11 Best Golf Club Brands & Who Each Is For [2023 List]

I’ve been fortunate to test an immense selection of golf clubs over the past three decades.

Although most brands craft every club, from a driver to a putter, I find their strengths lie in one or two categories. In this post, I break down the best golf club brands for every club in your bag.

I’ll start by mentioning my best overall and budget golf club options before diving into the prime wood, hybrid, irons, wedge, and putter manufacturers.

Then, I move on to the top pick for ladies before ending off with the most forgiving and best-feeling golf clubs.

 

1. TaylorMade – Best Overall Golf Clubs Brands

TaylorMade came to life in 1979 after Gary Adams secured a $24,000 loan to start work on the first steel driver. Adams, along with two colleagues, constructed a 12-degree stainless steel driver packed with perimeter weighting to enhance stability at contact, contain spin, and preserve ball speed.

TaylorMade is our best overall golf club brand because of its colossal variety of clubs. The equipment giant manufactures drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters for all skill levels. Their golf clubs are used on the PGA Tour, and I played their woods and irons as a mid-handicap youngster.

Brand Highlights:

• Manufactured the first commercial stainless steel driver in 1979
• Sold to Centroid Investment Partners in 2021 for $1.7 Billion
• $128.45 Million annual revenue (2021)
• Launched the revolutionary Stealth “Carbonwood” series in 2022

Notable Pros Who Use TaylorMade Clubs:

• Tiger Woods
• Collin Morikawa
• Dustin Johnson
• Rory McIlroy
• Nelly Korda
• Scottie Scheffler
• Brooke Henderson

Highlights of Their Clubs;

• Options for low, mid, and high handicappers
• Forgiving woods and irons
• Packed with game-improvement technology

Who They Primarily Cater to:

TaylorMade constructs golf clubs for all skill levels. They carry low spinning, neutral flying woods for low handicappers and draw bias, high launching constructions for the average golfer.

In addition, TaylorMade offers forgiving, perimeter-weighted cavity back irons to forgive heel and toe mishits. Conversely, the innovative golf club manufacturers produce forged player’s irons for increased workability, lower flight, and enhanced control on approach.

Whether you’re an experienced low-handicap player or among the numerous beginners starting out, TaylorMade has options for your swing.

Some of TaylorMade’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

2. Wilson – Best Budget Golf Equipment Brand

Wilson is among the oldest golf equipment manufacturers starting out in 1914, but the company’s first major success would come in 1932. Drawing inspiration from an airplane wing, 7-time major Champion Gene Sarazen welded solid steel to the sole of the golf club to create added bounce.

Sarazen’s genius prompted the first sand wedge, the R-90, which glided through the sand and minimized the risk of digging in. Wilson proceeded to sell over 50,000 units of the R in 1933. Despite their innovation, the manufacturer continues to supply affordable, quality clubs accessible to the average golfer.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1914
• Wilson has won 62 men’s major tournaments, more than any other brand
• Designed the 1st sand wedge in 1932, sold 50,000 units of the R-90 in 1933

Notable Pros Who Use Wilson Staff Clubs:

• Padraig Harrington
• Kevin Kisner
• Brenan Steele
• Kevin Tway
• Kevin Streelman
• Trey Mullinaux

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Affordable
• Irons have a clean profile
• Fairway woods, hybrids, and irons produce clean turf interaction

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Wilson manufactures a healthy offering of woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters for the average golfer. However, they stock a select few forged irons and wedges with a buttery-soft feel and amplified acoustics that low handicappers can appreciate.

Some of Wilson’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

3. Cobra – Best Brand for Drivers

Australian Thomas Crow founded Cobra in 1973 and revolutionized turf interaction in 1975 with the Baffler Utility Wood. It simplified getting golf balls airborne from any lie on the course and was inspired by the twin-hull design on catamarans.

Although Cobra manufactures every club, including hybrids, wedges, putters, and irons, I find they excel in the driver department. Every range incorporates draw bias, neutral flight, and low spin options to cater to every golfer. In addition, its stability, variable face thickness, and low and forward center of gravity (CG) deliver a powerful consistent launch.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1973
• First U.S. club manufacturer to stock graphite shaft woods and irons
• Cobra Oversized irons became best selling clubs in golf in 1994
• Sold to American Brands Inc in 1996 for $700 Million
• Sold to Puma in 2010 for an undisclosed amount

Notable Pros Who Use Cobra Clubs:

• Ricke Fowler
• Lexi Thompson
• Gary Woodland
• Jason Dufner
• Justin Suh
• Andrew Johnston

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Variable face thickness for forgiveness across the clubface
• Low and forward CG
• Low spin, rapid speed

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Cobra constructs golf clubs for every skill level, but I find they offer a more robust selection for the amateurs requiring forgiveness and game improvement technology.

Some of Cobra’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

4. Ping – Best Fairway Woods Manufacturer

Ping made a name for itself as a putter manufacturer after founder Karsten Solheim crafted the 1A in 1959. The design twisted less and helped the average golfer square it at impact, stamping its mark as a forgiving brand. Six decades later, Ping developed forgiving woods, hybrids, irons, and wedges.

I am a fan of all Ping golf clubs. However, I particularly appreciate the speed, turf interaction, forgiveness, and ease of launch of the fairway woods. Like all legacy golf brands, they carry options for every golfer, starting with low spinning heads for skilled players and elevated launches for slow swing speeds.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1959 by Karsten Solheim
• Sold 2000 putters from Solheim’s garage in the 1960s
• George Archer won the Masters in 1969 using a Ping Anser

Notable Pros Who Use Ping Clubs:

• Viktor Hovland
• Tyrrell Hatton
• Louis Oosthuizen
• Stewart Cink
• In Gee Chun
• Sahith Theegala
• Bubba Watson
• Lizette Salas

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Forgiving golf clubs
• Amplified acoustics
• Adjustable hosels

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Ping golf clubs cater to every skill level given the impressive selection of launch, flight, and spin profiles of each range. For example, the G430 fairway woods offer the forgiving Max, Straight Flight, and High Launch profiles to suit mid and high-handicap golfers with moderate to slow swing speed.

Conversely, the Ping G425 LST is a low-spinning profile built to boost yardage and workability of high-swing speed golfers.

Some of Ping’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

5. Tour Edge – Best Brand for Hybrids

When former golf pro David Glod formed Tour Edge in 1986, he had a mission to build affordable, innovative golf clubs. Fast forward almost 4 decades later, and his vision is a reality, with the company making budget-friendly, forgiving, and high-launching golf equipment.

Tour Edge stocks every golf club option, from woods to irons, wedges, and putters, yet it’s their hybrids which I rank as their best performers. They produce clean turf interaction, carry perimeter weighting, low CG, and an expanded sweet spot.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1986
• 165 professionals play Tour Edge
• 24 Tour victories

Notable Pros Who Use Tour Edge Clubs:

• Bernhard Langer
• Mike Weir
• Alex Cejka
• Duffy Waldorf
• Scott McCarron

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Easy launching clubs
• Optimal forgiveness
• Built for seniors and slow swing speed

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Tour Edge produces forgiving, easy-launching golf clubs, which I find best suited to seniors and slow swing speeds. In addition, their equipment is typically affordable, offering sublime value for golfers on a budget.

Some of Tour Edge’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

6. Callaway – Best Brand for Irons

Callaway, like their peers, concocts a raft of golf clubs, starting with oversized long-hitting drivers and ending with blade and mallet putters. The behemoth brand also manufactures options for low, mid, and high handicappers to cover all bases.

Ely Callaway founded the brand in 1982, and their first major breakthrough occurred in the early 1990s with the revolutionary Big Bertha driver. However, despite the distance and consistency of their big sticks, I find that Callaway offers an impressive selection of game improvement and blade irons.

Beginner golfers seeking forgiving, super game improvement irons or low handicappers hunting forged blades can find what they need at Callaway.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1982
• Big Bertha driver sales helped Callaway 10x their revenue in 3 years
• $4 Billion in annual net sales (2022)

Notable Pros Who Use Callaway Clubs:

• Jon Rahm
• Xander Schauffele
• Si Woo Kim
• Sam Burns
• Yuka Saso
• Madelene Sagström

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Game improvement technology
• Profiles for beginners, mid-handicappers, and professionals
• Forgiving on off-center hits
• Straighter flying long irons

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Callaway initially aimed to cater to the average golfer requiring forgiveness, a high launch, and consistent distance. Although they now manufacture a range of products to cater to beginners, mid and high handicappers, I find Callaway offers a broader selection for mid and high handicappers.

Some of Callaway’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

7. Titleist Vokey – Best Wedge Brand

Vokey has crafted golf clubs officially since 1976, but the godfather of wedges got an early start learning from his father. Vokey quickly made a name for himself in a short period. After running his own operation for 10 years, he closed shop and joined the TaylorMade team in 1986.

Bob spent five years at TaylorMade before relocating to Titleist, where he forged an unbreakable partnership. Titleist Vokey wedges are the best in the game, offering an array of sole grinds, maximum spinning grooves, and controlled ball flight.

Brand Highlights:

• Bob Vokey has crafted golf clubs since 1976
• Titleist Vokey collaboration began in 1996
• Used by more tour professionals than other brands

Notable Pros Who Use Titleist Vokey Clubs:

• Jordan Spieth
• Justin Thomas
• Jessica Korda
• Max Homa
• Cameron Young

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Controlled flight
• Multiple sole grind offerings
• Maximum spin

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Vokey is the most popular wedge on Tour for its enhanced spin, soft feel, amplified acoustics, and controlled flight. Although they cater to amateurs, I find them best suited to low and mid-handicap golfers seeking greater control, feel, and audio around the green.

Some of Titleist Vokey’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

8. Titleist Scotty Cameron – Best Brand for Putters

Another Titleist collaboration is with legendary putter creator Scotty Cameron. The brand is famed for their durable, milled face putters, which prompt a clean roll, a soft feel, and muted audio. While these features are exceptional, they cost a premium for the average golfer.

Scotty Cameron is a putter-specific brand, which develops high MOI mallet heads, and soft-feeling blades, like the Newport range. Cameron started manufacturing flat sticks for Maxfli, Ray Cook, Cleveland, and Mizuno, before joining Titleist in 1994. Bernhard Langer used the Classic I putter to win the 1993 Masters a year later.

Brand Highlights:

• Started as a manufacturer for Mizuno, Cleveland, Ray Cook, and Maxfli
• Bernhard Langer wins the 1993  Masters using the Scotty Cameron Classic I
• Scotty Cameron partners with Titleist in 1994
• Tiger Woods won the Grand Slam in 2000 using the Newport 2 GSS
• Tiger Woods used Scotty Cameron putters for 14 of his 15 major victories

Notable Pros Who Use Scotty Cameron Putters:

• Jordan Spieth
• Will Zalatoris
• Max Homa
• Sung Jae Im
• Danielle Kang
• Jessica Korda

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Premium finish
• Milled clubface
• Soft feel
• Clean roll

Who They Primarily Cater to:

In my experience, Scotty Cameron putters are better suited to low handicappers and tour pros seeking a rich finish and clean roll. Although the Phantom range of putters is forgiving, the premium price tag of Scotty Cameron putters is not ideal for high handicappers.

Some of Titleist Scotty Cameron’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

9. XXIO – Best Clubs for Ladies

XXIO is a newer golf brand that falls under the umbrella of Dunlop Sports. They started out at the turn of the millennium and have quickly made a name for themselves with their aerodynamic, forgiving, and easy-launching golf clubs for slower-swing speed golfers.

Although XXIO sponsors players like Ernie Els, I find their equipment ideal for ladies with reduced swing speeds. The brand manufactures woods, hybrids, irons, and putters, leaving out the wedges. I find the lightweight design, outstanding game improvement technology, and high-launching nature better for mid and high-handicap ladies.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 2000
• Falls under the umbrella of Dunlop Sports
• Top-selling range of clubs in Japan for 20 years

Notable Pros Who Use XXIO Clubs:

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Game improvement technology
• Lightweight components
• Forgiving across the surface

Who They Primarily Cater to:

XXIO golf clubs typically cater to golfers with slower clubhead speeds such as women, juniors, and seniors. However, the jam-packed game improvement technology in the clubs comes at a premium, making them unobtainable for the average golfer on a budget.

Some of XXIO’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

10. Cleveland – Most Forgiving Clubs

Cleveland commenced operations in 1979 under the guidance of Roger Cleveland, the current Chief Club Designer at Callaway Golf. Cleveland sold out to Skis Rossignol in 1990 before selling again to Dunlop Sports in 2007.

Cleveland manufactures woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters built to offer forgiveness and consistency from tee to green. I find Cleveland clubs particularly lenient, thanks to their enhanced MOI profile, perimeter weighting in the irons, and low and back CG.

In my experience, these woods, irons, hybrids, wedges, and putters preserve speed and control spin across the clubface for optimal distance and accuracy.

Brand Highlights:

• Founded in 1979
• Sold in 1990 to Skis Rossignol
• Sold in 2007 to Dunlop Sports
• The first company to market wedges with multiple sole grinds

Notable Pros Who Use Cleveland Clubs:

• Brooks Koepka
• Hideki Matsuyama
• Shane Lowry
• Minjee Lee
• Inbee Park

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• High MOI
• Oversized clubheads
• Promotes straight shots
• Low CG for an elevated launch

Who They Primarily Cater to:

Cleveland irons, woods, and hybrids are ideal for mid and high-handicappers seeking optimal velocity, distance, and accuracy. However, they are wedge experts offering an array of forgiving and playable clubs to suit pros and low, mid, and high-handicap golfers.

Some of Cleveland’s Most Popular Clubs:

 

11. Mizuno – Best Feeling Clubs

I close out our best golf club brands with one of the oldest players and the softest feeling clubs on the market. Mizuno started manufacturing golf clubs and other sports equipment in 1934 and won the world over in the 1970s for its precise forging, club consistency, acoustics, and feel.

Mizuno designs woods, hybrids, and putters for golfers of all abilities, but their wedges and irons specifically stand out. The tightness of the grain structure, clean turf interaction, and muted audio encourage consistency from any lie.

Brand Highlights:

• 1933 started manufacturing golf clubs
• 36% of pros would play Mizuno if they weren’t sponsored
• Brooks Koepka won the 2018 PGA Championship as a non-sponsored player using Mizuno irons.

Notable Pros Who Use Mizuno Clubs:

• Luke Donald
• Stacy Lewis
• Keith Mitchell

Highlights of Their Clubs:

• Forged irons
• Soft feel
• Amplified acoustics
• Clean turf interaction

Who They Primarily Cater to:

The forged nature of Mizuno irons and the compact profiles deliver reduced forgiveness for mid and high-handicappers. As a result, I find Mizuno clubs are better suited to low handicappers and professionals seeking workable flight, a soft feel, and crisp acoustics.

Some of Mizuno’s Most Popular Clubs: