Stepping onto a pitch and putt course with a full bag of 14 clubs is not just unnecessary, it’s counterproductive. Instead of helping, it clutters your mind and your back. This guide will walk you through exactly which clubs you need, explaining the minimalist approach, the ideal setup, and how to choose the right combination for your game so you can play with confidence and have more fun.
Before we pick our clubs, let’s get clear on the game we’re playing. A pitch and putt isn't just a shorter version of a regular golf course, it's a different game with a different objective. Holes typically range from 30 to 100 yards. There are no long par-4s or par-5s, so the driver, woods, and long irons can stay in the car. The entire focus is shifted away from bombing it off the tee and onto precision, touch, and scoring from close range.
This is a game of finesse. You’re judged on your ability to control distance and trajectory with your wedges and your skill with the putter. Understanding this is the basis of smart club selection. You’re not trying to find one club to do everything, you’re building a small, specialized toolkit for the specific tasks you face on a short course.
If you subscribe to the idea that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, the two-club approach is for you. It’s the purest form of pitch and putt, forcing you to be creative and learn how to manufacture different shots with a single wedge. It’s also the perfect starting point for any new golfer.
This one is non-negotiable. Roughly half the strokes in any round of golf are taken on the putting green, and pitch and putt is no exception. Missing a two-foot putt counts the same as a perfect 80-yard tee shot on the scorecard. Don't overthink it, just bring the putter you already have and feel comfortable with. Its only job is to get the ball in the hole once you're on the green.
This is your workhorse. It's your club for every tee shot, every pitch from the fairway, every chip from the fringe, and every shot out of the sand. But which wedge should you choose? Your bag likely contains a few options, usually a Pitching Wedge (PW) and a Sand Wedge (SW).
So, if you can only bring one, which should it be? If you’re just starting, grab your pitching wedge. It's easier to control on full swings and its consistency will build your confidence. If you're a bit more experienced or the course has a lot of bunkers, the sand wedge might be the more versatile single tool.
While the two-club setup is a great way to learn, most seasoned pitch and putt players settle on the three-club combination. This is the sweet spot. It provides enough options to handle any distance and situation without becoming overwhelming. Think of it as giving you a high, medium, and low gear for your short game.
Same as before. This one stays. Its job is to finish the hole.
With an extra wedge in the bag, the PW now has a more defined role. It becomes your "distance" club. Use it for the longest tee shots on the course and for any chip-and-run shot where you have plenty of green to work with and want the ball to roll out like a putt.
Example Scenario: You're on the tee of an 85-yard, downhill hole. This is a perfect job for the PW. A smooth, controlled swing will give you that lower, more piercing ball flight that won’t get blown around by the wind and will land and release towards the pin.
The SW is now your "touch" club. It’s the club you use when you need to get the ball up high and land it softly. It's your default choice for any tee shot under about 60 yards, for every shot out of a greenside bunker, and for any pitch shot that has to fly over an obstacle (like a bunker or a mound) and stop fast.
Example Scenario: You're 40 yards from a pin that's tucked just behind a deep bunker. There's no room to run the ball up. This shot screams for a sand wedge. You can confidently swing, knowing the club’s loft will do the work, popping the ball high into the air and dropping it gently onto the green.
Is bringing four clubs too much? For most casual rounds, probably. But for the competitive player or the golf nerd who loves dialing in their distances, a fourth club can be a powerful addition. The goal here isn't just to add a club for the sake of it, it's to fill a very specific yardage gap and allow you to make more full, committed swings.
Consistency in golf often comes from repeatability. A full swing is almost always more repeatable than a delicate half-swing. The fourth club helps you avoid those awkward "in-between" shots.
This is the most logical fourth club. As the name suggests, a Gap Wedge (often called an Approach Wedge or AW) is designed to fill the yardage "gap" between your PW and your SW. With a loft around 50-52 degrees, it's the perfect mid-range tool.
Why it works: Let's say a comfortable, full swing with your PW goes 100 yards and a full SW goes 70. What do you do on an 85-yard hole? You could try to take something off your PW or really step on your SW, but both are tough shots to perfect. The GW is built for that exact 85-yard shot. It allows you to take a smooth, full swing - your most repeatable motion - and trust the club to produce the right distance.
This might seem like an odd choice, but it can be a secret weapon in certain conditions. A 9-iron offers a much lower, more penetrating flight than even a pitching wedge.
Why it works: It’s brilliant for longer holes (90+ yards) especially into a stiff breeze. A high wedge shot can get knocked down or tossed offline by the wind, but a controlled, three-quarter 9-iron will stay below the trouble and bore through it. It's also an excellent tool for long bump-and-run shots, especially from tight lies where you want to get the ball on the ground and rolling as soon as possible.
So, what’s the right answer for you? It depends on three things: the course, your game, and a little bit of experimentation.
Before you head out, think about the course layout. Is it extremely short, with most holes under 60 yards? If so, the putter and sand wedge combo is probably all you need. Does the course have a wider variety of lengths, from 50 to 100 yards, with a mix of bunkers and elevated greens? This is where the classic three-club setup (Putter, PW, SW) shines. Notice a lot of holes falling in that awkward 75-85 yard range? That might be a sign to bring along a gap wedge.
Be honest about your skill level and tendencies.
One of the best a pitch and putt is that it’s the perfect, low-pressure environment for practice. Take a few different combinations out for a "test drive." Play one round with just a PW and a putter. Play the next with a PW, SW, and putter. Take note of which setup makes you feel most confident. Even better, take the clubs you're considering to a practice area and hit five balls with each from different distances. See for yourself what your full swing with each club produces. This simple test will give you a clear blueprint for your ideal setup.
For pitch and putt, less is almost always more. Overloading yourself with clubs creates indecision, but having the right few tools in hand inspires confidence. The classic three-club combo - a putter for finishing, a pitching wedge for longer shots, and a sand wedge for touch - gives you the versatility to handle nearly any challenge on the course.
As you stand over a tricky 60-yard shot, a little bit of doubt can creep in. That's a perfect moment where having a trusted opinion can help. When those moments arise, our app, Caddie AI, can give you that simple, instant advice. You can get an immediate recommendation on club selection based on the specific distance, helping you commit to the shot with a clear mind and just focus on making a great swing.
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