on the sole (which highlights the CORTECH Chamber), making it look high-tech and premium. This only adds to the shelf appeal and the performance on offer.

• Read our full Mizuno ST-Z 230 Driver Review

Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver

The new Dynapower driver is one of the most adjustable drivers ever created by Wilson and is available in both Carbon and Titanium head options. The carbon model is designed for the slightly better player - we’ve even seen it in the hands of new signing Kevin Kisner out on Tour - and features, as the name suggests, sizeable carbon fiber panels on the sole and crown to make the weighting of the head more efficient.

Although it was slightly shorter than other premium models on the market, such as the TaylorMade Stealth 2 and Callaway Paradym, it was only marginal. However, this driver is built more to help those who hook the ball and, in our testing, it certainly delivered on its promise of a neutral to slight fade shot shape bias, toning down our tester's draw shape nicely.

There really is a lot to like about the Wilson Dynapower Carbon driver - it's comfortably among the best Wilson golf clubs you can buy and, with a fitting, we believe you will be able eke out the full potential of this club, with the appealing price tag making it excellent value for money.

• Read our full Wilson Dynapower Carbon Driver Review

Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Driver

The Tour Edge C524 driver provides an impressive combination of performance and value and is a worthy inclusion on this list. With an incredibly competitive price point, this is a great-looking driver with the ridgeback technology framing the ball nicely, while we really liked the carbon effect crown too, which provides a premium feel to the finish.

In our testing we noted that the C524 produced a lively and solid thud with a reasonably high-pitched impact noise. It also produced good ball speed, which translated into some good distances. The durability was solid and we think there is some serious value to be had here, whilst we also think it is one of the best drivers for beginners we have tried.

In terms of negatives, the C524 does not have an adjustable hosel and is only offered with one stock shaft choice so better players might be put off by that. Still, at around the $200 - $250 range there are going to be some trade offs and the lack of adjustability is the main one, but the value here remains as strong as the distance numbers.

• Read our full Tour Edge Hot Launch C524 Driver Review

Irons

Cleveland are known for producing some of the best golf wedges on the market, but they also know a thing or two about forgiving irons, with their Launcher XL arguably one of the most forgiving irons that money can buy.

To begin with, at address, the iron is extremely long from heel to toe and, although that may not suit all, it will certainly inspire confidence as there is plenty of club available for the strike. Also, thanks to a V-Shaped sole, it interacts with the turf well and, in our testing, it encouraged us to attack the ball by hitting downward.

The feel at the point of strike is also notably satisfying - the ball fizzes off on a strong trajectory with notable stability. We really saw the forgiveness on off-centre strikes, as the flight kept its line well.

• Read our full Cleveland Launcher XL Iron Review

Cobra Air-X Irons

Lightweight and forgiving, these irons should help average golfers swing the club faster for longer carries, assisted by increased perimeter weighting of the heads themselves. In testing, this claim was certainly backed up, with the Air X an absolute pleasure to hit

Despite not being aimed at ‘stronger’ players, we were still able to strike long and accurate approach shots, with the flight of the ball extremely consistent. What's more, the stable feel off the face and the resulting ball flight will appeal to a wide range of golfers, especially those who struggle to get the ball airborne.

The last point is the aesthetics, which we were really impressed with. Featuring flashes of red which will pop off the shelf, there is a thick topline and wide sole, with the generous amount of offset helping those who slice the golf ball. What we really liked was how the amount of offset is progressive, so the short irons have less of it and therefore look better in the playing position.

• Read our full Cobra Air-X Irons Review

Wedges

Now, in it's 4th iteration, the Hi-Toe 4 Wedge offers maximum versatility, performance and some significant improvements over it's predecessor—the Hi-Toe 3 wedge.

Right out of the box, we noticed the face and groove pattern is the same as those found on the TaylorMade MG4 wedges, which we consider one of the top models for spin control. We were big fans of the new aesthetics here, with the copper finish combining nicely with the raw face.

Thanks to the new Spin Tread technology on the face, we achieved remarkably high levels of spin and control from both the fairway and the rough. We tested the ATC grind option with 8° of bounce which made enabled us to slide our club under the ball easily and land the ball softly with spin. It allowed us to be creative around the green and we think this grind could easily be considered one of the most forgiving wedges on the market.

• Read our full TaylorMade Hi-Toe 4 Wedge Review

Mizuno S23 Wedge

Mizuno is known for producing world-class forged golf clubs, and the S23 wedge is no exception. The Japanese manufacturer has designed a wedge which not only preforms exceptionally but also looks incredible. Feel is, for many golfers, as important as looks and performance and, with the S23, it is certainly not lacking in this department as, in testing, there was a buttery soft sensation created via the one-piece Grain Flow Forging process.

Featuring a centralised sweet spot, which has been incorporated to allow for longer impact time, we found the spin to be outstanding and, because the sweet spot is right in the centre of the club, it felt like we were delivering a more consistent strike because of how stable the head felt. This only added to the high overall spin rate.

Using the wedges over several rounds, there are very little signs of wear in both the white satin brush chrome and copper cobalt finishes. Certainly, the copper tackles glare well, whilst the white satin brush chrome transitions seamlessly with most irons so, really, the choice is yours, but neither will disappoint.

• Read our full Mizuno S23 Wedge Review

Putters

Wilson’s hardware doesn't get the attention it deserves. This is especially true for its Infinite range which we have tested several clubs from of late. n 2024 the range got a revamp and our favorite was the Bucktown.

The mallet putter's stock Pistol Karakal flat-sided grip felt comfortable in our hands and overall the putter had a solid, stable feel to it. This firm sensation would pair nicely with a soft, low compression golf ball. The strike pattern is very helpful and is perfect for mid-to-high handicappers.

We liked the alignment on offer here as well. The white lines on the head contrast with the black finish beautifully, and the middle of the three is slightly thicker to help center the ball at address.

On the whole, we think this is an incredibly well-balanced model that will definitely help golfers set the face square and see their stroke path more clearly. And obviously with its inclusion in this guide, the price point is attractive too.

• Read our full Wilson Infinite Bucktown Putter review

TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter

Despite looking like a premium model, the Bandon 3 putter from TaylorMade comes with a comparatively small price tag, making it a worthy addition to this list.

When hitting putts it feels solid and offers up a surprisingly firm and loud sound at impact given the deep grooves on the face insert. This remained consistent across its length and the speed was enough to impart a short, controlled stroke and still get the ball to the hole.

In terms of aesthetics, we loved the sandstone finish of the head because it really looks premium. Indeed the putter sits flush to the ground and the winged shape helps players square the club to the golf ball at impact too.

Overall, we felt it had a similar feel to a blade putter but in a mallet form which means it may suit a wide range of players.

• Read our full TaylorMade TP Hydro Blast Bandon 3 Putter Review

How we test golf clubs

Our testing for golf clubs is built upon a comprehensive process combined with the knowledge and expertise of the Golf Monthly test team. Our team usually attend product launches and then when it comes to our actual testing, we first try clubs in a controlled environment. This usually takes place on an indoor simulator at Foresight Sports, with premium balls and the GCQuad launch monitor.

Next up is outdoor testing, which normally takes place at several different golf clubs. We think it is vitally important to do both and continue to test the clubs so they have been comprehensively put to the test in different conditions. It should also be mentioned that manufacturers cannot pay for a good review and we make our conclusions from the testing and our experiences. This is because we strive to give the best reviews possible so you can get a greater understanding of the clubs themselves.