A typical set of golf clubs has at least 12 clubs, with many people opting to carry an additional wood and iron in their bag. A basic set includes a driver (also called the 1-wood), 3-wood, 5-wood, 3-9 irons, pitching wedge (PW), and putter.

Drivers and Other Woods
Players use drivers and fairway woods when they stand more than 175 yards away from the green. The lower the number wood, the lower its loft. Manufacturer can use steel or titanium to make the head of a wood.

• Stainless Steel If you want a classic-looking club, buy stainless steel woods. They look small and weigh more than titanium woods.
• Titanium: Lightweight titanium woods often have larger heads and sweet spots than stainless steel woods.

Irons
Use an iron when you're less than 200 yards away from the green. A standard set of irons includes the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9-irons as well as a pitching wedge. Most people find it easier to hit with the 7 and 9-irons than the 3 and 4-irons preferred by some seasoned golfers. Choose which type of steel you want in your irons:

• Cast/Perimeter-Weighted These irons have more weight on the outside of the club, creating a large sweet spot. They work well for mid-to-high handicap golfers.
• Forged Steel: Softer metal makes forged steel clubs more difficult to hit. They work best for mid-to-low handicap players.

Wedges
Wedges have a lot of loft with a high trajectory. Use one when you want to fulfill a specific task.

• Pitching wedge Use the long pitching wedge for shots from the fairway into the green.
• Sand wedge: Dig your ball out of a bunker (sand trap) without causing a lot of damage with a sand wedge.
• Lob wedge Use a lob wedge to make short-distance shots around the green.
• Gap wedge: Use a gap wedge when you want results between those you could achieve with a pitching wedge and lob wedge.

Know Your Handicap
If you know how well you play on a regulation par-72 course, you can get a rough idea of which clubs you need. How far over par (the standard number of strokes for a course) you play reflects your golfing ability. Always try for a lower score.

• Standard: Easy-to-control club with a small sweet spot.
• Midsize: Weighs less than an oversized club and offers a larger sweet spot than a standard club.
• Oversized: Offers a large sweet spot, but users cannot control it as well as clubs with midsize and standard size heads.

• Steel: Heavier than graphite, steel offers durability and control.
• Graphite: Lightweight graphite can cost more than steel, but offers a little less durability.

• A: Geared toward seniors.
• Regular: Designed for average players with a 75 to 90mph swing speed.
• Stiff/ Firm/ Extra Stiff: Designed for people with a swing speed between 90 to 110mph.
• Uniflex: Varying flex to fit most swing speeds.

Don't Leave Out Lefties
Golf clubs come designed for left-handed (lh) players and right-handed (rh) players. Make sure you buy the correct orientation.

Women on the Green
Women often find clubs designed for men too heavy. Lightweight clubs designed for women, often with graphite shafts, come in a standard size for people between 5'5" and 5'9" and in variable lengths for shorter users.

• If you want a larger hitting area, replace the 3-iron and 4-iron with a 7-wood and 9-wood.
• If you're shorter than 5'5", buy a 33" putter.
• Look for clubs with an L flex shaft designed for women.

Clubs for Kids
Kids learning how to golf shouldn't use adult-sized clubs or rigid cut down adult-sized clubs. To determine how long a club will work for your child, measure him or her from just above the waist to the ground. You'll find plenty of junior golf clubs, including complete sets, on eBay. Sets geared toward kids don't include as many clubs as adult sets, reducing the weight of the bag. These sets usually include the 6 through 9 irons, 3-wood, 5-wood, and may include a driver.

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How to Find Golf Clubs on eBay

Now that you've figured out which clubs you want to buy, find them quickly on eBay. While you shop, don't forget balls, tees, shoes, and appropriate clothing for the course. To start shopping, go to the Sporting Goods portal and click Golf.

• Click Categories Links: On the left side of the page, look at the Categories list. From complete sets of clubs for men, women, juniors, and lefties to sets of irons and individual fairway woods, you'll find a Categories link that'll lead you to the type of golf club item listings you want to find.

• Use the Golf Clubs Finder: When you click a Categories link for a type of club or set of clubs, you'll find the Golf Clubs Finder on the left side of the page. The Golf Clubs Finder lets you narrow down item listings by type of club, brand, model, condition (new or used), and shaft material. You also have the option to search for specific keywords.

• Search Keywords: Keywords can quickly help you narrow down your choices. Either type the words you want to find in the Search Keywords portion of the Golf Clubs Finder or into the Search box to find listings that match your specifications. For example, if you want new right-handed golf clubs for men, type the keywords "rh men new" (without quotation marks).

• Let Sellers Help: A good item listing should include information about the type of club and its materials, the name of the manufacturer, and a clear picture. If you want to know about information not included in a listing, email your question by clicking "Ask seller a question" under the seller's profile. Can't find the exact item you want? You can also create a post on Want it Now and let the eBay community know exactly what you want.

If you still can't find the item you want, try shopping an eBay store or save a search on MyeBay and eBay will email you when matching items become available

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Buy With Confidence

Take a couple of seconds to review the item you want to buy and research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

Know Your Purchase

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
• Is the item you want still under warranty? If so, what are the terms? If you want more warranty information from a seller, ask by clicking the seller's "Ask seller a question" link under a seller's profile.

Know Your Seller

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
• Does the seller have a return policy? Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer Protection

• PayPal Buyer Protection: In the unlikely event that something goes wrong, PayPal is there for you. Learn about PayPal Buyer Protection and how your purchases can be covered up to $1,000.
• eBay Security & Resolution Center: If a problem arises in your transaction, eBay can help you solve it quickly and efficiently. Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn more about eBay's resolution tools.

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