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There are a number of golf club options out there for those new to the game of golf. Jack Backhouse gave the Stix Nicklaus Essentials 10 Club Set a go to see if they’re the best.
Buying your first set of golf clubs can feel like buying your first car—there’s an overwhelming number of options, and it’s hard to know where to start. The Stix 10-club beginner set aims to simplify that decision, offering everything a new player or casual golfers need to get started without the confusion or expense of assembling a bag piece by piece. With the Golden Bear himself, Jack Nicklaus, lending his signature, it’s certainly got pedigree. But does it perform? Read our full review to find out…
Stix Golf Clubs Beginner Set Review: Review: Summary
NCG SUMMARY
The Stix 10-Club Set delivers exactly what new golfers need: simplicity, forgiveness, and value. It takes the stress out of club buying, offers consistent performance across the bag, and provides room to grow. Stylish, functional, and thoughtfully designed, it’s hard to find fault at this price point.
Straight out of the box, I think the Stix set look sharp. I like the matte-black finish on the woods, clean alignment dot, and subtle two-tone crown. It gives them a premium feel that is rarely found at this price point. The branding, bag, and headcovers all match nicely, making you look the part from day one. There’s even a touch of flair with Nicklaus’s autograph on the crown, though this is a bit of a subjective touch that some might find it unnecessary.
Across the board, I found these clubs feel well-weighted and forgiving. Shots struck across the face still carry useful distance and height—crucial for newcomers who haven’t yet built consistency. Everything feels cohesive, balanced, and confidence-building.
On-course performance
The set includes ten clubs. A driver, 3-wood, hybrid, 6-iron through pitching wedge, 56-degree sand wedge, and putter—all in a lightweight stand bag (rain hood not included . The thinking behind limiting the set to ten clubs is spot-on, in my opinion. Beginners don’t need fourteen options that all go the same distance. Fewer clubs with distinct yardages make learning much easier. And there’s always room to add more later if needed.
The longest iron is a 6-iron, a smart choice for new players who might struggle with longer irons. The inclusion of a higher-lofted 3-wood and hybrid makes getting the ball airborne far more achievable.
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I was happy with the driver performance. It has a simple, confidence-inspiring head shape and a 10.5° loft, which I think is perfect for players still learning to square the face. Off-centre strikes hold up well, and a ball speed of around 154 mph from a slightly heeled strike shows there’s real forgiveness built in. For context, in terms of my previous testing that is only about 20 yards behind a £650 premium driver. Quite remarkable really.
The fairway wood and hybrid are particularly beginner-friendly. The shallow face and added loft make launch easy, and even a mishit hybrid found its way near the green. The graphite shafts are lightweight and consistent, though slightly soft for faster swingers.
The irons are compact, semi-blade cavity backs with a touch of offset—ideal for helping players square the face. They feel solid through impact, with good sound and feedback. The satin finish helps frame the ball nicely at address.
The sand wedge deserves praise: it’s a proper blade-style wedge, separate in design from the irons, and looks fantastic behind the ball. Around the greens, it performs exactly as it should.
Finally, the putter is a pleasant surprise. It feels stable, sits square, and features excellent alignment lines. The yellow-on-black contrast makes aiming intuitive, and it even comes with its own headcover, which certainly isn’t a standard inclusion for beginner sets.
NCG Verdict
Overall, it’s not hard to see why a beginner golfer would benefit from using these Stix golf clubs. They take the stress out of starting golf. I personally don’t think I have come across a better package set than this during my years of testing golf equipment. Quite the feat and they are certainly worth a go if you’re new to golf.
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Stix Nicklaus Essentials 10 Club Set Review: The Details
