Beginning golfers who are looking for a starter set of golf clubs must consider buying good-quality used clubs rather than being tempted by cheap new clubs. Even after you've had professional advice and read all the reviews, there are several personal factors to think about. Your own height, weight, shape, strength and style of play should be considered when choosing golf clubs.

A standard set of golf clubs includes irons, woods and a putter. Irons are are designated with numbers from two through nine. Woods usually come numbered 1 through 5.

The golf club shaft also gets shorter as the numbers go up; that is, the shaft of a two iron is longer than the shaft of a nine iron. Woods are numbered from one through five. With all golf clubs, lower numbered clubs hit the ball farther, but at a lower trajectory. In addition to extra lift, higher numbered clubs also create more backspin on the golf ball.

Irons

Traditionally, irons have the club's weight concentrated behind the middle of the head. This design creates what is called the sweet spot, the perfect place on the club to hit the ball. Traditional irons are the choice of players on the tour because of their great accuracy and control.

However, if you don't make contact with the golf ball precisely on the sweet spot, these golf clubs are positively unforgiving!

It's now also possible to find irons with a peripheral weight design. These are also called cavity-backed or game improvement golf clubs. The weight is more evenly distributed around the edges, which is like expanding the sweet spot of the golf club.

Cavity-backed golf clubs are much friendlier to new golfers. They are mainly intended for beginners or inconsistent players. However, cavity-backed clubs can also be found on the pro golf circuits as well. So if this design really works well for you, don't let the name "game improvement" club scare you away.

Woods

Traditionally made from wood, they are designed for initial drives or for long fairway shots. Conventional wooden drivers are still preferred by many pro golfers. Unfortunately, much like traditional irons, these woods are very unforgiving if your contact with the ball isn't perfect. This is exactly why woods made of metal now dominate the amateur game.

Today's woods are constructed with hollow shells that provide greater distribution of weight. The only shortcoming of these new designs is that it may be trickier to shape or control the ball. Graphite heads offer the best performance, but also are the most costly.

The shafts of golf clubs come in different degrees of flex: soft, regular and stiff. Most agree that stronger players who are better at the game should opt for stiffer shafts. Most golf club shafts are made out of steel or graphite.

Putters

These are without a doubt the most personal item in the bag of golf clubs. They range from very plain to exotic designs. If you acquire a complete set of golf clubs, it will probably include a basic putter.

After you'd played a little, you should probably change out this standard putter with a design that's more compatible with your playing style. This is something that may take some trial and error.

But after playing a few rounds and spending time in practice, you should be able to find one that works for you.

Choosing the right golf clubs for yourself is so personal. Thinking through what is important technically, as well as your own preferences, is vital if you are to make the best decision for your game.