Gear & Equipment
4 MIN READ
August 7, 2026
Barath's Bargain Bin: How To Build A Basic $500 Set Of Clubs
With new prices making full sets easily pass the $3,000 mark, we're here to show you how to build a great set of clubs for less than the price of a new driver.
From the outside looking in, golf appears to be a pretty expensive sport to get started in. Of course, it's not yachting, horse racing, or motorsports, but compared to something like basketball, tennis, or softball, it can certainly feel cost-prohibitive when it comes to buying gear.
But the truth is, it doesn't have to be.
Just like shopping for a used car, buying used golf clubs can be a bargain hunt. And honestly, what's better than finding a set of irons that originally retailed for more than $1,000 for just a couple hundred bucks?
With so many golfers upgrading their equipment every year, the used market has never been better. That's great news whether you're just getting into the game or looking to build a solid backup set without breaking the bank.
So to help you or someone you know put together a great set of clubs for less than the price of a brand-new modern driver, here is my guide to building a basic $500 set of used clubs that you can be proud of.
RELATED: A Golf Gear Nerd Manifesto
The Driver
When it comes to buying a used driver, you want to try to find something under $75, and the best way to do that is to look for drivers from the early 2000s. This includes models like the Ping G2, TaylorMade R500 series (580XD is a perfect example), or the Cleveland Launcher 460 (or 460 Ti).
All of these models forgo adjustability in favor of pure 460cc forgiveness, and considering it's also easy to find loft options based on these models' popularity, it's the perfect way to start building your set.
Cleveland Launcher Drivers - Second Swing
Great forgiveness and incredible value.
$40 & Up
BUY NOW*Every product is independently selected by editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.
Fairway Woods & Hybrids
Similar to the driver, finding models from the same early 2000s era is going to offer the best combination of value and forgiveness. The best place to start is with the matching fairway wood models from the aforementioned driver series, which in most cases can be had for less than $50 a piece.
Other options beyond Ping, TaylorMade, and Cleveland is: Adams!
During the early 2000s, Adams Golf was absolutely crushing it in the fairway wood market with options to fit a variety of golfers. You can even find some of their titanium fairway models (BUL is an example) for less than $50, making them an absolute steal.
Cleveland Launcher Fairway Woods - Second Swing
Lots of great options to find your perfect fairway wood
$42 & Up
BUY NOWIrons
When it comes to irons, the world is your oyster; it just comes down to what you need from a playability perspective.
On the other side of the spectrum, if you're looking for less forgiving, more player-focused options, the above brands all have something that can work very well. Examples include: Cleveland TA3, Callaway X-Forged, TaylorMade TP (Tour Preferred), or Nike Pro-Combo Series irons. A couple more great choices would be to find a set of early-model Mizuno MP irons, Titleist forged CB irons or AP2 (710), all of which still fit nicely into the $500 budget.
RELATED: Don't Write Off Blade Irons Just Yet
Wedges & Putter
Now to the short game section of the show.
If you're already in for between $350 to $400 for the top end of your bag, it's important to remember that you can still do a lot with $100 to find a nice wedge or two and a putter.
As far as wedges are concerned, if you already have a pitching wedge from the iron set, bonus points if you can consolidate costs and find an iron set with a matching gap wedge; I would focus on simply finding a lightly used 54-56° sand wedge.
Similar to irons, there are almost endless options from all the major brands when it comes to finding used wedges; you just want to make sure you get something that has a lot of groove life left in it. Below is a good example of something used but still offering a lot of groove life.
As for putters, take your pick.
From Ping to Odyssey, you can find all sorts of blade and mallet shapes for around $50, and if I had to pick two options to really keep an eye on, it would be a Ping Craz-E or an Odyssey 2-Ball. Both models offer all kinds of forgiveness and alignment options.
And if you have a little bit of money left over, some new grips can go a long way!
Golf Pride MCC Plus 4 Swing Grip
The MCC Plus4 is a tour-proven, hybrid grip that features a larger lower hand and new softer rubber material.
$13
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