We’ve all heard that golf is a game for a lifetime, and that you can play and enjoy golf all the way through the “back nine” of your life. Judging by the millions of senior golfers who still have a passion for the game, it’s clear that this is true. But if we are totally honest with ourselves, seniors have to admit that, although our love of golf hasn’t diminished, our skills and strength certainly may have. In this article, we’re going to examine these issues and look at some ways that senior golfers can rejuvenate their games. Exercise, stretching, and diet all play a big role, but so does taking maximum advantage of current golf club technology to make the game easier and more enjoyable. So we will be taking a close look at not only how equipment can help, but also which specific equipment represents the “Best Golf Clubs for Senior Golfers.”
Table of Contents
- In a hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks
- The Way We Were
- The Right Golf Clubs Can Help
- Why Have I Lost So Much Distance?
- In a hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks
- How can current club design help?
- Best Golf Clubs for Senior Golfers
- 1. Best Drivers for Senior Golfers
- 2. Best Fairway Woods for Senior Golfers
- 3. Best Hybrids for Senior Golfers
- 4. Best Irons for Senior Golfers
- 5. Best Complete Sets for Senior Golfers
- Summary
In a hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks
- Best Drivers for Senior Golfers
- Best Fairway Woods for Senior Golfers
- Best Hybrids for Senior Golfers
- Best Irons for Senior Golfers
- Best Complete Sets for Senior Golfers
The Way We Were
We all fondly remember those days when golf was an easier game for us to play, and perhaps even more fondly, how much farther we used to hit the ball. Sadly, Father Time has a maddening way of robbing us of the power and flexibility we once had.
The good news is that there are some steps you can take to lessen the impact of aging, such as exercising, strength training, stretching, etc. These are things that are recommended for all seniors, but which would be particularly beneficial to the senior golfer looking to recoup some of that lost distance and limberness.
The Right Golf Clubs Can Help
But many will find it reassuring that, in addition to improving your strength and flexibility, at least some of the answer lies in the golf clubs that you are using. Club design has come a long way in the past 5-10 years. Selecting the right ones, with the right features, can make a big difference in your game.
Today’s golf clubs are engineered to hit the ball farther and higher. They can also help you hit the ball straighter. For example, drivers now have features that allow you to make your own adjustments to the settings to minimize excessive sidespin, so that you can lessen those slices and hooks a little more effectively, or to enable you to hit the ball on a higher or lower trajectory.
Golf clubs are also now designed to provide more forgiveness so that even if you miss the sweet spot, you aren’t punished with a substantial loss of distance and accuracy, as was the case with older clubs.
Are your current clubs providing you with all of the benefits of modern technology, so that you can take advantage of these improvements? That will be the focus of our discussion here as we look to answer the question, “What are the best golf clubs for senior golfers?”
Why Have I Lost So Much Distance?
Before we examine the actual golf club market and technology, and make some recommendations, it may be helpful to understand why this is even an issue for senior golfers. There are a whole host of reasons why we lose distance and flexibility as we age (and therefore why selecting the right golf clubs is so important). Some of course are physical but, interestingly, some are mental.
Loss of Muscle Mass
Loss of muscle mass, something technically called sarcopenia, is an inescapable part of the aging process. It also has an undeniable negative effect on our strength, and therefore, on how much club head speed we can generate. Surprisingly, loss of muscle mass usually begins some time in our 30’s or 40’s.
But as we get into our senior years, the effects can really begin to multiply. It is estimated that physically inactive people can lose as much as 3% to 5% of their muscle mass each decade after their 30’s. The moral of the story: stay active, make sure you get enough calories and protein each day to sustain muscle mass, and do as much exercising and strength training as you can.
Loss of Flexibility
Working to improve strength and power is obviously an important part of regaining those lost driving yards. Just as important though, if not more so, is increasing your flexibility and range of motion.
If nothing is done to arrest and diminish this loss of flexibility as you age, you can expect that you will not be able, for example, to make the full shoulder turn that you used to have. This results in a restricted backswing, and less distance.
Similar flexibility issues effect the hips and several other areas that are crucial to making a full, unimpeded golf swing. A good flexibility program for seniors is one of the most important things you can do in your quest for those precious additional yards.
Compensating Problems
Losing distance is a tough thing to accept. Where you once may have been hitting a 5-iron approach shot into a certain Par-4 hole, perhaps you’re now forced to hit a hybrid, or even a 3-wood. An inability to reach holes in regulation anymore, ones that you used to reach easily, is frustrating. So what often happens next is that most human of responses: you think you have to swing harder on your drive in an attempt to hit the ball farther. As mentioned earlier, this is one of the mental factors that can end up costing you distance.
Subconsciously, you think that ramping up your effort will ramp up the yards. Unfortunately, swinging harder usually doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it can often exacerbate it. How?
When you swing harder, you often tense up your arm and shoulder muscles in an attempt to generate more speed. Tense muscles are antithetical to creating speed in your swing. Loose, relaxed muscles are needed to maximize speed.
Also, when trying to swing harder, golfers frequently allow their upper body to take over, which can result in the all-too-common “over the top” swing that produces an out-to-in swing motion, and a resulting slice. We’ve all seen how much distance can be lost when the ball curves wildly from left to right.
The key: stay relaxed, keeping your wrist, arm and shoulder muscles loose. Slow your backswing down, too. Getting prepared to ‘hammer’ a drive is often accompanied by a backswing that is too fast. This can get your entire swing out of sync right from the start, and you will spend the rest of the swing trying in vain to compensate for that flawed takeaway.
In a hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks
- Best Drivers for Senior Golfers
- Best Fairway Woods for Senior Golfers
- Best Hybrids for Senior Golfers
- Best Irons for Senior Golfers
- Best Complete Sets for Senior Golfers
How can current club design help?
Golf club manufacturers today recognize the plight of senior golfers and have designed clubs for seniors and other slower swing-speed players. Several features are incorporated into the modern clubs that are specifically designed to help seniors hit the ball farther and straighter.
Lightweight Shafts
It goes without saying that it is easier to move a lighter object than it is to move a heavier one. Since the advent of graphite shaft technology many years ago, we have seen a continuing trend to produce lighter and lighter versions.
Today, excellent driver shafts can now be found as light as 50 – 55 grams, and sometimes even lighter. That is between 20-30% lighter than the typical driver graphite shafts. Seniors who have, for example, a 75 – 85 MPH swing speed should seek out clubs that have these lighter graphite shafts. It will definitely make it easier to generate more club head speed, and more speed equates to more distance.
Shaft Flex
Although it may be imperceptible to the naked eye, the golf shaft actually flexes, or bends, during the course of the swing. Flex in the shaft is very important in a golf swing, but it is important to have the correct amount of flex for your particular swing.
Seniors who aren’t strong enough to generate fast swing speeds will benefit from a more flexible shaft. More flex for slower swings aids in launching the ball on a higher trajectory. On the other hand, a flex that is too stiff for those with slower swings will make it more difficult to get the ball up in the air.
Conversely, strong players who have fast swings need less flex in their shafts. For them, a shaft that is too flexible will produce inconsistent ball flights. Having a golf pro, or someone knowledgeable about golf, assess your swing speed to determine the appropriate amount of shaft flex you should have in your clubs, will help you make this important decision.
There are generally five different shaft flex categories to select from:
- Extra Stiff (X), which should only be considered by the strongest golfers who generate considerable swing speeds (> 105 mph) and who generally have a carry distance on their drives of 285+ yards.
- Stiff (S), a category that is also for stronger players who generate swing speeds slightly slower than those employing extra stiff shafts (95 – 105 mph), and who have a carry distance of about 240-285 yards.
- Regular (R), a flex option meant for players with swing speeds of 85 – 95 mph, who hit their drives about 200-240 yards.
- Senior (A), a flex for players with swing speeds of 75 – 85 mph and with carry distances of about 180-200 yards.
- Ladies (L), for swings of less than 75 mph, and carry distances of less than 180 yards.
Although not always the case, senior golfers will usually need shafts that fall into one of the last three categories.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness in a golf club pertains to its ability to limit the negative effect of an “off center” hit. A golf ball struck precisely on the golf head’s sweet spot will fly farther than one struck, say, a half-inch toward the toe, or a half-inch toward the heel. But modern golf club designers have been able to incorporate features into their club heads that allow these mis-hits to fly almost as far as a sweet-spot hit.
For irons, they accomplish this by positioning more weight around the perimeter of the club head. They also incorporate a design that moves the center-of-gravity (COG) lower in the club head, and more toward the rear. Such perimeter-weighted irons with low COGs serve to effectively make the sweet spot larger, which provides a lot of help on mis-hits, and they also create a higher trajectory.
On drivers, the largest allowable head size is 460 cubic centimeters (cc) in size. Seniors should always buy a 460 cc driver head, as the larger size provides an expanded sweet spot, which provides maximum forgiveness.
Another “forgiveness” factor is the club’s loft. Today’s pro’s and other stronger players use drivers with relatively low lofts of 8 degrees to 10 degrees. These players have the ability to generate extremely fast swing speeds that provide sufficient lift to the ball so that it launches at an optimal height to maximize distance. Because of their relatively slower swing speeds, however, senior golfers need more loft than that to attain the optimal launch height. Look for drivers that have at least 10.5 – 13 degrees of loft. A higher launch will equate to longer distance for slower swing speeds.
Best Golf Clubs for Senior Golfers
As has been mentioned previously, senior golfers often have age-related limitations on strength and flexibility. Consequently, you may find it harder to generate the kind of club head speed that you used to have, which can cause several issues for you: swing flaws that are born out of a loss of suppleness, an inability to create sufficient lift on the ball which results in trajectories that are lower than you’d like, and a corresponding loss of distance.
Technology Can Help
Fortunately, however, golf club technology has advanced to a point where it can counterbalance some of your physical limitations. Shaft and head designs can now deliver higher ball flights than you would be able to generate otherwise. Adjustable hosels enable you to customize the ball flight you want by lessening the effects of sidespin on the ball. And science-based club head design and weighting provides forgiveness when you don’t hit the sweet spot on the club face.
The technology is available now to help you. Your challenge, then, is to select the right products from among the hundreds that are on the market, the ones that will make the right contributions to your game. And that is precisely where we come in.
We’ve Done the Club Comparisons for You
We understand that it would be almost impossible for you to go through all of the clubs on the market, to understand all of their individual features and benefits, and to make thoroughly informed decisions about which ones would be best for you. There are simply too many products to analyze.
So we have done that for you.
We have analyzed all of the golf clubs in each major category and, on the following pages, we will present our recommendations. These are the golf clubs that we feel represent the best golf clubs for senior golfers, based upon their specific features and capabilities. We have done this in five primary categories of clubs:
- Best Drivers for Senior Golfers
- Best Fairway Woods for Senior Golfers
- Best Hybrids for Senior Golfers
- Best Irons for Senior Golfers
- Best Complete Sets for Senior Golfers
In each category, we will present our top selection for seniors, designated as our “Editor’s Choice,” followed by our 2nd and 3rd-place rated clubs.
Then, we’ve added a fourth selection in each category, which is our best “value” recommendation. We recognize that many senior golfers may not want to spend a lot on golf clubs, but still would like to be able to take advantage of current technology. Our Best Value Recommendation reflects our choice for the top-rated clubs that offer more affordable options for you, ones that provide the best “bang for the buck.”
So, with that as background, here are our recommendations in each category for the Best Golf Clubs for Senior Golfers:
1. Best Drivers for Senior Golfers
Editor’s Choice – Cobra King Speedzone Xtreme Driver
Following on the heels of the extremely successful F9 Speedback Driver, one of the top-rated drivers of 2019, is the new Cobra King Speedzone Xtreme Driver. Cobra has definitely upped the ante with this new driver. Note that the Speedzone driver family consists of two models: the standard Speedzone and the Speedzone Xtreme. For our senior golfers, we are recommending the more forgiving Xtreme model.
Utilizing some of their best technical features that they had employed on the F9 Speedback, Cobra has improved the design by engineering around six unique performance “zones,” where each component has been implemented to maximize output (the Power Zone, the Strength Zone, the Light Zone, the Low CG Zone, the Aero Zone, and the Stability Zone). These are the areas that they have concentrated their engineering focus on.
The end result is a driver that is a technology achievement that features a milled club face that produces fast ball speeds, a low center of gravity that creates optimal launch characteristics, a high MOI that makes it very forgiving, and an aerodynamic design that increases club head speed. We are so impressed with the design and performance of the Speedzone Xtreme, that we have picked it as our Editor’s Choice, and we think senior golfers in particular will benefit from using this outstanding driver.
Bottom line: Cobra has another clear winner with the Speedzone Xtreme, building on the phenomenal success of its predecessor. Seniors will love the distance, the high ball flight, and the impressive forgiveness.
2nd Place – TaylorMade SIM Max Driver
The new TaylorMade SIM Max driver is a marvel of engineering. They have maximized innovative design techniques to create a very forgiving and high launching driver, making this an extremely attractive driver for senior golfers.
The SIM Max uses a new multi-material technology, which is a lightweight carbon composite that TaylorMade has been developing over the past 15 years. And the weight that was saved by using ultra-lightweight carbon materials in the crown and sole was re-deployed into the SIM’s signature feature – a very unique and noticeable projection on the sole which they call the “Inertia Generator.”
Because of this multi-material technology, TaylorMade has made a driver that has optimized performance in all areas: it is very forgiving, it generates great ball speed (which equates to added distance), and it promotes an ideal launch.
Bottom line: This brand-new driver from TaylorMade is a great option for senior golfers. The lighter weight and advanced technology give you a driver that is forgiving and easy to hit. Getting the ball to launch high and to carry far are facilitated by the multi-material technology and innovative sole design.
3rd Place – Titleist TS1 Driver
With the Titleist TS1 driver, Titleist has specifically targeted golfers who have slower swing speeds (less than 85 MPH). The primary way that they have done this is to trim some weight off the TS1 head, making it easier to swing for senior golfers who can benefit from some extra MPH. Typical drivers weigh in at around 320-grams total weight. The TS1 weighs in at a significantly lighter 275g. If you can make the club lighter, golfers will swing it faster. And if you swing the club faster, you will hit the ball farther.
But Titleist was also determined to make a driver that is also very forgiving. Seniors (and most other golfers too, for that matter) don’t want to be punished by a dramatic loss of distance just because they hit the ball a little toward the toe or toward the heel. In this goal, they have been successful. The TS1 is the most forgiving driver that they have ever produced.
Two other notable features of the TS1: The TS1 is one of the only current lightweight drivers on the market to offer an adjustable hosel. And because most amateur golfers tend to slice their drivers, Titleist decided to add a bit of inherent draw bias in the head design, an anti-slice feature that helps golfers to hit their shots a little straighter.
Bottom line: The Titleist TS1 is a driver that was specifically designed and manufactured with the senior golfer (and other slower swingers) in mind. The lighter weight makes it easier to generate club head speed, and the built-in draw bias will help to tame a slice.
Best Value Option – Callaway Rogue Driver
For those seniors looking for more of an affordable driver option, we HIGHLY recommend the Callaway Rogue driver. The Rogue was actually released a couple years ago, but it is still available in NEW condition. And at less than half the price of most of the new 2020 models, the Rogue driver is without a doubt one of the best driver options you can buy.
The Rogue is extremely long and extremely forgiving. And not only that, but it looks and feels great, too!
The main selling feature of the Rogue driver is Callaway’s famous “Jailbreak Technology.” The Jailbreak feature consists of a pair of bars on the inside of the club, right behind the clubface, that attach the top of the head to the sole. When a golf ball is struck with Jailbreak, the face compresses like normal, but the crown and sole are now a solid structure allowing the energy to be completely directed back into the club face. Result? Greater distance.
The Rogue, in addition to being very long, is unquestionably one of the most forgiving drivers ever. Forgiveness in a driver is measured in terms of a statistic called Moment-of-Inertia (MOI). The higher the MOI, the more forgiving the driver is. The MOI on the Rogue is one of the highest ever made.
Bottom line: What’s not to like about the Callaway Rogue driver? It ranks as one of the longest drivers when measured against its competitors, and it’s one of the most forgiving as well. At the very affordable price at which you can now buy this driver, its truly one of the best bargains on the entire market.
2. Best Fairway Woods for Senior Golfers
Editor’s Choice – Cobra King Speedzone Fairway Wood
Several decades ago, Cobra pioneered the concept of a dual-rail system on the sole of their fairway woods. They referred to this system as their “Baffler” design. The Baffler rails were a truly innovative feature in that the design enabled the clubhead to move better and more freely through the turf.
This design has been maintained and enhanced over the years by Cobra and is a defining feature of the Cobra King Speedzone Fairway Woods. Along with features that make the Speedzone fairway woods forgiving and long, the Baffler rail system really works to improve performance from a wide variety of lies, and really helps to keep the clubface square through impact.
Because of this unique and very effective design, and the overall superior performance of these clubs, we are giving the Cobra King Speedzone fairway woods our highest rating.
Bottom line: What makes the Cobra King Speedzone so attractive is its versatility. Players use their fairway woods from a variety of lies, and you need a club that will enable you to perform well from all of them. The dual Baffler rails allow you to play quality shots from any lie that you may find yourself in.
2nd Place – Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Fairway Wood
When designing the Launcher HB Turbo, Cleveland identified the primary problem that many senior golfers experience, and then built a fairway wood specifically to address it. As golfers get older, their swing speeds tend to decrease a bit and, as a result, it is often difficult to create a launch trajectory as high as they’d like. That issue of a high launch angle is tackled head on with the Launcher HB Turbo
A unique feature in the club head is something Cleveland calls a “stepdown crown.” The purpose of the stepdown crown is to lower the club’s center of gravity (COG). A low COG makes it much easier to get the ball up in the air and flying with reduced backspin. High flight and low spin is the recipe for increased distance.
In addition to producing higher ball flights, the club’s “cup face” design offers more rebound across a wider area of the face, which means that your mis-hits are counterbalanced. This translates into the sweet spot of the Launcher HB Turbo having been made effectively larger. The net effect: a very forgiving club.
Bottom line: The Cleveland Launcher HB’s main design emphasis is enabling golfers to launch their shots higher. Combined with the forgiveness provided by its expanded sweet spot, this is a fairway wood that should be considered by all senior golfers.
3rd Place – Callaway MAVRIK Max Fairway Wood
Callaway has gone high tech in the design of the new MAVRIK fairway woods, using advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
One of the key results of this has been the introduction of Callaway’s “Flash Face” design in these clubs, a feature that increases both ball speed and forgiveness. Flash Face has been used in a previous Callaway driver, but these are the first fairway woods to include this innovative design feature.
MAVRIK fairway woods also incorporate other notable features for which Callaway has received recognition and praise in some existing club offerings: specifically, “Jailbreak” bars on the inside of the club head to stabilize it and provide better results across the entire face, and “Face Cup” design to maintain ball speed even when you miss the sweet spot.
The MAVRIK fairway woods come in three models: Standard, Sub-Zero, and Max. For our senior golfers, we recommend the Max model, as it is the largest and most forgiving of the three, with weights at the back and the heel to promote a higher launch and a draw bias.
Bottom line: If you like your fairway woods loaded with all the latest technology, the MAVRIK Max is for you. With Flash Face technology, Jailbreak stabilizing bars, and a very forgiving face, all provided to make it easier for you to hit the ball, this should be one of your top candidates.
Best Value Option – TaylorMade M4 Fairway Wood
The TaylorMade M4 fairway wood has been on the market for a while now, but it remains as one of the best fairway woods available for senior golfers. And with its current very affordable price, it is a truly great value.
There are several design features that were all incorporated into the M4 to make it a very easy-to-hit fairway wood. TaylorMade uses a lot of fancy names to describe these features – Inverted Cone design, Speed Pocket, Geocoustic Engineering – but what’s important is what these features provide: the M4 creates a lot of ball speed for increased distance, it has a high launch, it has a very forgiving face to help out on mis-hits, and it has a great sound at impact. And it has a really sharp two-tone crown with silver and black styling that looks great behind the ball.
Bottom line: If you are looking for a great value in a fairway wood, but still want all the performance that the latest models offer, the TaylorMade M4 is a great option. It’s been out for a couple of years, but it’s a really solid performer that offers a lot of bang for the buck.
3. Best Hybrids for Senior Golfers
Editor’s Choice – Callaway Big Bertha Hybrid
The hybrid that earns our highest recommendation for seniors is the Callaway Big Bertha (2019). This is a hybrid that is aimed at golfers who want to launch the ball high and straight with maximum forgiveness, and it achieves those goals nicely.
Callaway’s famous “Jailbreak Technology,” which features internal bars that create a stiffer clubhead, promotes more face flex and more ball speed. In addition, an extremely thin Carpenter steel clubface and Callaway’s Hyper Speed Face Cup design increase ball speeds across a larger area of the face, not only producing longer shots on solid strikes, but also on those that miss the sweet spot. That is the definition of forgiveness.
The Big Bertha hybrids also feature an adjustable hosel that allows you to modify the club’s settings for loft and face angle. Your reward: customized launch angles and spin rates. This is easily one of the easiest-to-hit hybrids on the market and it is highly recommended for seniors.
Bottom line: This is a club that provides everything that seniors are looking for in a hybrid. It is easy to hit, it launches the ball high with a lot of forgiveness, it creates a lot of carry distance, and it has a great sound and feel.
2nd Place – Ping G410 Hybrid
One of the features of the Ping G410 Hybrid that we love is its adjustability. This is Ping’s first-ever adjustable hybrid and it allows you to customize your ball flight eight different ways through several loft and lie combinations. For example, the loft can be changed +/- 1.5 degrees, so you can dial in the optimal trajectory you want.
Ping also made the G410’s maraging face thinner, which means that it generates impressive ball speeds, which means increased distance for you. And the low center-of-gravity means that you will have no problem launching high-flighted shots.
Compared to its predecessor, the G410 has a slightly larger profile (+6.5%), which promotes a lot of confidence when you set it down behind the ball. The larger profile also provides added stability and helps to increase forgiveness across the entire club face. The famous Ping “Turbulators” on the crown of the club have also been enlarged slightly, which Ping claims makes the G410 more aerodynamic.
Bottom line: The Ping G410 is a great option that gives you all that you want in a hybrid: high ball flight, forgiveness, versatility, and adjustability. Ping has been a leader in the hybrid market for several years, and the G410 is another one that deserves your serious consideration.
3rd Place – Cleveland Launcher Halo Hybrid
The Cleveland Launcher Halo hybrid features three Gliderails on the sole of the club that serve two functions. First, they allow for better turf interaction, which means that you will be able to hit quality shots from a variety of lie conditions. Data has actually proven that, from hybrid distance, more shots are hit from lies in the rough than from in the fairway. So you want a hybrid that lets you play from even the toughest of lies. The Halo was designed with this in mind.
Cleveland used its own artificial intelligence machine – a turf interaction 3D simulator – to test over 30 different sole designs. The key was to make sure the rails, the leading-edge, and the sole geometries were optimized to work in all conditions.
The other main role of these rails is to lower the center of gravity (COG). The Halo also has what Cleveland says is considerable back end perimeter weighting, which it calls Halo Weighting. With the COG lowered, the Launcher Halo effortlessly produces a high ball flight and greater distance. In fact, the name “Halo” actually stands for High Angle Lift Off.
One other feature that seniors may like: Cleveland has made the Halo face angle slightly draw-biased. That means that for those that struggle with an occasional slice, the Halo will help in curbing that wayward ball flight.
Bottom line: The Halo was specifically designed with players like senior golfers in mind. If you’d like to get your shots flying on a higher trajectory and if you’d like to hit longer shots out of some tougher lies, the Cleveland launcher Halo hybrid could be the club for you.
Best Value Option – Callaway Rogue Hybrid
For those looking for a more affordable hybrid option, we recommend that you look at the Callaway Rogue.
As we’ve discussed in previous reviews of other Callaway clubs, one of their most well-known, and effective, technologies has been their innovative “Jailbreak” feature. Jailbreak is a feature that places two stainless steel bars on the inside of the club head, right behind the face, to connect the crown to the sole. The idea of Jailbreak is to boost ball speeds by reducing deflection and thereby focusing more force back to the face. The Rogue was the first ever hybrid to include Jailbreak stabilizing bars.
In addition to Jailbreak, Callaway designed the Rogue hybrid with another of their signature technologies: Hyper Speed Face Cup. This is a feature that gives you more speed and forgiveness across the face so that you get the most distance out of each shot. The synergy of Jailbreak and Hyper Speed Face Cup makes Rogue a pioneering achievement and one of the best hybrids ever made.
Along with their power, they are also super-easy to launch and extremely versatile. In performance tests against other hybrids, they have come out on top in numerous rating categories.
Bottom line: The Callaway Rogue is a perfect example of a hybrid that gives you maximum value for your money. Its performance has been unparalleled since its introduction, and you can now get it at a very affordable price.
4. Best Irons for Senior Golfers
Editor’s Choice – Cobra F-Max Airspeed Irons
Most senior golfers can attest to the fact that their swing speed has declined as they’ve gotten older. And, unfortunately, that loss of speed correlates to a loss of distance. One of the best ways to recoup some of the distance you’ve lost is to take advantage of lighter weight irons. Using lighter irons allows you to swing faster and pick up some of that extra yardage.
That is the entire premise of the very lightweight Cobra F-Max Airspeed irons, and the main reason we give them our highest rating for senior golfers. These are some of the lightest irons on the market and will be ideal for those that find their current irons just a tad too heavy to swing efficiently. And you will be happy to note that, in addition to being lighter in weight, they have top-rate performance as well.
In the F-Max Airspeed irons, Cobra has designed an iron that maximizes performance for senior golfers. They placed the weight low and wide in the head to increase stability and forgiveness on mis-hits, while heel-biased weighting is there to promote a draw trajectory for better accuracy and control.
The F-Max Airspeed irons have a low-profile shape with a deep cavity design which produces a higher launch with better ball speeds and maximized carry distances.
Bottom line: For golfers that love golf, but just don’t have the swing speed that they used to have, the F-Max Airspeed irons will be ideal for you. Their lightweight design will make them easier to swing and getting back some of that distance you’ve lost will increase your enjoyment of the game.
2nd Place – Callaway Big Bertha Irons
The Big Bertha moniker has been around for years. And Callaway has attached this venerable name to their current (2019) high-tech irons that are designed for players that need a little distance boost and want a lot of forgiveness.
Callaway has incorporated a wraparound cupface design that creates fast ball speeds and added distance, and they’ve positioned a tungsten weight in the lower part of the cavity to get a lower center of gravity, which makes it easier to get shots airborne. Callaway says that these are their easiest-to-launch irons that they’ve ever produced.
Aesthetically, the clubhead design inspires confidence. It has an oversize head with a thick topline and a generous sole. Through the set, the amount of offset does change. It’s more significant in the longer irons (where it can provide the most help), and gradually lessens in the shorter irons. And they have a black “Smoked PVD” finish, which provides a very catchy and appealing look.
Bottom line: Callaway has a real winner in their Big Bertha irons. Seniors will love how easy they are to launch and how forgiving they are on mishits.
3rd Place – Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo Irons
One of the most important trends of the past 5 years has been the move to replace harder-to-hit long irons with hybrids. Golfers of all skill levels (but particularly senior golfers) are getting rid of their longer irons and putting easier-to-hit hybrids into their bags.
With the Launcher HB Turbo irons, Cleveland has brilliantly capitalized on this trend by producing an entire set of irons that are hybrid-like. And just as you would expect, these hybrid-like clubs make it so much easier to get a nice high launch from every iron. In fact, the main design goal for these irons was on ease of use, by pushing the center of gravity even lower than is normally done on a cavity back iron. This insures that you will more easily get the ball well up into the air. And not only that, but they are extremely forgiving too.
Testers of these irons also commented on the excellent feel of the ball coming off the face. Each shot felt like it was flushed.
Bottom line: The Cleveland Launcher HB Turbo irons present a very interesting combination for seniors: an iron that is as easy to hit as a hybrid, feels great, gets a high launch, and is very forgiving when you miss the sweet spot. You can see why we recommend this one for seniors.
Best Value Option – Wilson Staff D200 Combo Irons
The Wilson Staff D200 Combo irons are a great set for seniors at a real bargain price. These are clubs that are specifically designed for players that are looking for a lot of forgiveness and who need some help getting the ball up in the air. They’ve been on the market for a little while but are still available in brand new condition.
This particular set is a “Combo” configuration. In addition to the irons that are included in the set (5-PW), it comes packaged with a 4-Hybrid. What a great idea. Hybrids are the smart way to go instead of long irons, and Wilson provides one as part of this set.
You’ll find many of the exact same features of the D200 clubs in ones that have just recently been introduced to the market. They have Speed Sole Technology, which is designed to create a thinner face and greater face flexing so that your distance is maximized. Creative placement of weight pods at the heel and toe increases forgiveness, so that you’ll perform well even when you have the occasional mishit. In short, the Wilson Staff 200’s were a little ahead of their time and created a nice iron set that seniors can still use today, without breaking the bank.
Bottom line: It is possible to get a great set of irons at a very low overall cost. The Wilson Staff D200 Combo Irons are a perfect example of that. If you want the great modern features, but want to save some cash, check these out as a great option for you.
5. Best Complete Sets for Senior Golfers
Note: Instead of shopping for each component individually, many seniors would prefer to buy a full complete set which already includes all of the clubs they will need to hit the links. Recognizing this, several of the club manufacturers have pre-configured and pre-packaged complete sets that are sold as a single unit. These complete sets usually include a driver, one or two fairway woods, one or two hybrids, the irons, a putter….and even a golf bag. One-stop shopping is an easy way to assemble everything you’ll need without the hassle of piecing together all of the individual items.
Editor’s Choice – Cobra F-Max Superlite Complete Set
If you are looking for a complete set, and know that you want the best one available, we have no hesitation in recommending the Cobra F-Max Superlite Complete Set as our Editor’s Choice. What makes this complete set stand out from the rest?
Two things, primarily: 1) As far as quality is concerned, the F-Max Superlite clubs are premium clubs and are simply superior to any of the other complete set offerings. 2) As their name suggests, these clubs are designed to be very lightweight and, therefore, much easier for seniors to swing. Because swing speeds tend to decrease with age, it is very important to get clubs that allow you to generate some extra club head speed, which translates into added yards. This is where this set shines and is why we recommend it so highly.
The F-Max Superlite set is lighter throughout the bag, from the lightweight driver down through the lightweight irons. Here’s what is included in this set: Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, 4-Hybrid, 5-Hybrid, 6 Irons (6-iron through Sand Wedge), a Putter, a golf bag, plus the headcovers.
Bottom line: The Cobra F-Max Superlite Complete Set includes the highest quality clubs of any of the pre-packaged offerings. As a result, the price is a bit higher than the others. But if you want the best, and don’t mind paying a little extra for it, you will be thrilled with this lightweight set.
2nd Place – Callaway Strata Tour Complete Set
Callaway has been a market leader for years in providing complete sets, mainly through their Strata line. The Callaway Strata Tour Complete Set is their top of the line model and it includes everything you’ll need to get out on the course right away.
This is a packaged set that is engineered to give you high performance on every club and provides a great combination of distance, forgiveness and control. The Strata Tour is a 16-Piece set that includes: Driver, 3-wood, 4 Hybrid, 5-Hybrids, 6-Irons (6-iron through Sand Wedge), a Putter, a stand golf bag and 4 headcovers.
Bottom line: If you want a pre-packaged set that includes everything you’ll need and want to go with a tried and tested brand, the Callaway Strata Tour complete set would be an excellent choice for you.
3rd Place – Tour Edge HL3 “To Go” Senior Complete Set
Tour Edge has been extremely successful with its entire line of HL3 clubs that they have been selling for a couple of years. Based on the remarkable success of these individual components, they decided to put together a complete packaged set incorporating all of the HL3 clubs.
Tour Edge’s research showed that a large segment of the market wants high end technology without overpaying and without the time and effort and expense involved in custom fitting sessions and waiting for the clubs to be produced. That is where the Tour Edge HL3 ‘To-Go’ Senior Complete Set comes in.
The new set includes all genuine HL3 club heads and shafts and even includes a Hot Launch SuperSpin wedge and an HL3 putter designed for the set. The HL3 ‘To-Go’ package set is available in three different offerings: a Regular flex set, a Senior flex set featuring an offset HL3 Driver and offset fairway woods, and an all HL3 Women’s set.
The complete HL3 “To Go” packaged set includes the following: Driver, 3-wood, 5-wood, the extremely versatile HL3 Triple Combo iron set consisting of a 4-Hybrid, a 5-Hybrid, 6- and 7- Iron-Woods, 8-iron through Pitching Wedge, a 56 Degree Super Spin specialty Sand Wedge, a mallet putter and the HL3 ‘To-Go’ Cart Bag.
Bottom line: The HL3 clubs have been a huge success for Tour Edge. If you’re in the market for a pre-packaged set and want to benefit from these high-quality clubs, take a serious look at the Tour Edge HL3 “To Go” Set.
Best Value Option – Callaway Strata Complete 12-Piece Set
Not every senior golfer will want, or need, a complete set that includes all 14 clubs that are allowed. Some golfers may be new to golf, or may not play very often, and for them a set that includes a subset of the complete set will be sufficient. In fact, for these golfers, it could be a waste of money to invest in a full set when there is a good chance that they won’t use all the clubs in the bag.
There’s good news for these golfers. Callaway has packaged a set that includes most, but not all, of the clubs that are in their full sets. It is called the Strata Complete 12-Piece Set, and it includes: Driver, 3-Wood, 5-Hybrid, 5 Irons (6-iron through Pitching Wedge), a Putter, a golf bag, and 2 head covers. You can see that, while it has fewer clubs than the Strata Tour Complete Set above, many golfers will find this complement of clubs perfectly sufficient.
The clubs provided are identical to those offered in the other Strata sets, so you can be confident that you are getting quality components at a price that is friendly to your wallet.
Bottom line: For seniors just taking up the game, or those who don’t get out to play as often as they’d like, a set like this may be all that is needed. The Callaway Strata Complete 12-piece set has good quality clubs at a very affordable price.
Summary
As senior golfers age and lose some of their power and flexibility, it’s important that we make some changes in how we approach our golf game. In addition to getting a little smarter about our diet, our conditioning and our stretching regimen, it will help if we also change our emphasis by focusing on our strengths and on mitigating our weaknesses.
An example of this would be shifting our emphasis from hitting long drives and long approach shots to improving our short game. While we want to offset the effects of aging to the greatest extend possible, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that the aging process is inevitable and trying to be the same player we were years ago is ultimately a battle we’re not likely to win.
But as we’ve highlighted here, one of the best weapons we have at our disposal as we cope with the changes in our bodies as we age is the adoption of current, high-tech golf equipment. Advancements in design processes and in the use of new and better materials can make a big difference in our game.
Hopefully our summaries and recommendations of the Best Golf Clubs for Senior Golfers will help you make decisions about which equipment will be right for you and will make the biggest impact on your game.
Using the technology that is aimed at making golf a little easier will definitely increase your enjoyment of the game. And ultimately, isn’t that what it’s all about?
Relate articles:
Sarah M. Quintero says
Love this article, so much valuable info. tks
Jerry moore says
I suspect that when everything that is in this articles is from one store it is not good
James says
Today I got here best golf club idea that you have presented here perfectly, thanka a lot for this resources