Our First Impressions of the Strata 12-Piece Complete Golf Set – The Ultimate Starter Kit?
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At a glance
- TG Rating
- Owner Rating
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Pros
- Budget-friendly, great value for money
- Forgiving irons with a cavity-back design
- Stand bag with plenty of storage
- Hybrid and fairway wood perform well for beginners
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Cons
- No sand or gap wedge included, making short-game play trickier
- Driver lacks forgiveness on off center hits
What we say...
A Closer Look at the Strata 12-Piece Complete Golf Set: Does it have everything a beginner needs to succeed first time round?
Finding the best golf club set, for a beginner, can be overwhelming. With so many options on the market, it’s crucial to strike the right balance between affordability, performance, and forgiveness. That’s where the Strata Men’s Golf Club Package Set comes in as one of the best golf club sets for beginners—a complete, beginner-friendly set designed to help new golfers while keeping costs low.
Strata is a well-known name in the entry-level golf market, with sets aimed at providing everything a beginner needs to get started. But, does it truly deliver on performance, quality, and value for money? After putting it through some extensive testing, one of TG’s golfing newbies, Cameron Adam, has given me his full breakdown of how this set helped him at the range and on the course.
Pros
- Budget-friendly, great value for money
- Forgiving irons with a cavity-back design
- Stand bag has plenty of storage
- Hybrid and fairway wood perform well for beginners
Cons
- No sand or gap wedge included, making short-game play trickier
- Driver lacks forgiveness on off center hits
Set Quality and Build: 3/5
The Strata package set is well-constructed, though there are some minor durability concerns. While all the clubs continue to perform well after extensive use, the irons’ finish has shown signs of wear and scratching over time. Similarly, the driver’s paint has started to wear off after a few ground scuffs, but nothing that will hurt the performance.
The shafts provide a good level of flex, making them well-suited for beginner swing speeds. The bag may not win any awards for golf’s best stand bag, but it is certainly a highlight of the package, featuring two strong adjustable straps, sturdy zippers, and a bag-length pocket for storing an umbrella. It also comes with a water resistant cover and functions well as a cart bag, adding to its versatility.
Branding-wise, the set sticks to a clean blue, black, and white theme, which extends across the clubs, headcovers, and irons’ cavity backs. It’s a subtle yet stylish look that adds to the overall appeal.
Performance: 3.5/5
If you’re looking for consistency, this set delivers. The clubs are designed to help you hit straighter shots with reliable distance. While they don’t eliminate mishits entirely, they certainly help reduce the frequency of them. That being said, beginners might still struggle with certain shots—especially getting out of greenside bunkers, as the set lacks a dedicated sand wedge.
One positive is the confidence-inspiring sound each club makes at impact, making it easy to tell when you’ve struck the ball well. However, the driver lacks on some off-center hits which means it may be slightly less forgiving compared to some other beginner-friendly drivers on the market.
Forgiveness: 4/5
Forgiveness is key for beginners, and the Strata irons (6-PW) perform well in this area. Their cavity-back design helps with off-center hits, though they don’t have the lowest center of gravity compared to some other game-improvement irons. The sweet spot is decent but could be larger.
The driver is the least forgiving club in the set, off-center hits often lead to quite inconsistent results with little to no remorse. In contrast, the hybrid and irons provide much more stability, allowing you to still achieve respectable distance even with less-than-perfect contact.
I enjoyed using the set as a first-time golfer and found the irons to be keepers as I continue to improve. However, I already have my eyes on upgrading the driver, which isn’t as beginner-friendly as I’d of liked.
Club Selection and Customization: 3/5
The set includes:
- Driver (10.5°)
- 3 Wood
- 5 Hybrid
- 6-PW
- Putter
The lack of a sand wedge or gap wedge is noticeable, making bunker play and short approach shots a bit more challenging. While this is a budget-friendly set, having at least one higher-lofted wedge would have been a valuable addition.
In terms of customization, there aren’t any options to adjust loft, shaft flex, or grip size at purchase or afterward. However, this is expected at this price point. The grips are comfortable, but some players may eventually want to swap them out for a personalized fit.
The bag itself is well-designed, featuring five large pockets and two adjustable straps for easy carrying. However, there’s no insulated pocket for drinks, which would have been a nice touch.
Growth and Compatibility: 4/5
While the irons will remain useful for a few seasons, players will likely feel the need to upgrade the driver relatively quickly as their game progresses. The lack of forgiveness on off-center hits and the fixed loft make it one of the weakest points of the set.
That said, the Strata package set remains an excellent budget-friendly option for those just getting into the game. It offers a solid starting point while leaving room for gradual upgrades as your skills improve.
Final Thoughts: 17.5/25
I would definitely recommend the Strata Golf Club Package Set for beginners. It provides a great mix of forgiveness, performance, and value, making it a solid first investment for those learning the game. The irons are particularly impressive, allowing high-handicap players to hit consistent and straight shots. The bag is also a great addition, with ample storage for essentials like balls, tees, gloves, and waterproofs.
However, there are two noticeable drawbacks, the lack of a high-lofted wedge, which makes bunker shots more difficult. The driver’s limited forgiveness, which could hinder beginners who struggle with off-center hits. That being said, for around £300 and less than $400, this set is an absolute steal. It’s one of the best entry-level golf club sets for new players, offering plenty of room for growth without breaking the bank.
