The common adage warns us that we get what we pay for. When it comes to golf, you might already know that advice rings all too true. And purchasing a cheap set of golf clubs, even for recreation, can be frustrating. We want to do our best out on the course, and the wrong clubs do not let us reach that point. However, the most expensive golf clubs just might do the trick.

That's why we took a long look at the leading clubs out there. And it seems many are among the most expensive golf clubs on the market. But it goes much further than that. You might have also realized that some people will pay a premium for a name. Whether that means the brand or a popular endorsement, don't be tricked by marketing. Because of that, we have looked past the hype to find out which products have real substance. And we have identified several of the most expensive golf clubs we think are worth the money.

When you are shopping for the most expensive golf clubs, you will notice a few common features. And they all might serve to accentuate your strengths as a golfer. But don't get started selecting the most expensive golf clubs just yet.

First of all, you need to make sure you have the right form and stance. High end clubs will only make a difference if you've got the essentials to back them up. Therefore, if you are just getting started, make sure you are playing with a quality standard set. Then, as you discover your own strengths and weaknesses, new clubs can help compensate. 

If you have already been golfing for years, maybe it is time to upgrade. And you might be able to gain the upper hand by knowing each club's strength. Furthermore, don't look only at the individual brands, but also the types of club in each set.

Most of all, take a close look at where you need the most assistance. Is it on the green? Is it from the tee? You will probably want to look at some of the top options out there and find the ones that suit you best.

First of all, we wanted to start out with a few basic questions to help you determine where to look. By identifying an honest assessment of your skill level, you can fill in the gaps. Take a look below and think about your responses before setting out on your search. With that knowledge, you can choose confidently from among the most expensive golf clubs available. 

No matter the technology or material, clubs can only do so much. But knowing what they can do and harnessing that power is the key. From the added force of a driver to the accuracy of a putter, the right combination is out there. You just have to find it. Before your start, let's take a look at the basics. Each type of club contain its own goodies when you get into the upper price range. The only real limit to the potential might be your skill level. So whether you've never made it through a full 18 or you're at the club every week, you can get better. But you've got to start with realistic goals and an even more realistic self assessment.

There is no shame in admitting that you've got some learning to do. To be honest, even the pros would admit the same. There are so many intricacies to the game that it can not easily be analyzed. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that you are an expert at every facet of the game. So focusing on developing your strengths while addressing your weaknesses will make you that much better. And the most expensive golf clubs on the market aim to help you in that process. Therefore, if you are really ready to get serious and start shaving strokes, get started here. We suggest a quick refresher course in the types of clubs and their purposes. Then identify where you can use the biggest boost and look for the most expensive golf clubs with that focus.

Knowing what each club does and how to use it is critical in choosing the right brands. If you are looking at the most expensive golf clubs, make sure you are comfortable with the basics first. We've provided a brief overview of each major type of club you are likely to encounter on the links. 

We can start here because this is probably where your golf game will start. In more ways than one, this is a fundamental club. So you must be adept at handling and using this important tool. It is recognizable by its large head and shallow angle. They also have longer shafts than other types of clubs. You won't use a driver for especially short holes, but you'll use it to hit most balls off the tee. The most expensive golf clubs provide the combination of tech and material to add critical distance to your drive.

These are also critical tools in your golf bag. A proper selection of woods, along with the knowledge behind using them, will take you far. These are basically an extension of your driver. In fact, you might hear some people refer to that club as the 1 wood. From there, you will see the 3 wood and 5 wood very often. The higher that number in front goes, the deeper the angle. Therefore, a higher wood will send your ball higher in the air. A more shallow one will give you more distance toward the green. You'll usually use a fairway wood when you're in a good position and a distance of about 200 yards or more.

As you start to get closer to the cup, you'll want to be more precise with your placement. A great iron is key in this regard. And some of the most expensive golf clubs will give you an important leg up. Irons can be described as having a thinner club face. You'll get much more loft with a proper iron shot than even a high numbered wood. This will help you carry the ball from where it landed to the green (or at least close, hopefully). Again, as the numbers go up, so does the angle -- and, in turn, the associated loft. They are also increasingly unwieldy as the numbers get higher. So unless you are very skilled, it might be best to stay with a 4 iron or lower.

These are technically extensions from your line of iron clubs. But they are known for an incredibly pronounced angle on the club face. This gives you great loft for getting out of a tough lie. Of course, they won't send the ball very far toward the fairway, though. So be careful using them and only bring them out when a regular iron just won't do. But as with other entries among the most expensive golf clubs, wedges can really help your game. They have shorter shafts than other clubs and are designed for playing in sand and other traps.

Ah, the perfect solution. At least that's what some golfers belief. Hybrids promise the power of a wood and the precision of an iron in one club. And the most expensive golf clubs have spent a fortune developing them. For that reason, you should be prepared to spend at least a small fortune to have your own. But since they have started showing up on courses in recent years, they have really blossomed. Some golfers have completely replaced their irons with hybrids. You won't get quite the distance of a truly great wood. But you will also get a lot of forgiveness that an iron just cannot provide.

If you have ever played miniature golf, you know the importance of mastering the putter. And you probably also learned how hard that can be. Putters are crucial for closing almost any hole on a high note. Getting the ball to the green is one thing, but putting it into the hole is the the clincher. And with the most expensive golf clubs, putters receive significant treatment. They will all have a flat face to push the ball into the hold. But design, manufacturing and even some technological tricks can give you the upper edge. That is, of course, if you are willing to pay for it.

Even if you have decided to upgrade your club set, you still have some work to do. Each collection of the most expensive golf clubs offer something different. Manufacturers work to woo different types of golfers, so someone is probably looking for your business specifically. You just need to find out what set speaks to you and hit the links. It could turn out to be the best round of your life.

A golf club is only as good as it is useful. Even if a particular brand packs in tons of tech, you need to feel comfortable holding it. So shaft design and comfort in your hands are crucial. When you start talking about the most expensive golf clubs, comfort is always a big focus. But everybody's definition of comfort is different, so play around and make sure they work. If that's not clear from the first swing, it soon will be. 

Here's where we get to the fun part. The most expensive golf clubs have design features lesser competitors simply cannot provide. That could come in the form of light weight design. Then there are design elements that allow for more forgiveness. Whether driving, shooting down the fairway or putting, clubs provide ample assistance. And if you are a new golfer -- or even if you're not -- you can probably use the help.

Golfers define quality in different ways. And some of the most expensive golf clubs earn their elite status more easily than others. When weighing which clubs to purchase, consider their real value to you. Even if some other golfer brags about a feature you know you will never use, don't be swayed. But at the same time, be sure to listen to the advice of others in making the choice. So quality could mean durable materials meant to last through years of regular play. But then there's the type of less quantifiable quality you will have to experience to understand. Especially if you start seeing better scores from a friend, it is always easy to recognize real quality.

Now for the list. We've taken a close look at the most expensive golf clubs currently on the market. But we fully acknowledge there are tons of other great choices out there. This is a good place to start with an overview of some industry leaders. Find examples from each of the categories listed above along with our thoughts.

The F8 and related F8+ really represent a leap forward for Cobra King. These drivers are the first fully machined driver face that the company has ever offered. You will find it thinner and more precise than previous models. The ultra light construction provides weight right where it is needed. This gives you more control over where the ball goes. It is great for novices who need a little more forgiveness. But any skill level can appreciate the assistance. These clubs reduce drag through an aerodynamic design in all directions. Find contact with the ball easier and a larger sweet spot with these high end drivers.

Taylor Made has a reputation for building intuitive and useful golf clubs. But at the company's upper end are some really great tools. The M4 fairway wood is one of our favorites. There is the unique speed pocket that promises more ball speed. We've found the result to be an increase in both distance and forgiveness. It is designed to reduce spin and saves weight in a variety of ways. This club makes it easy to play balls in a range of lies. Even among the most expensive golf clubs, you are not likely to find a better all around tool.

Hybrids are among the most popular additions to the game of golf since its inception centuries ago. And we think Callaway makes among the best out there. There was the Epic, which was a great choice. But the new Rogue might be even better. For starters, it is the first hybrid club to feature jailbreak technology. Then there is the hyper speed face cup we think provides the best control among the most expensive golf clubs. Some golfers describe the hybrid golf club as the best of both worlds, referring to irons and woods. We might not always agree. But catch us after we play a stellar round with the Callaway Rogue and hybrid fans might convince us.

The Wilson D300 stands out among the most expensive golf clubs for a number of important features. Small things add up to make this a great tool. At first glance, you will notice the so called ‘power holes’ on the face. This club has a huge face that greatly increases your sweet spot. But those holes seriously reduce contact between the face and body. That not only saves weight but increases aerodynamics. The result is a club that can really add distance to your swing. All in all, this is a much better club than the D200. And that was a pretty incredible iron.

If you are looking to hone your skills more than build them, this might be the iron for you. A club like the D300 will help you add distance to your game. Once you have that skill, though, add the MP 18 to your arsenal for refinement. You can immediately tell the quality of this iron. Minuzo has taken the time to completely revise the way this club is forged. While the angle and loft evoke previous generations, it is also industry leading in its modernity. A hollow body and low center of gravity combine for a perfect feel. A light stiff shaft provide steadiness and balance for your play from a fairway lie. It will not forgive you like the Wilson ‘power holes,’ though. If you do not have enough swing speed on your own, you should probably start elsewhere. But for those who already have the skill it takes to launch a ball, this will take you further.

If you are lucky (or good enough), you won't have to reach for your wedge too often. But when you need it, you will soon know whether it is cut out for the job. A lot of clubs can hack through some tough terrain. But we like the feel and performance of the Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth wedge. For starters, we think its dark finish is among the most appealing on the market. But then there is the performance. A series of grooves increases contact. And a skilled golfer can easily attain the loft needed to escape a trap. This wedge offers comfort along with its style. The carbon steel finish gives the club a great feel and repels moisture at the same time.

When shopping for a putter, you have two primary options: blade or mallet. We find the blade design more aesthetically pleasing, but this is a personal decision for each golfer. If you opt for a blade putter, however, we are big fans of the Bettinardi BB Series. It is an improvement on previous models from the same company. With less toe hangs and other advancements, the result is a controlled feel on the green. The putter is milled from a single block of soft carbon steel. It is also defined by a very balanced feel in your hand. Again, we like the darker finish as it minimizes glare if you are playing in the sun. And the etch cord grip is customizable, available in either standard or jumbo size. For those looking to buy American, this club is made in the USA.

If you prefer a mallet putter, the Bettanardi BB Series also has a great version. But we recommend the Odyssey for its overall stability. In general, the mallet design provides much more forgiveness. The Odyssey Red O Works mallet putter, however, is even easier to learn than some others. Even without tons of experience on the green, you can pick up one of these and feel confident. It will help correct errant putts and give you the solid feel you want to finish off a hole.

Check out these other products that also make it easier to shave a few points from your game:

• 8 Golf Gadgets to Improve Your Game
• Swing Things: 7 Tech Tools to Improve Your Golf Game
• 8 Best Golf Gadgets for Improving Your Game

We hope you learned a bit about the unique benefits of the most expensive golf clubs on the market. You don't have to spend a fortune to have great clubs, but they don't come cheap. We've selected those we think offer the most for the money.

If you enjoyed our presentation, please share it with the golfers in your life. And tell us what clubs are in your bag with a comment below.

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