Golf club sets make buying equipment a lot easier than buying each type of club individually. If you don’t know, the rules of golf allow players to have up to 14 clubs in the bag. More than 14 clubs is a penalty, but you can play with fewer (although this isn’t recommended for avid golfers, as it’s only making the game more difficult).

However, if you’re relatively new to the game and/or don’t want to spend a small fortune on golf clubs, a set might be the way to go. The only problem is that most sets are geared toward beginners, also known as high handicappers.

Luckily, there are some new sets for mid-handicappers and more experienced players with all the essentials to take your game to the next level. I’ll take you through what you consider when buying a set and tell you my pick for the best ones so you can buy with confidence.

Best Golf Club Sets for Intermediate/Mid-Handicap Players

After playing this great game for more than 25 years, I know a thing or two about equipment. And let me tell you, it can make or break your game.

One of the biggest mistakes I made in my own game was playing clubs that weren't right for me. I used equipment that was geared toward a better player than I was at the time.

It wasn’t until I did a custom fitting with a professional that I learned my equipment was holding me back from playing my best. Using the wrong clubheads and shafts can hurt your distance, accuracy, and overall scoring average.

When buying a set of clubs, you want to consider the type of clubheads, shaft material and flex, and number of clubs. You also need to consider if a bag and other accessories are included.

If you’re an intermediate golfer, which we’ll define as a mid-handicap, you want to prioritize forgiveness and distance. This will help you hit bombs off the tee, have confidence in your approach shots, and score well around the greens.

Here are my best picks for complete golf club sets for intermediate golfers.

1. Callaway Strata Ultimate 16-Piece Set

Callaway makes some amazing equipment for all types of golfers. I’ve played one of their new drivers since 2019 and several iron sets as well. However, they also make some solid equipment for beginners and intermediate golfers.

The Strata series is a complete golf club set that has everything you need as a mid-handicapper. I’d caution against the Strata or Strata Plus and opt for the Strata Ultimate as it has more clubs in the bag. As a mid-handicapper, you want to get as close to the 14-club limit as possible.

The Strata Ultimate set prioritizes distance and forgiveness with every club in the bag. This 16-piece set includes

• Driver
• 3 wood
• Two hybrids (4H and 5H)
• 6-9 cavity back irons
• Pitching wedge
• Sand wedge
• Putter

The driver and 3 wood are built for forgiveness and include matching headcovers. The hybrids are perfect alternatives to long irons as they’re much easier to hit and also come with headcovers. The iron offers high-flight technology to improve distance and control, plus it comes with two matching wedges.

This complete set also has a putter and lightweight stand bag for all your gear. These are available in men’s and women’s in right- and left-hand options.

2. TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite 13-Piece Set

TaylorMade also makes some high-performance equipment for all types of golfers. They have top pros on their roster, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. But they also make awesome clubs for the everyday golfer as well.

The TaylorMade RBZ Speedlite 13-piece set is one of the best options I’ve seen and is geared toward more serious golfers. After seeing them at my local golf store and had to try them and couldn’t believe how long they were. Their price is higher than most complete sets (by a lot) but worth the money if you’re an avid player.

The 13-piece set includes a:

• Driver
• 3 wood
• 5 wood
• 4/5 rescue clubs
• 6-9 irons
• Pitching wedge
• Sand wedge
• Putter

The driver is nearly as good as a premium $600 driver you might find from Callaway, Titleist, or TaylorMade. It’s 460cc and has a low center of gravity (CG) and improved forgiveness.

The woods and hybrids are also lightweight and high launching. The woods are similar to the older RocketBallz woods, which were some of the most popular in the game as they were “hot” aka long and forgiving.

The irons are also high launch because of their advanced perimeter weighting and are extremely forgiving. The set has two classic-shaped wedges with a C-grind sole to help you with all types of short-game shots.

But the best part about this set is its premium mallet putter. It has their patented Pure Roll technology that generates additional topspin and sends the ball right at your intended line. This is a big upgrade, as most sets do not include a premium putter and instead have a stock blade putter.

This set also comes with a premium lightweight bag and matching head covers for a clean look.

3. XXIO 12 Premium Golf Club Set

Another option to consider when buying a set for intermediate golfers is the XXIO 12. This is another premium set that is the most expensive on this list. However, they’re ideal for golfers with slower swing speeds and who want more forgiveness in the longer clubs.

One of the reasons this set costs more is the extra wood. Most sets come with a driver and 3 wood, maybe a 5 wood as well. But this set has:

• Driver
• 3 wood
• 5 wood
• 7 wood
• 5 hybrid
• 6-9 iron
• Pitching wedge
• Cart bag

My only complaint is that there is no sand wedge included in the first few on this list. This is a necessity for intermediate golfers and one you’ll need to buy separately to escape the sand (check out my list of best sand wedges here).

These clubs are meant for longer distances and faster ball speed because of their lightweight design. This set also comes with a matching cart bag and headcovers for all the woods and hybrids.

4. Stix Golf Perform Series 14-Piece Golf Club Set

Stix Golf also makes a solid complete golf club set for intermediate golfers in their Perform series. This 14-piece set has everything you need to improve your game without buying clubs individually.

One thing I like about this set is that they look good with all-black clubheads, nothing like a beginner golf club set. A friend of mine started playing golf more seriously lately and let me hit them and was blown away by the clean design. Not to mention, the wedges had some serious spin around the greens.

Aside from the attractive aesthetics, they are made from premium materials that are built to last. They’re designed for forgiveness and are a fraction of the price of buying clubs individually. This set comes with:

• Driver
• 3 wood
• 5 wood
• 4 hybrid
• 5-9 irons
• Pitching wedge
• Sand wedge
• Lob wedge
• Mallet putter

This is an ideal set makeup for moderate handicaps and won’t require you to buy any extra clubs. It’s an excellent mix of woods, hybrids, irons, and wedges. I still can’t believe they include a sand and lob wedge, both of which I loved hitting around the greens when I tested them.

The putter is also high quality and comes with an oversized grip to help keep your wrist out of the stroke and make short putts significantly easier.

This set also comes with a lightweight black stand bag (most complete sets have a cart bag), which makes practice significantly more convenient. Overall, I’ve been impressed with Stix Golf since hitting them and think they have fantastic golf club sets.

5. Robin Golf Competition 13-Club Golf Set

The final option on this list is from Robin Golf, which makes complete sets for men, women, and junior golfers. The 13-piece set is the ideal choice for intermediate golfers as it has the most clubs, a lightweight stand bag, and headcovers.

This set includes:

• Driver
• Fairway wood and hybrid
• Forgiving iron set
• Three wedges
• Putter

My only wish is that they would’ve included an extra fairway wood or hybrid for longer shots. But Robin Golf makes up for it with their extra wedges as well.

All the clubs come with graphite shafts and sleek heads that are built for forgiveness and distance. Whether you hit off the toe or heel, you'll have more consistency than ever thanks to the oversized set of irons.

Similar to Stix Golf, the all-black set is visually appealing and looks like it should cost more than it does.

Contact a Curated Expert About a New Set of Clubs Today

Remember, a complete golf set is generally geared toward beginner golfers, but there are some solid choices for intermediate golfers. The options above are more premium than most beginner sets and include more clubs with the right technology to help your game.

As you advance as a player, I’d suggest buying clubs individually (driver, woods, irons, wedges) to make sure they’re right for your game. This will make it easier to get the right head/shaft combo so they fit your unique swing.

If you have more questions about the sets mentioned above or need help picking out any club, please contact a Curated Golf Expert today for personalized, free advice.