If you’re a golfer aiming to shoot in the 80s more consistently, having the right gear to help you do just that, can make all the difference. In this Buying Guide For Mid-Handicap Golfers, we’ll take you through the best golf clubs and equipment to help you play more consistent golf, (hopefully) lower your scores, and get the most out of your game.
You may have seen our high-handicap buying guide, which was tailored for golfers regularly shooting between 90 and 100. While this guide is focused on breaking into the 80s, I want to make it clear at this early stage, the same principle applies: forgiveness is still your best friend!
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Modern golf clubs are designed to help you play better (obviously), but what that means specifically is: launching the ball higher, further and straighter throughout the bag. Choosing the right bats for your game can put you in the best position to help you achieve this.
Best Driver for Mid-Handicap Golfers
A forgiving driver is essential for consistency off the tee. Many brands now offer super high-MOI (Moment of Inertia) drivers designed to help reduce mishits and keep your shots straighter by essentially the by the head and clubface not twisting as much at impact.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Driver
- Forgiveness: Opt for a high-MOI driver, often labeled as “Max” versions.
- Loft: More loft helps launch the ball higher and improves distance consistency.
- Adjustability: Many drivers allow you to tweak loft and weighting for better control.
- Draw-bias: This is not the case for all golfers, but the most common miss for golfers is down the right with either a block or slice, a ‘toed-in’ head can help reduce this.
Our Recommendations: TaylorMade Qi35 Max, Ping G430 Max 1ok
This driver is built for maximum forgiveness, featuring a large footprint and back-weighted design. In our testing we found the lightweight, high-MOI construction will help you hit more fairways, even on off-centre strikes.
Fairway Woods: Should You Use a 3-Wood?
A common mistake among mid-handicap golfers is relying too much on a 3-wood, which can be difficult to hit consistently off a tee, but even more so off the deck. I’d go as far to say that the 3-wood off a tight lie can be one of the most feared shots in golf for the amateur golfer.
Instead, I’d consider looking for higher-lofted fairway woods like a 5-wood or 7-wood, which have seen an uptake in popularity both on tour and with amateurs in recent years.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Fairway Wood
- Higher loft (16-19 degrees): Easier to launch and control, and will offer a little more help when hitting from the rough – it’s ok to admit as mid-handicappers we spend more time the rough than we’d like…
- Forgiveness: A bigger clubface and lower centre of gravity help improve mishits. 3-woods often have small, shallow clubfaces so the bigger the better here.
- Distance gapping: Ensure your fairway wood fills the gap between your driver and hybrids. Gaps are a big no no so seek some advice from a custom fitter or your local pro.
Our Recommendation: Ping G440 Max 3-Wood (Lofted to 16.5 Degrees),
This club is easier to launch than a traditional 3-wood, promoting better distance and more control. If you struggle with fairway woods, consider adding a 5-wood like the Cleveland Halo XL (18 degrees) instead – these things do exactly what they say on the tin and really launch the ball quickly.
Hybrids vs. Long Irons: The Best Option for Mid-Handicappers
Many mid-handicap golfers still use 4-irons or even 3-irons, but hybrids offer significantly more forgiveness, versatility and 9 times out of 10 will travel further in the air too.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Hybrid
- Ease of launch: Hybrids get the ball airborne more easily than long irons.
- Forgiveness: A larger sweet spot improves consistency and also promotes lot more confidence when stood over the ball so you may already have an advantage over using an iron without even knowing it!
- Playability from different lies: Hybrids perform well from the rough, fairway, and tee.
Our Recommendation: Callaway Elyte 3-Hybrid
This hybrid is a great replacement for a long iron and it’s been widely documented in the golf equipment world in recent years that Callaway hybrids are essentially rocket-loaded. I had the Callaway Epic Flash Hybrid in my bag for a few years and that thing took no prisoners!
If you’re a golfer that struggles with 4 or even 5 irons, consider a 4 or even a 5-hybrid for easier playability. Thank me later…
Best Irons for Mid-Handicap Golfers
Forgiving irons with some workability are ideal for golfers looking to break into the all important 80s, and there has been so much innovation in this category in recent years so there’s plenty of choice.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Iron Set
- Cavity-back design: Provides forgiveness without sacrificing too much feel.
- Consistent distance: Helps with predictable gapping and better approach play.
- Custom fitting: Don’t (ever) think you’re not good enough to get properly custom fitted for golf clubs, it may not turn you into a pro over night but it will at least ensure proper lie angle, shaft flex, and grip size, all very important aspects if improvement is on your agenda.
Our Recommendation: TaylorMade P790 Irons
The P790s are a great choice for mid-handicap golfers, offering a mix of forgiveness and a sleek profile. These irons have a huge target audience irons and can cater to players around 20-18 right the way through to golfers improving towards single-digit handicaps.
Best Wedges for Mid-Handicap Golfers
A forgiving wedge can make a big difference in your short game, preventing chunked and thinned shots.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Wedge
- Cavity-back design: More forgiving than traditional blade wedges to help with inconsistent strikes.
- Bounce and grind options: Choose the right specs for your playing style and give yourself more versatility on a variety of different lies: bunkers, tight greenside, fridges, thick rough…
- Spin control: All modern wedges are still designed with the best grooves to help you achieve the most amount of stopping power on the greens.
Our Recommendation: Cleveland CBX4 ZipCore Wedge
This wedge is more forgiving than traditional models, helping mid-handicappers improve consistency around the greens and personally think it looks great. So many amateur golfers could benefit from using wedges like this!
Best Putters for Mid-Handicap Golfers
Your putter is the most-used club in your bag, so although it’s a very personal thing – choosing the right one is crucial to get the most out of your game.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Putter
- High MOI design: Reduces twisting on off-centre hits that despite a poor stroke can help you start the ball on your intended start line.
- Alignment aids: Getting the first bit right is important! If you’re not aligned correctly then you have no chance of holing more putts… Modern alignment aids help massively with setup and consistency.
- Face technology: Provides golfers a more consistent roll and improved feel depending on your preference.
Our Recommendation: TaylorMade Spider Tour Putter, Odyssey Square 2 Square Double Wide Putter
The Spider Tour, high-MOI putter helps stabilise the clubface and improve accuracy. If you prefer a more traditional design, the Odyssey Square to Square double-wide putter offers a classic look, but gives golfers that modern technology that will result in more forgiveness and better putts.
Best Golf Balls for Mid-Handicap Golfers
Choosing the right golf ball can impact your game significantly. While premium balls like the Titleist Pro V1 will always be popular for obvious reasons, mid-handicap golfers (and their wallets) may benefit from other options.
What to Look For in a Mid-Handicap Golf Ball
- Compression rating: If your driver swing speed is around 90 mph, a lower-compression ball may perform better.
- Forgiveness: Some balls provide better control and straighter flight for golfers with less consistent strike patterns.
- Alignment aids: Some modern golf ball models feature alignment lines to help with putting alignment and could also provide vital feedback based on the consistency of your strike.
Our Recommendations: TaylorMade Tour Response Stripe, Callaway Chrome Tour & Chrome Tour X Golf Ball Review with Triple Track
The Tour Response ball offers premium feel and performance without the high price tag of a Pro V1. The Tour Response Stripe version also features a built-in alignment aid for improved putting accuracy that may not be for everyone, but I really think could help the more inquisitive golfers understand how they deliver the club to the ball.
Key Takeaways for Mid-Handicap Golfers
- Get custom fitted: Properly fitted clubs improve consistency and shot-making, trust on this – you will see the difference and the process yourself will help you better understand your game.
- Prioritise forgiveness and loft: Higher-lofted woods, hybrids, and cavity-back irons make golf easier and can get you out of some tricky spots on the golf course.
- Embrace technology: GPS watches, alignment-aided golf balls, high-MOI and super high-MOI drivers putters have all been developed to help you play better – don’t be scare to use it to your advantage!
By making smart gear choices, you can improve your confidence and therefore your game, helping you reach that all-important milestone of shooting in the 80s more consistently.
Are there any key tips we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments below!
