Oversized Golf Clubs (Should I Use Them?)

If you’re in the market for a new set of golf clubs, you might have come across a set that has been advertised as oversized.

But what exactly does this mean? Who are oversized golf clubs best suited to? And can you use them in competitions?

Below, we explain everything you need to know about these types of golf clubs and introduce you to what makes them unique. By the end of the article, you will have all the information you need to help you decide if oversized golf clubs are likely to help you improve your game.

What is an Oversized Golf Club?

An oversized golf club has a slightly larger head than a standard club. This means that they’re more forgiving than standard clubs because off-center strikes aren’t as severely punished as they are with standard clubs.

If you fail to hit the sweet spot when you’re striking a standard club, you will find that the ball will fly either left or right.

Depending on your setup, it might even result in a fat or thin shot. Oversized golf clubs are a good choice for some beginners because they’re forgiving.

Let’s take a look at these larger golf clubs in more detail below, as we explain whether or not they’re a good option for your golf bag this season.

How Much Bigger are Oversized Clubs vs Standard?

Most oversized irons are approximately 47mm high and 85mm long. As for drivers, the largest legal size of a head is 460cc, but you can get drivers that are significantly bigger than this.

When you’re looking into oversized golf clubs for sale, it’s imperative to consider whether or not the clubs you like are legal. In other words, they need to be approved by the USGA and R&A.

If you buy an oversized golf club that falls outside the permitted dimensions, you cannot use it in golf tournaments.

So, if you’re looking for golf clubs that are more forgiving than standard clubs when you’re at the start of your golf journey, oversized clubs are likely to work in your favor. We explain who might benefit from oversized clubs below.

Who Should Use Oversized Golf Clubs?

Oversized golf clubs are ideally suited to beginner golfers and those with mid-high handicappers. This is because these players are most likely to miss the sweet spot when playing standard irons, woods, and drivers.

The bigger the sweet spot, the easier it is to hit the ball straight and long down the fairway.

However, you should note that you might struggle to hit oversized golf clubs as far as standard irons and drivers. This is a result of the more prominent face, and the weight is designed to fall towards the lower back portion of the club.

As a result, most players struggle to hit the ball with oversized clubs.

While players at all game levels could technically use oversized golf clubs, there’s no doubt that they’re best suited to beginners and high handicappers.

For this reason, you often see these clubs described as game improvement clubs.

Ultimately, if you’re struggling to hit the clubs you currently have in your bag, it might be time to trade them in and opt for some oversized clubs instead.

The Benefits of Oversized Golf Clubs?

The main benefit of using oversized golf clubs is that they’re easier to hit than standard clubs. If you want to hit a golf shot straight down the middle of the fairway, you need to find what is known as the sweet spot.

On standard golf clubs, the sweet spot is in the very center of the club, and if you connect with the ball on either side of the spot, you will almost certainly struggle to hit the ball where you had hoped.

This is particularly the case if you’re playing blades, which leave a minimal margin for error.

Oversized golf clubs have a much more generous sweet spot, which means slight mis-hits aren’t punished anywhere near as severely as standard clubs.

This gives you more margin for error and helps you improve your ball striking when you’re new to the game.

So, most golfers who play oversized clubs do so because they want to see an improvement in the way they strike the ball.

They’re more forgiving, meaning you don’t need to worry about finding the sweet spot every time you line up to hit the golf ball.

Are Oversized Irons Suitable for Beginners?

Yes, oversized irons are ideal for beginners. When you’re new to the game of golf, it takes a while to master your swing and associated technique. Therefore, it’s challenging to hit the ball precisely where you are aiming.

Oversized clubs are much more forgiving and allow you to improve your game without worrying too much about being 100% accurate.

While you might lose some distance, as a result, you will undoubtedly see improvements in the consistency of your ball striking.

As you become more experienced and are satisfied with how you may contact the ball, you can always trade-in your oversized irons for cavity-backed irons.

They’re still forgiving but allow you to hit the ball further, making them a better option than oversized clubs.

Are Oversized Golf Clubs Legal?

Yes, most oversized golf clubs are legal. Still, you need to be mindful of the regulations set out by the USGA and R&A. This is mainly the case when you’re looking at oversized drivers, as many of them are non-conforming and can’t be used in official tournaments.

Oversized drivers with heads bigger than 460cc are illegal and can’t be used in official golf matches. Otherwise, you should be OK to use a club that is advertised as oversized.

If you want to check which golf clubs are legal, check out the USGA conforming club and ball lists online. Even if you’re reasonably sure that a club you’re about to buy is legal, it’s worth checking it out online before purchasing.

You don’t want to be stuck with a non-conforming golf club that you’re not permitted to use out on the course.

Double-checking with the USGA list of conforming clubs is an excellent way to ensure this doesn’t happen.

Are Oversized Clubs Easier to Hit?

For most golfers, oversized clubs are easier to hit. this is because of the additional sweet spot that sits at the center of the clubs, meaning they’re much more forgiving than conventional drivers and irons.

Hitting the golf ball flush is something that beginners regularly struggle with, as it takes a while to consistently execute your golf swing when you’re just starting out.

The bigger face of oversized clubs means your mis-hits will be less pronounced, ensuring you find the fairway and green more often than not.

While you don’t necessarily need to play oversized golf clubs when you’re just starting out, there’s no doubt that they can help you improve your game.

So, if you’ve seen a set of oversized irons advertised online for a great price, feel free to choose them for your bag this season.

Conclusion

Oversized golf clubs are a good choice for players seeking to improve their ball striking. They have a more prominent sweet spot at the center of the club and are generally more forgiving, meaning your mis-hits are less likely to be punished on the course.

For beginners and players with higher handicaps, oversized golf clubs can make the game more enjoyable and mean that you spend less time in the rough searching for your ball. 

So, if you’ve got your eye on a set of oversized golf clubs, there’s no reason not to add them to your bag.